Noire squinted her eyes, into her classic 'Nowa face', really, it was beginning to get on her nerves.
"Neptune! You can't just run in front of everyone!" Nepgear yelled, sighing as she ran to make sure said goddess didn't press a trap button… again.
"Give it up, Nepgear, she's a lost cause" Uni mused to herself, blatantly disrespecting the goddess, even if she and Noire had been over it a million times before, Uni just couldn't understand why she had to respect Neptune of all people,
She didn't know why she bothered anymore. She didn't know why she agreed to help her every time she asked her for help clearing out a dungeon. Maybe it was because she only ever asked her. And not any of her other friends. Well…. That wasn't exactly true. She asked IF and Compa all the time, and hey, Noire had heard that she asked that member of the Gold Third to help her all the time, 'exposure therapy' she called it. But still… it felt like she asked Noire the most. Or maybe… Noire wanted that to be the case. Even still….
Noire felt her forehead twitch, as she heard the obvious noises of Neptune activating another trap, as Nepgear quickly pulled her out of it, the two sharing a 'heart warming' embrace after, as Noire felt her eyes roll into the back of her skull, really…
As her oldest friend Noire knew Neptune. She was…. She was…
"Ooh! A chest! Letsa open her up!" Neptune chirped as she rushed into a empty room aside from a singular chest,
"Oh a chest in an empty room. Surely this isn't a trap. C'mon even you're not dumb enough to fall for thi-" Noire couldn't even finish, as Neptune opened up the chest… as it triggered a proverbial army of dogoos to be summoned, and as Noire, Uni, and Nepgear did their best to fend of the pests, Neptune quickly found herself a victim of the pervy goo creatures, as one licked her thigh, as she crumbled to a giggling mess on ground, as Noire felt herself get more and more upset at the situation, yet, eventually, the dogoo army was felled, flipping her glare to her friend, she ranted,
"What the hell was that!? You really expect me to believe you didn't know that was a trap!? And what the hell was that effort against the dogoos!? You really expect me to believe you can't beat a bunch of dogoos?!" Noire yelled, next to her she heard a scoff,
"Maybe she can't" Uni mused, walking further into the dungeon next to Nepgear, who tried to defend her sister, as Noire felt herself grow more and more frustrated, she wanted to lecture Uni. The blatant disrespect she was showing another goddess, and yet…
"Ahhhh it's totally cool beans, you all beat the lil pervs didn't ya?" She winked, completely ignoring Uni's comment, as Noire gritted her teeth.
She really wanted Noire to believe she didn't hear her sister's blatant disregard for her abilities? She really expected Noire to believe she didn't care her sister didn't think she could be a fucking dogoo? Did she really expect Noire to forget how strong she is? Neptune could flick in a dogoo's direction and kill it. Did Neptune expect Noire to forget the fact she was stronger than she was? The fact that every single time they fought during that accursed war, Neptune beat her? Every. Single. Time.
She really expected her to forget that? Damn her. Yet…
As the day went by, and Neptune triggered no less than 3 more traps, eventually they found themselves at the end of the dungeon, one last chest to open, and as Noire trudged herself forward, far too annoyed by the situation, she missed on the fact that….
"Sis, wait!"
She was triggering an obvious trap, as soon as she opened the chest, pixelating next to her…
Was a less than pleased looking ancient dragon, already winding its large fist, aimed at Noire as if to send her through the walls of the cave they were in, and as Noire felt herself freezed, instead of the fist colliding with Noire's body, it collided with,
"Hmph…" Purple Heart grunted as she used her body to brace her large sword as it intercepted the dragon's large fist. Slashing it away, as she quickly chased after it, swirling away from another punch aimed at her, and in a feet of unbelievable strength, finesse, and raw skill, she flipped around as she aimed herself at the beast,
"Victory slash!" She yelled as she slashed twice in the shape of a V, rushing the beast as she connected her skill, and the large reptilian beast was felled in one attack. Before anyone else could even get close enough to attack, and despite being saved from a nasty bruise, not to mention the embarrassment…
Noire felt her rage hit a boiling point as Purple Heart once more assumed the form of Neptune, giggling as she said something or the other to Noire as she looked down,
"Uh? Noire? Bestest friend Noire? Are you ok? Is it that time of the-"
"GODDESS DAMNIT NEPTUNE!" She screamed as Neptune jumped back, Nepgear and Uni soon looking at each other as the scene played out, unsure of what to do as Noire summoned her rapier, soon unleashing a series of thrusts aimed at Neptune, as Neptune simply weaved in and out of the predictable rush, and as Noire pressed on and on,
"Lace Ribbons Dance!" She yelled, activating her skill, as Neptune narrowed her eyes, summoning her own weapon as gauged the powerful attack, and even if hardly any being in gamindustri could… she stopped the attack. With raw strength alone, as she held her blade as a guard against Noire rapier, soon slashing up, as Noire's blade landed somewhere across the cave,
"Noire! What the hell-" Uni began rushing over, Nepgear in tow, as both were soon silenced, as Neptune raised her hand, as if to signal, 'stay right there' in as menacing a tone as she could. And despite all she thought of her, Uni gulped in fear as she obeyed,
"Noire. What was that?" Neptune asked, her tone dead serious as Nepgear and Uni gulped, very very rarely having heard Neptune speak this way, and as Noire stared at the ground, a shadow covering her eyes, Neptune pressed, "Noire?"
"I should be the one asking about Neptune. What was that?" She asked, balling her fists at the hem of her dress, "All these years and I still can't beat you" She ranted, her breath growing harsh,
"Noire…" Neptune didn't know what to say, yet, as she tried to start, "I-"
"Shut up! Shut up and listen! I'm angry at you! So just listen!" Noire yelled, as she took a deep breath, beginning, "How dumb do you think I am!?" She yelled,
"I don't thin-"
"I said shut up!" Noire wasn't having it, "How long have I known you? Don't answer! I'm still mad! The answer is long enough to know that personality of yours is a fucking act! I know, Blanc knows, Vert knows, and I'm sure Histoire knows, its a goddamn act! And they might put up with it, but I'm sick of it! I know damn well that the way you used to act is like Purple Heart! So… I am demanding to know. Why!? Why?! Why do you pretend you're incompetent, weak, and helpless, when I know that's not the case! Where did the strong, brave, and invincible woman go? The one I used to stay up at night and curse because no matter what I did, I couldn't beat you! Hell… I still can't beat you! What the hell! Neptune!" Noire yelled, by the end of it her eyes were teary from her anger,
"..." Yet, Neptune, it appeared, had nothing to say.
"Sis…" Nepgear mused as she held her hand to her chest, really, she didn't get any of this, as long as she had lived, she had always known Neptune to act this way, was she really… different before?
"Noire?" And beside her, Uni couldn't help but be mystified by her own sister's actions, never before could she remember her sister acting like this…
"Really!? Nothing to say, Neptune! Don't I at least deserve an explanation! Aren't I… your first friend…?" Noire yelled, before feeling her voice fade to a plea, as a memory panged her mind…
"What the hell… Purple Heart? You're running away! Why don't you… finish me…?" A defeated Black Heart yelled towards the back of the purple haired goddess. Yet again. She had bested her when Black Heart had challenged her, yet, as Purple Heart looked back, there was no malice in her mature features, only… pity, as Black Heart gritted her teeth,
"Because. You're my friend Black Heart. This war is pointless. One day you'll see that, and realize you're my first friend. I believe that." Purple Heart gently explained, as Black Heart felt herself snap,
"Go fuck yourself you good for nothing piece of shit!" She yelled with the last of her strength, as Purple Heart shook her head, soon soaring off as she flew towards Planeptune,
"Neptune…?" Noire pleaded, as Neptune sighed,
"I just want… everyone to be happy. For everyone to live a life of peace… It's all I ever wanted. When our younger sisters were born. I decided. Never again would I fight like we used to. I refused to let them see how ugly the world can be… I never wanted them to look like… us…" Neptune began, voice defeated, as everyone around her could only bite their lips, no one feeling like it was right to interrupt her, "Who cares if I'm the lovable idiot? Who cares if everyone thinks I'm incompetent? Who cares!? I never wanted to win. If I'm always last. You all don't have to fight anymore. I don't care… I don't care… I'll gladly trade my pride if it means Nepgear never has to fight those goddamn battles. I hated it… Noire… I hated it…"
That's right… it wasn't pity in Purple Heart's eyes then. It was… sadness.
"Neptune…" Noire didn't believe what she was hearing, Neptune… could be so selfless?
'Noire. I know it must seem like a slight on all we've been through. That I'm making a mockery of you. But… I always respected you. I just…" Neptune couldn't find the words, as Noire slowly walked up to her first friend, as she grabbed her to her as strong as she could,
"It's ok. I get it." and then… no more words were needed between the pair of old friends as they enjoyed the simple embrace.
Maybe… maybe Noire never gave Neptune the credit she deserved.
I feel really good about this one, I hope you all enjoyed!
end5- Ty as always!
Tony Anderson- heh glad to hear it! Yes... Neptune is very justified in her feelings. What Rei and Anonnydeth did was unforgivable.
