Chapter 6 – The Soulless Truth
Amitie's POV
"Hey, hey. You up yet?"
Hmm…wh-what? I-Is someone…calling for me?
"Come on. Wake up already."
Well, no. It's more like them telling me to wake up. But who's is…
"You're not dead, are you? Cause if you are…I might as well help myself to what's in your pockets. *giggle*"
M-My pockets?! B-But I don't have any pockets! W-Wait, that's not the point!
"Gah! Back off, you creep!" I yelled as I suddenly woke up from this deep sleep I was in. When my eyesight became normal again, I saw that standing in front of me was oddly…
"Aw, what? A creep? That's pretty mean of you to say, Amitie."
"H-Huh? Arly?"
"I thought I could have a little fun with you since you're the gullible one. But I guess that fun's over. *sigh*"
The gullible one, huh?
"I'm gonna let that remark slide for now…" I retorted in an insulted tone.
This is Arly Nadja. A clone of Arle that was created by my sister Rivitie the same way Raina, Cheri, and Ridel were. The only thing that makes her different from the others is that Arly is half-soul half-fallen angel. The latter is because of how one took control of her a few years back.
She now works with my sister as a demonic bounty hunter. Going after bad demons who cause trouble and put them in their place. I hear it's a very extensive job. Thus, making it rather rare to see them both.
So, with that in mind…
"Arly, what are you doing here? What's going on?"
"You tell me. I was just flying on by when I saw you just floating in place right here. Looked like you were knocked out cold."
"Kn-Knocked out cold?" I went silent for a bit. "W-Wait, I remember! It was because of Ridel!"
"Ridel? Ooh~! I haven't heard from her in a damn long time! What's she up to these days?!"
"Her usual hobby. Causing trouble for her sick amusement."
"Sick amusement?"
She really has no idea, huh?
"Well, you see…"
So, I told Arly what had happened to me, Lidelle, Feli, Jarne, and a girl named Resta. How Ridel and a girl she seems to be friends with sucked us through a giant portal in an attempt to kill us after we found out that they had someone attack Resta's homeworld as a part of some revenge scheme.
And for some strange reason, Arly responded to all of that with…
"Oh~! I get it now! You're about to start a new game!"
"St-Start a new game? Arly, what are you talking about?" I asked with a huge confused look on my face.
"Well, duh. It all makes sense. A girl with a weird stone thingy coming from a different world, the villain screwing you over this early so that you won't get in their way, the fact that you're floating through the edge of Space-Time right now…"
"Sp-Space-Time?! I-Is that where I am?!" I panicked once I heard that last one. Looking all over to notice that I'm floating in an empty black space of nothingness.
"You mean you're now noticing? Yay! You're really are the gullible one! *giggle*"
"Stop calling me gullible…" I gained a sweatdrop.
"Anyway~. It all totally makes sense. You're about to start a new game. An adventure-style RPG, from the looks of it. And right now, this is basically the main menu."
A new game? Adventure-style RPG? Main…menu? Just what the hell is Arly talking about? How does this make ANY sense to her?
And more importantly, where are the others? Are they okay?
"*sigh* Still, though. If only you were Arle-sama. I would've manipulated this whole thing to make me the one she saves. And then my precious little kitten would hold me delicately…relieved that I'm safe as we both close in for a kiss! Fufufufu~! The sweet sensation of Arle-sama's lips onto mine! A delicious ecstasy that I refuse to give up! such tastiness is mine and mine alone! *seductive moan* Arle-sama! I want you so badly, my precious little kitten! TAKE ME NOW!"
"Arly!" I yelled with a faint blush on my face.
"Huh? You're still here?"
"Of course, I'm still here! I'm stuck in the edge of Space-Time!"
"Oh, yeah…"
Another thing different about Arly is that she's MADLY in love with Arle. To the point where she's pretty much obsessed with her. It's kinda scary…but what's worse is if someone tells her that her dreams of being with Arle can never happen. And that's basically a death sentence.
"*sigh* So, how can I get out of here? I don't suppose you know a way out, do you?"
"Of course, I do. I can easily fix this, no problem."
"Get really real! You do?! So, you can get me back home to Primp?!"
"Primp? Now, why the hell would you want to go back to that dump of a town when you're about to start a new game?"
"I don't know what any of that stuff means, Ar…"
*SOUND OF AN ALARM*
"Wh-What's that sound?!" I yelled once a strange loud noise started filling the empty space.
"Ooh~! It's time already! Well, Amitie. I'm about to send you to your new adventure. Have fun now. Fufufufu."
"H-Huh?! N-New adventure?! Wh-Where is…"
"Diamond Cutie!"
*SNAP*
Suddenly, with a snap of her fingers, Arly opened up a portal through Space-Time that didn't even give me a chance to fight back. I was sucked in as easily as a clump of dust on the floor. Completely unsure of where this clone of one of my best friends was sending me.
"*giggle* Good luck, Amitie! And if you see Arle-sama, tell her that her heart shall be mine! Fufufufu!"
"ARRRRRRLYYYYYYYYY…!" Was the last thing I yelled at her before she was out of my sight. And was currently falling through Space-Time to supposedly a different world to start this "new game" she kept talking about.
Just what insane madness am I about to experience this time?
Hello. My name is Nepgear. I'm the CPU Candidate of Planeptune and Neptune's little sister. Due to our strikingly different appearances and personalities, I often get mistaken as the older sister. But no matter how old I am, I'll always love my sister. She's just that important to me.
Speaking of which…
It's been three days since Neptune went insane with that strange new power she received. After Arfoire left, she collapsed and has been asleep since. It looked like she had calmed down…but we still can't be too sure.
"*sigh*"
"You're still worried about Neptune?" Uni asked me as we sat in the Basilicom lounge area. She had come over to comfort me after news quickly leaked of Neptune going insane. And the multiple rumors that soon came along with it.
Some of them more hurtful than others.
By the way, Uni is the CPU Candidate of the neighboring nation Lastation and the little sister of the CPU there. How our friendship started was rather…difficult (and dark, depending on how you look at it). Mainly because of Uni's tsundere-ish personality. But once you get over that hurdle (e-eventually), Uni's a really good friend to have around. Always able to help out when she can.
But this time…
"I just can't help it, Uni. It's been three days already. I mean, I know Neptune's known for sleeping for long periods of time. But three days is a lot, even for her."
"Yeah, that is not like your sister…"
"Plus…there was that look. That evil look in her eyes and the stuff that came out of her mouth with that demented-sounded voice. It was the stuff of nightmares, Uni. I was actually scared of my sister at that moment."
"You know, you say that she went insane…but honestly, someone like Neptune "losing her sanity" like that sounds a little farfetched to me."
"Y-You think I'm lying?"
"Of course not. You're terrible at lying, anyway."
I would argue that, but it's actually true…
"I'm just saying that, knowing Neptune for who she is, the only way I can truly believe it is if you had really good proof. And I mean really good."
"W-Well…y-you do have a point…" I said with a sad-like tone.
"If you wish to see proof, Uni, then I have it all right here." Histoire said as she came up to us holding a video tablet that was kinda big for her size. "But I must warn you, it is highly…unnerving."
"Please. If I can handle three full games of fighting monstrous abominations, giant robots, and crazy people who want to destroy the world just for the hell of it, then I can handle a simple video. Lay it on me, Histoire."
"Uni, you have no idea what you're about to witness…" I said with a huge sweatdrop."
"Very well. You have been warned." Histoire pressed play on the tablet and the video began to play. Honestly, I didn't want to watch it. But there may be something in it that could help us figure out what happened to Neptune. So, I sucked it up and watched alongside Uni.
And it didn't take long for the trauma from three days ago to come back to my mind.
"*demented giggle* *more demented giggling*"
*FAST FORWARD*
"Yo, Arbore. That was some attack ya did on me. Wanna see me return the favor?"
*FAST FORWARD*
"Delta Sagittarii!"
*BOOM*
"Zeta Sagittarii!"
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
*FAST FORWARD*
"*demented giggle* You know, Arbore…your stutters of fear and pain always brought a smile to my face. You may act all tough and cocky…but you're really nothing more than a pathetic emo witch just seeking attention."
*BOOM*
"G-Gah…!"
"Eliminate all CPUs"? "Destroy Gamindustri"? Ha! Don't make me nepping laugh, you sorry excuse of a villain!"
*BOOM*
"G-Gaaah…!"
"You always talk about "killing this brat", huh? Well…maybe I'll kill YOU here and now! Just for the hell of it!Hahahaha!"
"Y-You wouldn't DARE!"
"Oh? I wouldn't DARE, huh? Wanna bet?!"
*FAST FORWARD*
"Gah! Let me go! I was just about to end her!"
"This isn't like you, Nep! Calm the hell down!"
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
*FAST FORWARD*
"Oh? Arbore's still here, huh? That means I can KILL her, right?! RIGHT?!"
The rest of the video played out and I was near the brink of tears. Seeing my older sister…a person who, despite her flaws, was the one person I loved and cherished and looked up to…act like a deranged psychopath wanting to kill someone was too much for me to handle. I have memories of my sister and these were definitely not it.
Which makes figuring out what happened all the more important to me…
"H-Holy crap…TH-THAT'S Neptune?!" Uni yelled as the video had no doubt traumatized her the same way it did to us.
"*sigh* I'm afraid so." Histoire said as she made the tablet disappear. "And she has been out cold ever since. Normally, I would be angry that she is sleeping in the middle of the afternoon. But since it has been three days, I am starting to get worried."
"Histoire…please tell me you figured out what happened to Neptune." I said. "You and Umio have been doing tests on her, right?"
"Even though we are not too sure about what it is exactly…we did discover something."
"You did?" Uni and I asked.
"Yes…but we should wait until everyone gets back. And hopefully when Neptune recovers."
"Recovers from what?" We suddenly heard a voice coming from behind us. And when we saw who it was…
"N-Neptune!"
"*yawn* Mornin', Nepgear. Mornin', Histy. Man, I feel REFRESHED. Oh hey, Uni. Came by to hang with Nepgear?" Neptune was saying all of this while stretching all over her body. Understandable since she was asleep for three days straight.
But…
She seems like her normal self. Personality and all. But what happened to those blue markings that were all over her body? Did they clear out? Only there for a one-time phenomenon?
Something just doesn't feel right about this…
"H-Hey, Neptune. Feeling any better?" I asked.
"Uh…I guess. But I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to feel better from. Did something happen?"
The three of us just looked at her with looks of complete shock.
D-Does she…Does she not remember?!
"Hello~? Anyone home?"
"Neptune. Are you aware of what transpired three days ago?" Histoire asked.
"Three days ago? That was just a normal day, right?"
"You seriously don't remember?" Uni asked.
"Well…" Neptune went silent for a bit. "…This one thing keeps popping in my mind. I kept seeing myself fighting Arfoire for some reason. And I wasn't in HDD, either. But yet, I still won with these crazy magic powers. Talk about one weird dream, right?"
Now the three of us were silent. She basically just described what happened three days ago…but she sees it as a dream.
Telling her the truth is going to be even harder now.
"You guys okay? You kept going silent on me."
"N-Neptune…" I said. "Y-You should know that…"
"Hey, Histoire! We're back!"
"Is Nep-Nep up yet?"
"It sounds like the others have returned." Histoire said as we heard IF and Compa's voices from down the hall. "It would be better if they were all here to hear this."
"Yeah. And they might be better at explaining what happened than Nepgear over here." Uni added.
"I-I wasn't struggling that hard!" I yelled with a small blush of embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Neptune was looking at us all with a huge confused look on her face. Not really understanding what happened or what we're actually talking about.
But once we do tell her…
*sigh* I can only imagine what her reaction would be…
The four of us met up with IF, Compa, and Uzume out front. Umio was there, too. All ready to hear/tell what exactly happened to Neptune three days ago.
By the way, Umio is Uzume's longtime companion who we also met in the Zero Dimension. He's uh…he's basically a fish with the most normal-looking face you've ever seen. But also his voice is rather soothing.
A lot of us actually believe that Umio was in fact human at one point during Uzume's time of ruling Planeptune. But he said that he was always a fish. And if he ever was a human, he doesn't remember it.
Oh, well. Human of fish, the two of them are really close to each other. So, it really doesn't matter.
"Hey there, Nepsy. Glad to see you're feeling better now." Uzume said to Neptune.
"Thanks, Uzume. Although…I'm not exactly sure what I'm feeling better from."
"Huh?"
"She apparently doesn't remember what happened." I explained. "It's all mostly a blur to her."
"Mostly a blur?" IF asked.
"She kinda remembers. But she thinks it was all a dream." I whispered to her.
"A dream? Aw geez, Nep."
"What? What are you guys talking about? Did I do something bad?"
All of us went silent again. Not sure what to do about my sister's lack of memories from three days ago.
Although, the one thing that came to my mind that might work is…
"Hey, Histoire. Do you still have that video?"
"Video?" Neptune asked.
"Yes, I do. And I agree, Nepgear. Showing Neptune the video might be the easiest way of explaining it to her."
"*sigh* I figured so."
"Uh, quick question. What video am I about to see?" Neptune asked.
"A video that can easily be the definition of "Nightmare Fuel"."
"U-Uni…" I gained a sweatdrop.
Even though I totally don't blame her for saying such a thing…
And so, we showed Neptune the video. Every last second of it. From the moment she started acting crazy to the moment she passed out. And by the time it was over, she was near speechless.
"N-No way…th-that can't be right. That's so totally wasn't me! Tell me that it wasn't me!"
"It is you, Nep. Every last minute of it." IF said.
"N-No nepping way…G-Gah!"
"N-Neptune! What's wrong?!" I yelled after Neptune suddenly held her chest in pain.
"M-My chest…i-it burns like hell. B-But it also…it also feels so nepping good. It's like a sudden high that I can get addicted to. This pain feels so damn amazing! I want MORE of it! *demented giggle*"
"Sh-She's going insane again!" Compa yelled in fear.
"Neptune! Snap out of it, please! Neptune!" I yelled as I shook her back and forth hoping she would come back to her senses.
…
"Wh-What? N-Nepgear? Why were you shaking me?"
"Because it happened again, Nep." IF said. "You were going on about how this pain in your chest felt "so damn good" and that you wanted more of it."
"S-Seriously? I said that?" Neptune asked. With all of us confirming it happening.
"Oh…wow…"
"How is your chest, Neptune? Has it stopped burning?" Umio asked.
"Well, kinda. It's still burning, but not as much as before."
"I see. Then it appears that we still have some time."
"Time for what, Umio? You figure out what happened to Nepsy?" Uzume asked.
"We don't have an exact diagnosis. But we did discover something while doing tests on the sleeping Nepsy."
"Wait, you did tests on my while I was asleep?" Neptune asked. "How long was I asleep, anyway?"
"It was three days, Nep-Nep." Compa said.
"Th-Three days?! Geez, no wonder I felt so refreshed when I woke up. I honestly thought it was a simple nap."
"If it were a simple nap, I would have woken you up a long time ago…" Histoire gained a sweatdrop.
"So, what happened to Neptune? Is she going to be okay?" I asked.
"I shall be blunt with what we found." Umio said. "But I must warn you all…it is highly disturbing."
"D-Disturbing?"
Umio went silent for a bit as he prepared to tell us what he and Histoire found out about my sister during those tests. The fact that he said it was disturbing was worrisome. But I wasn't exactly sure how disturbing it actually was.
That is until…
"What we found out is…Nepsy's soul has been shattered."
"Wh-Wha…WHAT?!" Nearly all of us shouted in shock.
"W-Woah, woah, woah! Hold up! My SOUL is SHATTERED?! What the nep does that mean?!" Neptune asked.
"It means as it says, Neptune." Histoire said. "Your soul was mostly destroyed during that fight with Arfoire. Only a small fragment of it remains."
"A-A mostly destroyed soul…" IF said.
"H-How the hell does that old hag know how to do such a thing?!" Uni asked.
"We believe that it was because of that mysterious stone Arfoire had in her staff. As to how she obtained such a thing…that is currently unknown."
"You mean you couldn't find anything?" IF asked.
"I have searched through the entire record of Gamindustri. But nothing about a blue orthorhombic-shaped stone had appeared anywhere. So, it is safe to say that its origins are not from this world."
"Not from this world…could it be from the Ultra Dimension?" I asked.
"It is possible. Though I would have to check with the Histoire of that dimension to be sure. Getting connected there should take about three days."
"R-Right…" We all gained a sweatdrop at Histoire's unexplainably long wait time to do these kinds of things.
I then looked at Neptune, who hasn't said anything since finding out that her soul was nearly destroyed. I want to comfort her as a sister. But what do you say to someone who went through such an insane thing? I don't have any experience with souls and nearly losing them.
…
B-But I gotta at least try.
"H-Hey, Sis. Are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I-I guess. I'm just…trying to mentally accept such a crazy thing. This is definitely not a normal thing to experience, huh?"
"Yeah. Definitely not normal. Probably the most not normal thing we've ever experienced yet."
"*giggle* Yeah. No doubt about that." Neptune gained her first smile since waking up today. It no doubt calmed my worries a little. At least for now.
At least the Neptune that I know and love is still in there somewhere…
"So, what are you gonna do now, Nep-Nep?" Compa asked.
"Well…I could just…"
*BOOM*
"Woah! What was THAT?!"
"It appears that something has fallen onto the balcony." Histoire said.
"Well then, let's go check it out." IF said before we all went up to see what it was.
The smoke was clearing up by the time we reached the balcony. And what we saw was…rather surprising.
There on the balcony was a short blonde-haired girl wearing a white sleeveless t-shirt with colorful dots and flowers on it over a black undershirt, beach shorts colored purple, green, and yellow from top to bottom, and pink crocs. And on her head was a chrome white beanie hat with red, blue, green, yellow, and purple colors swirling on it. It even had eyes on it that were…blinking on its own.
K-Kinda creepy.
A-Anyway…I said that this was surprising because…well…
"Ow…Geez. Arly really didn't have to drop me so high. I'm lucky that I survived such a fall. And to have experience in falling from the sky…"
"Woah…who is that?" Compa asked.
"H-Hey, Neptune. Th-That is her, right?" I whispered to her.
"Yeah, that IS her! Amitie!"
"Huh?!" IF, Compa, and Uzume yelled in shock.
"Wait…Neptune?! Nepgear?!"
"Yep! The very same! Nice to see you again, dear cousin!"
"Seriously?!" The same three, with the addition of Uni, yelled in shock.
"Uh…hey, Nepgear. What's going on?"
"You're asking me?" I replied to Amitie with a huge sweatdrop.
Author's Note: Neptune learns that the fight with her arch-nemesis has resulted in her soul being mostly destroyed. Which is the cause of her going insane at random moments. It's still unknown to them how Arfoire learned such a tactic. Could the sudden appearance of Amitie explain it all?
Spoil alert. Yes.
Thanks for reading. Later.