F3: Welcome to chapter 17 of my Neptunia story. A new monster has appeared and now must be dealt with. Hyperdimension Neptunia is owned by Idea Factory and Compile Heart. With that said Let's Get Started.

Chapter 17: A Secret Brought to Light.

IF and Big Neptune stood in front of the beast as it snarled at them before letting out a powerful roar that shook the ground under them as lightning lit the sky above them.

"You go left, I'll go right! Let's try and flank it!" IF ordered. Big Nep nodded as they charged at the beast as IF's qatars ignited into flames. Big Neptune brought out her pistol and started firing at the monster's left side but her bullets only seemed to bounce off it not doing much damage to the creature's hard skin.

"Inferno Slash!" IF shouted slashing at the monster's right side hitting its skin but it didn't feel like it was doing any damage to it.

The monster responded in kind letting out a furious roar as lightning bolts showered the area around them. The mother Fenrir dodged the lightning bolts with ease thanks to its speed but the two only narrowly dodged its attacks missing them by inches.

"Attacking us with lightning! I call foul!" Big Neptune shouted at the beast but it didn't heed her frustration as it opened its mouth firing a lightning bolt at them. IF got in front of Neptune and activated her Dragon Skin skill to boost her defense taking the attack head on grunting from the shocks.

"Okay that stung a little even with Dragon Skin." IF said as the monster jumped into the air its claws extended out to slash at them.

"Look out!" Big Neptune shouted as she pulled them back as the monster crashed down on them before an explosive blast sent them flying hitting a tree nearby. The Mother Fenrir let out a howl at the monster like it was challenging it to a fight as the monster turned to face it.

IF groaned as she slowly got up "You okay?" She asked Big Neptune.

"Yeah, I'm good. This monster is just going to be a hassle." Big Neptune said as they saw the mother Fenrir and the monster battle it out.

"Looks like she's not giving up either." She added.

"Yeah but we could hardly damage it." IF said. "Unless I transform were not beating this thing so easily but with Neptune here… can I trust her to keep a secret." She thought as she debated with herself about telling her. She was knocked out of her thoughts as the monster roared again slamming its large tail on the ground sending debris into the air trying to attack the Mother Fenrir.

IF rushes forward and slams herself into Mother Fenrir as they both dodged the debris. Big Neptune charged at the beast slashing away with her swords against its scales as she managed to chop off one of the horns on its legs.

The monster roared in pain from this as it turned its attention to Neptune with a hateful growl in its throat. Big Neptune gulped nervously realizing what she had down as she slowly began backing away from the monster.

"Damnit!" IF screamed internally as the monster was ready to pounce on its prey as she rushed at the monster.

Compa peeked out of the cave seeing if everything was okay but of course it wasn't going well as now the monster raised its paw and with one slash it knocked Big Neptune back destroying her weapons and some of her parka in the process as she hit the tree behind her but the attack also left a gash on her arm as she was bleeding.

"Nep Nep!" Compa shouted as she ran toward Neptune so that she could help her.

IF saw this and so did the monster as it looked at the next fresh prey.

"Compa get back!" IF shouted making Compa stop as the monster now loomed over her. Compa stared up at the monster as she slowly back away from the monster but the monster roared before pouncing at her. Compa let out a loud scream.

IF grunted as she dashed forward as she triggered her HDD as light surrounded her.

Above them Purple Heart and Sister saw the flash of light shine through the clouds.

"Huh? What was that?" Purple Sister asked.

"I'm not sure but that was a sudden surge of energy. C'mon let's go assist." Purple Heart said as the two flew toward the area of the light.

Compa had covered her eyes awaiting the inevitable but when she didn't feel any pain, she opened her eyes slowly and looked up to see someone else standing their holding the monster back. It was the same person that was in Lastation with the monster attack.

Gear Heart roared and pushed the monster away from Compa before she turned around to check on her.

"You alright?" Gear Heart asked but Compa didn't respond right away as she looked around to find Iffy but she wasn't there but then she started putting things together as she stared up at the CPU.

"Iffy vanished and then she shows up it's almost like… could it be." Compa thought before she finally spoke.

"Iffy is that you?" Compa questioned which made the CPU flinch slightly.

"I um… well…" Gear Heart tried to say but then was interrupted by another roar as the beast had returned for more.

"Stupid bastard can't stay down!" Gear Heart shouted, balling her hands into fists as she prepared to fight. Just as the monster was preparing to attack four energy beams collided with the monster's side making it roar again. The two looked up and saw Purple Sister and Purple Heart descending on them.

"Nep, GeGe! Thank goodness you're here." Compa cheered.

"Are you injured?" Purple Heart asked.

She shook her head "No I'm fine but Big Nep over there is hurt bad." Compa said pointing to Big Neptune who was unconscious from the attack.

"We'll cover you." Purple Heart stated as Compa rushed over to Big Neptune as the two CPU's turned the monster but they both saw the other CPU fighting it off.

"Hey! Could use some help here!" Gear Heart shouted.

"Nepgear provide covering fire for us. We'll attack it head on." Purple Heart ordered.

"Got it." Purple Sister said as she summoned two bits to her side and aimed her gun sword at the monster and started firing at the monster. Purple Heart charged at the monster her sword slashing at the monster's side and Gear Heart landing a punch on the monster's head.

The monster, however, roared back sending a shockwave toward them forcing them back a few feet as Purple Heart readied her sword.

"Just what is this thing? Never seen a monster this strong before." Purple Heart added.

"It just showed up out of nowhere and started attacking." Gear Heart answered avoiding a swipe from its claws then hitting it with a swinging roundhouse kick knocking the monster back some.

"So just how we do deal with it then?" Purple Heart asked as she slashed its head but that had proven ineffective.

"Nepgear! Have you spotted anything that could us take this thing down!" Purple Heart called out.

"No. Its body is too heavily guarded by those spikes. We'll have to get rid of them first before we can do any form of damage to it." She added.

"Compa how's the other me?" Purple Heart asked.

"My healing magic is working through its course but she's lost a lot of blood. She's going to need a transfusion." Compa said.

"Then we have to make this quick." Purple Heart stated.

"I can't use my Dimension Blaster here. It's too confined that I can't use it fully and my other skills can only do so much to it. Plus I can't give it away that it's me." IF thought but then an idea came to mind.

"Purple Heart. Let's combine our strongest attacks on it." She suggested, as Purple Heart looked at her strangely.

"You sure that'll work?" She questioned.

"It's all I got for right now. We'll need your sister too. Hit it with our best shots might just do it in." Gear Heart added.

"Alright. Nepgear!" Purple Heart called out.

"Right! Bits deployed!" Purple Sister shouted as the bits around her rocketed toward the monster as they started firing lasers at the target hitting its sides as Purple Heart charged at the monster.

"Victory Slash!" Purple Heart shouted slashing at the monster in a V-shape attack hitting the monster head on at it roared in pain leaving Gear Heart to finish it off as her fist ignited into flames.

"Inferno Fists!" Gear Heart shouted delivering a powerful two punch combo dealing massive damage to the monster as it fell to the ground with a thud before disappearing into pixels.

"Phew… we did it." Purple Sister said letting out a sigh of relief.

"Nepgear. Take Compa and big me back to Planeptune and straight to the nearest hospital." Purple Heart ordered.

"I'm on it." Purple Sister said as she carefully lifted Big Neptune up and Compa before taking off. However, Compa looked back at Gear Heart knowing that it was really her friend as the mystery CPU.

Purple Heart then turned to face Gear Heart as she stared at her with a firm glare.

"Now… I think you have some explaining to do." Purple Heart inclined.

"Um…" Gear Heart paused not sure how to respond.

"Crap what should I say to her that me, her best friend is the mystery CPU that everyone is talking about. Not sure how well she'd take it. I can't risk it." Gear Heart thought.

"I… was just above when I noticed this big thunder cloud show up. So, I went to investigate and that was when I saw those two and that large monster." Gear Heart said knowing that it was a lie.

Purple Heart looked at her strangely almost like she was trying to figure her out staring at her curiously.

"You were just flying about… and saw the thunder clouds appear and thought it was wise to investigate." Purple Heart stated.

"I know it was probably stupid to do so but it was a good thing that I did otherwise those girls would not have made it." Gear Heart replied.

"Hm…" Purple Heart hummed like she was in deep thought as Gear Heart waited for her to speak. The Purple Heart smile at her.

"Well… it was a good thing that you were here. Especially for helping with that monster." Purple Heart thanked as she stretched out a hand. Gear Heart let out a sigh as she stretched out her hand and shook it.

"Any-." Gear Heart started but then suddenly felt a rush of energy fill her body and Purple Heart grunted before pulling away from her grip rubbing her own hand.

"What was that?" Purple Heart questioned suddenly feeling a bit weaker.

Gear Heart looked at her hand with curiosity wondering the same thing. Though now she needed answers.

"I'm sorry but… I must be going." Gear Heart said as she quickly flew off away from Purple Heart who only stared curiously at the CPU.

=HDN=

Flying above Gear Heart found a place to land on top of the mountains as she has stared at her hands recalling what just occurred with Purple Heart.

"What did I just do? Did I… hurt her?" IF thought as she shook her head.

"No, she would've been in pain but for some reason I felt… stronger when I touched her." She thought her hands clenching into fists.

"But still… why did I do that? I need answers and there's only person that's going to tell me." IF said as she stood up but as she was about to leave, she felt something behind her like it was watching her as she turned around to see what it was and she was right she saw someone flying toward her more like it was two individuals that she knows very well but they were in the CPU forms.

"Noire and Uni. What are they doing all the way out here? More accurately how'd they find me." IF thought as she waited for them to get close.

"Ah I thought that energy was coming from here but never thought to encounter you." Black Heart said as she floated near her with her sister close by.

"Better play along so she doesn't know that it's me." IF thought before speaking.

"And might I ask how you found me. Pretty rude isn't to just walk up to someone you don't know." Gear Heart said crossing her arms.

"Oh, I know plenty about you Gear Heart. Though it is rather odd that you just show yourself in my nation of all places." Black Heart replied.

"I just… needed somewhere to think. Collect my thought as it were." Gear Heart replied softly, turning away from her gaze.

Black Heart hummed at this but she was also curious about this CPU but she was also keeping her busy as Fuuki was secretly analyzing Gear Heart.

"Noire just keep her there for about two minutes and I'm running an energy analysis now." Fuuki said in her earpiece.

"Think about what exactly?" Black Sister questioned curiously.

Gear Heart turned away from her. "It's all just a jumbled mess of thoughts that I don't even know where to even begin. How did I become this? What is the purpose of this form? Or even… why was I created?" Gear Heart said, clenching her hands into fists in frustration.

"I just need some answers." She added.

"Noire I'm almost done. Just a little bit more." Fuuki said in her ear.

"Perhaps the professors at my bascilicom could help. They are quite talented for what they can do." Black Heart suggested but Gear Heart shook her head.

"No. There's only one person I know that has the answers I want. And I'm going to talk to him." Gear Heart said as if she was about ready to take off.

"Are you sure? Surely, I can be of some help." Black Heart said.

"I thank you for the offer but… he should be able to answer my questions." Gear Heart said as she then spread her wings and flew off toward Lowee as Black Heart watched her fly off.

"Noire… I've finished my analysis and it's just like I thought. That form is absorbing the share energy directly from the nation itself. It's even making her stronger too." Fuuki replied.

"So… if she's absorbing share energy directly from the nation whenever she's in that form. Do we know who it is?" Black Heart asks.

"Afraid not but I am tracking where she's going and it looks like she's flying directly to Lowee." Fuuki said.

"Good. Keep me posted. If this Gear Heart turns out to be an enemy then we might have to get involved." Black Heart replied before flying back to her nation.

"What do you think sis?" Black Sister asked. Noire was rather unsure now of what to think of Gear Heart even after meeting with her.

"For now… we remain optimistic." Black Heart said as they returned to their nation.

=HDN=

In her little void the Croire of there dimension watched the whole conversation with two CPU's and even overheard Black Heart talking to that Fuuki girl in which she just scoffed at.

"Stupid sister. You just need to ruin stuff for me don't you. No matter, you'll be too little too late once I'm done. Then with these bad boys… I'll have the nation's strongest CPU under my control. Then I'll unleash her onto the world and watch it burn to the ground." Croire said letting out a menacing laughter with a bag of silver share crystals next to her.

Back in Planeptune, Nepgear, Neptune and Compa managed to get Big Neptune to the hospital and explained what had happened. It wasn't till the nurse told them about her condition.

"You reacted just in time. She had blood loss but thanks to your efforts we were able to give her a transfusion. But we're going to keep her overnight just in case any other problems occurred." The nurse explained.

"Thank you, ma'am. We'll be back tomorrow with something fresh for her to wear." Nepgear said as if they all exited the hospital. Even the smaller Croire floated next to Nepgear.

"I hope that she's okay." Croire said with some worry in her voice.

"Hey. I'm sure she'll be right as rain tomorrow. You can count on it." Neptune replied with a big grin on her face but it still didn't convince the little fairy.

"You worry about her a lot, don't you?" Nepgear asked.

Coire only sighed in response "Hate to admit it but the big oof has started to grow on me. Honestly if I wasn't so dang small, I'd…" Croire paused a moment as she blushed slightly.

"Oh… does someone have a crush on her." Neptune said with a teasing grin on her face.

"N-No! I do not!" Croire shouted, flailing her little arms.

"Neptune it's not nice to tease someone who has a crush on someone else." Compa said.

"I do not have a crush on her okay!" Croire shouted again, which only made Nepgear giggle slightly.

"Alright. Well, me and sis must go back to the bascilicom. Where are you going Compa?" Nepgear questioned.

"Oh, I have a home here that I'll stay in for now before I go back to Lastation." Compa said.

"Yeah, don't you have like a home in each nation or something? How do you manage all that?" Neptune asked.

"I have a good friend of mine keeping track of everything for me so that way I'm not spending too much money." Compa replied.

"Anyway, we should get back to the basilicom. Histy is probably wondering why we're taking so long." Nepgear said.

"I'll stay here and keep Neptune company then we'll meet back up tomorrow." Croire said as she floated inside the hospital. They said goodbyes and went their separate ways.

=HDN=

Gear Heart slowly floated down to her house where her father and, no doubt, Mina were waiting for her inside. She deactivated her HDD and opened the door to her home.

"I'm home!" IF called out and immediately she heard footsteps coming from the kitchen and she then saw her father standing in the arc way of the kitchen. He stood there for a moment before walking up to her and embraced her, pulling her close to him.

"Welcome home." He said as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Good to be back." IF said. Mina also stood in the entry way to the kitchen now wearing a simple blue sweatshirt and pants showing her belly bump.

"You had the both of us worried you know." Mina said.

"I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean worry you two." IF apologized as Kaito released her.

"We're just glad that you're home. You want something to eat? You must be hungry from the trip." He added.

She just smiled "Yeah… that would be great." IF said as Kaito and Mina went back into the kitchen. While she was happy to be home at the back of her mind, she still wanted to know the truth. About herself, and why she was created.

Hours would pass and it was now night as Mina has now long gone to bed. IF was still up as she had changed into her sleep wear just the same as Kaito as they stayed up and watched a movie together. A normal father and daughter moment but Kaito started to notice something that his daughter seemed to have a lot on her mind and it was bothering her.

"Hey… everything alright? You look like you're deep in thought." asked Kaito.

IF took in a deep breath before speaking "Dad. Have you ever wanted to ask something but you're scared of what the answer could be?" IF asked.

"Hm… I have something of that nature. Why?" Kaito questioned curiously.

IF took in a deep breath before she finally spoke "Dad…, am I… really your daughter?" IF asked which made Kaito pause.

"What do you mean? Of course, you're my daughter." Kaito said.

"Don't lie to me!" IF suddenly shouted, making him jump. She brought out her N-Gear and showed him the video with him talking to the girl in the tube. He froze but watched the video to the end as IF put her N-Gear away.

"What does this even mean?" IF asked tears threatening to escape.

Kaito sat there for a moment not even answering her question but he then let out a sigh.

"I guess… it's time that you learned the truth." Kaito said as he got up from his seat and gestured IF to follow him. They came to spot in his bedroom as he pressed a hand to the wall which activated a secret switch and opened a hidden door in his bedroom. It opened to some stairs as IF followed him down the stairs.

They then came to a large room and IF saw something in the middle of it covered by a sheet. They approached the large object as Kaito grabbed the seat.

"You wanted to know. Then I'll show you." He said as he lifted the sheet off the object revealing a large testing tube. IF paused and looked at the object in front of her and started to examine it but then she saw the small plague on the tube and it read XIF147.

"Yes… you were a creation but the person that created you… wanted to use you as a weapon." Kaito said.

"A… weapon… me." IF said trying to take in this information.

"But how did I come to be… created?" IF asked.

Kaito sighed as she began retelling his tale "My wife… Rei… we had lost our daughter because of a harsh winter storm. We tried praying to the goddesses for help but our prayers were left unanswered. That's when we encountered a man, we thought would help us solve our problems. Dexter Grimm." Kaito started.

"Wait… that sounds familiar. What else happened?" IF asked.

"He wanted to gather the best scientists around Gamindustri that shared his vision. A world where the goddess didn't exist. But to do that… we needed a goddess ourselves. So, with both of our minds we successfully created a goddess at her infant stage. But…" Kaito paused.

"But?" IF gestured.

"We both realized something… that our anger was misplaced. So, we hatched a plan to secure… you and protect you. My wife and I separated to keep you safe from those that would use you." Kaito replied.

IF was still processing this information that her father… Kaito just told her as she had a sit down a moment.

"So… that HDD form… was the product of a CPU memory core. I'm a creation of a man's anger at the goddesses." She said her hands shaking. Kaito walked over to her and hugged her tight.

"No… you were of a man that was blinded by hate. You might not be my daughter by blood, but I made a promise that I will look after you regardless. I know that I hid this from you, and I shouldn't have… I'm sorry for hiding this secret from you." Kaito said.

IF wanted to scream, throw a punch, something but she couldn't find it in herself to do that as she only let him embrace her letting his warmth comfort her.

Kaito then released his embrace but held her by her shoulders "I wanted you to live your life but not as a weapon. A life where you can explore, have fun, maybe even find a lover. You are not a weapon IF. Remember that." Kaito said softly wiping away the tears on her face.

IF was at a loss for words but the only thing she could do was nod at him. After a few minutes the two left the hidden room and decided that it was time for bed. IF slipped into her bed as she allowed sleep to take her away after the events, she had discovered about herself. He was right… she wasn't his daughter by blood, but she was his daughter none the less, but she still looked to him as her father.

F3: And that is chapter 17 completed. IF has finally found the truth about herself. Though what other plan is Croire cooking up. Let me know in the comments what you think and don't forget to follow and/or favorite. With that said this is Fireuser3 and I'm Out.