"I'm surprised you aren't trying to help Netty out as well." Neptune told Compa as she was assisted in walking back to Compa's apartment. Compa sighed, "Trust me, I tried." Neptune laughed, "Naturally. Anyway, I'm sorry I couldn't pull it off. To be honest, I'm surprised I did that well to begin with." Compa giggled, "Actually Nep-Nep, I think you did enough!" "Huh? Was there some other win condition for us?" Neptune asked. Compa shook her head, "Nope! I just don't think I specified that you had to win, only that Netty had to lose! So you actually did just enough!" "Uh, yeah." Neptune nervously chuckled in response.
I already wasn't certain Netty would really pay up if I won, he's definitely not gonna accept defeat over a technicality like this…
The two arrived and Neptune flopped onto Compa's couch. "Need anything?" Compa asked. Neptune nodded, "More water and… Right, there was something in your fridge, really good but I forgot the name. Could you bring me a cup?" Compa nodded and happily skipped over to the kitchen.
Neptune held up her hand to look at the already completely healed bruises and cuts it had received courtesy of Netherrealm, "Multi-Type…" It was really cool, she was only just relearning how magic works and it turns out she's naturally proficient in at least three completely different types. But that last one, that purple energy that seemed to make her way stronger across the board, there just had to be more to it. She unzipped her hoodie and looked at the rather ugly stitches running down her chest.
Yeah. There's something in there. Something that isn't supposed to be.
Compa arrived with a glass of water and an opaque plastic cup containing something else, "This is what you wanted, right Nep-Nep? It's called pudding." "Right, pudding. That's it." Neptune responded, before taking the two and quickly taking down the glass of water before opening the pudding cup. Compa sat down with her own snack, "So you like pudding? I should've guessed it was you when I got home after you went alone and that pack was in the fridge."
Neptune nodded, "Don't know, randomly picked it up from a store I passed by on the way home. It looked good, and I guess my intuition was on point!" Compa giggled, "I like it as well! And here's something you might like. I actually know how to make it myself!" Neptune's head snapped to look directly at Compa, her eyes were sparkling, "Really?!" Compa nodded, "Yep! My grandparents taught me, they had a great recipe!" Neptune spoke with her mouth full, "Well, maybe you oughta make some once this pack is done!" The two relaxed and ate pudding together for a while.
Neptune and Compa left the apartment, heading back to the slums. Once they reached Netherrealm's apartment building. They entered, saying hi to the sleeping receptionist as they passed. Eventually they reached Netherrealm's room. Compa raised her hand up and rapped her knuckles on the door.
They heard the sounds of groaning and the door opened. "What do you want?" Netherrealm asked. Fully dressed and had his cowl clutched in one hand. "It's time to do some investigating on Nep-Nep's identity!" Compa said as she made jazz hands. Netherrealm looked at her before slamming the door in her face. Compa continued to do the jazz hands for a couple more seconds. Before knocking on the door again. "It was a draw! The bet is off!" Netherrealm's muffled voice exclaimed.
Neptune saw Compa about to say something and tried to stop her, "Compa no, don't make him even more-" "I didn't say you had to lose your next match, you just had to not win! I won the bet~!" Compa blurted out. The two heard a loud thud and an angry yell. Before the door opened, Netherrealm looking down at the two. Before walking out of his apartment and closing the door behind him. The three stood in awkward silence for a second, Neptune ready to tackle Compa out of the way of Netherrealm's fists. "What first?" Netherrealm asked. Neptune sighed and let her guard down, wiping a bit of sweat off of her forehead.
"Well, I was thinking we go back to where Nep-Nep fell. Maybe we can find some clues?" Compa suggested. Neptune and Netherrealm both agreed as it was literally the only lead they had. They should be able to investigate the crater more thoroughly since it's probably cooled.
As the three rode a train to Virtua Forest, Neptune leaned over and whispered in Netherrealm's ear, "Sorry about this. Compa, she can't really be told no. Though I gotta admit, I am curious about who I am." Netherrealm clicked her tongue and grumbled. "Your apology is worthless. I have my own shit to deal with. You better get your memories back tonight," Netherrealm replied curtly. Neptune looked down at her hoodie, then back to Netherrealm, "Now that I think about it… This looks a bit expensive compared to all the other clothes I've seen. Maybe I was actually kinda rich? Quicker we figure this out, quicker I might be able to pay you back for it or something."
Netherrealm smirked at her offer to pay her. "You got tonight to pay me back for this… about fifty thousand credits…" Netherrealm laid out his price. Neptune shrugged, "I haven't the slightest idea how much that is in the grand scheme of things, even after getting a thousand from our fight. Don't be pushing your luck." Netherrealm grit his teeth in anger. "Alright, just remember I'm only helping you just this once," Netherrealm said firmly and with finality. Neptune nodded, "More than enough already. Thanks, for all of this. I don't know how I'd fare without you two reintroducing me to everything." Netherrealm didn't say another word but looked to the side. To see McDowell on the train, reading the newspaper. He gave Netherrealm a friendly wave.
Netherrealm then looked in front of him. To see another suited man staring at him. "How long until we get to Virtua Forest?" Netherrealm asked Compa. He gave McDowell a man side eye before looking back at Compa. "About ten seconds," Compa replied and Netherrealm looked out the window to see the station.
They got off the train and Netherrealm looked back to see McDowell at the window. Waving goodbye to Netherrealm as the train began to go again. They walked out of the station and were in front of Virtua Forest. "Do you remember where the crater is?" Compa asked Netherrealm. Who nodded, putting on his cowl and face mask. The three walked into the forest.
They walked through the thick shrubs and their feet snapped sticks in half. Their feet crunching the dirt and flattening the grass. After a few minutes of walking, the shrubs nearby quivered and rustled. Blue blobs of jelly with dog ears and a dog face jumped out of the shrubs. "Dogoo?" They said as they hopped to the three.
Netherrealm put on his cowl and face mask. Then he raised his hand up and unsheathed his wakizashi. Neptune heard the sound of metal scraping against the sheath as Netherrealm drew his sword. She stared at the blade, she instinctively reached out to his sword. Netherrealm looked at her. "Get your own sword!" he snapped. Neptune jumped in surprise as his raised voice broke her out of the momentary trance. Compa brought out her needle gun.
BGM: What A FUNKtastic Hit (Yakuza 5)
The Slightly Too Friendly Monsters
Dogoos
Netherrealm held the blade one handed. Then he charged forward. Slashing a Dogoo in half. Making it dissolve into a puddle of blue liquid. Neptune smirked and also ran forward. She kicked up a Dogoo and her hand glowed green. She chopped through the Dogoo. Letting out a wave of wind that left a scar into the tree behind the Dogoo.
Compa dove back and squeezed the trigger on her gun. The needles in the cylinder cycled and a few needles fired out. They pierced the Dogoos. They turned purple and bubbled like they were boiling before exploding into blue mist. One jumped up behind her, she yelped as she was startled. She backhanded the Dogoo, making it instantly splatter. She wiped sweat off her brow and turned back to the skirmish.
Netherrealm kicked up a Dogoo like a ball and it was pierced by needles. Then he slashed it in half once it was pierced. He turned around to roundhouse kick one trying to attack him from behind. However Neptune drop kicked the Dogoo and caused blue jelly to splash all on Netherrealm's face. "Whoops…" Neptune said as Netherrealm grabbed his face and stumbled back. Before he wildly swung his blade at Neptune. Which she ducked under and cartwheeled away. She kicked a Dogoo at Netherrealm who slashed it in half.
Compa aimed and fired at the Dogoos that were coming up from behind Neptune. Making them explode with the concoction inside the needles. It caused some jelly to splash onto Neptune's parka. "Ewwww…" Neptune said. "Sorry!" Compa apologized before a Dogoo landed on her.
Netherrealm flicked his arm forward and a kunai attached to a rope flew out from under his bracer. Sticking itself in the Dogoo attacking Compa. "Get over here!" He bellowed as he pulled it towards him. Giving it a harsh uppercut once it was within striking distance. Causing it to explode into jelly all over his hand and bracer.
Neptune cartwheeled and jumped up. Fire swirled around her legs as she stomped on a Dogoo. Causing an explosion, killing the ones surrounding her. A needle mopped up a few more Dogoos. Until the shrubs rustled again. Then a man as tall as Netherrealm came out. His body was blue gelatin with a Dogoo replacing the human head. This is a Dogoo Man.
The Dogoo Man threw a push kick at Neptune. She held her arms up and the force of the kick sent her flying into a tree. Her spine tingled as her back hit the bark. Branches fell down around her and she looked up to see Netherrealm weaving around a few punches. Before driving his fist into the Dogoo Man's stomach. Causing the monster to stumble back. The Dogoo Man barked and more Dogoos arrived on the scene.
Neptune looked at the branches and her eyes settled on a particularly long one. The Dogoos called by the Dogoo Man began to hop towards her. Thinking she is an easy victim. Neptune grabbed the long branch and swatted one away. Sending it flying into a tree, causing it to explode into jelly.
Neptune kicked up to her feet and held the branch in front of her. Two hands on the lower end and feet spread. "Alrighty, let's tango!" Neptune said with a smirk. As she raised the branch up and brought it down on a Dogoo. Crushing it under the force of her blue. Purple glowing cracks formed on the branch. Neptune's eyes flashing blue for a hot second. She looked at the cracks in confusion before resuming her attack.
She thrust the sword down, skewering a Dogoo at the end of her branch. Before tossing it up like a burger and winded up a swing like a baseball bat. Then she swung it against the Dogoo. Sending it flying into another one. Causing the both of them to explode. The cracks became bigger with that strike. Then Neptune raised her leg up and high kicked a Dogoo out of the air as it jumped at her. Then she hopped in the air on the foot planted on the ground. Turning in the air and crushed the Dogoo with a downward swing of her branch. More cracks appeared and the previous cracks got even bigger.
Neptune looked at the Dogoo Man that Netherrealm was fighting. Compa was mopping up the Dogoos getting called in by the Dogoo Man. So Neptune ran at the Dogoo Man. She jumped up and with both hands clasping the branch. She raised it up, the branch had a purple aura surrounding it, mixing with the glowing purple cracks. Neptune's eyes turned a glowing blue with white power symbols replacing the pupils. She slashed downwards, a gust of wind shooting out in the shape of a vertical wave. Causing dirt to kick up. The branch cracked more before it burst into splinters. Yet like a bird inside of an egg. Neptune was holding a sword or hardened, smooth wood in her hands.
End BGM
The Dogoo Man peeled in half after half a second worth of silence. Before melting into blue goo. Neptune smirked and held the wooden sword up in triumph. "Hell yeah." She whispered. Netherrealm scoffed and flicked his blade of jelly before sheathing it on his back. Compa ejected the cylinder of her needle gun. The cylinder shattered like glass and Compa brought out a new cylinder.
"Did you make that Nep-Nep? That's so cool…" Compa asked in awe. Neptune nodded with a self assured smirk. "I don't know how I did it, but like, I couldn't stop thinking about Netty's sword. I kept thinking about it and I think I put energy into the sword… I don't know," Neptune tried to explain.
"It's okay Nep-Nep, everything will make sense when you can remember stuff, but I think swords like Netty's are important to you. It's longer than Netty's katana," Compa assured Neptune. "Okay, first off, my sword is called a-" Netherrealm was about to explain but Neptune cut in. "-Wakizashi, it's about thirty to sixty centimeters long. It's typically used as a backup sword. So it's weird that Netty is using one as his primary.." Neptune explained like it was the most obvious thing.
"A katana is sixty to eighty centimeters long and is a primary weapon. So this wooden sword is about seventy five centimeters long while Netty's wakizashi looks about forty centimeters long…." Neptune trailed off as she then looked at the new wooden sword in nostalgia. All that information was just, there, second nature. "Yeah, that," Netherrealm said after a minute of stunned silence. The three then continued into the forest.
"Guess I'm the expert." Neptune mused. "Don't overestimate yourself." Netherrealm replied as they walked side by side. Compa a bit behind them, taking up the rear. As they were heading through the trail. Eventually pushing through some trees. Neptune looked down to see some burnt grass. Then she looked up to see the crater.
They all stared at it for a bit. "Grunt of effort," Neptune said as she jumped up and landed in the crater. Netherrealm and Compa slid down the crater after her. They began to search the crater. "Hey, look at this!" Neptune said as she held up the handle of a melted katana. "An unusable sword? That's what we came here for? Fucking great, you can get one of those at the weapons shop! And it's so warped and burnt that there's no way we can get a good price out of it!" Netherrealm ranted.
"Hey! Hey! Shush. This means I definitely used a katana! So we found something!" Neptune chirped optimistically. Netherrealm shook his head and threw his hands up in exasperation. "See Netty, this isn't a waste of time!" Compa said happily. Giving Neptune a congratulatory smile. Neptune held the handle out in front of her, feeling out the grip. She saw a button, and a small spark came from what little of the rusted blade remained.
She'd be quite troublesome for any of us to deal with alone.
Neptune quickly looked up from the broken sword, there was nobody there aside from Netherrealm and Compa.
Agreed, she is too strong for a fair fight. Let us take her out together, before settling this between ourselves.
Neptune pulled her wooden sword out of the dirt, "Do you two, hear anything?" Compa shook her head.
You three are really going to-!
Neptune recognized that one, it wasn't too dissimilar to her own voice. Just deeper, more mature. She held up her wooden sword, sweat beginning to run down her head over her temples. Seeing how uncomfortable Neptune was, Compa leveled her needle gun and got close to Neptune, looking for threats. Netherrealm kept his distance.
Where is your honor? Where is your pride? You side with your enemies, then call yourselves true warriors?!
Neptune felt a sharp pain in her back, she spun around to see three humanoid shadows. Compa put a hand on her shoulder, "Nep-Nep, are you okay?" Neptune couldn't hear her as one of the shadows attacked. She raised her wooden sword to block, but the shadow's axe passed right through and grazed her stomach. It hurt. Another thrusted a spear at her face, she dodged but only to get sliced in the arm by the last's sword. She could continue to dodge one, but all three were too much. She felt pain all over, unable to do anything about it.
This isn't good, I can't take all three of them. But what else can I do? I need to beat them.
"Nep-Nep, what is happening?" asked a worried Compa as she frantically looked for what Neptune was reacting to. Tears began to roll down Neptune's cheeks as she clutched the two swords, she began to beg for the shadows to leave her alone. Compa hugged her, "Nep-Nep, please calm down!"
It's useless. I can't win. I'm a failure. Just like her. It doesn't matter anymore, they can tear me apart.
The pain only grew worse, Neptune's eyes began to glow as a purple glow began to come from inside of her. Netherrealm jumped down into the crater and ran toward them, "Compa, get away from her!"
"I just want to kill them as well, they'll fall with me. I want to kill these bastards. I need to kill them. I'LL DRAG YOU ALL DOWN TO HELL WITH ME!" yelled Neptune, and A blast of purple energy launched Compa away from Neptune, even managing to knock over Netherrealm. The shadows were gone, so was the pain. Neptune dropped the two swords and began to breathe heavily.
But before anyone could react, they heard a crack from below. The ground in and around the crater began to give way into a deep pit, Neptune and Compa fell in. Netherrealm dove after them, grabbing Compa and keeping his body between her and the bottom of the hole. He slammed into the bottom, feeling something important inside of him break from the hard impact. Neptune hit the floor next to them just as hard with a grunt.
"Netty, Nep-Nep!" exclaimed Compa. Both replied with only a pained groan. Netherrealm tried to sit up, Compa helped him up and got to work magically healing him while the scuffs across Neptune began to quickly repair themselves. Neptune sat up on her own, "Agh, fuck…" Compa and Netherrealm looked over at her, confused. "You also use that kind of language?" Compa asked. "I just took a fall that should've killed someone my size for the second time this week, I think. Just, gimme a break." Neptune replied.
Compa pulled Netherrealm up to his feet. He kissed and put his hand on his back. "Fuck!" Netherrealm growled as his back was still sore. "You just broke your back and had it healed. Give it a second," Compa said. "Fucking shit, landing on my curiass. What the hell was I thinking?!" Netherrealm asked himself.
"Thank you for taking that fall for me! I'm sorry you had to do that, I won't let it happen again," Compa assured Netherrealm who said nothing in response. Neptune looked up and saw the moon bathing light down on them like a faint spotlight. Surrounding them was pitch black darkness. They descended into an abyss below Planeptune.
"Where are we?" Compa asked. Neptune shrugged as she walked over to the two. She spotted out of the corner of her eye a glint of metal. She headed over to it and there was the rusted sword that caused all of this. "Netty, Compa? Can one of you grab the sword? I don't wanna explode again…" Neptune requested. Compa hopped on over and gently grabbed the sword. Putting it in her pack.
"We're in some caves beneath Planeptune," Neptune said. Compa raised her eyebrows in shock. Netherrealm groaned in annoyance. "No shit? …Why did it have to be the caves?" Netherrealm complained. Compa looked over at him. "What's wrong with the caves?" Neptune asked as she sat on a big rock that fell down with them.
"There are a lot of strong monsters down here…" Compa shivered. "The Guild goes down here on expeditions to map this place out. I was hired to help guard an expedition, never again," Netherrealm said. Neptune absorbed what they said and hopped off the rock.
"Jeez, are the monsters down here THAT scary?" Neptune asked. "Yes/No," Compa and Netherrealm answered at the same time. "The Guild are a bunch of stuck up stiffs. So if the monsters don't kill you, The Guild will definitely kill you internally," Netherrealm explained.
"You hate The Guild?" Compa asked. "Of course I fucking do, people like me are The Guild's natural enemy," Netherrealm replied. "Now let's just pick a direction and hope we get the hell out of here. Because I know for a fact we are not prepared for days inside of the cave," Netherrealm said with a clap of his hands.
Neptune shrugged, "Those Dogoos were nothing, so this could be welcome." Compa put a hand on her shoulder, "But wait, are you okay? What happened up there?" Neptune looked at Compa's bag where her broken sword was, "I saw, and heard something. A memory of mine, I think. Everyone was just blurry silhouettes and what was supposed to be my voice wasn't even entirely accurate. So, I don't know if there is anything to take from it… Other than that my big fall was from a few women trying to kill me." Compa smiled, "It might not be much alone, but we're on the right track!" Neptune nodded.
So the three picked a direction and trudged into the dark, Neptune holding up two fingers and letting the electricity jumping between the two light the way. Eventually they reached a part of the caves that are bathed in a light green light. As crystals dotted the wall sporadically. Neptune took a deep breath, glad to get a break.
There was an altar of sorts. A stone serpentine dragon like the silver tattoo on Netherrealm's back. Netherrealm walked first, much to the other two's surprise. "Netty? What is it?" Compa asked in concern. His silence made Compa and Neptune uncomfortable. Like he was in a sort of trance. The two began to cautiously follow behind Netherrealm. Soon he was in front of the altar.
"One must be kind, confident, and powerful. You have to reach the top… that is the path of a dragon…" A man with somewhat dark skin, like a natural tan and a black crew cut said. He held a five year old boy with fluffy black hair and wide violet eyes. Wearing a black onesie with building blocks that had letters on his onesie. The blocks spelled out 'Babality'.
"Is Netherrealm up late again Ed?" Another man asked. His skin was lighter, and his short hair was brown. "Yeah, little rascal would've woken up Seiryū if I didn't tell him his favorite story," Ed said to his spouse, Toby. Toby sat down next to Ed.
"You love the Elder Dragons don't you? You wanna be a dragon yourself?" Toby asked. Netherrealm nodded and smiled brightly. "Well then, you gotta get strong, alright? Dragons are the strongest!" Toby said with a confident smile. "Okay Papa!" Netherrealm chirped with excitement.
"Well we got ourselves a dragon in training! When you're old enough, we'll train you and maybe your brother at Mt. Snowhead. There's said to be an Elder Dragon temple up there," Ed promised. Netherrealm hugged him tightly. He couldn't wait until he became an adult.
Netherrealm stared at the altar and looked down for a second. Before looking back up at the stone dragon. "...Take us there when we're older. Some promise," Netherrealm said bitterly. He stared at the dragon in resentment. He then looked at one of his hands and clenched his fist. "I am not that naive weakling anymore…" he growled.
The three turned around at the sound of footsteps. "So we got a trio of minions?" A voice asked as a girl with a long blue coat, long brown hair with a green side bow shaped like a leaf. Green eyes staring directly at them. A pistol pointed at Netherrealm.
Netherrealm glared at the girl as his hand reached up to the handle of his wakizashi. IF fired a warning shot. The bullet going past his cheek. "Mask off, now…" she ordered Netherrealm. Compa gave him a pleading look. Netherrealm clenched his fists and sighed in anger. Before taking off his facemask and headband. Then the cowl to show his face.
"Damn, almost wish you kept the mask on," the gun toting girl snickered while Netherrealm took a step forward. Being held back by Neptune and Compa. "Anyway, name's IF, I'm a gust of wind blowing through Gamindustri. So tell me, where's Arfoire?" IF introduced herself then asked with a smirk.
"...Who the hell is Arfoire?" Neptune asked.