Author's Note
Welcome to another Ultradimension! This has been a story that I've been working on for a while. In this Ultradimension, Hyperdimension never made contact, Neptune never fell from the sky, and Iris Heart wasn't the founder of Planeptune. The characters may not act the same as the canon characters, but I will do my best to match.
I want everyone to understand that this Ultradimension is a different Ultradimension from the one Neptune fell into. Lore and history will also be different, but do not worry; this story will follow a similar plot to Rebirth 3 with many changes. This story is about growth, self-discovery, and acceptance. So with that said, please enjoy this other Ultradimension!
DISCLAIMER: Hyperdimension Neptunia does not belong to me! This beautiful franchise belongs to Idea Factory and Compile Heart!
WARNING: Feel like this is needed. Character deaths are REAL! The M rating isn't for anything sexual but for the violence and deaths along with PTSD! They are rare, but they will happen! So please do not yell at me if your favorite character died in a flashback! Thank you!
Planeptune, Gamindustri
Place: Planeptune City
Date: August 14, 2007
Time: ? ? ?
"M-Mom… Moooooom!"
The smell of iron and smoke surrounded the city along with decay. An injured girl desperately shook her mother's arm, trying to wake her up. Red covered her knees as she shed tears of fear and sadness.
"Dad! Dad! You can't sleep here!"
Her messy purple bangs clung to her dirt-covered face as she reached over to the body trapped under the steel beam. The flames crackled around her as she held onto her parents' arms. She struggled to pull them out from the collapsed rubble.
"S-Someone… please! Please save my mom and daaaaaad!" she sobbed.
Her wails echoed through the ruined streets covered in bodies. Her teary magenta eyes looked around for anyone to help, but there was none. None alive, that is.
Dread and despair filled her chest. Her body slackened from exhaustion as she sat by her parents' crushed corpses. She tried to wipe her tears away and ended up smearing blood against her cheeks.
"H-Help… someone, help me… I'm scared," she whimpered.
Crack.
"Huh?" She turned around and her eyes widened in fright. Her body trembled as she crawled closer to her parents, seeking safety. "No…"
The large green lizard stomped its way to the girl with its large axe. Its armor reflected against the flickering flames as its eyes narrowed at the purple-haired girl.
"Stay… Stay away!" She picked up rocks and threw them at the monster.
The lizardman raised its axe and swung at the girl, but a pink laser burst through its strong armor before the strike landed. The girl blinked in surprise when the monster fell to the ground.
"Huh?" The girl sat up and looked at the reptilian monster.
The lizardman growled as it got back up, only to be attacked with more pink lasers. The monster finally shattered into particles and disappeared before the girl's eyes.
"Thank goodness. Are you okay?"
The girl heard footsteps and turned to the source to see a girl with long pink hair carrying a gun blade. Her white bodysuit was covered with dirt and dried blood. There was also a large gash on her shoulder that was still bleeding.
She approached the shorter girl and dropped to her knees. "I'm so happy to see a surviving citizen."
"Y-You're…" The girl cried out tears of relief. "You're Lady Lilac Heart!" She immediately clung to her and pleaded, "P-Please! My mom and dad are stuck under there! Please save them!" She pointed to the rubble where her parents were trapped under.
Lilac Heart turned to look at the girl's parents with horrified blue eyes. She shed tears knowing that there was no hope. She wrapped her arms around the purple-haired girl and whimpered, "I'm sorry. I'm… I'm so sorry…"
"Please, hurry! They're hurt!"
Lilac Heart tightened her embrace as guilt and despair ate away at her heart. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect anyone. I'm sorry I'm weak."
"L-Lady Lilac Heart?"
"This is all my fault. If only I was stronger. I failed as Planeptune's CPU. I'm… I'm so sorry…"
The ground suddenly shook, causing the girl to scream. Lilac Heart held her tight as a roar ripped through the air. "LILAC HEART!" An explosion occurred nearby, taking down a building. "Come out and fight me, you coward!"
Lilac Heart picked up the girl and ran to a nearby alley to hide. "There's no one alive. I don't have enough share energy to fight White Heart…"
The girl moved out of Lilac Heart's hold and questioned, "Aren't you gonna save my mom and daaaaad?! Aren't you gonna save everyooooone?! Why are you hiding?!"
Lilac Heart looked away with shame. "This… This is too much. I can't do it. I can't win this war."
"You have to!" The girl cried, "You're Lady Lilac Heart! Protector of Planeptune! You can't give up!"
Lilac Heart looked back at the girl. She could feel small faith coming from her, but it wasn't enough to heal her and put her back in fighting condition. "What's your name?"
The girl wiped her tears away and sniffled. "I'm Plutia!"
Lilac Heart smiled and reached her hand out. "You're the only one left, Plutia."
"W-What do you meeeeeean?" Plutia asked.
The sounds of explosions and collapsing buildings were getting closer. Lilac Heart could feel the power slowly slipping away. She won't last long.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't save your parents, Plutia. I couldn't save anyone. But at least you." Lilac Heart reached her hand out toward the girl. "If I can at least save you."
Plutia experienced an incredibly unpleasant feeling. A shiver ran down her spine as she looked into Lilac Heart's desperate blue eyes. They were filled with hollowness and senselessness.
"You are Planeptune's last hope."
Every instinct in her body told her to run, so Plutia did. She slapped Lilac Heart's hand away and ran out of the alleyway. She ran towards her parents' corpses where she felt most safe.
"Mom, Dad!" She gripped onto their wrists and started pulling again. "Something's wrong with Lady Lilac Heart! I'm scared! Please! Please wake up! We have to run!"
"Plutia."
Her body flinched as a looming shadow covered her. She glanced back to see sad blue eyes. Plutia whimpered as she pressed herself against the rubble.
Lilac Heart opened her lips to speak, but instead of words, she coughed out blood. She took heavy breaths, trying to calm her pounding heart. "I don't have long to live, Plutia, but you will survive."
Plutia shook her head. "No! I wanna be with mommy and daddy!"
Lilac Heart kneeled in front of Plutia. "I'm sorry. I know it's a lot, but you're my last hope." The CPU quivered as tears rolled down her cheeks. A smile stretched across her face as her pupils constricted. She summoned out a holographic screen and pulled out a small crystal. "Please. Become a CPU of Planeptune."
Plutia looked at Lilac Heart as if she was crazy. "W-What?"
"Fight the war in my place! Raise Planeptune once more! You can do it, I know you can!" Lilac Heart crawled closer to Plutia and gripped her shoulders. "You're the miracle I've been searching for! You will be what I couldn't be! You will be Planeptune's greatest ruler!"
Plutia shook her head, too scared to even speak.
"It's scary, I know. It was scary for me too. Becoming a CPU. A Goddess. But it's fate. And it must be fate that led me to find you. Now…" Lilac Heart shoved the crystal in Plutia's face. "Eat it!"
"NO!" Plutia pressed her lips shut as hot tears continued to leak from her eyes.
Lilac Heart's expression softened when she felt the girl's faith in her disappear. She couldn't help but feel like it was deserved. Her selfishness led her to this solution. To dump all her responsibilities onto a little girl like Plutia.
"There you are."
Lilac Heart felt her body go cold. She slowly looked toward the sky to see the blue-haired CPU with sharp red eyes. "W-White Heart."
"Running away from a fight. Abandoning your people and leaving your city to be destroyed. Have you finally lost your pride as a CPU?!"
Plutia felt Lilac Heart's trembling hands. Her skin was covered in cold sweat and her eyes trembled with terror. Lilac Heart was so scared that she turned pale.
"I'm gonna kill you and that brat!" White Heart claimed.
"Waaaaaah! Mommy! Daddy! I'm scared!" Plutia cried out as she was overwhelmed by her own fear.
Lilac Heart looked at Plutia. Even though she had given up, seeing the sight of a crying child made her want to protect her. Deep within her defeated soul, she found the courage to stand up again. Taking a deep breath, Lilac Heart stood up on wobbly legs.
"D-Don't worry, Plutia. I'll protect you."
Plutia whimpered as she stared at the injured CPU's back. "L-Lady… Lilac Heart?"
"I'm scared… terrified. But until I die, I'm still the CPU of Planeptune!"
White Heart smirked when she saw the determined look in Lilac Heart's eyes. "So you finally got your fighting spirit back?"
"Plutia, I'm sorry for trying to force my responsibilities onto you. That wasn't nice of me. I was just confused, but you don't have to worry now. Go hide somewhere safe." Lilac Heart glanced back and gave a soft soothing smile. "Okay?"
Plutia sniffled and nodded her head. As Lilac Heart summoned her pink wings, Plutia ran back to the alley they had been hiding in. She peeked out from the corner and watched Lilac Heart launch herself into the air.
"Panzer Blade!" Lilac Heart summoned out her gun blade and swung at the White CPU.
"Weak!" White Heart blocked the attack with her axe. "What kind of swing was that?! This is what a real swing is!" She swung her axe down hard.
Lilac Heart used her weapon as a shield and was knocked away. "Kya!"
"I'm not done yet!" White Heart flew at Lilac Heart, swinging her weapon around to gain momentum. "Zerstorung!" She swung her axe and hacked through Lilac Heart's weapon, breaking it in two.
Lilac Haert's eyes widened in horror as her weapon shattered into data. "No…"
"Gefahrlichtern!" Multiple blue spheres appeared and White Heart slammed her axe against them, shooting them all at the Planeptune CPU.
Lilac Heart shouted out in anguish as she was struck directly. The hit produced smoke, and Lilac Heart plunged from the air, smashing to the ground. She felt no desire to get up. Her body was heavy and sore. She could no longer feel her limbs. Light covered her body as her transformation gave out. Her pink hair and blue eyes turned purple as her white processor suit turned into a white jacket dress with purple lining.
Blood gurgled out from her lips as she stared up at the dark sky. She lifted her left hand to see her fingertips breaking into data particles. This was it. She felt no shares at all. She couldn't save anyone. She couldn't even save herself…
White Heart announced, "I'll be taking your land, Lilac Heart… no, Nepgear."
And she couldn't even save her nation. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whimpered. "I'm sorry, Histoire… I don't think… I can make it back to you…" She closed her eyes, ready for death to take her.
"Lady Lilac Heart!"
Nepgear snapped her eyes open and saw Plutia running to her. "N-No… stay away…"
"Oh, that brat is still here."
Plutia dropped to her knees as she shook Nepgear's arm. "You have to get up! You have to! If you can't fight off the baddie then who will?!" She cried out, trying to get Nepgear back up to fight.
"I'm sorry… Plutia…" was all Nepgear could get out. "But I can't fight anymore. I'm already dying." She showed her cracked hand to the young girl.
"NO!" Plutia shook her head, denying Nepgear's death. "Who's going to avenge my mom and dad?! I won't let you die! You're supposed to be the mighty Lilac Heart! You were supposed to protect us! Get up! Get up, you liar!"
"She won't be getting up anymore." White Heart landed a little away. "Your goddess is dead."
"No!" Plutia clung to Nepgear's arm, refusing to believe the CPU she looked up to had lost.
"I'm feeling merciful. If you follow me, I'll let you live," White Heart offered.
Plutia turned to White Heart with hatred. "I'll never follow a murder! You killed my parents! I'll never forgive you! NEVER!"
Nepgear saw the burning hatred in Plutia's eyes. Suddenly, the feeling of hope came back to her. She was right. This girl. This girl was her miracle. She was what Planeptune needed!
White Heart clicked her tongue. "If Planeptune hadn't been so stubborn, I wouldn't have to destroy the entire city. Since I don't want a rebellion, I'll have to take you out." She lifted her axe and pointed at Plutia. "Sorry. It's not like I enjoy killing kids, but it's for the future of Lowee."
"I… never wanted war!" Nepgear voiced. She glared at White Heart with the same hatred in Plutia's eyes. "I never wanted to fight! But you… you just couldn't stand having to share the people's faith! You weren't the first ever CPU, White Heart! We could have worked something out!"
White heart stood motionless. "There's only room for one CPU, Lilac Heart. This land isn't big enough for the two of us."
Nepgear strained herself to sit up. "I won't let this be the end of me."
White Heart scoffed, "Man, you won't die, will you? You're just like a roach. Fine, I'll beat the crap out of you until you disintegrate."
Nepgear smirked. "Oh… I won't be the one you'll be fighting."
White Heart gave her a confused look. "What?"
Nepgear pounced on Plutia and slammed her good hand against her mouth. "You'll be fighting her!"
Plutia struggled against Nepgear's strength. She felt something entering her mouth, but she refused to swallow. Her cries were muffled against Nepgear's hand as she tried to breathe.
"Swallow it, Plutia! If it's you, I know you can save Planeptune! You have what it takes!"
"What the hell are you doing?!" White Heart dashed at them with her axe.
Plutia felt something wet hit her skin. When she focused on Nepgear's face, she saw large tears and a soft smile with apologetic eyes.
"Please, Plutia. I don't want you to die. I failed my people, my nation, and myself. But, please, at least let me save you! So swallow it!" Nepgear begged. "I don't care what happens to me as long as I can save one person! You have given up faith in me, but please, let me be your goddess one last time… please, Plutia… please, live!"
"Die! Getter Ravine!" White Heart leaped above them, ready to swing her axe down.
It took a lot of courage to believe in her goddess once more, but she did. She felt the sincerity in Nepgear's words of wanting her to live. So… Plutia swallowed. She swallowed whatever Nepgear fed her and felt the pain rush through her veins.
An intense aura emitted from the small girl and a blast of wind knocked everyone back. White Heart flew through the air but her wings stabilized her. Nepgear skidded across the ground and landed on her side.
Plutia screamed as her body began to glow.
"What did you do to her?!" White Heart demanded, but then she saw how Plutia's form began to change. Her red eyes widened in shock. "You-! Don't tell me you fed her a CPU Memory?!"
Nepgear chuckled. "She will be the one to succeed me."
"You can't defeat me so you're turning her into a monster?! You've gone crazy, Lilac Heart! To use your own people!"
Plutia's braided hair came undone as her child form developed rapidly. Her dress tore away and a black bodysuit covered her body.
Nepgear's eyes softened. "I knew it. She's no monster." With her long iris hair fluttering in the wind, Nepgear gave the girl her first taste of faith. "She is my miracle. She is… Iris Heart."
What stood there once was a little girl, but now she had turned into a tall, mature woman with a developed body. Her dark pink eyes glared at the CPU in the sky as her hair whipped in the wind. With her first steps in her new form, her black heels clicked against the cracked ground.
White Heart gritted her teeth in disbelief. "No way…"
Nepgear happily watched as black wings formed behind Iris Heart. "Ah… I wish I could've shown my big sister."
White Heart gripped her weapon as she glared down at her new opponent. "There's only one in a billion chance, so how?! How did you become a CPU?!"
"YOU BITCH!" Iris Heart bellowed. "I'LL BEAT YOU TILL YOU'RE BLACK AND BLUE!" She launched off the ground and summoned her serrated sword.
Nepgear's vision started to blur when Iris Heart clashed with White Heart. Her legs have already begun to break away. She won't last to the end of the battle. She felt slightly guilty for leaving Iris Heart without guidance, but she figured everything would be fine because she believed in her. She believed in…
Nepgear took her last breath and let the wind carry her voice and body.
"The CPU of Planeptune."
Author's Note
I hope by reading this chapter you can understand the tone of this story. It won't always be like this, I will sprinkle some fluff here and there to lighten the mood.
The first chapter is more of a prologue to get you started with Plutia's backstory. You'll learn more throughout the story, so do pay attention to the date of each chapter. I will randomly drop flashback chapters that will tie to the previous or the next chapter. I thought it would be fun for you readers to piece together the past.
And with that, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of CPU of Planeptune! This story is also on Archive of Our Own where you can see exclusive drawings I made including the cover, so feel free to check it out there as well!
Since CPU of Planeptune gets the perks of drawings on Ao3, Fanfiction. net will get the perk of the first update. So every chapter will be updated here a day earlier than on Ao3. But once again, I will not have an updated schedule. It will just be when I finish the chapter and art for it.
Thank you so much for reading and I'll see you all in the next chapter!
P.S. For those worried about Love in Time of Reunion, don't worry, I'll still be working on that story, but I'll be prioritizing CPU of Planeptune more. Thank you!