F3: Welcome to chapter 19 of my Neptunia story. We left off with more information about IF but what she does with that information is up to her. Hyperdimension Neptunia is owned by Idea Factory and Compile Heart. With that said Let's Get Started.
Chapter 19: I'm the Enemy
Compa had gone to the doctors and thankfully there was some good news. The bone in her arm had healed so they were able to remove the cast on her arm as it had returned to peek condition but the doctors warned her not to lift anything too heavy with it until the muscles in it return. Knowing this, Compa started heading home. Though there was still a thought running through her head that she can't quite put together.
"Back in the forest fighting that mean old monster I could've sworn I saw IF transform right in front of me. She turned into that other CPU that Nep Nep was talking about. I really need to talk to her." Compa thought but then she saw the little Croire trying to carry a bag that looks like it has clothes in it and she was heading towards the hospital.
"Damnit! Just how heavy clothes are supposed to be!?" Croire shouted in dismay as she tried pulling the bag with all her might. Compa giggled a little and figure she might help the little fairy out.
"Hey there." Compa greeted catching Croire's attention.
"Oh um… hey yourself. Looks like your arm's all better right." Croire said.
"Yep. I'm all better now. Though you seem to be struggling a little. Are you trying to get somewhere?" Compa asked.
"Yeah. I was going to drop these off for Neptune at the hospital. There… are change of clothes that Nepgear let me borrow." Croire said tugging at the straps of the bag.
"It's just a little heavy." She added. Compa giggled at this sight but decided to help her anyway.
"Here. Let me carry those." Compa said grabbing hold of the bag as Croire rested on her shoulder with a tired look.
"Man that stuff is heavy." Croire said catching her breath.
"Let's go take these to Neptune. I'm sure she'd appreciate having a change of clothes." Compa said as they headed back to the hospital. Returning to the hospital they were given directions to Neptunes room as they headed to her room. Compa opened the door as they entered the room with Croire floating off her shoulder seeing Neptune reading a book.
"Hey Neppy." Compa greeted making Neptune turn to see her.
"Oh hey Compa. Didn't know you were coming." Big Neptune said.
"Well, I was heading home when I saw Croire here struggling with her bag. So I came over and helped her." Compa explained.
"It's a change of clothes when you get out. It's a pair of Nepgears clothes that you could burrow." Croire said.
"Aw thanks Croire. I'll tell Nepgear thanks when I see her." Big Neptune said making Croire blushed a little.
"I-It's nothing." Croire stuttered a bit.
"So um… when are you getting out?" Croire asked curiously.
"Well… they said my wounds healed up nicely so I should be out either tonight or tomorrow morning. Just wanted to run a few more tests on me before I'm discharged." Big Neptune said.
"Good to hear." Compa smiled, happy to know that she's going to be discharged soon.
"Say is IF okay? I haven't had time to talk with her after encountering that monster." Big Neptune said.
"She told me she was heading home to Lowee. After that I haven't heard a peep from her." Compa said though her thoughts returned to that image of seeing IF transforming into that CPU form, she witnessed it made her wonder if she was the same CPU from back in Leanbox and Lastation.
"You okay Compa? You look deep in thought." Big Neptune asked.
"Sorry… it's just… I had a strange thought and it's about Iffy." Compa said, making them stare at her.
"A strange thought? What do you mean?" Croire questioned.
"Well… it was back when we were fighting that monster back at the forest. When you were knocked out, I saw a bright light surrounding Iffy and… I know my eyes weren't tricking me because… I think Iffy is Gear Heart." Compa said confidently.
"Whoa whoa! Back up a sec girl. You think that Iffy could be that Gear Heart CPU I've been hearing about." Big Neptune said completely surprised.
"I'm sure. I mean she was also at Leanbox and fended off the monster attack." Compa explained.
"Hm… I don't know… that still sounds farfetched to me. I mean this is IF we're talking about, I doubt she is a goddess." Croire said floating by Neptunes shoulder.
"But it all fits. When I was in Leanbox, Gear Heart chased Abnes and her news crew away she took off and then a few minutes later Iffy showed up. I don't think it's a coincidence." Compa replied.
"That… does sound suspicious. Though maybe we shouldn't be too quick to judge." Croire added.
"Yeah… I guess you're right." Compa said as she looked out the hospital window wondering what IF could be doing right now.
=HDN=
At that moment IF had taken on a familiar mission that was requested for her assistance as she came to a familiar looking farmhouse with an elderly women and two children waiting for her.
"Well hello my dear. Welcome back." The elderly woman greeted as did the children.
"Hello!" They greeted her.
"Good to be back. Your request said you needed some help with something?" IF asked.
"Oh yes. The children here have finished harvesting the crops and now it is time to sell them at the market. I need you to take them to Lastation and sell as much as you can by the end of the day. The rest that don't sell can be yours." The elderly lady said.
"You got it. Do you want any of the money that you make off them?" IF asked but the woman shook her head.
"No. I have more than enough right here." She said with a soft smile.
"Now off you go then." She added as IF summoned her back and attached it to the trailer to the hitch of her bike.
"I'll be back soon." IF said as she sped off toward Lastation being careful to avoid monsters along the way so she could avoid damaging the goods.
It only took her a good ten minutes to avoid the monsters as she arrived at the market district in Lastation. She quickly set up the stand to start selling the vegetables and fruit. Nothing happened in the first five minutes but after that business started taking off and in the first half hour she already sold over half of the crops.
In a matter of only a few hours IF had eventually run out of customers.
"Wow didn't know that her foods would become popular around Lastation. I'm almost out of stock." IF said to herself. However, she noticed a couple more figures coming toward her but they didn't look like a friendly bunch. It was a young man and a woman.
"Can I help you two?" IF asked but the man smirked.
"Yeah… this stuff wouldn't happen to come from a farmhouse, would it? A farm in Lowee maybe." The man said.
"That's really none of your business now is it. You here to buy something or what." IF said alright not liking their attitude.
"Actually, it is my business. Considering that old lady owes me some money for letting her use this spot." The man said with a grin on his face.
"Really? She never mentioned any of that to me so you might as well leave." IF said.
"Oh, I'm not leaving till I get the money that I'm owed so I'll be taking all of that cash you got." The man said as he tried to reach for the money. However, IF intercepted him by pointing her weapon at him.
"Just for your information I'm also a member of the guild and I will not tolerate thieves who try to claim what is not there's." IF said.
"So, you want to fight." The man said bringing out a large knife of his own.
"Then don't expect me to go easy on you just because you're a girl." The man said as he charged at her his knife held above him going in to kill her. However, she dodged the strike and landing a blow on the man chest knocking the man out with sheer ease.
"Why you little!" The other man shouted as he charged at her too. IF swiftly dodged the strike and landed a powerful kick to his side knocking him away.
"You really thought you guys could take me on two on one. Such idiots." IF replied handling them with ease.
The two men got up slowly trying to recover from IF's strikes.
"You bitch! How dare you impede us!" He shouted.
"Seriously. You're still going on about that. I'm going to tell you again to back off before this gets messy." IF replied.
"Don't think this is over!" The first man said as they both fled the scene quickly.
IF let out a huff before continuing her job.
Another hour passed and she was finally able to sell the last of the stock she had.
"Alright… I should get back to her and tell her how it went." IF said as she attached the trailer to her bike before riding off back toward the farm in Lowee.
It didn't take her long to return to the Lowee as she was heading to the direction of the farmhouse when she noticed a cloud of smoke in the distance. That's when she realized that it was where the farmhouse was.
"Oh no." IF said to herself as she sped up toward that direction and hoped that she wasn't too late.
Once she got to the clearing, she could see it better as she saw that the entire farmhouse was on fire as it engulfed the entire farm. However, she noticed three other figures that were standing near the burning building. The first two guys were the same people she encountered. The third guy looked taller and much bulkier than the other two.
The two of them saw IF approach them as they laugh at her.
"Well look at this boss. That's the girl that stopped us from getting the cash." The first man said.
IF ignored him as she didn't see the older woman or the kids that were around the area.
"So this is the little prick that had stopped you from getting the money that we are owed. You got a name you little bitch." The boss said he tried walking to her.
IF again ignored him as she ran past him and the other two straight to the farmhouse.
"Hey! What the hell!?" The second guy shouted. IF got to the front of the burning farmhouse trying to find the older woman and the kids that were with her.
"You won't be able to find them. They are probably burnt to a crisp by now. You should of heard them scream. It was priceless." The boss said as the three of them laughed.
Something inside IF snapped as she clinched her hands into a fist her nails threatening to dig into her skin.
"You… how could you? They were innocent human beings." IF growled.
"Oh really. That old lady owed me money when she set up this farmhouse. We warned her if she didn't pay that this would happen. As for the kids they are just collateral damage." The boss replied as something sparked inside IF as her eyes turned red before transforming into her goddess form.
Watching from afar Croire was witnessing transform into her goddess form and was proceeding to record the entire encounter with those men as she grinned as she was holding another device in her other hand.
"Oh this is going to be good." Croire muttered to herself as she watched the scene unfold.
The men watched in horror seeing the girl suddenly transform into her goddess form.
"You three. Those people… were innocent. What give's you the right to kill them!?" Gear Heart shouted angrily. The two guys standing behind the boss shivered at the sudden change.
"The hell! Where'd that brat go!?" The first man shouted.
"Who the hell is this!?" The second man shouted completely intimated by the tall woman in front of them.
"Who cares!" The boss said bringing out a metal bat.
"If she plans on stopping us then she's going to get hurt." The boss said as she charged at her with the bat and swung at her. The bat connected with her face but much to his surprise it had little to no effect on her.
"Was that suppose to hurt?" She questioned not even fazed by the bat as she grabbed the bat and yanked it away from him before landing a punch to his gut that knocked the wind out of him and send him flying back to his men.
"What the hell! How is she that strong!" The first guy shouted.
"It didn't even faze her at her! Who is this woman!?" The second shouted completely scared now.
"You want to know who I am?" Gear Heart smirked scaring all three of them.
"I'm your worst nightmare!" Gear Heart shouted as her hand was enveloped in a dark purple aura before raising her hand toward them.
"Serpent Death!" Gear Heart shouted as purple snake of poison shot out and attacked the three of them as they screamed in terror.
Croire could only smirked as she record Geart Heart attack those three men unleashing her poison attack on them which judging by their screams that they are more than likely dead. She waited a few more seconds before finishing the recording.
"Perfect. This will have to convince the other CPUs to act. Especially if she just killed six civilians." Croire smirked as she vanished from sight.
Gear Hearts eye suddenly changed back to green as she held a hand to her head like she just had a bad headache.
"Ow… okay what just happened? Did I black out or something?" Gear Heart said before she noticed the situation around her. The house was still burning was one thing she noticed and another thing was she suddenly smelled rotten flesh as she covered her nose from the smell.
"The heck is that smell. It smells like…" Gear Heart paused before she gasped as she stared at what was behind her. It was three dead bodies covered in poison and it melted away that there skin revealing nothing but bone.
She turned away and she felt something vile reach her throat as she vomited emptying her guts at the side.
"Did… did I do that?" Gear Heart asked herself. It was becoming too much for her to bear as she dismissed her transformation, got on her bike and sped home as fast as she could not even looking back.
"What the hell!? Okay, calm down IF. There's no way that you did that. You just… blacked out. Yeah, just get home and everything else will be fine." IF thought as she sped toward home quickly not even knowing that she had been watched.
=HDN=
Meanwhile, a rather disgruntled Abnes was furious about what had happened in Leanbox as she was still trying to get a good scoop for her news report but with no luck.
"Argh! That stupid bimbo of a CPU. How dare she kick me out of Leanbox!? I never felt so humiliated in my life!" Abnes shouted kicking her pillow.
"It's not fair!" She shouted.
"Yes… it certainly isn't fair." A woman's voice said from behind her as she screamed before turning to face the source of the voice seeing the woman standing behind her.
"Who the hell are you!? Get out of my house!" Abnes.
"Aw… you're so cute when you throw a fit but I'm not here to insult you. What I am here for is to give you something. Something that will put you on top of the news castors list." The woman said.
This seemed to intrigue Abnes a little as she looked at the woman. "What's your name girl?" Abnes questioned.
"Croire Grimm. Now how would you like to be famous?" Croire asked as she held out a video recorder before handing it to her.
Abnes looked at the video recorder and watched the video. She saw the video of the burning building along with the three guys getting killed by Gear Heart which made Abnes smile.
"This… is perfect! Just what I need to get back on top. 'Rouge CPU murders three people and burns farmhouse.'. This'll be perfect." Abnes basically cheered with excitement.
"Just make sure not to tell anyone that it was me that gave you this. Tell them it was an anonymous source." Croire replied.
"You got it. This will get me noticed now." Abnes grinned as Croire left through her portal as she grinned evilly.
"This will make the CPU's change their minds about Gear Heart. Make them want to hunt her down." Croire thought before she vanished.
Meanwhile in Planeptune Nepgear was taking a small break from her other project making a second body for Croire just like she did for Histoire and it was almost complete too but she took a break and decided to sit down in the living where she would find her big sis and Histoire taking a break as well.
"Hey sis. You came just in time. We were about to watch some old classics." Neptune said.
"Neptune had finished most of the paperwork in the office and I haven't heard anything back from Fuuki yet so we decided to take a little break." Histoire said.
Nepgear nodded as she took her spot next to Histoire as Neptune clicked on the remote but instead of watching classics something else came on.
"Ladies and gentlemen. We interrupt this broadcast for a very important announcement." Abnes started.
"Abnes! What is she doing now?" Nepgear questioned.
"Who knows?" Neptune said as Histoire paid attention.
"Earlier today I received a video from an anonymous source that you must see to believe. Trust me folks it even blew me away from what I saw." Abnes said.
"Seriously. What is it this time?" Histoire questioned as the video played.
They watched the video as they saw Gear Heart unleashing her poison attack on the three men killing them until they were nothing but bones. It made the three of them look with horror in their eyes.
"It… can't be… Gear Heart… just killed those men. In cold blood." Nepgear said completely taken aback by what she had seen.
"Unbelievable. I didn't think that she would be capable of this." Histoire said completely shocked.
"And that is only the beginning folks. Apparently, this Gear Heart has also murdered the three individuals that are in the burning farmhouse. I believe its time for the CPU's to take action against this rouge CPU." Abnes profoundly proclaimed before cutting off.
"This is… insane! Why would she just kill those three guys?" Neptune shouted.
Just then Nepgears N-Gear buzzed as she brought it out and answered it seeing that it was Uni on the other end.
"Nepgear did you just watch Abnes's news." Uni replied.
"Yeah. We just watched it. Is everything okay over there?" She questioned but judging by Uni's look it wasn't going to be pretty.
"Noire is going to be calling a CPU meeting with everyone to discuss the matter of Gear Heart and what to do with her." Uni said.
"Really? That soon." Nepgear said.
"Yeah so don't be surprised if Neptune gets a message from sis soon." Uni added.
"Okay thanks for the heads up." Nepgear said before Uni disconnected.
And just like Uni said Neptunes N-Gear buzzed as she checked it in which she received a message from Noire.
"Looks like Noire wants to meet up in Lastation. So, I'll be heading their now." Neptune said before she transformed into her goddess form.
"Be careful sis." Nepgear said before Purple Heart flew out of the balcony window and flew toward Lastation.
However, she wasn't alone as she saw someone else flying toward her.
"Going my way Neptune." Green Heart said flying near her.
"Oh Vert. I'm guessing Noire messaged you as well." Purple Heart said as Green Heart nodded.
"Indeed. If I'm going to guess Blanc should already be heading there too. So, we best not keep Noire waiting as they flew toward their destination.
=HDN=
Meanwhile, IF had just arrived back in Lowee and she immediately headed towards home as she parked her bike in the garage and headed inside to the safety of her home still trying to get the images of what she did out of her head. She got inside and was immediately met by her father.
"There you are. I was starting to worry when your quest took longer than expected." Kaito replied.
"Sorry about that dad. How's Mina?" IF asked.
"We were just about to settle down for dinner. Now you go wash up." He said. IF headed inside to the bathroom to wash up but she still couldn't get that image out of her head of those bodies she saw. She only hoped that they didn't think she was the one that caused that.
"It was like… I had no control over my body. I don't even remember transforming into my Gear Heart form. Just what is going on with me." IF thought as she finished cleaning herself up and headed into the dining room where her dad and Mina were sitting at the table with a platter of food all around.
"Wow… you cooked all this dad?" IF asked with an impressive expression.
"Well with some help from Mina giving instructions." Kaito added.
"You'd be lost without my guidance." Mina replied with a snark look as she was already filling her plate with food.
"Remember Mina. Don't go overboard with your food intake okay." Kaito added.
"Hey. I'm eating for two, remember." Mina added with a pout. IF sat down and filled her plate with enough food as the three of them enjoyed a rather nice dinner and for her to forget about what happened at the farmhouse.
In Lastation, Noire was waiting for everyone else to show up, especially after what she saw on the news with Abnes which only worsened her doubts about Gear Heart.
The first to arrive was Blanc as she came through the balcony of her office.
"Sorry for the delay." White Heart said before canceling her transformation.
"I'm guessing this is about what Abnes showed on the news." Blanc said as Noire nodded.
"Yeah. We'll have to wait for the others to come." Noire added as they waited in her office.
In the next ten minutes both Neptune and Vert flew into her office from the balcony. Then the four of them were in her office as they sat down to talk.
"Now… I'm sure you know why you all are here and I won't sugarcoat it about what the topic is especially concerning about what Abnes showed." Noire began.
"Yes… though I'm still having a hard time believing it myself." Vert stated.
"Me too. I mean why on earth would she do that?" Neptune said.
"It doesn't matter. Right now this Gear Heart has committed murder of six civilians. She could very well be dangerous to everyone else if she is left unchecked." Noire replied.
"Hold on Noire. Aren't we jumping to conclusion a little too quickly." Blanc said.
"What do you mean?" Noire questioned looking at Blanc with a quizzed look.
"I mean. Gear Heart did help defend Lastation from those monsters when they first appeared." Blanc began.
"Then there was that monster invasion in Leanbox when I was indisposed." Vert added.
"Not to mention she appeared to deal with that huge monster in the forest outside Planeptune. So why now is she committing murder? It doesn't make any sense." Neptune said.
"I think I know why. Which is why I called someone else to join us." Noire said. Just then the doors to her office opened as Fuuki and Sonya came walking in.
"Yeah girls." Sonya waved as Fuuki waved as well.
"Sonya and Fuuki. Why are they here?" Vert asked.
"Well… Fuuki has been tracking the fifth share energy for quite a while now." Noire said.
"Yes I have and I've also finally pinpointed the location where the energy has been coming from and I think you all need to see this." Fuuki said as she opened her laptop and showed the girls.
They saw where the energy was coming from and it was originating from Lowee.
"Lowee? Why would the energy be coming from Blanc's nation?" Neptune questioned as Blanc turned slightly pale.
"And she's even found out where the energy is coming from within Lowee." Sonya added which made Blanc gulp slightly.
"So, where in Lowee is it coming from?" Noire asked.
"I was able to narrow it down within half a mile radius and with luck I can narrow it further to the exact location." Fuuki replied.
"That's great. Finally we'll get to find out where Gear Heart is." Noire replied.
"Noire dear, I don't mean this by any offense but what is the real reason you want to go after Gear Heart. I mean we all saw the news about the murder today but isn't there something else." Vert replied.
"It's just…" Noire said as she couldn't get the image out of her head about her nation and the other nations burning and her sister dead.
"What if she ends up like Cyan Heart?" Noire questioned which made them all look at her nervously.
"I just… don't want that to happen again." She added.
"Hey it's fine to worry but getting all worked up over something that might now happen will only make you more paranoid." Neptune said.
"I hate to admit but Neptune is correct on this." Vert replied but Blanc remained silent throughout the whole conversation which got Verts attention.
"Blanc? Are you alright? You've hardly said a thing." Vert questioned which made her jump slightly.
"Huh? Oh sorry I just had a lot of my mind. You know working without my oracle and all." Blanc replied.
"Still try and get some rest you look rather tired." Neptune commented seeing the small bags under her eyes.
"Yeah I think I'll go do that." Blanc said as she transformed back into her HDD form and flew off in a hurry which caught Fuuki and Sonyas attention.
"She was in a hurry wasn't she." Sonya added.
"What is it that you're suggestion?" Neptune questioned.
"Well… considering she was in a hurry. Plus, don't get me wrong but she did look rather pale when I mentioned the location of where Gear Heart could be located." Fuuki replied.
"Hold on just a minute. Are you suggesting that Blanc knows who Gear Heart is?" Vert questioned looking at Fuuki with a stern look.
"Yeah. Blanc was probably just tired from overworking herself. After all her oracle is on leave." Neptune said.
"That maybe true but it still makes her suspicious none the less." Fuuki said knowingly.
Vert then turned to Noire. "What about you Noire?" Vert questioned.
Noire paused for a moment rather conflicted with what to say. "I mean… this isn't the first time that Blanc has worked herself like this but… I can't help but feel like she's hiding something from us that we don't know about. However, one thing is clear to me… Gear Heart cannot be trusted after what she just pulled today." Noire stated firmly.
"You're not saying what I think you're about say." Neptune said as Noire nodded.
"Yes. From this point on… Gear Heart may as well be an enemy of Lastation and Gamindustri." Noire said firmly.
"If Gear Heat enters my nation she will be met with force." Noire added which surprised the rest of them.
Meanwhile, flying from Lastation White Heart was flying toward home but she flies toward a certain location in her nation and she knew just where to go. Once her location was in sight, she immediately descended toward the house landing in front of the door before turning back to her normal form as she knocked on the door.
Just then Kaito opened the door as he was surprised that Blanc was there.
"Lady Blanc? What brings you here?" He asked.
"I need to speak with IF. Now." Blanc said as he let her inside as she enters the kitchen seeing IF and her oracle Mina with IF handling the dishes from their dinner.
"Lady Blanc. What are you doing here this late?" Mina questioned.
"Sorry to interrupt you but I need to speak with IF." Blanc said as IF heard her name before turning to face the small CPU.
"Is something wrong Blanc?" IF questioned cleaning off her hands.
"Did you not see the news? They are talking about you and not in a good light." Blanc said as she brought out her N Gear and showed her the news report that Abnes just did.
"Does it concern IF?" asked Kaito.
"Yeah, and it's not pretty." Blanc said as she showed them what happened. Mina and Kaito were both in shock of what they had just watched seeing IF as Gear Heart using her poison skill to kill those three men. For IF she just stood their completely stunned at what she had watched and hearing Abnes say she had killed six civilians.
"But… but I… those people… they were the one that…" IF started her voice sounding panicked.
"What's worse is that Noire has called a meeting between us and the other CPU's and well…" Blanc started but just then her N Gear brought up another news report that was happening live in Lastation as Noire was standing there with a stern look on her face.
"Citizens of Lastation. I'm sure you are aware of the news report that was aired not too long ago by Abnes. An incident has occurred in Lowee with the deaths of six civilians and three of those civilians were citizens on Lastation. This was nothing short but murder and it will not be tolerated. Who you ask was the cause of these deaths. None other than this rouge CPU Gear Heart. This is something I cannot overlook. So from here on out if this Gear Heart is to be considered an enemy of Lastation and if my fellow CPU's will agree with me… declare her an enemy of Gamindustri. And if she's watching then you've been warned." Noire said as the screen went blank ending the news report.
Everyone in the room was silent for a moment as none of them spoke trying to comprehend what Noire had just stated. For IF one thing has been made perfectly clear to her that she had just made an enemy out of a friend.
F3: And another one finished. Looks like things aren't going so well for IF right now. Don't forget to leave a comment and please make sure to follow and/or favorite this story too. With that said this is Fireuser3 and I'm Out.