Lastation, Gamindustri
Place: Lastation City
Date: August 28, 2012
Time: 11:21 A.M.
The sun beat down on the loud city of Lastation. Plutia could see the gray smoke flowing into the sky from the busy factories. It was much noisier than it was at night.
"Woooooow! The city reeeeeeeally transformed in the morning!"
Plutia looked around to see many businessmen and businesswomen walking around. They were all dressed in suits.
"Everyone looks so serious and hard-working," she observed.
The goddess decided to look around the city before trying her luck at the Basilicom. Last night, she lacked the stamina to go sightseeing, but now that she was well-rested, she was eager to have some fun.
The first place she checked out was the game store. She had to check her competition after all. She found that a lot of the games sold are shooters. Planeptune has a few shooter games too, but a lot of their games are mostly platformers.
"I'm not a big fan of shooters, buuuuuut I'll give this a try!" The game Plutia picked up had a weird animal dressed in blue pants. It looked intriguing. "Ah… I'll have to buy the console to play this. I don't think I can use the one back at home… Hmmmmm…."
Plutia left the store with a new console and a new game. She didn't plan on buying anything, but temptation got the better of her. Surely, the goddess of this nation wouldn't mind having her rival goddess buy her console. Plutia checked out the other shops too. Since she got a new console, she might as well buy other games that can be played on it. It's not like any Planeptune games will work on it…
Plutia was suddenly struck with an idea. She could make her games playable on other consoles! She would need permission from the other goddesses, which might be impossible. She figured that as long as the cross-platform playable games don't get out to the public, she could just play the games exclusively to herself!
Plutia halted in her steps as she realized something. If her meeting with Lastation's goddess goes well, maybe she can discuss that. She only has Planeptune's and Lastation's consoles so she could only make games playable on those devices. If the Lastation's CPU gives her permission, that is. But would that be too much to bring up when they only just met? It's almost like a collaboration…
Plutia crossed her arms in thought. "Hmmmmm… This is haaaaard."
After much thinking, the iris goddess gave up. There's no harm in proposing the idea when she meets the new CPU. If she rejects the idea, Plutia can do it behind her back and not let the public know. She'll reveal it when Lastation's CPU finally agrees to cross-platform playable games. But for now, she'll have fun touring this nation!
Lastation, Gamindustri
Place: Lastation City
Date: August 28, 2012
Time: 2:19 P.M.
"Ooooooookay! This time I'll make sure to come across as a CPU of Planeptune!"
Holding two sizable bags, one in each hand, Plutia positioned herself in front of the Basilicom. She wore a star-shaped pair of shades, a fake mustache, and a blue party hat. Furthermore, she wore a black and blue track jacket that sported the Lastation logo on its back. She looked like a ridiculous tourist and was drawing attention.
"Mommy, look! There's a weird person!"
"Don't point, honey. It's rude." The mother quickly dragged her son away.
Plutia felt a single beat of sweat drop. Her cheeks were dusted pink with embarrassment. "Maaaaaybe I went a bit overboard, hehehe…"
"What, in the name of Lastation, are you wearing?"
"Hmmm?" Blinking through her shades, Plutia saw a tall girl with black hair and red eyes. She decided to take off her star-shaped glasses to get a better look.
The girl in front of her wore a black top and skirt. Her hair was tied into twin-tails with large blue ribbons. Plutia couldn't help but feel like she had met the girl somewhere before.
"Uuuuuuum-" Before Plutia could get any other word out her stomach growled. Loudly.
The purple-haired girl slumped to her knees and whimpered. "I'm soooooo hungry."
The taller girl giggled and offered, "How about we get some lunch? I know a nice cafe nearby. My treat."
Plutia perked up. "Reeeeeeally?! You're so nice!"
The girl blushed. "D-D-D-Don't get it wrong! I'm only doing this because you look pathetic!"
Plutia whimpered, "I'm not pathetic…"
The girl turned her head, looking guilty, but didn't bother to apologize. "Let's get going. You're drawing so much attention with that dumb outfit of yours."
Plutia murmured, "Okaaaaaaay." She swiped the air and summoned out her holographic screen. The iris goddess shoved her two large bags into her inventory along with her glasses and party hat. She also took off the jacket. "I'm ready!"
"Then come quickly," she urged as she walked away.
"Hey, waaaaaait!" Plutia quickly followed with her pink slippers. "I haven't gotten your naaaaaame!"
"So you don't remember?" The girl halted in her steps and Plutia bumped into her.
"Hmmm?" Plutia rubbed her nose as she gave the girl a confused look.
"Noire."
Plutia blinked. "What?"
She glanced back and said, "My name is Noire."
Plutia happily greeted, "Oh! Nice to meet you, Noire! My name is Plutia!"
Noire returned a smile of her own. "Nice to meet you too… Plutia."
The two didn't travel far as the cafe was a few minutes away from the Basilicom. Noire paid for the food and drinks and they sat in a corner where there would be more privacy. Plutia happily ate her sandwich as Noire watched with a cup of coffee.
"You're new here, right, Plutia?" Noire asked.
Plutia nodded. "Yep! It's veeeeeery different from where I come from."
"How do you like the nation so far?"
"I think it's very nice," Plutia honestly answered. "The terrain isn't all that different from Planeptune, but the city has soooo many new things! I couldn't help myself from buying souvenirs for my friend!"
Noire chuckled. "So that's what all those weird things were."
Plutia blushed. "I might have bought a little too much…"
"I'll say. What reason did you have for buying a party hat? Or even those absurd glasses?"
Plutia fiddled with her necklace. "I thought they looked cool…"
Noire noticed the pink crystal at the end of the chain and asked, "Is that a CP-"
Plutia quickly tucked the crystal into her dress and steered the topic away. "Hey! Have you ever seen the CPU of Lastation?"
Noire tensed up. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm curious what she's like. This is the first time I have heard of her. I just want to know what her citizens thought of her."
Noire hummed. "Well, for starters, she's a very hard worker." She puffed her chest out and boasted, "Super strong, focused, and quite the genius! She built this city all on her own and protected her people from monsters! You can simply say that I'm awesome!"
Plutia blinked as she tilted her head cutely. "I'm?"
"She!" Noire quickly corrected. "She's awesome! Hahaha!"
Plutia beamed. "Wooooow! You must really like her."
"Of course! She's the CPU of Lastation after all!" Noire proudly claimed.
"Then I can't wait to meet her! I hope she's nice," Plutia prayed. "I don't want another White Heart in my life…"
Noire felt a chill go down her spine as Plutia's eyes dulled. The cheerful girl suddenly got a very negative aura around her that made the air cold. "P-Plutia?"
The shorter girl smiled, sending sparkles all around. "Ah, I shouldn't waste any more time! Histy will get angry with me if the meeting doesn't go well. She thinks I might mess up right when I step into Lastation! Isn't that mean?"
Noire tilted her head in confusion. "Histy?"
"She's my friend back in Planeptune! She's suuuuper paranoid. Weeeeell…" Plutia touched her chin as she thought back to last night. "I diiiiiiid kinda mess up when I was chased out of the Basilicom, but!" Her eyes sparkled with determination as she claimed, "I'll make sure not to look like a lost child this time!"
The dark-haired girl snickered. "I don't think you have to worry about that anymore."
"What makes you say thaaaaat?"
Noire stood up and urged, "Come on, let's head back to the Basilicom."
Lastation, Gamindustri
Place: Basilicom
Date: August 28, 2012
Time: 4:19 P.M.
Noire and Plutia stood in front of the doors to Lastation's Basilicom. Before entering, Plutia pulled out her star-shaped glasses and fake mustache. She adjusted the accessories on her face while Noire stared at her.
"What are you doing?" questioned the taller girl.
"Trying to look like an adult!" claimed Plutia.
Noire deadpanned, "That only makes you look more like a child."
Plutia entered through the automatic doors with Noire following behind. The goddess found two receptionists behind the counter this time. The same lady from last night and a different one right by her side.
The blonde receptionist noticed Plutia first and voiced, "Oh! It's you… again?" She was quite dumbfounded by the reflective shades.
Plutia matched up to the counter and quickly voiced, "Please don't call the cops on me!"
The receptionist tensed and her expression turned to one of guilt. Her eyes glanced over to the twin-tailed girl behind Plutia who gave her a stern stare. She could feel her palms getting sweaty from the memory of being scolded by her superiors.
Her coworker, who's trying very hard not to laugh at Plutia's getup, whispered, "I-Is that supposed to be the CPU? She really looks different from what's shown on television."
The receptionist cleared her throat and gently pushed her coworker away as she apologized, "I am deeply sorry for what happened last night. There have been many missing child reports lately, so I just assumed…"
Plutia beamed, happy that the misunderstanding was cleared up. "That's okaaaaaaay!" She took off her glasses and mustache so she could be presentable. "So does that mean I can meet with your CPU noooooow?"
Both receptionists blinked at her request. Their eyes glanced at the taller girl behind and then to Plutia and then back to the taller girl.
Plutia pouted from their silence. "I still caaaaaan't?"
The other receptionist replied, "Ah, no, our apologies. If you're looking for our CPU, she's right behind you."
Plutia paused. "Eh?"
The receptionists bowed their heads to the girl behind. "Welcome back, Lady Black Heart."
"Goddess, I was wondering how long this would take."
"Noire?" Plutia turned around to face the dark-haired girl.
Noire smirked. "Let me reintroduce myself. I am the CPU of Lastation, Noire, also known as Black Heart. It's a pleasure to meet you, Plutia. Or, should I say Iris Heart? CPU of Planeptune."
Plutia's eyes widened in shock. "Y-You knew who I waaaaaas?!"
Noire chuckled. "Of course. I knew you before you even entered my nation."
"Eeeeeeeeh! But how? We have never met before…"
Noire's eyes were saddened. "So you really don't remember me? I'm quite hurt. Considering we went to middle school together."
"Middle-"
Suddenly, a little girl with black hair appeared in her head. The image of a classroom with many other students dawned on her and a single girl stood in front.
'My dream is to have my very own nation called Lastation! I'll be a better CPU than Lilac Heart! You'll see, Plutia!'
Plutia blinked as the little girl's face overlapped with Noire's. "Ah! You're that weird girl that wants to become a CPU!"
Noire glared as she yelled, "Hey! It's rude to call your old friend weird!"
Without warning, Plutia tackled the other CPU in a tight hug.
"Wha-!" Noire wrapped her arms around Plutia as she dug her heel into the ground, making sure not to fall over. "What was that for, you idiot?!"
Plutia tightened her hold as she pressed her face into Noire's shoulder. "I'm glad…"
Noire noticed something was wrong when she felt wetness on her bare skin. "Plutia?"
"I thought…" Plutia quivered as her warm tears ran down her face. "I thought everyone was gone that day… I'm glad. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I'm so glad that you're alive… Noire…"
Noire sighed as she patted Plutia's head. "A lot happened after the fall of Lilac Heart. But I'll let you know I wasn't the only one to survive. Many people of Planeptune were able to escape too. A lot of Lastation's residents used to be from Planeptune. So we're not the only ones, Plutia. We're not alone…"
Plutia couldn't control her emotions anymore as she wailed. She clung to the Black CPU, pouring out her raw emotions. It felt as if years of built-up stress were washed away with the mere discovery of someone other than her surviving that disaster. This was something that weighed heavily on her heart. Now, she felt relieved.
Author's Note
They finally reunite! Yaaaaaay! I wanted to keep the 'already friends' aspect that Noire and Plutia had in canon, and what's better than being childhood friends? Maybe as potential lovers, but that isn't the main focus of this story... yet... : )
Anyway, as stated in the last chapter, I will be taking a break until 2025! So I wish you all a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! I'll see guys next time! XD