The path not taken
Chloe was not pleased. Here she was having enough trouble knowing that her family was here. True she had never met them, she did not have a bond with her. They were however her previous life's family and whilst she might not have thought about them for a while they did make her curious. She knew all about the multiple dimensions of reality. She had seen Neptune get dragged through them often enough with what she calls her 'protagonist skill'
From what she has seen during this event they seem to really care about what happens to her. Maybe she will spend some time with them at some point. Maybe.
She looked at her alternate and could not help but wince. The thought of being male again was not pleasant. She had truly come to accept herself for who she is. True she had more time as Chloe than as harry, She also had the support of her family that had eased her into her new life. With a sigh she waited for the book to choose the new reader. She was not going to like this.
Harry could not help but look at his other. There was a look in her eye that he could not quite place, Curiosity perhaps? He could understand why she had not come across as she seemed to have adjusted to her new life. He himself would try to distance himself after what she had went through. Well technically he did as they were essentially the same person. This started to cause his head to ache, causing him to deliberately stop thinking about this multi-versal stuff as it would only hurt more and cause him to be confused more than he already was. Looking to his side he could not help but wondering what Hermione was doing, she had at some point pulled out some parchment and quill, looking at her he could see that she was rapidly writing down upon the parchment. Shaking his head he went back to listening to his parents and the Weasley talking.
Hermione Granger was nothing if not thorough. Earlier she had wondered what types of changes this would cause. She had however pushed the thought away as irrelevant and not part of the reason why they were there. The thought had however started nagging at her, a feeling of its importance.
Thus it was that she had taken out paper from her bag, she had created two 'trees' one depicted the larger scale effect, one the more personal effect of harry not appearing. To say that it did not make her happy was an understatement From what she could tell there was not much of a change to the overall scheme Maybe a few political and news changes but nothing that she could properly map without knowing the rest of the story.
It was on the micro/personal level that things changed drastically. Mapping out the interactions from what she could tell the time at Hogwarts would be drastically different. The first change would be harry not appearing at the sorting which would cause a disruption. Not big enough for there to be any differences in the houses as far as she could summarize, but the balance amongst the houses would definitely be different.
Ron and Malfoy would still be at each others throats. Most of the arguments that harry had been caught in had been instigated or exacerbated by one or both of them. Next she would either still be friendless, dead or wounded. She did not know which. The troll incident had only been resolved on a positive (if you could call it that) due to harry.
Lily potter would not be a teacher in that world as it had been stated that she and her husband had died. This would carry on to rose not being born. The list was extensive. This worried her, would the dark lord be returned to his body already? Who would take harries place during the adventures and how would things turn out. So here she was making a small chart trying to understand the differences. Some of the conclusions however were quite Frankley, terrifying.
Luna felt something land in her hands, it seemed that it was her turn.
Chapter 5: HDD
It had been two months since Chloe had first entered real combat, and she had made over a dozen excursions since, mainly in the company of her sister, but there were a few times she was dropped off with IF, and she had been making good progress, in both skill, and levels.
She had also made progress at leaving the basilicom, and now could make it both to the guild next door, and to the city borders, although she needed to be with her sister to do so.
She still hadn't entered the city, but was edging towards doing so. Vert decided that she would put off the official announcement until she was semi confident walking the city. It was looking like it would take six months more, or perhaps more in the event of a regression.
"A responsible choice if I might say so vert" said noire It was a good idea as it took into account the possibilities of what might happen into the future as well as giving her some breathing room if the unforeseen were to happen. It was something that she tried to do as often as possible.
Today the two were going to a slightly higher level area than normal Halo Mountain, because Chloe wanted to test herself. She had her own guild license, and was starting to take quests using it.
She also decided to try some more obviously feminine clothing. She was wearing a knee length green skirt, a white blouse, with a green non-constrictive corset, and white stockings. She was also wearing her now standard cloak, and a pair of sensible boots.
Harry grimaced at this as he could not even conceive of a situation in which he would dress in such a way. Actually before this the idea of such a thing happening had never graced his mind. Thus it was that seeing his counterpart wearing such clothes was very disconcerting for him, embarrassing too but that was lower in the list of the scramble of emotions that he was feeling. It really did not help that his sister was commenting about how pretty he looked like that and how she wants to be similar when she gets older. So no this was not a pleasant experience for him.
She was doing well, killing wolves, and other monsters. Even when some went viral increasing their stats she still managed to with, with Vert only providing support with items.
And then it happened, seven Fenris Wolves spawned. The two were surrounded, and they were just high enough level that Vert couldn't kill them as quickly the rest of the monsters in the area. And she was set upon by four of them, which while within her capabilities, took time to defeat.
That left three for Chloe.
An image appeared showing the situation. Three massive wolves where clearly shown shocking those from the magical world. Such beasts would be on the restricted list easily. The last magical wolf that had grew to that size in their world was ironically called Fenrir. It had gained a legend within the non magical world as It had happened before the statute and the battle in what was now known as noway had been massive. So to see such creatures was terrifying for them. The fact that they also had a similar name did not help.
She found that she couldn't deal enough damage to the three to get one to back off enough to switch targets before being hit.
Within minutes, she hit the ground bleeding, and her clothes pretty much shredded.
Lily gave a quiet gasp, her hands covering her mouth to keep herself from interrupting. It did not help her emotions though, fear and helplessness both surged through her forcing her to watch the screen even though she wanted nothing more than to turn away. James was not much better he however was filled with a sense of self loathing and rage for her to be in such a situation. The majority of the hall were upon the edge of their seats, there had not been many scenes with combat and watching the fight was exillerating and terrifying. The differences in the magic and the more focus upon weapons, it was things that they were both confused about and excited to learn about.
Albus had to admit he had no idea of what his other would do in this situation. The girl was experienced and powerful. This was obvious but such things could be solved, mainly due to her lack of knowledge within the british magical styles This would give him an opening in to becoming a mentor to her. What was an issue for him was her political coverage. Being what she now was she would be protected from most things due to her position. He would just have to wait and see how things turn out. It would not be an easy wait for him.
She panicked when the one directly in front of her snarled and Lunged at her mouth open for a fatal bite. Then it happened, a bright flash illuminated the clearing, and the Fenris was sent flying back.
"Is that?" asked noire, she already knew the answer as she had seen this a multitude of times before but it was best to check, just in case. Every one looked at chloe who had a slight blush of embarrasment upon her face. She probably knew what was happening. So instead of talking she buried herself into her sister and gave a small nod. Minister Fudge however was the one to ask, keeping his 'political' mask on to hide his confusion. "Might I inquire as to what is happening." keeping a confident face and whilst he was maingly asking for himself, he had also asked for those in the room. This let those with images to maintain to leave the question up to him rather than putting their own foot into the ring.
Histoire was the one to answer "It would appear that we are viewing Chloe's first transformation into her goddess form. I am not surprised that it has happened within such a situation as all of the other candidates accessed their in a situation of high stress as well." finished the fairy getting nods of agreement and appreciation.
The flash of light, when it cleared drew everybody's attention to the now revealed figure.
The girl, no now woman, was floating several inches off the ground. She, instead of having a figure that was well on the way to matching her sister's, now was that of a tomboy with minimal curves, her now leaf green hair complemented her now blue eyes.
Her outfit consisted of a skin tight spandex bodysuit in whites and greens a M.C. Escher type pattern that seemed to move when she stood still, and she had a pair of metal boots, and gauntlets, as well as a chest plate. On her back she had two pure white mechanical angel wings.
She also had two huge metal arms, that looked like they only started from a little above the elbow. (EN) One of which was floating by her left arm, the other was pointing in front of her fist forward.
Albus could not help himself. "that is you my dear?" he asked. The sight was something to behold upon its own, the fact that the teenager before him had turned into what was essentially someone else in looks was shocking to him. The only person/ people who had done something like it were metamorph magi who used their family magics to do so. Or voldemort who over time had disfigured himself by, if his suspicions were correct, dark rituals. He and every one else were not expecting her answer though.
"Sort off" came the girls reply to the confusion of the others within the hall. This was not helped when a look of realisation came across the other CPU faces followed by a wince. "You mean that its like 'hers'" asked her sister getting a nod in reply causing another wince.
One of the Fenris she was facing shook off the effect first, only to be met with a backhand from the left 'arm'. As if it was the signal, that battle recommenced. Green Sister's third Fenris met a double fisted downward smash, that finished it off.
Now Vert was facing two badly inured Fenris, and Green Sister had two moderately injured.
Green Sister grabbed one of the two using her arms and smashed it into the other, knocking the two down in a heap.
At this point Vert had finished the last of her set, and was about to go help her sister when Green Sister intoned unemotionally, "Shadow Blow." and one of her metal fists glowed black, and smashed into the piled up wolves, killing them both.
"DARK MAGIC, HOW COULD YOU!" came a shrill voice from the gryfindor table, It was molly weasley She was well known for having, Strong opinions about such things. The fact that her husband did little to real her in was one of the reasons that they were so heavily disliked. "It was shadow magic" came a calm reply, the look upon chloes face was as if she was talking to an infant.
"You unlocked your HDD, good, sorry about not helping, these things don't normally spawn in such numbers," Vert said.
Green Sister turned towards Vert and Vert took a step backwards. Her sister's eyes, they were emotionally dead. "Are you okay?" Vert asked cautiously.
"I am moderately injured," came the monotone reply. "It would be best if we head back."
Vert was disturbed and horrified by this HDD, and she really didn't do a good job hiding it. Even more so than Iris Heart. Iris still had emotions, likes and dislikes, but her sister... she seemed dead inside.
There was a shocked silence in the room. They now sort of understood what the quiet conversation that the sisters had had was about and they had to admit it was terrifying.
Vert shook her head, and said, "Agreed, I need to report this to the others, do you feel up to flying back? Or do you need to change back and be carried?"
"I am unsure I have the energy to fly back," came the reply, but before Vert could say anything, she continued, "But it would be advisable to try."
Vert looked at her sister in confusion, before changing to Green Heart. Why would it be advisable to try, and possibly fail?
"Very well," she said, then entered into her HDD form, and the two headed back.''
Green Sister's transformation dispelled five feet above the balcony, and Chloe hit the floor hard.
She then looked at the now untransformed Vert and ran back to her room.
"Dammit!" Vert yelled. She was not expecting her sister to run from her. She ran after her sister, she would NOT let an issue fester.
"Good idea vert" said blanc "It would be bad for their to be a repeat of my others mistake, especially considering you have been her pillar of support" this got nods from the others. Chloe however, still cuddled into her sister had a small smile upon her face at how supportive the others were. She knew that they all had various left over rivalries from their times at war with each other. It was something that did not plague the sisters. She also knew that they were getting over it and were getting to become friends due to their various adentures together. Seeing them help each other like this always made chloe happy knowing that her sister had friends out side of her and chika.
She wasn't quite sure what the problem was but she had a suspicion it was response to her...
Fuck, it was her response to Green Sister. She didn't hide her emotions well enough.
She ended up at the hall that contained both her sister's and her rooms, just as Chloe's door slammed and the click of the lock could be clearly heard.
Walking up to Chloe's door, she knocked.
All she got was a muffled, reply, although Vert could guess what was said.
"Sister, open up. We need to talk, I'm not angry at you, nor am I disappointed, but we can't let this fester."
Five minutes passed...
Ten...
At fifteen she Knocked again.
At thirty she was about to break down the door... when the lock clicked.
Two minutes passed and Vert sighed, and took the door unlocking as an invitation.
Looking into the room, that had the lights off, and the light from the windows dimming due to the setting sun, she saw her sister sniffling in her bed, while dressed in her nightclothes, with tear tracts down her face.
Vert climbed into the bed, and without a second thought, took her sister into her arms. Her sister teared up and started crying into Vert's chest, and Vert just held her while rubbing her back.
"Why?" Chloe sobbed. Vert braced for the condemnation, when Chloe continued, "Why did I turn into that... that... that... THING? I hate it!"
The wizards and witches could understand to some degree but they could not know fully. It was the CPU who understood more. The HDD forms brought out ones inner self, all of them to varying degrees. Blanc who was quiet became highly aggressive and easy to anger. Neptune who was lazy became responsible. It was a similar case for all of them. Some part of themselves would get enhanced in some fashion. It also did not help that their instincts also got enhanced. It was the older CPU who had the worst of it due to their much longer lives. The candidates who did not have such baggage where saved from much of the changes. Chloe however had two lives of issues, meaning she would be one of the worst effected by this.
Vert sighed, and rubbed her sister back some more before answering, "That was your HDD, or Hard Drive Divinity, in short your Goddess Candidate form. I'm sorry for my reaction, I just wasn't expecting your personality change to be similar to Plutia's. Not that your form was like Iris heart, but more the super extreme personality change. Don't worry about it, I'm sorry I reacted so badly in my surprise. It was just seeing my sweet shy sister turning into..."
"A monster?" Chloe said softly.
"No, more like a robot. No emotions, just logic," Vert answered soothingly.
"I'm not going to use it again," Chloe said snuggling closer to her sister.
Vert sighed, and said, "You will." Chloe looked at Vert in shock, and her next words made Chloe think, "There will come a day, maybe not soon, that someone important to you will be in danger, and you will use it to save them, because you have no choice. It may not be tomorrow, or even in many decades, but the power boost will be needed someday."
Chloe wanted to deny it, but the thought of Chika dieing because she was too afraid of her other form made her vow to only use it if absolutely necessary.
Chloe sighed, she still hated that form but it had its uses outside of combat as well as in. That however was not what she was sighing about, she was sighing at the fact that despite her efforts she was forced to use it.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
The next day saw Chloe waking up in her sisters embrace, and while in the comforting embrace she thought of the previous day, and she frowned. It wasn't just the look her sister gave her that drove her to run, it was almost as if...
She started cursing loudly, which woke up Vert, whom cuffed her to stop the foul language.
"What caused you to start that this early?" Vert demanded, upset that she woke to her sister cussing.
"I just realized a problem with my HDD," came the apologetic answer, and at Vert's look she continued, "All the emotions I SHOULD have felt, hit me all at once when I changed back."
Vert's eye's widened, and Chloe, whom had been doing so much better running like that made sense, if all the fear, both of the combat, and of being rejected, hit her at once... she probably couldn't handle it yet.
"I'm suspending your field training for now. I need to hold a conference with the others. That many high ranked, for the area, enemies spawning at once, in the same location, is not normal. I will also be putting out a APB to the guild cautioning hunters of the event," Vert said, and then continued, "I will allow you to go to the lower ranked areas, but you will be accompanied by someone that I will select since this is going to be a time killer."
Chloe nodded, and stood up to collect her bath stuff, and her clothes for the day, which disappointed Vert because it was back to the tomboy style outfit.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Two weeks later the person Vert contacted to accompany her sister came.
The door to the meeting room opened and she came in.
The young woman was wearing a white and green vest, shorts, gloves, and shoes and a black and white hat. The hat let her dog ears show, and her shorts let her dog tail out. Her tanned skin had yellow lightning bolts on it.
The image got a wide variety of responses, from being disgusted by the dog ears and the way she was dressed. To some loving the look of the girl and wanting to rub her ears. The fact that there were people as such was shocking to those in the room. To those at the CPU table however, they immediately recognised the girl. She was a good person for Vert to entrust her sister with. She had been their with them through the troubles and was loyal to leanbox. It was a similar way to which IF was except due to her being one of neptunes friends she traveled between Leanbox and planeptune.
"Chloe looked at the girl with a great deal of curiosity, and then Vert spoke, "Cyberconnect2, I was wondering whether you would mind being a semi-permanent partner to my sister, so that she won't be alone when she hits the field, she's growing quickly in experience but she's still a beginner."
Cyberconnect2's eyes widened at the offer, and then the implication of the statement hit her, Leanbox finally had a candidate.
"Of course! Leave her to me! Come on, let's hit a field so we can get a feel for each other's abilities." Cyberconnect2 said.
"Ummm sure,' Chloe responded, "Just let me get ready."
After getting dressed in what she had made into her current standard for combat outfit, she followed her new partner out to the guild to get some low level quests.
It was looking to be the start of a good friendship.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
"So who would that girl be my dear" asked albus, he however was not the only one who was interested In this subject. "That is C.C she is my combat partner and bodyguard." Responded chloe whilst cyber connect 2 Was her combat partner due to their abilities complimenting each other, her official job was bodyguard even though Chloe tended to end up joining their fights.
Internally however chloe was smirking as she could tell that Albus was going to be very embarrassed soon as his entrance was coming up quickly. It would be amusing to her to see it.