Neptunia Guild Files: Fate/book one

A Hyperdimension Neptunia Fan Fiction

by Derald Snyder

A/N: This series takes place between 'The Mech-Suit's Turnabout' and 'Ho-Hum and the Alien Visitation'.

Section 1: Delusions of Grandeur

"I am... destined for greatness! I know I am!" So declared the blonde woman with large expressive green eyes, her hair done up in a braided bun, dressed in an old red dress with poofy sleeves. "Just you watch! One day, the deeds of the great Nero Claudius shall be known far and wide!"

"Suuuure they will," her friend deadpanned as she lounged on the nearby couch, dressed in a dark blue t-shirt and matching denim shorts. She brushed a lock of pink hair from her face as one of her fox ears twitched in boredom. "Just because you're halfway decent at fencing you think you'll be some great hero some day, mikon."

"What do you mean, halfway?" Nero whirled on her friend. "I am an excellent fencer! The Knights of the Round Table would be envious of my swordplay!"

"You realize that's just an old fable, right?" the fox-woman sighed, before yawning and stretching. "I swear, Nero, it's impossible to catnap when you're making your proclamations of delusion, mikon..."

"All you do is catnap, Tamamo!" Nero shot back. "I sometimes find it hard to believe that Cyberconnect2 is your cousin by blood! She's so energetic, and you... well, need I say more?"

"Practicing my family's discipline of magical martial arts is tiring," Tamamo countered. "My parents don't show any mercy on me..."

"As well they shouldn't! And why are we talking about your problems?!" Nero declared. "Well, perhaps if you need help sleeping, I can serenade you with my unrivaled vocal talents?"

"NO-! Uh, ahem, I mean, no, I'm good," Tamamo stammered. "Look, ah, how about you go serenade the masses or something instead?"

"...Yes! Excellent idea! I shall indeed go and do just that!" Nero proclaimed, giving Tamamo a polite curtsey before turning on her foot and exiting the apartment.

"...kinda feel sorry for the masses, mikon," Tamamo lamented. "But, better them than me..." With that, she buried her head between a pillow and the couch cushion, swiftly going to sleep.

*On the streets of Laguna City, Lastation...*

"La-la-la-laaaaa, laaaaa-lalala...!"

Nero sang her heart out as she stood on the street corner, the pedestrians keeping the proper distance as they went about their daily commute, wondering just what transgression they had committed against Lady Noire to deserve this... One passing car laid on the horn long and loud.

"Yes, thank you! Thank you for your acknowledgement of my superior talent!" Nero waved after the vehicle as if went on it's way, before resuming her singing...

"Excuse me!" Nero stopped and turned to see a male NPC holding about 100 credits. "Where's the basket at?"

"Basket?" Nero tilted her head in confusion.

"Yeah, the basket to drop money in. You're one of those homeless people trying to put on a show for money, aren't you?"

Nero scoffed in disbelief, taking a step back. "Y-you miscreant! Do I look like I need your money?!" Drawing her rapier, she exclaimed, "Begone with thee, you fool, before I put your head on a pike!"

"Yahhh! I'm soooorrrrry!" The NPC cried as he fled in a panic.

Nero watched him run off, sheathing her sword. "Honestly... Now then... Mi-mi-mi-mi, laaaaaa, lalalala..." It wasn't long before her singing was interrupted again, this time by a woman with long pinkish-purple hair riding on a motorcycle, dressed from neck to toe in leather, a pair of sunglasses on her face. "M-may I help you, ma'am?" Nero asked as the woman halted.

"You're a hard woman to find, you know that?" the biker chick commented as she dismounted, handing an envelope to Nero. "Here's the objective. Archer will back you up. You know what to do." Before Nero could say anything, she had gotten back on her bike, driving off down the road.

"Ah- Thank you!" Nero called after her, before looking down at the envelope in her hands. "Who was that...?" Shrugging, she went ahead and opened the envelope, pulling out the single sheet of paper within... "2300...? And what is this address...?"

*Back at the apartment...*

"TAMAMO!" Nero cried as she slammed the door open!

"Kyaaaa!" Tamamo screeched as she fell off the couch in shock. "Ugh, Nero, did you have to wake me up like that?!"

"Would you rather I whistled long and loud into your ear, like when we were kids?" Nero retorted smugly.

"No way!" Tamamo cried, jumping to your feet. "Okay, you have my undivided attention, your majesty..."

Nero rolled her eyes at this comment, handing her friend the sheet of paper she'd received. "Can you make heads or tails of this? I know it's an address, but where? And what does '2300' mean?"

"Hmmm..." Tamamo hummed as she looked over the paper. "If I'm right, this looks like it could be one of the river docks, mikon. As for '2300'... maybe it's military time."

"Military time?" Nero blinked in confusion, before realization dawned. "Oh! So it's actually saying 11 PM, is it not?"

"Right. But where did you get this?" Tamamo asked.

"Some woman on a motorcycle gave it to me," Nero replied. "She said something about an archer backing me up..."

"Describe her." So Nero did... "Hmmm... this isn't good, mikon. Sounds like some sort of sting operation... maybe a drug deal or something..."

"Ah-ha! You see?" Nero declared confidently. "At last, my talents have been recognized! I shall go forth and halt this drug deal, and arrest the law-breakers, and everyone will be singing my praises throughout the city!"

"You're not a police officer, Nero," Tamamo shut her down. "And if it is a drug operation, these guys'll probably be armed to the teeth with machine guns, assault rifles and the like, mikon." (And I'll bet you that biker lady mistook you for someone else,) she appended inwardly.

Unfortunately, Nero only looked slightly deterred. "...W-well then, perhaps you could come along with me! If you are so talented with your magic, now would be the time to prove yourself! Just think of how proud your parents would be!"

"More likely I'll get grounded for a week," Tamamo sighed. "If we live to tell the tale, that is..."

"Nonsense! Don't be so pessimistic!" Nero shook her head. "With you and I working together, we shall take down those miscreants before they knew what hit them!"

Seeing her friend would not be dissauded, the fox-girl could only heave a resigned sigh. "I hope you're right, mikon... I really do."

*That night, at the docks...*

Nero and Tamamo crept along the paved road, the latter holding the address-paper in her hands, the former having changed from her dress into a less-conspicuous dark blouse and skirt. "Okay, here it is. This is the number on the address," Tamamo whispered.

"How can you tell? I can barely see anything!" Nero hissed back.

"I'm part-fox, remember? Night vision," her friend deadpanned. "Okay, let's see what's going on..." The two tiptoed to a stack of large wooden crates, slowly shimmying to the corner, then peeking out...

There was a mid-sized boat docked, looking rather plain with no name or numbers on it's side or bow. Nearby, a semi truck had parked, three men unloading boxes from the back, with stockings over their heads to conceal their faces. "Clearly they are not legitimate businessmen, dressed like that," Nero observed. "How many do you see?"

"Erm, three...? No, there's four of 'em," Tamamo observed another man exit the truck.

"Very well, I'm going in," Nero asserted. "You stay hidden, so you can surprise them if I end up being outmatched."

Tamamo briefly shivered in fear, before nodding. "A-alright, good luck..."

As Nero approached the men, she could start to discern their conversation... "...make a pretty penny selling this dope. Hope we get a good cut..."

"Of the dope, or the money?" another thug ribbed.

"...Yes!" the first replied after a moment causing some light laughter among the quartet...

"HOLD IT!"

"Huh?!" the four thugs turned to see Nero standing there with her hands on her hips.

"I hereby pronounce you drug-dealing miscreants under arrest! Come along quietly, or else!"

"...Okay, who do you think you are, lady? Emperor of Rome?" one thug quipped.

"I am Nero Claudius! Remember it well!" the blonde exclaimed. "Now surrender yourselves quietly, or else!"

"...she's whacked," another thug observed.

"In more ways than one," the third said. "Doesn't mean we can't have some fun with 'er first, though..."

"I like what you're thinkin'," the first grinned under his stocking as they approached Nero with clear ill-intent.

"I warned you!" Nero cried as she drew her sword in a lightning-quick motion, her swing catching the first thug in the throat and severing his jugular! The others watched in shock as he collapsed, gripping his neck to try and stop the blood-flow to no avail, soon going limp and dead.

"You bitch! GET HER!" The remaining three rushed the woman, only for her to easily dance away from their charge, tripping one with her foot and causing him to crash into the other two, sprawling over the ground in a heap! The one on top shoved himself up, attempting to swing at Nero, who ducked and thrust her rapier into his stomach, before kneeing him in the groin! As he fell over, the other two came at Nero from opposite directions, but she simply jumped back and let them collide with each other! Her rapier then found purchase in the throat of the right thug, dealing another lethal injury! The last thug managed to grab Nero around the waist, but she managed to shove her finger into his eye, the man screaming in pain and letting go, allowing the blonde to stab him through the heart!

As the last of the thugs collapsed, Nero backed off a little to admire her handiwork, inwardly pleased that her stomach was only slightly nauseated at the realization that she had just killed three people. (Not as if they didn't deserve it...) Aloud she spoke to the lone surviving man, "Now do you see? You should have listened and surrendered yourselves to custody!"

"D-damn whore...!" the thug grunted, one hand still favoring his stomach. "Y-you won't get away with this...!"

"That's my line, fool!" Nero retorted. "Tamamo, contact the authorities!"

"I-I can't!" came the reply.

"What do you mean, you can't...?" Nero said as she turned back stopping short as she realized her friend had been put in a headlock by another thug, who had a gun pressed to her temple! "You-! Unhand her at once!"

"You and what army?" the thug taunted.

"Yeah, what army?" Another voice spoke up behind Nero, the blonde turning to see several more men emerging from the shadows, several of them armed with handguns and/or machine guns!

"W-w-what in the-?! Where did you come from?!" Nero cried in shock.

"You think the boat was empty?" the lead thug taunted. "Fortunately for you, I'm a fair man... I'd be willin' to forgive you killin' my business partners, if you and your friend give us a good time... if you know what I mean."

Nero inhaled sharply, before exclaiming, "Never! I would never submit my body to your perverted desires!"

"Fine then. I've got no problem with fucking a dead lady, you know..." With that he cocked his gun, Nero shutting her eyes tightly, waiting for the end...

*Sh-thunk!* A gasp went up among the crowd, Nero opening her eyes again to see the head thug collapse bonelessly to the ground, an arrow imbedded in his skull! "Who did that?!" Another thug demanded.

"I did!" Everyone looked up, to see a young man with a black bow standing atop the stack of wooden crates! He had short white hair and dark skin, wearing a long red overcoat over a tight black muscle shirt and black pants, his black eyes staring down at the criminals with contempt...

"It's the Red Archer!" one thug screamed in terror. "SHOOT HIM!" the group immediately opened up with their guns, the Red Archer quickly ducking back behind the crates... However, Tamamo was able to use the distraction to hurl the thug holding her hostage over her shoulder, then kicking him in the head to render him unconscious!

Seeing her friend free herself, Nero promptly ordered, "Tamamo, now is the time to make your move!"

"You got it!" the fox girl nodded, her hands clenching slightly as she summoned fire magic, then running forward and hurling her fireballs into the crowd, several thugs screaming as they were immolated! Tamamo then jumped and kicked a larger man who'd avoided the initial assault in the chest, knocking him into many more! A few thugs tried to surround her, but Tamamo easily dodged their clumsy strikes and struck them down with a roundhouse kick!

Meanwhile, Nero herself had rejoined the fray, cutting and slicing with her sword, trying her best to ignore the blood that spattered on her form as she continued cutting down thugs, trying to focus on the ones that were armed so they couldn't bring their guns to bear. One managed to point his handgun in her face, only for an arrow to embed itself in his arm, making him drop his gun and cry in pain, Nero quickly dealing a lethal stab to the chest!

Some of the thugs, realizing they were outmatched, tried to flee the scene, only for a motorcycle to cut them off! "What's your hurry, boys?" the leather clad woman from earlier taunted as she dismounted, brandishing a long chain with knives on either end. "Don't leave me out of the fun!"

"Oh, shit! It's Medusa Rider!" one of the thugs realized, before his throat was cut open as the woman lashed out with her chain!

"Oh, you're gonna be wishing you were turned to stone when I'm through with you!" 'Medusa Rider' grinned sadistically as she twirled her chain with practiced precision, the thugs crying in fear as she approached...

"That's the woman who gave me the address!" Nero realized as she cut down another lowlife.

"We're obviously in the right place, then," Tamamo deadpanned as she grabbed a thug by the throat and burned him to a crisp with fire magic. But then, something caught her eye, summoning another fireball and hurling it at the boat-

-which exploded and scattered the thugs who had been about to man a mounted gatling gun on the ship! One man tried to get back to the gun in spite of the flames, only to get head-shot by the Red Archer!

"Nice work, Tamamo!" Nero complimented, then looking around for more thugs, only to see none left standing! "Oh, my... is that all of them?"

"Looks like it," Archer said as he walked up next to her. "These drugs won't be poisoning young teens anytime soon. Good work, Saber."

"You are most welcome!" Nero said as she turned to face him. "But, who are you, good sir?"

"Wha-?" Archer locked eyes with Nero, doing a double-take. "Y-you're not Saber!"

"Who is Saber?" Nero frowned. "I am Nero Claudius, heroine of greatness! Or at least someday I will be!"

"Oh, for...!" Archer turned away. "Rider, you gave the mission directive to the wrong woman!"

"I what?!" Rider said as she walked up, removing her sunglasses, revealing piercing red eyes that focused on Nero. "Oh, son of a bitch. How the hell did I... seriously?!"

"Y-you mean that wasn't meant for me?!" Realization finally dawned on Nero.

"Obviously not, mikon," Tamamo deadpanned as she walked up to the group. "I'm guessing we're in big trouble, huh?"

"Well, we did accomplish our objective, regardless," Rider pointed out. "Whoever these two are, they're definitely the real deal..."

Red Archer heaved a sigh. "Saber is gonna kill me... alright, you, go with Rider," he indicated Nero. "You, fox girl, come with me."

"But what about the drugs?!" Nero insisted.

"The police will take care of that," Archer assured her. "Now come on, we need to vamoose!" He turned and went off, Tamamo jogging after him...

"V-very well," Nero acquiesced, walking over to Rider. "I admit that I have never ridden on a motorcycle before, so please, no crazy maneuvers."

"You watch too many action movies," Rider sighed. "Still can't believe I fucked up like that... well, come on," she slid her sunglasses back on, walking back to her ride and mounting, Nero getting on behind her... "Grab me around the ribcage, not too hard... good. Alright, here we go!" With that, she revved her bike into gear, speeding off...

*To be continued...*