Neptunia Heart Souls- CHAPTER 3

 Nepgear had a hard time sleeping that night. All she could do was lie in bed and remember all the information that had been revealed to her and Neptune. The little sleep Nepgear could get was filled with nightmares of her sister being devoured by horrific monsters.

When the sun finally started to rise, Nepgear sat up and sighed deeply. “I better wake Neptune up.” The girl muttered to herself.

Nepgear pulled off her blankets and swung her bare feet over the side of her bed. After taking another deep breath, she stood. After changing into her regular clothes, Nepgear opened her bedroom door. Located straight across from her room, was Neptune’s. “Neptune? Time to…” Nepgear began, but when she opened her sisters bedroom door she gasped.

The bed was completely empty. Not only that, but the bed had been made as well. “Neptune? NEPTUNE!” Nepgear cried, when a horrible thought crossed her mind. Nepgear turned on her heels and ran out of the house as fast as she could. Just as she flung the front door wide open, she spotted a familiar figure.

“Huh?” Neptune said, glancing over her shoulder at Nepgear. Neptune held the katana lady Purple Heart had given her the day before in her hands. “What’s going on sis? Thought I left without you?” She asked, smiling mischievously.

Nepgear breathed a sigh of relief. “Well if I’m being honest. Yeah.” Nepgear said.

“No way little sis! I want to share this adventure with you!” Neptune said.

A small smile appeared on Nepgear’s face. “Same here.” She said.

Neptune raised the katana she had been given over her head before she quickly brought it down. “This things pretty heavy compared to my wooden sword. I thought I would get a little practice in before we head out.” Neptune said. “I guess we both knew I was going to go through with this, huh?”

“Yeah.” Nepgear said. “It’s like what lady Purple Heart said. You always do the right thing.”

“Not always, but shucks!” Neptune giggled and blushed. “Thanks sis!”

Nepgear nodded, before she turned back towards the house. “I’ll pack up some supplies. I don’t know exactly where this Fairy Tower is, but I’m sure we can find it.”

“Right.” Neptune said, as she raised her katana once more. “I hope I can use this thing when I need to.” Neptune thought to herself.

Nepgear made her way back into the house and began preparing for their trip. She grabbed a backpack and stuffed it full of food, water and medical supplies. After that she grabbed a few energy swords and stuck them into her bag before she grabbed the sword she would be using that day.

After that, Nepgear glanced around her home. “We’ll be back.” Nepgear said, in a small voice. After that she headed back outside. “I’m ready sis.”

“Did you pack pudding?” Neptune asked, as she made her katana vanish.

“Yep! I didn’t pack us a lot of pudding though, so don’t expect it for every meal while were out there.” Nepgear warned.

“Every meal? We’ll be finished by noon!” Neptune said, holding up the USB memory stick that lady Purple Heart had given her the previous day.

“I don’t know sis. Better safe than sorry.” Nepgear said.

“Better pudding than no pudding.” Neptune said. “Anyways, let’s go!” And with those words Neptune and Nepgear made their way to Planeptune’s gate. To the girls surprise IF and Compa were waiting for them.

“Hey girls.” IF said, as the Nep’s approached.

“Compa! Iffy! Are you here to take our places?” Neptune asked.

“No.” Compa said, giggling. “We just wanted to wish you two luck. That’s all.”

“So you also knew we’d be going?” Nepgear asked.

“Of course! Compa and I know you really well.” IF said, looking both Nep’s over. “Just be careful you two. No shame in coming back.”

“No way were coming back with our tails between our thighs!” Neptune said.

“That’s right. Were going to find that Fairy Tower!” Nepgear said, clenching her hands into tight fists.

“I know you two can do it!” Compa said. “And when you get back. I’m going to make you some yummy food, okay?”

“YES!” Neptune said, throwing her hands into the air.

IF giggled. “Anyways, I have an idea.” IF reached into her jacket and pulled out a small piece of paper. “I was doing some research last night and I think I know where this Fairy Tower might be located.” IF handed the paper over to Nepgear who looked down at the crudely drawn map.

“Okay. This might not be that far away from Planeptune after all.” Nepgear said. “Thanks IF! Thanks Compa!”

“Of course!” IF said, smiling brightly. “Be careful out there you two!”

Nepgear and Neptune waved as they headed through the gate and into the field. As the girls followed the map IF gave Nepgear, Nepgear’s heart started pounding wildly in her chest. “Oh man… Are we really doing this? According to IF’s map, the Fairy Tower might not be that far away from Planeptune, but that doesn’t mean the monsters surrounding it are going to be weak!”

“Uh-oh!” Neptune said, her face suddenly appeared a few inches away from Nepgear’s.

“Whoa!” Nepgear cried out in surprise. “Wh-what is it?!” Nepgear stammered.

“I know that look. It’s Nepgear’s patent look o’ doubt!” Neptune said. “Don’t worry Nepgear, as long as were together we’ll be fine!”

“Yeah…” Nepgear said, as her eyes turned to her feet.

The two sisters continued to walk in silence until they heard a familiar noise. “Goo! Dogoo!”

Neptune and Nepgear looked up and spotted three dogoo making their way towards them. “Well I guess its time to try out this sword!” Neptune said, as she summoned her katana.

Nepgear summoned her energy sword as well. “I’m right behind you sis!” Nepgear said. Even though Nepgear was still nervous, she was determined to cut down anything that got in their way.

Neptune and Nepgear rushed forwards. Neptune led the charge while Nepgear stayed a few feet back. Once Neptune was close enough to the first dogoo, she swung her sword. The dogoo tried to avoid the attack, but Neptune’s katana sliced through the air with a silvery flash, cleaving the creature cleanly in two.

Nepgear roared as she leapt at the other two dogoo and cleaved them in two as well. “Whew…” Nepgear breathed.

“We did it!” Neptune cheered, as she held up her katana in triumph. “Man… The stats on this sword must be through the roof!”

Nepgear didn’t say anything. All she did was nod in agreement.

The two Nep’s continued to make their way to the place IF had drawn on her map. As they walked, they battled other creatures that got in their way. They defeated more dogoo, tulip and even a dogoo-man. The creatures weren’t that difficult to defeat, but they did slow the girls down every time they approached them.

Neptune’s arms were now flailing by her sides and even Nepgear started to feel sore. “My legs and feet are killing me!” Neptune complained.

“I’m tired too, but we have to keep moving.” Nepgear said. “Were almost there.”

“Really? Are we Neptune close, or Nepgear close?” Asked Neptune.

Nepgear furrowed her brow. “What’s the difference?” She asked.

Neptune smiled. “Neptune close means a few feet. Nepgear close means I should stop asking and keep walking.”

“Oh… Well… I’d say were about Nepgear close.” Nepgear said.

“Gotcha…” Neptune said, sighing deeply.

A few hours later the two girls made their way over a large hill. “That has to be it!” Nepgear said, pointing towards a large tower located in the middle of three large hills. The tower was enormous, but it looked like a mechanical tornado. The top of the structure was filled with giant monitors and smaller ones. The bottom was much smaller and it looked like it was made up of several computer terminals.

“That’s it?” Neptune asked.

“Yeah! That has to be it! The Fairy Tower!” Nepgear said, joyously.

Before Neptune and Nepgear could celebrate, a large explosion caught the two girls off guard. The explosion shook the ground beneath their feet and sent them rolling down the hill they stood on.

Neptune and Nepgear rolled to the bottom of the hill before they quickly scrambled to their feet. To the girl’s surprise, a giant dogoo stood on the hill above them. “DOGOO!” The enormous creature roared.

“Okay Nepgear I think its time we head on home.” Neptune said, nervously.

“We can’t sis. We have to defeat it!” Nepgear said.

“I thought you were going to say that.” Neptune said, sighing deeply. The two Nep’s summoned their weapons.

Neptune grabbed the hilt of her katana and aimed the tip at the giant dogoo. Nepgear on the other hand held her sword down by her right side.

“LET’S GO!” Neptune roared.

Neptune and Nepgear charged at the enormous creature. Once Neptune was close enough, she swung her katana hard. The giant dogoo leapt high in the air, avoiding the attack by mere inches.

The giant dogoo’s entire body shook in surprise when it spotted Nepgear directly in front of it, despite the fact that it was several yards in the air. Nepgear swung her sword, which managed to slice through the front of it’s gelatinous body.

The creature roared in anger as it slammed into the ground and shifted its large frame so that it now faced both girls. Neptune rushed forwards once more ad swung her sword. This time, the giant dogoo wasn’t able to leave out of the way.

“GOO! DOGOO!” The creature roared angrily.

Neptune raised her sword once more which caused the giant dogoo to brace itself, but Nepgear rushed past it’s large body and sliced its side, which caused the dogoo to yelp. After that, Neptune brought down her sword.

The angry expression on the giant dogoos’ face vanished as before the rest of its body vanished as well.

Neptune and Nepgear were now breathing hard. “That… was simple.” Neptune said, forcing a smile.

“Yeah right…” Nepgear said, breathing hard. “I just hope there aren’t any other dogoo like that one.”

Once Neptune and Nepgear caught their breaths, the girls made their way over to the giant Fairy Tower. Even though the Fairy Tower looked dormant, the two girls both felt a strange electrical energy coming from it. “This thing is powerful.” Nepgear muttered. “I wonder where we insert that USB memory stick. We need to be careful and-”

“Right here!” Neptune said, as she slid the USB memory stick into the first hole she could find.

“Neptune!” Nepgear gasped.

The moment Nepgear spoke, all the monitors on the Fairy Tower came to life and started slowly spinning around the massive tower. “It’s work! I fixed it! I’m awesome!” Neptune cheered.

Nepgear watched intently as the monitors all came to life. One monitor showed the world of Gamindustri, another showed a map of the region and another showed nothing, but an endless stream of code. “This thing is unreal.” Nepgear said, slowly shaking her head.

“Well now what?” Neptune asked.

Nepgear didn’t say anything. All she did was slowly walk around the tower until she spotted a monitor that had a number and percentage on it. “Look at this big sis.” Nepgear said, pointing at the monitor. “It says something is at two percent. Maybe we need to wait until it’s at one-hundred percent before we leave.”

“Aw man! I don’t want to wait!” Neptune said.

Nepgear thought fast. “How about some lunch and pudding?”

“I’ll wait here for an eternity if I have to!” Neptune said, quickly changing her tune.

Nepgear pulled off her backpack and pulled out a blanket and a few other items. Soon Neptune and Nepgear were happily eating their lunch. “Your cooking is awesome as always!” Neptune said, happily.

“Thanks! It’s just sandwiches though.” Said Nepgear, smiling bashfully.

“The best sandwich slapped between two pieces of bread!” Neptune said, as she opened her mouth wide and sank her teeth into her meal.

After the two girls ate their fill of sandwiches Nepgear reached into her bag to remove some pudding, but stopped.

“Neptune? Nepgear?” Came a voice that only sounded familiar to Neptune.

Neptune and Nepgear turned their attention to the computer monitor located at the base of the Fairy Tower. A small girl riding a book appeared. “Thank you for coming! My name is Histoire and we have a lot to discuss.”