Alright, let's go with the next chapter. Sorry that this took a bit longer than normal; I kept getting distracted. Also, one of my beta readers took a while.
Also, even though Thanksgiving isn't celebrated in Australia, I thank all of you who wished me a happy Thanksgiving. I was really touched. :D
Now for review responses:
Eisenfaust: Or overly paranoid. Yes she is, it might, hope this sates your curiosity, you'll probably find out in thirty years and possibly.
Saturn56: They're still waiting.
SS7x3: Well... I have written a Halloween fic... but it wasn't for Neptunia. Heh heh heh...
SVK9: Hey, no need to apologise! Constructive criticism is most certainly not something to feel guilty over. Thank you very much, SVK. It's a load off my shoulders to read that.
On with the chapter!
Chapter 33: Lil' More Conversation, Lil' Less Action
"Jacob!" Neptune cheered as she propelled herself at Jacob's torso and latched on like a laughing grappling hook.
Jacob chuckled and hugged her back. "Happy to see you alive and well."
Once Jacob and the CPU detached from each other, Compa and Nisa also ran up to Jacob with huge smiles accompanied by plenty of excited barking from the dogs. "Jake! I thought you were with IF?" asked the nurse.
"I was but I figured I'd check in on Neptune for a bit, see if she was okay. IF was okay with it and I wanted an excuse to get away anyway."
Nisa raised an eyebrow. "What did you want to get away from?"
"... You don't want to know," the male answered, his smile sinking to dark levels that Nisa decided weren't worth diving to.
"Hey Jacob, if you don't mind me askin'..." Neptune leaned forward to look more closely at the green buttons of Jacob's dress shirt, "... what are you wearing?"
"Not mine," Jacob defended. "My clothes got wrecked and I needed to borrow these."
"You go through more clothes than any girl I know."
"It's not my fault my clothes get damaged so regularly."
Neptune placed her hand under her chin and, in a manner completely unfitting of her boisterous act-now-and-let's-go-eat-instead-of-thinking-later personality, began apprising Jacob's shirt. "Well... I can detect one improvement that shirt has over your usual one."
"... What is that?" Jacob asked after a moment.
"It's thinner," Neptune stated very casually as she reached out and gave his chest a squeeze.
Compa, Nisa and Gust's eyes opened wide. The left eyebrows of Jade and Turquoise might have risen.
"Neptune!" Jacob cried, swiping out at Neptune with his arm and missing terribly as she moved to the side.
"I can't help it, Sparky! I've been sleeping for ages and it's been ages!"
"Why does she call him Sparky?" Turquoise asked Jade.
"I do not know. Speaking of your clothes, Jacob," began Jade, "I neglected to mention that they were finished yesterday. My apologies. Would you like to fetch them with me now?"
"Yes please!" Jacob cried out. "The rest of you wouldn't mind?"
"I mind!" Neptune answered.
"I don't care!"
"Well, I have not a problem with it," added Turquoise. "I can only imagine how irritating it is to be away from your own outfit. Although, the fact you do not have a change of clothes already is surprising..."
"It's complicated," sighed Jacob.
"We will just be back in a bit," said Jade as he and Jacob left the room.
"Ah, it's good to be back in shorts," said Jacob as he reentered the room with Jade minutes later. The white dress shirt and green pants he borrowed had been replaced by the clothes he acquired back in Lastation. Smiling, he pulled on the sides of his black jacket with the white edges and zipper and the "LS" logo on the back. He also wore a black shirt with a white logo of an X inside a square inside a circle inside a triangle as well as a pair of black long shorts. As always, he wore his black sneakers.
"That looks much better on you," Compa commented.
"It feels much better on me, too. Speaking of..." Jacob examined Neptune's attire. "Neptune, I've noticed you're not wearing your shorts."
The CPU pouted and put her fists on her hips. "I don't want to. It's not cold here like it was in Lowee and I like feeling the breeze in between my knees." Neptune stood resolutely and had her best try-and-make-me eyes active.
Jacob sighed. "Fine, whatever."
"How is IF?" Gust inquired.
"Oh, she's fine," Jacob aptly answered. "She's just a bit nervous by the whole thing. Don't worry, we're working on it."
"A bit nervous," Nisa repeated while she gave him a very judgemental stare.
"Sensei, not every person who does something wrong is evil. Sometimes, they're just good people that make mistakes that they will then obsess and despair over for ages and ages."
Nisa's stare softened.
"If I may?" Jade loudly asked. "Jacob, this is my adoptive father Turquoise. We were just having a discussion. Would you like to join us?"
Jacob shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
"Splendid," said the older Aristocrat. "Now, Nisa, you asked why we lent you our aid. Before we explain, however, I believe we should fill in dear Neptune on the details due to her slumber over the past few days." Turquoise cleared his throat. "Ten years ago, Leanbox was embroiled in a great war. The Basilicom Schism. The Parliament's revolution. At the time, the Parliament gathered heretics to raid the Basilicoms in an effort to gain complete control."
"Wait, Basilicoms? I thought Leanbox only had one?" Jacob asked.
"What? Did I say Basilicoms? Terribly sorry! I meant to just say Basilicom! Jade used to live in Lowee once. When he came back to live with us again, he would not stop singing the praises of Lowee's multiple Basilicoms and its Central Basilicom." Turquoise laughed. "It seems the idea is contagious!"
Jade placed a hand on his forehead. "Sir, please continue."
"Right, of course. Anyway, with the Sanctuary's aid, us Aristocrats succeeded in defeating them. They escaped but our goddess gave us honour!"
"Wait, wasn't this the Purge?" asked Compa.
"Hold on, what purge?" Turquoise faced Compa. "What is this about a purge?"
"We told that, ten years ago, heretics purged from Leanbox," Gust answered.
"That's absurd!" responded the Aristocrat's leader. "It is true that we fought the heretics but the Parliament was using them to usurp the Basilicom. What we did was merely self-defence. To call it a purge is slanderous!"
Jacob and Gust glanced at each other.
"The current Archbishop wants to hide that a revolution happened," continued Jade. "To that end, he destroyed the records and prohibited the publication of any information pertaining to it. Not only that, he also tried to take Turquoise's honour away."
Neptune tilted her head. "So what was that about you helping us? Nisa said you helped us for a reason?"
"Indeed we did." Turquoise turned around and walked to the window. He gazed out into the outdoors graced by the morning while everyone else was staring at him and waiting for him to get on with it. "The Aristocrats and the Sanctuary have battled for a long time but now they have brought harm to you. However, you have managed to fight them off. Therefore..."
Turquoise then quickly span around and pointed at the group. "... I want you to be our sexy mascot allies!"
"... What?" said Jacob, Neptune, Compa and Gust at the same time.
"What?" Nisa said a bit more roughly.
"Sir Turquoise, I must advise against this," Jade spoke up. "To involve outsiders in a conflict that does not concern them would go against the teachings of the Aristocrats."
"What are you saying, Jade?" Turquoise responded, incredulous. "They have been hurt by the Basilicom just like us! Furthermore, these beautiful girls are not only brave to challenge a dungeon for the sake of their poisoned friend but also powerful enough to defeat the monsters within!"
Jacob raised a hand. "Excuse me, where do I fit into all this sexy mascot business?"
"What do you mean?" asked the older Aristocrat. "Do you mean to say you don't fancy yourself as sexy mascot ally material? Do not sell yourself so short! There is an audience for everything in this world and I am certain you will be fine."
"Thanks, I guess, but—"
"I REFUSE!"
Jacob winced at the loud noise. After giving his ears a brief rub, he recognised the sound as a shout from Nisa. Nisa was absolutely seething as she glared at both Jade and Turquoise, who were rather rattled themselves. "There is no chance in hell that I am helping you wage war against the Basilicom!" the heroine declared.
"I-I have to agree..." Compa meekly added. "We can't fight other humans."
"Wait a tick, we've beaten people up before, haven't we?" asked Neptune.
"They attacked first," growled Nisa. "We fought back to defend ourselves. We never pick fights with the Basilicom."
"Sir Turquoise, I already said to them that I only helped them for the sake of altruism," Jade argued once more. "They have nothing to owe us. Please let us simply drop the matter.
The adoptive father 'hmm...'ed to himself. "... Very well, then. What if I asked you to help us in defeating monsters? While you are still helping us, it will be in a less direct, less sexy mascot way."
"Are you deaf?!" Nisa roared. "I will not help you! Not now, not ever! I am thankful you saved Neptune but I refuse help those who would assault the Basilicom!"
"Nisa, h-hold on a second!" Compa hastily approached the heroine. "I know the Aristocrats are fighting the Basilicom but this isn't really about that now. This is just a regular mission to clear out monsters from a dungeon. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?" The nurse finished with a smile. It was a kind and soft smile that one would wear when nothing was wrong.
"We're still supporting them!" Nisa protested. "We're still helping a group of outlaws in their anarchy! I am Gamindustri's defender of justice!"
"I don't see what that has to do with it," Jacob commented. "If anything, that means you should help out the Aristocrats more. The Basilicom's clearly in the wrong this time and they need to be taken down a peg or two."
Nisa snapped her head towards Jacob. He found it hard to keep looking at her; she was about to burst from rage but she was barely managing to hold herself together. She glared with fierce eyes that drilled right into him for what felt like minutes. Ultimately, she turned away. Not looking at anyone, her shoulders slumped and she spoke with no rage or passion. "Look, if you want to help them, I will not stop you... but I cannot support you, either." With those words spoken, the tired heroine made her way to the door.
Compa was the first to stop being surprised by the situation. "Nisa, wait!" she called.
"I am not an anarchist." Nisa reached the door and pulled it open. "I'm sorry."
Jacob held her back with a grip on her shoulder. "Can I talk to you? Please?"
His grip wasn't that strong. In truth, Jacob was just as tired as she was. She could leave with just a shrug. Instead, she stopped. She turned to him. "... What?"
He moved his hand away. She still didn't leave. "I know it's confusing as hell. IF's gone off on her own, Neptune's been poisoned by a corrupt Basilicom... What I wouldn't give to go back to simpler times where the most we had to worry about were having less random encounters as we cleared dungeons. But we're kind of stuck here now and we need to make the most of it, however that's going to go."
"Jacob, our mission is to save the world. We're fighting an organisation whose job is to do just that." Nisa's gaze fell to the ground again. "We're not supposed to be criminals..."
The male sighed. "You fought the CPUs with us, right? It was because they were unjust, weren't they?"
Nisa's head snapped up and greeted him with sharp eyes. They softened again afterwards. She nodded.
"Look, authority isn't necessarily justice. Likewise, acting outside the law doesn't necessarily make you the villain. Justice — our own justice, mind — lives within us. That's why both rebels and upholders of the law exist. Everyone sees justice differently but the laws are in place because not everyone can be trusted to act in a moral manner that benefits others." So slowly, like Nisa was a glass sculpture, Jacob placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sensei, you're the only person in this world that I trust to do the right thing."
"... Really?"
"Yeah, of course." Jacob took his hands off her shoulders and crossed his arms, wearing a proud grin at the same time. "You always fight for what you believe in, you don't give up and you help the helpless. You also actually go out to look for anyone in trouble. You're an active hero regardless of what the law says." Jacob dropped the grin, looking more serious. "There's no way to cut it nicely but the Basilicom is corrupt. It's their job to look out for their people and protect them. However, they're actively hunting the people of Leanbox for their own reasons. They're supposed to protect their lifestyles but they're sacrificing them for their own gain. Worse still, they're hiding behind the law to get away with it."
Nisa looked to the floor again. She exhaled through her nose. However, her hands were beginning to tighten into fists.
Jacob continued. "Sensei, villains aren't always villains and heroes aren't always heroes. Basilicoms aren't normally in the wrong but this one is. What do you think?"
The heroine looked to the door. Jacob made no comment nor did he ready himself to intercept Nisa if she walked out. No one else dared to move or speak, either. "My student," she began, "I travel to fight evil so I don't really have a place to call my own but... I think I now know how you feel when you say you want to go home."
Jacob peeked at the door as well. "Things were a lot less complicated before, weren't they?"
With a slight 'mhm', Nisa nodded.
Compa tapped her fingers together. No one was saying anything. "Um, is there anything else you need?"
"No, I'm... okay, I guess." Nisa walked back to the group. As she rubbed her arm, she decided to chuckle. "I'm sorry about that. I wasn't thinking clearly."
Compa let out a relieved breath. "Thank goodness. You had me worried for a bit, there."
"Something went well. Surprised," remarked Gust.
"Yay!" Neptune ran up to Nisa and caught her in a hug. "Now don't you ever dare to do that again!"
Smiling, the heroine patted the back of her 'sister'. "I will try not to."
"Well, this is a positive turn of events," Turquoise commented, possibly smiling a bit. "Anyway, if you are all assured now, I would like to take you to the dungeon."
"Sure," answered the CPU.
"Actually, I was just here to check on Neptune," responded Jacob. "I'll be heading back to IF now."
"Ah, what a shame," Turquoise answered. "Oh well. It was a pleasure to meet you, Jacob."
"Likewise, Sir Turquoise. I hope we meet each other again."
"Bye, Jacob!" chorused Nisa, Compa and Gust.
"Make sure you get Iffy back here in one piece, okey-dokey?" Although it was a question, Neptune said it as an order. "If anyone can talk her ear off into rejoining the party, it's you!"
Jacob chuckled. "I will, don't worry. I'm on a roll lately and I'm feeling lucky."
Jacob enjoyed the morning breeze as he walked down the road. The dress shirt he wore before was hardly sufficient to keep him from shivering when a sudden breeze picked up but, with his clothes that weren't as thin as tissue paper and his jacket, the breeze didn't agitate him anymore.
As he went to turn the corner, he saw a girl with blue hair and black clothes walking down the road he just turned into. He was surprised to see a non-silhouette but he decided not to say anything. He just kept walking down the road, slightly behind the girl. The girl's head shifted slightly. She was going to see who was behind her but stopped herself. She was possibly nervous. Jacob slowed down a bit to put some distance between them. Didn't stop him from feeling a bit awkward but he was turning left up ahead and chances are she wasn't.
She did. Now Jacob was walking behind her again, much to his chagrin and most likely hers as well. She didn't bother beginning to look behind her that time; she just picked up her pace. He was going to turn into the right street and rolled his eyes when the girl did so before him. Fortunately, he wouldn't have to put up with this for much longer.
Rounding the corner, he saw IF and Red at a table outside of a café. The table was round and white and it had four chairs around it. IF was focused on her phone while she propped her head up on her fist and Red supported her chin with both hands as she swung her feet back and forth.
The blue-haired girl had come to a complete standstill. Jacob walked towards Red and IF with quick steps, passing the girl even though he didn't want to make the tension worse. He just wanted to get over to his party and get this over with. "Hey," he greeted them.
IF looked up from her phone. Her face was as stoic as usual, most likely tired from waiting. "Oh, hey Jacob. You're earl..." IF stopped in the middle of her question. Something behind Jacob caught her attention. "5pb?"
"What?" said Red as she and Jacob turned around to look at the blue-haired girl.
"Ah!" she squeaked as her curled hands shot up to her cheeks and, somehow, a white soundwave line ran horizontally across her shaking irises.
"What's up with her eyes?" Jacob asked.
"Hey, it's you!" Red called.
"Wh— AH!" 5pb screamed.
"Wait, you know each other?!" IF shouted at Red.
"Sure do!" Red nodded fervently. "We met each other at a lake under a full moon. It was so cool! She ran away, though."
5pb was stepping back, preparing to run away again.
"Hey, hey, hold on!" IF stood up and, wearing a smile, approached the girl. "Hi, 5pb. Thanks for coming."
The nervous idol nodded. "I g-got your message... I-Is this your p-party...?"
"Yeah." The brunette turned to Jacob and Red. "Jacob, Red, this is 5pb. 5pb, this is Jacob and Red. Sorry for the scare."
"Wait, 5pb the idol?" Jacob asked. "The one on the radio you listen to? She's joining our party? She can fight?"
"Hey, you're being rude," Red chastised the male. "You're supposed to say 'hi'!" Adopting a more pleasant and cheerful expression, the red-headed girl looked at the idol, who had taken to stepping so that IF got slightly between her and Jacob and Red. "Hey-o! I'm Red, the Royal Emperor Dragon! It's good to meet ya!"
The idol nodded slightly.
"Right, well, I'm Jacob." Jacob rubbed the back of his neck and grinned. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"N... Nice t-to..." 5pb gulped, "... m-meet you..."
"Anyway, yes, she's that idol," IF added. "We met a few days ago and we arranged to meet here so I could introduce her to you. Also, we could all have breakfast together and get to know each other."
"Cool!" cheered Red. "It's great to have more people in a party. And she's an idol, too!"
"Well, this sounds like a good idea," said Jacob. "Any chance you're shouting us, IF?"
"No."
"Curses."
The minutes came and went and the quartet were seated with their empty dishes piled in the middle of the table.
Jacob groaned as he leaned back. "That was nice..."
"I'm surprised you got pancakes," commented the brunette. "Not that they're bad but... aren't you getting sick of them by now?"
"Gods, no. Pancakes are delicious."
"Fine." IF faced 5pb and Red. "Anyway, I should tell you both about Jacob and I. We were part of a larger party but we split for reasons I don't want to talk about. In this bigger party, we were travelling the four landmasses to get a Key Fragment from each of them to save the world."
"Wow..." breathed 5pb. "I had no idea you were a part of something so big."
"There's more. Our team leader, Neptune, is the CPU of Planeptune, Purple Heart."
5pb recoiled with a "What?!" so fast that her chair nearly fell back. She scrambled to get a grip on the table's edge and pull herself and her balance to safety again.
"Whoa, wait, what?!" Red stammered. "You were walking around Gamindustri with a goddess?!"
"Yup. That's an excellent summary," Jacob answered dryly. "So our travels took us—"
"Hold it!" Red glared at Jacob. "Okay, there's a CPU in your party but why is an alien also in the party?"
"Huh? A-An alien?" 5pb stammered as she stared at the male.
Jacob rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm actually from another world. Neptune fell into my world and we went back to Gamindustri. That's pretty much all there is to it."
Red narrowed her gaze. "Alrighty then. What does your world have to do with ours?"
"I wish I knew. It might actually help us." Jacob sighed. "So our travels took us here. The Basilicom's Archbishop poisoned Neptune and she was rescued by the Aristocrats who don't like the Basilicom. As it turns out, ten years ago, the Parliament got a bunch of heretics in order to take over Leanbox somehow but the Sanctuary fought back using the Aristocrats and pushed the heretics out of Leanbox but the Sanctuary didn't want to admit that for some reason and wiped all records of it ever happening and I've lost track of who the bad guy is."
"Well, that definitely cleared things up," IF remarked. "As usual, we don't know where the Key Fragment is so we're passing the time helping the landmass until something pops up. Jacob, do you have any idea what we should do next?"
"Absolutely not."
"And what's the reason this time?"
"Vert already knows what's going on and chances are she's going to grill Yvoire over it if she hasn't already. The animosity between the Aristocrats and the Sanctuary is a problem but I have no idea what to do about that. I suppose we'll just have to wait until something pops up."
"There's nothing you can do?" asked 5pb. "Can't we talk to the goddess?"
"She doesn't like the Aristocrats that much. They're opposing the Basilicom so that's understandable."
"Wait a tic! They're opposing the Basilicom!" Red shouted. "Doesn't that make them the bad guys?"
"Normally, yes. However, Yvoire poisoned Neptune and I don't care about him. Let him get kicked out. Hell, I'd help get him fired but I wouldn't know where to start."
IF kept looking at Jacob. After several seconds, she used her arms to support her head as she looked at him.
"... What?" Jacob asked.
"I was just thinking..."
Jacob waited. "Yes...?"
"Well... what if we tied you to a pole—"
Red gasped and beamed.
"— and held you up so that you could direct us to the plot? Like a dowsing rod?"
There were no NPC silhouettes around so the area was quiet by default. Yet, somehow, the area got even quieter.
Jacob shook his head. "I'm sorry... what?"
"You remember that time when Yvoire came around and offered Neptune the invitation to go to the Basilicom's party and you could sense the plot? I think we should try that again," the Moderatist explained.
Jacob waited a moment for whatever punchline he expected. "... I can't sense plot."
"... But you said you could," argued IF, looking less sure of herself.
"I could hear footsteps in the hallway and I was immensely bored. I thought it would be funny."
"I say we tie him up anyway," suggested Red.
"How about no?"
"Why do you like tying people up so much...?" 5pb asked quietly.
"Hear me out!" As Red got everyone's attention, the dragon on her shoulder opened its eyes. It saw the party and closed them again. "What if we tied up Jacob to a stick and stuck him in the ground in the middle of a dungeon?"
"That's even less productive," Jacob countered.
"You're a party member that can't move and you're in danger. If a villain's gonna attack, it'll be then. Then we can nab 'em and make them spill the beans!"
IF let out a sigh. "That would only work if the villain was actually out to get you. That's not happening now."
"I also think it's a bit excessive..." added the quiet singer. "And I'm sure there are other ways."
Pouting, the red-haired girl crossed her arms. "This is a boring way to start our adventure."
"Hey, don't worry," reassured IF, smiling to add to the effect. "We've been at this for a while. Trust me, it'll pick up."
Red turned to her wifey and smiled back. Without warning, she surprised everyone by leaping forward and catching IF in a hug. "It doesn't matter to me! I'm travelling with my wifey and that's all I need to know."
Despite her nature and Red's close proximity, IF kept smiling at the girl, even if it looked a little unnatural. "Thanks but could you let go, please?"
Jacob raised an eyebrow at the brunette.
The brunette noticed. "... What?" she asked as she looked at Jacob with an unsavoury expression and Red pulled away.
Jacob's eyes narrowed. "Nothing. Anyway, there is something we can do to pass the time."
"What's that?" inquired the idol.
"Nngh..." Jacob laced his fingers together and pushed up to stretch."Sorry. How about we go to a dungeon? We should learn how you fight and all this talk is criminally boring. I mean, it's all we've done for the past few days. Just talk and talk and talk. I haven't had a good fight for ages and I'm bored as hell."
IF turned at the two newcomers to the party. "Sounds good to me. What do you two think?"
"I suppose I could use the experience..." responded 5pb.
"Same here. It's always good to go dungeon crawling once in a while," added Red.
"Alrighty then." Jacob glanced at IF. "You know any missions we can do?"
"Let me check." IF opened up her phone and began reading.
Neptune, Nisa, Compa and Gust arrived with Turquoise at the dungeon. It was another snowy forest that was completely covered in white. It was rather odd for a green and sunny landmass like Leanbox but no one was in the mood to comment on it.
"This is a very old trading route," commenced the Aristocrat. "Ever since a new route was constructed, this one was abandoned, leaving monsters free to live within it."
"Why is a floating island a trading route?" asked Neptune.
"I could tell you but I would hate to give away the secrets of Aristocracy." Turquoise chuckled. "As we intend to hit the unsexy Basilicom with an armed revolt, we need plenty of weapons. They will be delivered on this route as the Basilicom is not watching it. Your task is to eliminate the monsters on this route."
"Won't the monsters just respawn?" Compa asked.
"Not if you kill the boss at the end of the dungeon. Is there anything else?"
"Yes," said Nisa as her arms were crossed. "You never told us you were leading an armed revolt."
The Aristocrat sighed. "Well, how else could we liberate the landmass from the tyranny of the current Sanctuary?"
"Diplomacy, perhaps? Laws? Are you not politicians as well?"
"We are. Can we handle the Basilicom, though? Within the laws they set for us? No. They have all the power and we cannot touch them. If we wish to make ourselves heard, this is the only way."
Nisa's fists were clenched at her sides.
Seeing this, Turquoise hesitated. "... You do not need to clear this dungeon if you wish."
"We will," answered Gust. She wasn't particularly flustered by the astonished stares of her teammates. "However, with new information, we ask for higher reward."
A small sigh escaped the Aristocrat. He reached up and tugged on the edge of his hat. "Very well. I will give you a hundred and fifty percent of your sexy reward."
"Wha— A hundred and fifty?!" Compa shouted. "Bu-Bu-Bu..."
"That... more than Gust expected..." muttered the alchemist, surprisingly stunned herself.
"It is only fair, after all! You have been nearly assassinated by the Basilicom, your party has been divided and you are taking a job that you would prefer not to! I feel it necessary to compensate for all this. I hope this extension makes up for the trials you have experienced."
"It will! Thank you!" Gust answered, gazing at Turquoise with wide, unblinking, twinkling eyes.
"If there is nothing else, I will leave you to it. Find me when you're done for your reward." Turquoise tipped his hat. "Godspeed, girls," he blessed before walking towards the cable car.
Nisa turned to Neptune. "Sister, I have a terrible feeling about this."
Compa gave the pessimistic heroine a warm smile. "Don't worry, Nisa. After this dungeon, we don't need to help them anymore."
Nisa looked to the snow-covered ground. She looked at the palm of her right hand. Her face tightening, she formed a fist with her hand. "We should look into this," she said to Neptune.
Neptune nodded. "Totally."
"Dungeon first!" said Gust as she and Compa began making their way through the snow that didn't blanket the ground so much as it quilted it.
The four girls dragged their legs through the layers of cold white for what felt like minutes before they reached the cliff. They couldn't be more eager as they rushed to it and slid down the slope to the dungeon's corridor. On either side of the path were snowmen and trees with their coloured lights, like the party was walking along a red carpet between two crowds. The dungeon was hardly luxurious enough to be like an award ceremony but, given all the recent events, it was a nice break.
Smirking, Nisa tugged her gloves on tighter. "It really has been a while, hasn't it?"
"Yes," answered Compa as a small group of purple flowers caught her eye. "I'm looking forward to taking out a few monsters, actually. I'm feeling a bit stressed."
"Whoa, Compa's developing a violent streak! Make sure not to transform into a demon while we're around." Neptune reached into her hammerspace for her mech sword. She grinned as she felt the metallic surface of Armas' grip and pulled it out. Holding the sword in front of her, she extended its purple energy blade.
"You're not going to use Neptune Break and steal all the kills, are you?" Nisa asked.
Neptune deactivated the blade and twirled it so that she held it in a reverse grip. Another twirl brought it back to being held like normal. "Nah. All of us really need to get some monster mashing done."
The party stopped walking forward as two monsters appeared. One of them was a blue wolf, a smaller version of the Blue Shadow that the party fought very early on in their quest. The other was a massive orange bee.
The CPU bounced back and forth as she held herself back from attacking. "You ready, Nisa?"
"Readiness runs through the blood of a heroine!" Nisa pulled out her sword with a guard shaped like a penguin's head and a blade of bright yellow energy. With great force that blasted some of the snow back, Nisa leapt towards the Fenrir with her weapon held above her head. "Hiiiiii..."
"...YAH!" called IF as her hidden blades slashed right through a Fenrir that she was battled. The creature dispersed into data and, with a shake of her arms, the blades retracted back into their vambraces.
"Nice work," complimented Jacob.
"Whoa! You pack a punch!" cheered Red.
"It was nothing." IF rubbed her wrist as the party moved on. The mission that they had undertaken took them to another castle. Again, it was mostly empty and sparsely decorated. "So that's how we fight without the turn mechanics. You get it?"
"Yup!" chirped Red. "I could master this in a jiffy!"
"It's a bit odd but I'll manage," answered 5pb.
"Good. Let's keep moving. Jacob, for the record, I will hit you if you scream at any more stairs."
"Bring it on." Jacob walked with his hands in his jacket pockets, looking up to the roof out of boredom. "I'll kick your backside again."
"Oh no you don't!" Red pretty much teleported in front of Jacob and spread her arms out wide. "No one beats up my wifey!"
"Fine," answered Jacob as he walked around the red-headed girl.
The party turned down a corner and two more monsters appeared; a Bird of Paradise and a massive orange bee.
"Jacob, don't!" shouted IF as she held the pale boy's arms at his side, using all her might to keep him from throwing them up at the insect and reducing it to a fine powder. "I know Killer Bees make you nervous but let the others have a go once in a while."
"Pleasedon'tholdmestillwhileabee'srightthere!" pleaded Jacob.
IF moved her hand up to his shoulder. "Calm down. A bee won't attack you unless you attack it. I'll handle the bee, you handle the bird. Got it?"
IF could feel Jacob's chest expand as he breathed in deeply through his nose. He held it for a second before letting it out through his mouth. "Okay. That's a good plan. Thanks."
"Don't mention it." IF walked to stand opposite the Killer Bee and, with a flick of her wrists, extended her hidden blades.
Jacob walked to stand beside 5pb and Red opposite the red flightless bird. "Hey 5pb, why don't you show me what you can do?"
"Okay." The idol reached to her side and pulled out a grey electric guitar with a black fretboard from where Jacob guessed her disc was. Jacob wasn't surprised at the odd choice for a weapon; she was an idol, after all, so it fit with the theme. Plus, Red used yo-yos and frisbees while Compa used an impractically oversized syringe that shot bullets. A green three-by-three grid was in a white circle that was underneath the bridge. The guitar's body had a curved side that faced 5pb's exposed stomach and a flat side opposite to it. It was like a very narrow hammerhead if the claws were bent down the length and one with the body.
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "So you're like a magic idol or something?"
"Oh no, not magic. I have a relative who's into magic and science. She made me this guitar." The idol smiled fondly at her guitar. Her fingers were twitching near the pickups, excited to play. "It's odd for a guitar to be a weapon, isn't it?"
"I've seen weirder." Jacob peeked at Red. She wasn't holding anything and her dragon couldn't look less interested in the current events but he knew she could pull out a variety of items whenever she needed them.
5pb looked at the red-headed girl as well. "Um, excuse me? Is... Is that a real dragon?"
"Hm?" Red grinned. "Oh, he sure is!" The girl raised her right shoulder a bit, lifting the dragon in turn. Finally, the golden reptile seemed awake enough to maintain eye contact with the idol. "Hey, you lazy tapeworm. Say g'day."
The dragon blinked once. It let out a small puff of breath through its nose.
Red didn't let this get to her. Still smiling, she lowered her shoulder as well as her dragon. "Sorry about that. His get up and go got up and went the day he was born."
Jacob turned his focus back to 5pb again. "So what can your guitar do?"
The idol, unexpectedly, smiled. It wasn't her usual small social smile; she was confident. "Let me show you."
Now Jacob remembered where he heard that voice before. He knew she was the same 5pb from the radio station that IF liked but he couldn't connect her meek persona to that radio identity at all. That was different now. The idol was much taller than IF and now she actually stood like it against the monster.
One swift strum her her guitar sent out four orbs of cackling blue electricity that flew towards the Bird of Paradise like stars of lightning while the electricity raged on 5pb's instrument and across her hand, although she paid it no mind. The Bird of Paradise was surrounded by the lightning orbs, squawking in pain as the static electricity alone harmed it.
Jacob whistled. "That's awesome!"
"I can do more!" 5pb played her guitar very quickly. The electricity grew on the guitar again but also around her. As she strummed, the electricity around her became more and more intense until, with a final strum, a large ball of lightning was launched towards the red monster. When the sphere of blue plasma reached the monster, it expanded even more and the electricity generated by both the sphere and 5pb's guitar thrashed more and more as the Bird cried louder and louder. Finally, the electricity of both the ball and the area around 5pb dispersed, reducing the Bird of Paradise to mere particles and leaving the idol no worse for wear.
"Okay, now that was incredible." Jacob ran a hand up the back of his head. "Is there anything else you..." Jacob stopped his hand. It went through his hair but his hair felt wrong. "What the...?"
"Jacob, what's wr—" IF stopped as she turned around and saw Jacob. Her pupils actually dilated as she was thunderstruck by what she saw. Ill-prepared for such a sight, her hands reflexively shot up to cover her mouth to stifle her sniggering. Her sniggering soon evolved to uncontrolled laughter that made her bend over and hold her stomach.
Red didn't even bother trying to hold her laughter back. Her laughing collapsed her, reducing her to holding her aching stomach with one arm to at least give the sensation of relieving it and pointing at Jacob with the other. "You... your hair... what?!"
"Is something wrong?" asked 5pb before she rotated to look at Jacob. Immediately, her eyes had spiking lines running across them again. "Uh-Uh... Uh... J-Jacob...?"
Jacob sighed as he held his hair in his hands. "Just great. My hair's... Sorry, my hairs are straighter than rulers now." Standing near 5pb while electricity surged all around her must have been a bad idea because Jacob's hairs were now standing on end. His hairstyle now resembled a significant portion of a perfect sphere.
"S-Sorry..." 5pb apologised as she focused elsewhere to give him some dignity. Her eyes returned to normal.
"You look so s-s...stupid!" Red croaked out before banging her fist on the carpet while she laughed into the fabric.
"C-Come on, leave him alone..." IF struggled to say through her mirth. After a few more moments, she managed to gain control of herself and rubbed a tear away from her eye. "Is everyone okay...?" she panted.
"Yes," answered the unamused Jacob.
"Y-Yes," answered the idol, still sparing Jacob by keeping her gaze away from him.
Red snorted. "Yes!"
IF breathed in and out again. "Good. Let's go."
"Hey, Red?" began Jacob. "Why don't you scout ahead for treasures and the boss? I think you need to be away from me for a bit."
"S... Sure thing...!" Red quickly ran on ahead before she snorted again.
Letting out a breath of relief, Jacob walked up to IF. "Can I ask you something?"
"That hair is not attractive," she responded without looking at him. "We need to fix it."
"I agree but my question is more personal. Have you noticed that Red acts a lot like Neptune?"
IF lost the jocular calm that surrounded her. She glanced at Jacob again with stoic seriousness. She then cracked a smile as she saw his hair again, making Jacob roll his eyes. "Yeah, she does. They're even almost the same height. So what?"
"I always assumed you didn't like Neptune because of her personality. Why exactly, do you tolerate Red's antics and show disdain for Neptune's?"
The smile disappeared. The unnerved Moderatist faced forward again, looking away from Jacob and watching Red check down each corridor before moving onto the next one. "... It's not about the personality."
"Then what is it? Does it have anything to do with the poison?" Jacob pressed.
"Jacob." The two of them stopped. They faced each other fully now as IF stared at Jacob with absolutely no remaining humour. Her expression softened. "I can't take you seriously if you have an afro."
"Are you kidding me?" Jacob snapped. "Fine. Let's just kill the boss and get out of here."
Neptune and Nisa, the former in her Hard Drive Divinity state, entered the Aristocrat mansion's common room. Jade sat at the table reading a book with a wine glass on the side.
"My apologies for Sir Turquoise's request," apologised the Aristocrat without looking up. "I hope the dungeon was not troubling for you or your comrades?"
"It was not," answered Purple Heart. "We conquered the dungeon very easily. It was rather boring, to be honest."
Hearing that unfamiliar voice, Jade stopped reading and looked towards the heroine and the CPU. His eyes were fixed on the older-looking female who appeared to be friends with Nisa. "Is this a new friend of yours, Nisa?"
The heroine shook her head. "No, this is Neptune. She transformed."
Jade might have blinked. "Trans..."
"It's complicated! She's special!" Nisa cut in.
"I... see." Jade took another sip of wine. "Where are the other two?"
"Resting," responded Purple Heart. "We need to talk. I heard that you are going to transport weapons with that trading route."
"Oh? Are you interested?" asked Jade as he stood up. "Unfortunately, I can't say much... Would you excuse me for a moment?"
Jade exited the room, leaving Purple Heart and Nisa in the room alone and slightly confused.
Purple Heart attempted to sit down in one of the seats but her wings kept getting in her way so she remained standing. "What do you believe he's up to?"
"I wish I knew," answered the heroine.
The Aristocrat returned carrying, to the shock of the two girls, an assault rifle. It was far beyond Leanbox's technology with a rather boxy and rigid shape complete with select fire, a holographic sight and even a laser pointer. "This was developed by Avenir, Lastation's leading company in weapons. It outclasses anything that Leanbox manufactures."
"Avenir?" Purple Heart repeated. "You have them developing your weapons?"
"In a way." Jade placed the firearm on the table. "Avenir is more inclined to develop robots rather than conventional weapons. However, I have a friend working for them. She develops weapons suitable for human use and sends them to us, for which I am grateful."
"Hold on!" shouted Nisa. "The Basilicoms forbade trading between the landmasses!"
"That is true. However, I have my ways."
Purple Heart's hand tightened into a fist. "What are you playing at, Jade? Violating the laws of the land like you are... Is this all a game to you?"
Even though Jade was a silhouette, Purple Heart could tell that she was locked in an intense gaze with him. "I see you are more aggressive in that form," he noted as he picked up the weapon. "Well, let it be known that this is not at all a 'game' to me. This is a matter of the highest importance and I will see it through, whether or not you involve yourself in it further. I will open the Basilicom's eyes, no matter what it takes..." With the weapon in his arms, Jade walked out of the room again.
"We need to tell Jacob," said Nisa.
"Absolutely," agreed the CPU. "He and Iffy will know what to do."
The heroine crossed her arms, gazing at where the rifle sat on the table. "Open the Basilicom's eyes... I wish I knew what that meant."
Vert and Yvoire stood opposite each other in the Basilicom's glass room. Yvoire had his hands at his sides and stood upright and still like a post. Vert's arms were crossed, fitting her cross attitude at the moment as she gazed at the Archbishop not too kindly at all.
"Archbishop Yvoire, do you know why I called you here?" she asked him.
"I do not, my lady," answered Yvoire without budging even slightly.
Vert's glare only became sharper. "Several days ago, you organised a banquet in my honour held at this Basilicom. I understand one of the guests was a girl by the name of Neptune, who brought her adventuring party with her. Is this correct?"
"It is."
"Very well. Now, days later, I was told that Neptune was poisoned. Did you know about that?"
Still though he was, Yvoire tensed. "... I did not, my lady."
"Then why have I been told that, on the night of the party, you took one of her party members outside and asked her to poison Neptune? Saying that such was my wish?"
"What?" Yvoire blurted, losing his composure. "Who told you such a thing?"
"Two other members of Neptune's party followed you and observed the conversation you supposedly had with IF. One of them told me of the ordeal. I was also told you knew of the Console War and that Neptune was Purple Heart, CPU of Planeptune."
As his goddess frowned at him, Yvoire forced himself to not disrespectfully turn his head away. "I did know of the Console War and Neptune's title."
"Who told you?" she demanded. "How did you learn of such a secret event known only by the four CPUs?"
"My lady, I was told by an informant of your battle with the other CPUs," Yvoire answered. "However, to disclose of my informant's identity would put her in danger."
"Do not keep secrets from me, Yvoire. Who was your informant?"
If he wasn't a silhouette, Yvoire's gritting of his teeth would've been noticeable. "... The one who told me of the Console War was Lowee's Evangelist, Conversation."
The CPU's expressed eased. "I see. Now, what was your motive for going behind my back and having someone kill a CPU for me even though I never asked for such a thing?"
"I did it for you, Lady Green Heart. You fight against three other CPUs for all of us but all we can do is pray... I had to to provide more aid somehow!" One of Yvoire's feet took a step forward.
The CPU turned around and looked out through the glass. "Your faith is sufficient. It and my strength will see me through this war."
"Lady Green Heart—"
"Do not try this again without my approval," the CPU interrupted before she twisted her head to look back at the Archbishop. "You are dismissed."
"... As you wish, my lady." Yvoire headed out the door immediately, keeping himself composed like a professional.
Once she was confident he couldn't hear her, Vert let out a sigh. "It was a mistake to leave you in charge and not handle the landmass' problems directly..."
The doors opened again. "Lady Green Heart, may I have a word with you?" asked the Evangelist.
Surprised, Vert turned around. Remembering who called for her, she frowned again. "What a coincidence. I had been meaning to talk with you. Come right in."
The silhouette helped herself inside and walked up to the CPU. "Thank you, my lady. I have urgent news to share with you. Firstly, I must say that you are a very lucky goddess to have someone as loyal as Yvoire working under you. He will suffer every punishment you give him and remain silent if it repels further conflict, even if that punishment is ill-deserved."
Vert was rather taken aback. "Conversation, what are you talking about?"
The Evangelist adjusted her hat. "I apologise for the secrecy but I was listening to the conversation you just had."
"Conv—"
"Please have faith in me when I say I would not have done so if it was not so important," Conversation interjected. "Yes, I did inform Yvoire of the Console War. As a follower of Lady White Heart, I believed it was necessary to provide aid for my goddess. If it took helping you as well, it was no cost at all."
"Even if that's true, the Console War is a matter for CPUs only. There is no need for you to involve yourself. I alone shall handle Neptune."
"I believe that you will. However, I am concerned over one individual. Specifically, that male companion of hers."
Vert blinked. "Do you mean Jake? What is your concern with him? I believe you met once."
Conversation walked to the side. "That is true. Before I left Lowee, we crossed paths. He came across as a trustworthy individual. Truly, I was a terrible judge of character back then. His knowledge of Celestia is too great."
"That is because Noire told him of it," Vert reasoned. "While it is highly unlikely, it's not impossible for him to learn of the Console War through her."
The Evangelist didn't meet Vert's gaze. Perhaps she was. Silhouettes were hard to analyse in such ways. "... What if I told you he knew about it before he met her?"
"Huh?" Vert swiftly looked back at the silhouette in confusion. "What are you saying?"
Like a switch was flicked, Conversation marched over to Leanbox's CPU. "Lady Green Heart, that boy is nothing but bad news. I will tell you in great detail if you are willing to listen."
Vert stood there, appraising Lowee's Evangelist for moment after moment. "... Do tell."
And thus, after all this exposition and dialogue, we have two parties of four: Neptune, Nisa, Compa and Gust and IF, Jacob, Red and 5pb.
Geez, it's getting harder to write these days... Got a bit of writer's block on me; it's sapping my energy big time. I don't know when the next chapter will be up, sorry. I think I'll take a break to sit back and just let my energy build up again. Also, I need to plan out more for the end of the arc.