Chapter 39 – A Candidate's Desire for Power
Uni's POV
Damn this Crystal Shard! It hasn't done a damn thing for me since I got it and I'm flat-out sick of it! Why is it that this thing keeps screwing with me?!
"Uni…Uni!"
"H-Huh? Oh…sorry, Pollux." I said to her. "I was, uh…sp-spacing out a little."
"Were you thinking about your Crystal Shard again?"
"Y-You can tell?"
"I may have only just met you…but I can tell if someone is troubled with something. It's a bit of a hidden talent of mine."
"Huh…" I went silent for a bit. "…well…yeah. I-It's that. To tell you the truth, it's been on my mind for a while. This Crystal Shard's been giving me issues since the day I got it."
"I see. Well, it is a mysterious gem from another world…"
"You have a point…" I replied before something came to mind. "…By the way, Pollux…how are you familiar with Crystal Shards in the first place?"
"Ah, well…when I was in an active state a while back, I was studying Crystal Shards and their potential power. I'm aware that they're pieces of a giant Crystal used to dispel dark forces of matter…but for centuries, there have been rumors of them doing even more than that. And I made it my self-mission to find out its secrets."
"W-Wow…so you're like a Crystal Shard expert or something?"
"Well, I wouldn't say "expert". Up until meeting you, I've never seen a Crystal Shard before. Let alone held one. So, learning that you had one truly was a milestone for me."
"I see…" I then went back to looking at the gem in question still hanging around my neck. "Well…I guess I'm in the same boat as you, Pollux. I wanna know more about this thing, too. So that maybe I can actually USE it for once."
"Well, how did you gain this Crystal Shard?"
"A guy named Lemres is letting me use it as a temporary power source until I can get my normal HDD powers back. He said that he's been studying them for a while, too."
"Really now? Someone else studying the power of the Crystal Shard?"
"He stated that the powers within these shards are born from the galaxy itself and shouldn't be played like a toy. I've been extra careful because of that, but…am I still missing something?"
"Hmm…well, why don't we ask this Lemres person for more information? Surely he has more data about the shards, doesn't he?"
"Well, yeah. I've thought about doing that. But I don't even know where he is. Let alone what else to ask him about this thing."
"Y-You're looking for Lemres?"
After hearing a new voice, we turned to see a black-haired girl in a navy blue hoodie walking up to us. Not only did this girl scare me from her showing up out of nowhere…but…
W-Woah…th-the aura around this girl is insanely powerful. It's like…some sort of Dark Magic? B-But it feels WAY more intense than regular Dark Magic…
…
Wait…why am I even able to feel this aura, anyway?
"Uh…y-yeah, but…who…?"
"Ah. Sorry…I wasn't trying to eavesdrop or anything. I was just walking by and overheard your conversation. Didn't mean to scare you."
"I-It's fine, really. I was just caught off guard for a bit." I said. Trying to ease up any tension made from this encounter.
"But…if you don't mind me asking…why do the two of you need to see Lemres? Neither one of you seem to be familiar in my eyes."
"U-Um…w-well…" And as I tried to think of an answer…
"We would like to ask this Lemres person for more information about the Crystal Shards. He seems to be knowledgeable about them."
"H-Hey! Pollux!"
"What? Shouldn't we be honest if we're trying to figure this out? I'm curious about them as much as you are."
"I get that, but…"
"W-Wait…you have a Crystal Shard?" The girl asked in shock.
"W-Well…" I went silent for a bit before making a huge sigh. "…Y-Yeah, I do. Lemres gave it to me as a temporary power source. But I've been having…issues…with it."
"I see…" The girl then did something I totally didn't expect…she reached from inside her hoodie and pulled out her OWN Crystal Shard! Hanging around her neck like how mine was! "Lemres gave me one, as well. As a way to help me control my Shadow-Kinesis. It's still amazing to know that these things are actually real…"
"Uh…Shadow-Kinesis? What's that?"
"Oh, uh…it's the ability to control shadows with your mind."
"C-Control SHADOWS?!" Pollux and I yelled in shock. Completely amazed (and honestly terrified) that such a power can exist.
I get that this is another world, but STILL!
"I can understand the reaction. It's a pretty rare power…" The girl said with a sweatdrop.
"I see…" Pollux said. "…So, such powers can exist in different worlds. Such an eye-opening revelation."
"Wh-Why are you impressed by that?" I gained a sweatdrop of my own.
"So, you wish to talk to Lemres about the Crystal Shards?" The girl asked.
"Ah, yeah. To be honest, I just want to know how I could use them to better myself. I've been…struggling…as of late."
"I see…well, if that's your true intention, then I don't mind showing you the way."
"R-Really? You don't mind?"
"You're this trusting of two people from different world?" Pollux asked.
"Different worlds?"
"Oh, right. I guess you wouldn't know…" I said. "…My name's Uni. I'm from a world known as Gamindustri."
"And I'm Pollux. A princess from a different world known as the Babylon Nebula."
"Gamindustri? Babylon Nebula?" The girl went silent for a bit. "Now that I think about it…I do remember Mao-senpai mentioning some strange events happening in Primp recently."
""In Primp"? You don't live here?"
"No, not at all." The girl answered before clearing her throat. "My name's Kaori Saitō. I originate from the world known as Toyama…which connects to Primp Town on a regular basis."
"Toyama…" I thought to myself.
Isn't that the same world Futaba and Rin are from?
"Well…it's nice to meet you, Kaori."
"Yes. Same here." Pollux added.
"It's nice to meet you both as well, Uni and Pollux." Kaori replied with a bow.
After being sure that Kaori was willing to help us out, She guided us to where Lemres was. Turns out he runs a sweets café here. Kinda makes sense when you think about it. The guy has a LOT of sweets on him.
Probably more than one person can normally handle…
"Parfait!"
*POOF*
"Donuts!"
*POOF*
"Candy Assortment!"
*POOF*
*POOF*
*POOF*
*HAPPY CHEERING*
"Thank you for the sweets, Mr. Lemres!"
"It's so cool that you can make sweets appear with magic!"
"*chuckle* No problem, kids. Now, eat up. These delicious~ sweets aren't going to eat themselves."
"Yes, sir!"
"Wow…there sure are a lot of kids here." Pollux said after we walked inside the café and saw a whole bunch of kids eating different kinds of sweets.
"This place is normally busy…" Kaori said. "…But never to this extent."
"Come to think of it…these are kids from my world." I said as I started recognizing some of the kids here. "What are they doing here?"
"Well, now…if it isn't Kaori and Uni. You two craving some sweets as well?" Lemres asked after seeing us by the door.
"Hello to you as well, Lemres-san." Kaori said with a bow.
"Hey, Lemres…why are there so many kids here?" I asked.
"They're refugees from Gamindustri."
"Refugees?"
"A bunch of them were brought over here as a means to escape the wreckage caused by the worlds fusing. And these kids were the majority of them. Most, if not all, had lost their families during the catastrophe."
"Oh, my…" Kaori said in shock.
"So…until something can be done for them to go back, they're staying here. As for them eating a ton of sweets…it was a request made by Histoire."
"I see…something to keep them occupied with."
"To think that mere children would be dragged into this mess…" Pollux said with a sad look and tone. "…who ever caused all of this truly has no regard for human life."
"Oh? You're definitely a new face. Who might you be?" Lemres asked.
"Pleased to meet you, Lemres. My name's Pollux. The Gemini Princess and guardian of the Gemini Moonstone."
"Another Zodiac Princess…more and more people are ending up in this world. Not that I can blame them…given the current situation."
He's right about that. Most of us are just trying to mentally survive and get stronger.
Which reminds me…
"H-Hey, Lemres…I need to talk to you about something."
"You still want to know more about the Crystal Shards don't you, Uni?"
"Huh? H-How did you…"
"We never did finish our conversation from before, didn't we?"
"Th-That is true…" I then went silent for a bit. "Okay…then I've got a lot of questions to ask."
"I'm sure you do. But let's go to a more private setting first. This information is rather top secret, ya know…"
"Right…kids shouldn't be hearing this, anyway."
"You're both welcome to join in, Kaori and Pollux. I'm sure you both want to know as well, right?"
"Well…I am curious as to how this is helping me control my Shadow-Kinesis." Kaori said.
"And this new information about Crystal Shards would go great with my previous research." Pollux added. "Thank you for this opportunity, Lemres."
"No problem." Lemres said with a tip of his hat. "Now…if you would just follow me…"
We then followed Lemres to the back area of his shop. All three of us were definitely curious and excited to learn more about the other-worldly gem pieces…with powers born from the galaxy itself and shouldn't be treated like a toy…
"Finally…I'm going to know all of your secrets, you damn shard!"
…But I would say my mine surpasses the other's.
"Okay, first off…I'm sure all of you are aware that the Crystal Shards originate from Dream Land. More specifically, Ripple Star…when Kirby and friends traveled across different planets collecting them in order to stop Zero's invasion."
"I still can't believe that really happened…I thought it was just a video game." Kaori said after Lemres began explaining.
"I don't blame you for believing that. After some research on my own, I've come to the conclusion that whatever adventure Kirby experiences in his world gets replayed in your world through some kind of mind manipulation. You guys see a video game…while Kirby sees it as the real deal."
"Woah…that's surreal…"
"Is it like that for other game series too?" I asked.
"Hmm…possibly. Though, I'm not all that knowledgeable when it comes to video games. So, I can't be too positive."
"I see…"
This isn't Crystal Shard-related info, but it's interesting in its own right…
"Um…I really don't know what you guys are talking about. So, can we get onto the main topic?" Pollux asked while having a very confused look on her face.
"Oh, right. My apologies." Lemres said before clearing his throat. "Well, then…what most people don't know about Crystal Shards is that their source of power relies on dreams."
"Dreams?" The three of us asked.
"More specifically…a person's desires. When a dream becomes wanted so badly, it becomes a desire. A more powerful version of a dream. And when someone fully realizes their true desires, the Crystal Shard feeds on that. And in return, it gives the user access to its galactic power."
"Woah…so, that's where the power comes from." Pollux said in amazement. "I've been studying them for centuries and I've never been able to figure that out."
"I guess that explains why I have better control of my Shadow-Kinesis." Kaori said. "It fed off of my desire to get better."
"Desire to get better…" I quietly mumbled to myself.
So, that's what it takes, huh? I have to fully accept my desire and the shard will feed off that in exchange for its power.
But what would my desire be? I can't think of anything that I would truly…
…
No…I need to stop lying to myself. I know what my desire is. After all of the traumatizing nightmare-ish shit I've been through these past couple of weeks, it's as plain as day.
My desire…is to become stronger.
Stronger so that I can revive Lastation…
Stronger so that I can defeat the ones responsible for this mess…
Stronger so that…I can FINALLY be useful to Noire…
I want…to become POWERFUL!
"Uni! Hey, Uni!"
"H-Huh?! Wh-Wha…?" I came out of my thoughts once I heard Pollux yelling in my face.
"Your Crystal Shard! It's glowing!"
"Huh?!"
That's when I noticed that Pollux was right. The shard WAS glowing. Way brighter than it was when I fought that Shiva (or at least tried to). And I felt immense power flowing through my body. As if it was attached to my soul.
Woah…this power…c-can I really…
*BOOM*
"GAH! Th-The hell, Uni?!" Pollux shouted after a sudden attack from my hand had almost hit her dead-on.
"S-Sorry, Pollux! I-I didn't mean to do that! I don't even know how…"
"It's the Crystal Shard giving you its power, Uni." Lemres said.
"S-Seriously?! So, then that means…"
"It's feeding off of your desires…" Kaori said. "…What would those be, anyway?"
"Uh…"
*giggle* Finally! All of this power rushing through me is finally mine!
…
But…it's not enough. Nowhere near it. If I want more power, I gotta be stronger!
Stronger than those villains!
Stronger than Nepgear!
STRONGER! THAN! NOIRE!
"…I-It's a secret." Was all I replied with.
Author's Note: After fully learning the true powers of the Crystal Shards, Uni finally gets hers to work…in exchange for realizing her true desire to get stronger. And now…she desires more.
So, you know how I said that I was going to try a different idea for a Puyo Puyo X Neptunia story? I'm still going to do that…but I figured I get this chapter that has been sitting on my computer for months out of the way first. Just to be done with it.
Thanks for reading. Later.
