Neptune felt herself floating. She couldn't hear anything and she knows that there weren't any living presence around her. Her face scrunched and slowly she opened her eyes. Nothingness greeted her and the ground she was laying in was wet.
Neptune groaned as she sat herself up and looked at her hands to check if they were ok. Purple eyes looked around and found the vast emptiness that seemed to stretch forever, nothing could be heard except for her own breathing. Instantly, she felt dread creep into her and asked herself where in the world she was.
The purple haired girl stood up and checked her surroundings once again to see if she missed something. Looking through her head, the confused character wondered what happened before to leave her in such place.
Neptune remembered that she was with Nepgear in that dungeon who was seconds away from death if it weren't for the person they were supposed to rescue. Then their savior gave her a vial to remove the pain and then…Then she remembered passing out.
Oh no.
Am I dead author?
Neptune looked up as she asked that question and received nothing in response. Disappointed, she shook her head and started walking. She needs to find a way out if she wasn't, in fact, dead. Just need to find that exit in this void and everything will be okay. Find the exit and finally reunite with her little sister.
With renewed vigor, Neptune walked to whichever direction. The wet sloshing sound of the water beneath her was unnerving, but still she didn't pay it any close attention. All that she was concerned about was getting back to Nepgear.
It felt like eternity walking aimlessly to wherever this was, and the blackness was making her eyes hurt as was her feet which were getting tired from all the walking. Sweat rolled down her forehead as she noticed the temperature rose. Neptune wasn't sure if it was possible for any of that in the 'inbetween'(?)
Neptune stopped abruptly as her eyes stared at the distant figure walking closer. And closer. And closer. She wanted to run, but found that they were rooted on the ground. She felt her blood run cold as a pair of glowing blue eyes stared straight at her own. The sloshing water that came from every step the person took made Neptune feared for the worst.
Her spine tingling and her breath becoming stuck in her throat as the person was now standing a few feet away from her.
Clenching her fist, Neptune noticed something familiar about whoever this person was. A sneer was plastered on her mouth as her eyes felt dead but at the same time hold an unworldly power as she stared back at the shorter girl. Long purple hair set in one single braid hang down her back. She wasn't wearing anything, but the purple glow that came from the line running through her skin made her something ethereal.
"So this is what I've become. Pathetic." The woman said, a disappointed frown appeared in her face. "I've slept for almost an eternity and…Tell me how is it out there?"
Neptune couldn't find her voice and that seemed to annoy the other person.
"Speak girl."
With a jolt the shorter of the two stuttered out a reply. And the woman nodded, closing her eyes and opened them once again to look at Neptune.
"I see." She smirked and walked closer to where the purple haired character was standing still. She circled her like a vulture and hummed as she took in Neptune. "You've become weak, me. The power that previously coursed our vein is sealed away. Probably because we've been stuck in that fake world."
"Fake…world?"
The woman stopped and stared at Neptune then cackled loudly. "You cannot be serious. You don't know." Suddenly the woman hugged the shorter character as she buried Neptune's face in her bosom. "How sad and pathetic. But it doesn't matter, now is all the more important." The woman gave a gentle smile this time, but all it does was creep the shorter girl out.
"We're free, and this time no one can stop us." She gave Neptune a kiss on the forehead and suddenly the world went white.
…
Nepgear sat beside her sister while a big book was rested on her lap. Uni was unconscious and was snuggled up beside her while two of her tails was circled around her waist. The tiny beastkin's patterned breathing along with Neptune's was all that could be heard.
After the bullying incident regarding Uni, Miss Lyka arrived with packages while Alyria told everything to her mother. For a moment, Nepgear was scared that they'll hit her for whatever she did but was surprised when the beastkin noticed her distress and took a step in front of her and growled. Lyka, who does not have any intention of what the purple haired child was thinking, was surprised to see a familiar looking fox child.
"Touch her and I'll bite your hand." Uni said with gritted teeth, as she tried to intimidate the woman who could only giggle at her protectiveness.
"Mercy young one, I was just going to praise Nepgear from rescuing you." A blush immediately flared from the beastkin's face and huffed as she felt a hand on top of her head and bit it down on instinct surprising the other children in the room.
"Oh my." Lyka said with a smile and calmed down her daughter who was now shouting at Uni.
"Ah! I-I'm sorry…I…" Her black ears flattened.
"Don't worry child, it was my fault for touching without permission. I was told beastkins are really protective of their ears and tails." The blonde gave her another reassuring smile. "Now, why don't you girls wash up and I'll prepare dinner? Surely you're all hungry from all the playing you've been doing." The three children nodded while Alyria whispered a small apology at Uni to which she could only huff.
At the dinner table, the four individuals were having a hearty meal with the meat the older woman procured from her travel down town. Nepgear wondered where Lyka's husband was, and as if reading her mind, Lyka told her and Alyria that he was out on another quest once again, huffing as she did so and a frown took upon her lips. Uni, who was wary about the meal in front of her, looked at Nepgear who was placing small portions of food on her plate before asking Lyka if she could be excused.
"Where are you going?" The beastkin asked curiously. She didn't want to be left alone with strangers right now.
"Ah…Uhm…"
"She's going to see her sister. Nepgear doesn't want her to be alone so she eats there everytime." Lyka explained with a gentle smile. "And you're excused dear. You don't have to ask, I understand."
Nepgear nodded thankfully and was about to head to the room where Neptune was but was stopped by Uni.
"Wait! I'll come with…er…Is that alright?" She asked the older woman who was amused at the little fox and only nodded with a smile.
"Of course, but bring the plates down here after you're done eating." The two children nodded, and off they went to where Nepgear's sister was.
As soon as they arrived, Uni's eyes turned into slits as she stared at the slumbering figure on the bed and growled. She watched as Nepgear set the plate on the table and hurriedly took the nearby cloth beside the bed and wiped down the sweat that seemed to have formed on the figure's forehead.
"Stop! Get away from her!" Uni's outburst took the purple haired girl by surprise and accidentally dropped the cloth on her sister's face.
"W-What?"
The beastkin grab the other girl's arm and drag her behind as the fur on her tail bushed up and ears flattened. Whoever this person Nepgear was taking care off holds a sort of animosity and she didn't like it one bit.
Uni growled as if challenging a non-existent figure. There was loads of mana that was wafting all across the slumbering girl's body. A sick dark purple hue and the scent it gave was horrid, it was the same scent that came from her own sister whenever she was in battle. Red slit eyes glared at the body but before she could do anything further, Nepgear removed herself from Uni's hold and shielded the person with her tiny body.
"I-I won't l-let you hurt big sis!"
"What are you doing?! Don't protect whoever that is, she'll hurt you!" the black haired fox said in disbelief. Why was Nepgear protecting this-this monster?
"I-I won't…I don't care! She's not who you think she is!"
"Ha?! I'm trying to prevent you from getting hurt and you want to-!"
"She saved me!"
Uni was taken aback at Nepgear's words. What did she mean by that? Why did she need saving when she could hold up on her own?
The beastkin observed the girl in front of her, who was shaking like a leaf as she stared directly at her own eyes with unusual glowing orbs. Uni slowly lowered her guard and looked at the person behind Nepgear who was adamant on protecting the person precious to her. She still didn't like it, and on the other hand she wondered why in the world was she protective about Nepgear?
The answer? She will probably never know, but every fiber of her being was telling her to do so. She literally met the child only a couple of hours ago but the beast within her was calm around the purple haired child. It was weird but at the same time it felt right.
The two children stared at one another, not easily giving up until Uni gave out a defeated sigh and huffed, while she sat herself on one of the stools near the bed. Nepgear was watching her cautiously and told her that she won't be doing anything. It was frustrating to say the least, but Nepgear seemed to trust the…her sister.
The beastkin stayed close, not wanting to risk anything as they silently eat whatever it was on the plate. A few minutes passed and they were all done and both head down stairs to give the plates to Lyka who was washing the dishes before heading back to the room.
The two stayed quiet and the swishing of Uni's tails on the ground was the only indication that Nepgear wasn't alone. Alyria came to visit with a book in her hand as she gave it to Nepgear who was extremely delighted to receive one but was strictly told to never tell her mother before she head back to her own room.
Nepgear wasn't sure how or when it happened, but somehow when she was reading on the floor, Uni decided to join her before she leaned her body completely on the purple haired girl and fell into slumber.
That's how she found herself in the situation. She wondered why Uni was so opposed to Neptune when she was clearly incapable of doing anything. Did she see something she doesn't? But still she didn't dwell on it because she had made a promise to herself to protect her sister. She closed her eyes and immediately she too slept with Uni's ear tickling the tip of her nose.
…
Neptune furrowed her eyebrows and slowly she opened her eyes. She was greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling and the temperature around her was normal to say the least. Wherever she was a while ago was almost too cold for her taste and it did amaze her that she didn't even shiver despite the biting coldness of the water underneath her.
She shook her head and looked beside her weakly, wondering where she was and hoping to find her sister. And just as she thought, Nepgear was just a few feet away from her looking content as she leans her smaller body further into the beastkin girl beside her who, in return, had her tails wrap around her sister more. The purple haired character furrowed her eyebrows and wondered who the other girl was, she seemed awfully close to Nepgear.
But despite her running questions, she can't deny how cute they are especially the way Nepgear seemed to snuggle the tails wrapped around her and making a contented noise as a result. Neptune can't help but put both her hands to her face as a widening grin overtook her fa-
'OMG! THIS IS JUST SO CUTE!'
Right… What she said.
She must've done something wrong to alert the sleeping individuals, specifically Nepgear, because her lighter shade purple eyes were now staring right at her. Neptune noted the look of surprise of her sister before she observed the little girl stood up with shaking legs as she moved towards the older girl with a look of bewilderment and waking the other girl beside her, who now look on with curiosity.
She smiled and beckoned for Nepgear to step closer as she opened both her arms, as if telling the little girl that it was okay to hug her. And there was no hesitance from the younger girl, basically jumping in Neptune's arms as she wept.
"B-Big sister! Y-You're awake! You're awake! I'm so happy!" Nepgear chanted as she nuzzled into her sister's chest. Neptune could only chuckle at the sight while she wrapped her arms tightly around the weeping child. She too was glad to see Nepgear again, and dare she say missed her sister dearly specially after what she encountered in her slumber, she was extremely glad to see Nepgear.
Neptune opened her mouth to reply but found her throat to dry to utter any words. Nepgear noticed this and immediately poured a cup of water from the nearby table and handed it to her big sister, guiding it on her mouth as Neptune drank almost desperately. Water dribbled down on the side of her lips, but she didn't care, it was too refreshing to care.
Once she finished, Neptune lets out a contented sigh before wiping the water on the side of her lips and grinned broadly.
"Whew! That saved me, thanks Nepgear! Oh and I'm glad you feel that way, I do too." Neptune said as she hugged her sister once again making the younger girl cling to her while muttering apologies over and over again. The purple haired character frowned, Nepgear must have been blaming herself for the situation Neptune was put into.
"I…I'm so sorry, b-big sister…If…If I was stronger then-"
"Shh, none of that. Nothing is your fault, I willingly put my life in the line." Nepgear's eyes shot up to look at her.
"But-!"
"You need to understand, Nepgear, I did say I'll protect you, right? Even if you don't want that idea or if you beg of me not to, I'm sorry to say that I'll do it all over again." She smiled as she saw Nepgear looked at her in horror. "That's why I have you. Since we're sisters then we have the duty to protect each other. So don't blame yourself anymore, my little heart can't take it." Neptune feigned a sob and chuckled when the younger girl reluctantly nodded and nuzzled the older one once again.
Uni watched at the closeness of the two and frowned slightly. Averting her gaze, she can't help but feel jealous at the bond the two shared. It wasn't anything bad or whatever others would think, but how close Nepgear was with her sister. She has a sister of her own and she wouldn't trade her for the world, but looking at how this person with Nepgear was, she can't help but feel that she's being deprived of affection. It wasn't like she hates her own sister, in fact she idolizes her and aims to be like her when she grows up, but would it hurt her to atleast give Uni a little bit of affection?
"So, who's this little girl with my little sister?" Neptune smiled mischievously.
Unaware of the pair of purple eyes in her direction, she jolted when this Neptune called to her. Returning the gaze with her own scowl, Uni scrunched her nose at the pungent smell the aura of this person was emitting and she crossed her arms as the ears atop her head flattened slightly.
"None of your business, hmph!" The beastkin harrumphed while the older girl could only chuckle at her actions.
"Geez, a prickly one aren't you? Or could it be that you're mad at me for having Nepgear all to myself." Neptune lets out a giggle when all of the sudden Uni looked at her with a glare whilst red hue easily spread to her face. Nepgear, meanwhile could only look at her friend with a slight tilt of her head.
"W-WHAT ARE YOU SAYING! H-HOW CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING SO…SO EMBARRASSING!" Uni shouted with a passion and Neptune couldn't take it anymore and erupted into laughter.
"Hahahahah, don't…hahaha…Don't get your tails in a bunch," Uni furrowed her eyebrows at the use of words. "I'm sorry, you're just so cute!"
Uni glared further, if that was even possible, at the older girl and was about to retort when she noticed Nepgear nod to herself, confusing the poor beastkin as she looked at the other child.
"What are you agreeing with?" Uni asked with her eyebrows furrow, her tails flickering in annoyance as Nepgear lets out a yelp and hid in her sister's arms. "Well?"
She heard Nepgear mumble something under her breath, and because of her species' superior hearing she immediately flushed at what she heard. Hugging her tails closer to her, she noticed Neptune looked at the both of them alternately and erupted in another fits of laughter as she pieced it together.
Not wanting to be humiliated any further, Uni gritted her teeth and stormed away from the 'cruel' sisters. Red flushed, tails flickering every now and then, dilated eyes glared at the direction she was walking in and had only one thought in mind.
SHE REALLY HATES THAT NEPTUNE PERSON!
I really adore UniGear ship. And finally Neptune is awake and something is brewing within her.
Reviews are appreciated.
