After Neptune and Nepgear finished training in the field, they headed back to Planeptune with IF and Compa. IF and Compa were being strangely quiet. “Are you two okay?” Nepgear asked. “I’m sorry if we took too long hunting. We didn’t mean to hold you up or anything.”
Compa shook her head. “Don’t be silly Ge-Ge. We came out today to help you two.”
“That’s right.” Said IF, giving Nepgear a warm smile. “You two did great by the way. You should be proud.”
“Thanks!” Nepgear said, beaming with pride.
“Praise from IF! It’s as rare as summer snow.” Neptune said, blushing heavily.
IF glanced down at the phone she was still carrying. “Hey Neptune?” She began. “Do you think I could ask you something about your dream?”
“Huh? My dream?” Said Neptune, glancing over her shoulder at IF.
“Yeah. I was just wondering. Did you hear the names ‘Fairy Tower’ and ‘Histoire’ somewhere yesterday before you went to sleep? Maybe you read those names somewhere, or you heard someone say them?”
“Uh… No. I don’t think so. Nepgear was with me most of the day so…” Neptune began, looking at Nepgear.
Nepgear shook her head. “I don’t remember hearing anything either.”
“Why? What’s going on?” Neptune asked.
IF shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’m sure.” Said IF. “I was just curious. That’s all.”
“You know what I’m curious about?” Neptune began. “I’m curious if Chian is cooking up anything delicious today! We should go ask!”
“That sounds good!” IF said. “How about this? We’ll make it my treat today.”
“Whoa!” Neptune said, happily. “The cheapskate IF is offering to buy everyone lunch? We should buy some lottery tickets on our way home. Our luck is obviously through the roof!”
“Yeah… I’ll happily buy lunch for Compa, Nepgear and myself.” IF said.
“Hey, hey, hey!” Neptune said, suddenly throwing her arms around IF’s neck. “What about your good buddy Neptune?”
“Neptune?” IF began. “Never heard of her!”
IF, Compa, Neptune and Nepgear had been friends for several years. Neptune, IF and Compa had met by chance when Neptune had been gathering supplies to help her sister who had gotten sick. Compa insisted that they help out and after that they became the best of friends.
IF and Compa on the other hand had known each other since they were little kids. They grew up together and IF was very attached to Compa. So much so that she often found herself thinking only about Compa on most days. A little fact that IF wouldn’t be able to admit to anyone.
“Come on IF! I’m so hungry!” Neptune cried.
IF giggled. “Fine, but get off me! You’re heavy! All those puddings are to blame.”
“Pudding is a light snack.” Neptune said, correcting IF.
“Whatever you say.” IF say. IF didn’t say anything about tit, but she felt her phone vibrate several times. No doubt her contact, Otome-chan, was sending more and more information.
Before the girls headed to Chian’s restaurant, they stopped at the guild so that Neptune could turn in the quest. Nepgear went with her sister, while IF and Compa stayed outside. IF took out her phone and quickly scanned the information.
“What does it say?” Compa asked.
“It… I’ll tell you in a moment.” IF said, when she saw Neptune and Nepgear were heading back. “Let’s not worry them right now.”
“Right.” Compa said, though she looked like she was read to burst with a mixture of excitement and dread.
“Were back. Sorry to keep you waiting.” Nepgear said, smiling warmly at IF and Compa.
“No worries. Ready to go to Chian’s?” IF asked.
“You bet! I want a pudding, a pudding burger and some pudding stew.” Neptune said.
“Pudding burger?” IF said, poking out her cute little tongue. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“Oh whatever. I just want some pudding!” Neptune said.
***
After IF, Compa, Neptune and Nepgear finished their meals the girls went their own ways. IF and Compa stayed in front of Chian’s restaurant while Neptune and Nepgear headed back to their home.
The moment Neptune and Nepgear vanished from view, IF quickly pulled out her cell phone. Compa watched in amazement as IF’s thumbs became blurs as she typed out a message.
“Otome-chan. The information you just sent me? Is it accurate?” IF typed.
It didn’t take long for Otome-chan to respond. “It is. Histoire and the Fairy Tower are both real.”
“I can’t believe it.” IF said. “I asked Otome-chan about Histoire and the Fairy Tower out of curiosity. I thought they would be some kind of reference to a video game or something, but no.” IF scrolled back to the messages Otome-chan had sent her earlier. “According to her. Histoire used to be some kind of consultant that worked for lady Purple Heart, but most of those records are missing. Also the Fairy Tower is this huge data gathering site located in the middle of the field we were just fighting in.” IF explained.
“What does all this mean?” Asked Compa.
“I’m not sure, but-” IF began, but before she could finish speaking, her phone started ringing. “I don’t recognize the number.” IF said, nervously.
“Iffy! This is scary. Maybe we should forget the whole thing.” Compa said, folding her hands in front of her.
IF and Compa yelped as all the phones on IF’s belt started ringing. “Uh… OKAY! STOP!” IF cried, as she pressed the answer button on her first phone and held it to her ear. “Hello? You have the wrong number.” IF said.
All the color drained from IF’s cheeks.
“Iffy?” Compa began, nervously. “What’s wrong?”
IF lowered the phone before turning to Compa with a look of disbelief on her face. “I think we need to get Neptune.”
***
When Neptune and Nepgear made it back home they quickly split up. Neptune made her way over to the television set. After plopping herself down on a large pillow, she grabbed a controller and began playing a video game.
Nepgear on the other hand went to her workbench and placed her energy sword down. After that, she grabbed her tools and started tinkering with the weapon.
“Hey Nepgear…?” Neptune began.
“What’s up big sis?” Nepgear asked.
“Do you think there’s anything to my dream? I can’t get it out of my head.” Neptune admitted. “I know it sounds weird, but I’m pretty sure I heard the name Histoire before.”
“What about the Fairy Tower?” Asked Nepgear.
“I’m not sure about that one, but Histoire sounds so familiar to me.” Neptune said, leaning back against her pillow.
“I’m not sure.” Nepgear admitted, as she started fiddling with the settings on her sword. “I noticed my sword’s energy output wavering a bit. I want to increase the range a bit and…” Nepgear’s voice suddenly faded.
“What’s wrong? Lose a finger?” Neptune asked.
“Histoire… I don’t know why, but I’m starting to think that I remember that name too.” Nepgear said.
“Oh! I know!” Neptune said, jumping to her feet. The controller she was playing with clattered to the floor. “Maybe the name is cursed! It’s a mind virus and I just infected you, IF and Compa!”
Nepgear looked at her sister for several moments, before she shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Well that was my theory.” Said Neptune, sinking back onto her pillow and grabbing her controller.
“NEPTUNE!” IF screamed as she ran into the Nep’s home.
Neptune and Nepgear both screamed. Neptune jumped back to her feet, accidentally launching her controller across the room. Nepgear on the other hand fell off her chair and landed hard on her back.
“You two should really learn to lock your door.” Compa said, appearing behind IF.
“You think so?” Neptune asked, breathing hard. “That’s something me and Nepgear really need to think about, while we kick your butts!” Neptune roared, clenching her hands into tight fists.
“What’s going on?” Nepgear asked, as she struggled to her feet.
“Sorry about that.” IF said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. “This is really important. It’s about your dream.”
“My dream?” Neptune said.
“That’s right.” Came a voice everyone in the room knew.
IF and Compa quickly moved out of the way as a tall figure stepped into the room. “Holy Crackers!” Neptune cried.
“Oh Goodness!” Nepgear said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet both of you.” Said lady Purple Heart. “I’m sorry for visiting you both so late, but it’s urgent that we speak.”
Neptune and Nepgear both exchanged nervous looks. “Of course.” Neptune said, scratching the back of her head nervously. “Please. Have a seat.” Neptune said, gesturing towards a nearby table. “Nepgear? Please bring out our finest puddings.”
“Neptune, lady Purple Heart isn’t interested in-” IF began.
“Pudding!?” Lady Purple Heart said, excitedly. The lady quickly cleared her throat. “I appreciate the gesture. Thank you.” Lady Purple Heart said, as she took a seat at the kitchen table.
Neptune took a nervous seat in the chair across from her lady, while Nepgear made her way to the refrigerator and pulled out several puddings for everyone to enjoy. She served lady Purple Heart first, before she handed them out to everyone else.
Neptune, Nepgear, IF and Compa watched nervously as lady Purple Heart eagerly tore off the lid to her pudding, pick up a spoon and start eating the pudding. After lady Purple Heart finished her pudding, she picked up the cup and lid and started licking the pudding off.
“Thank you. That was very nice.” Lady Purple Heart said, licking her lips.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Nepgear said.
“You must really like pudding! It’s something we have in common!” Neptune said, as she opened her own pudding and started eating it.
“Neptune!” Nepgear began. “You should give lady Purple Heart your pudding instead of eating it!”
“Huh?!” Neptune cried out, in surprise.
“No please!” Lady Purple Heart said, shaking her head. “I would never take pudding away from someone. Please enjoy it.” Lady Purple Heart said, gesturing towards the pudding with her hand. “While you eat, I would like to tell you all about a dream I had. A dream that might sound familiar to you Neptune.”
“A dream?” Neptune said.
“I had this dream several times. I found myself in a strange abyss. It felt like being underwater. It was dark and I was the only one there. Suddenly I heard a voice calling out to me. The voice asked me to find two girls. One named Neptune and the other Nepgear. The voice told me to tell them that they need to activate something called a Fairy Tower in order to release someone named Histoire.”
“Histoire!” Neptune said, pointing at lady Purple Heart with her spoon.
“Neptune!” Nepgear cried, covering her eyes with her hands. “Please don’t point at our lady with your spoon! It’s bad manners!”
“Oh… Sorry.” Neptune said, giggling nervously. “Anyways, I had a dream where Histoire told me to activate something called a Fairy Tower. What is that anyways? Also who’s Histoire?”
Lady Purple Heart sighed deeply. “I don’t know.” She admitted. “When I had that dream, I asked the staff at my Basilicom to look into the matter. They found some details, but they made no sense to me. Apparently Histoire used to be my Basilicom’s oracle. Apparently we worked closely together, but no one can seem to remember her.”
“And the Fairy Tower?” Nepgear asked.
“According to records. The Fairy Tower was a tower that was used to collect data, but I’m not sure why we relied on them to collect anything. We have that sort of thing here in Planeptune.” Lady Purple Heart said, scratching her chin thoughtfully.
“That was all the information my friend Otome-chan sent me.” IF said, stepping up to the table, holding up her phone.
“Yes. I had the staff at the Basilicom do a search for the phrases ‘Histoire’ and ‘Fairy Tower’ and that’s when we happened upon your messages.” Lady Purple Heart said. “I apologize for reading your private messages IF, but it was an emergency.”
“No!” IF said, waving both of her hands dismissively. “No problem at all! What’s privacy compared to whatever this is?” IF asked, laughing nervously.
“I have a question.” Nepgear asked, holding up her right hand as though waiting to be called on. “How do you know any of this is real? I admit, it’s a crazy coincidence, but still.”
“That’s a good question Nepgear.” Lady Purple Heart said, smiling wryly. Lady Purple Heart held up her hand. Suddenly a USB memory stick appeared between her thumb and index finger. “In one of my dreams, Histoire told me about this. In order to activate the Fairy Tower, you need to insert this into it.”
“I see…” Neptune said, crossing her arms in front of her chest and sighing deeply. “So why do I have to do it? Sounds like a real bore chore!”
“Neptune!” Nepgear said, annoyed.
“I-I agree.” IF said.
“Me too!” Compa said, in protest. “I’m sorry lady Purple Heart, but it’s really dangerous out there and Nep-Nep and Ge-Ge barely have any experience fighting monsters. It wouldn’t be right to send them off on a mission like this.”
“I agree.” Lady Purple heart said, nodding. “That’s why I won’t force you to go. It wouldn’t be right for me to put you in danger like that, but please consider it.” Lady Purple Heart got to her feet and placed the USB memory stick down on the table. “I’m not sure why Neptune and Nepgear, but I feel like I know you two very well. Same goes for Compa and IF. The moment I heard your names, I knew we knew each other somehow.”
“Yeah?” Neptune and Nepgear said, in unison.
“I know you Neptune even better and I know you’ll do the right thing.” Lady Purple Heart raised her hand. Suddenly a katana appeared in front of her. Taking the katana, lady Purple Heart placed it gently down on the table. “When you leave, please take this with you.”
“Thanks.” Neptune said.
Lady Purple Heart bowed, before she turned on her heels and made her way out of the house.
“Well…” IF began, trying to find the right words. “That was certainly something that just happened, huh?”
No comments:
Post a Comment