Nepgear was starting to get worried. The sun was about to set and her sister and Noire were nowhere to be seen. At first Nepgear ignored this fact and tried to concentrate on something else, but as time slowly ticked by her worry only grew more and more. “Why are you looking so nervous?” Uni asked. Uni was standing in front of the stove preparing everyone’s dinner.
Nepgear didn’t answer. Instead she continued to pace back and forth nervously. “Oh goodness. What will I do if something happened to her?”
“Nothing happened I’m sure.” Uni said, but her words were lost to Nepgear.
After ten more minutes had passed, the front door to the house opened and Neptune and Noire stepped inside. Noire looked perfectly fine, while Nepgear looked completely drained. Her shoulders were sagging and her arms were dangling by her sides. “Were back.” Noire said.
“Welcome home sister. I’m getting dinner ready now.” Uni said, glancing over her shoulder at Noire.
“Neptune!” Nepgear cried, as she rushed over to her sister. “What happened to you? Why do you look so worn out?”
Neptune sighed deeply. “It was terrible Nepgear! Noire worked me so hard! She was merciless!”
“Over exaggerate much?” Noire said, placing her hands high on her hips. “I only made Neptune do a minimum amount of work and this is what happened. She’s incredibly lazy Nepgear. I suspect that you dote on her too much.”
“Huh? Oh no…” Nepgear said, scratching the back of her head in embarrassment. “Maybe a little.”
“Anyways…” Noire began, as she stepped around Neptune. “How did it go with you two? Get any work done?”
“Yes.” Nepgear began, but before she could say anything more Uni started talking.
“Yes big sister.” Uni said. “Neptune and I took on a few hunting quests and we got the location to the next Fairy Tower.”
“Good.” Noire said. “I expected no less from either of you.”
Uni’s shoulders sagged a bit. “Right.” Said Uni.
“Oh Nepgear?” Neptune began, as she slowly made her way to the couch. “Please bring me my dinner when it’s ready? And if you could, please give me a foot rub.”
“Sister…” Nepgear breathed.
Neptune plopped herself down on the couch, before she kicked off her shoes and laid down. “This is nice.” She said, closing her eyes. Moments later Neptune had fallen into a deep sleep.
“That girl… I swear.” Noire said, shaking her head in disgust. “Anyways, Nepgear?” Noire began, turning her eyes towards Nepgear. “Tell me about the next Fairy Tower. Where is it located?”
“Oh. It’s actually located on the west side of Lastation. I think it’s inside or surrounded by several warehouses.” Said Nepgear.
“I see…” Noire said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Can you show me?”
Nepgear nodded as she pulled out her N-Gear. After pressing a few buttons, a map of Lastation appeared. Two red X’s could be seen on that map. “I’m assuming those X’s represent the Fairy Tower’s location, correct?” Noire asked.
“That’s right.” Said Nepgear, nodding.
“Good.” Noire made her way over to the couch and looked down at Neptune’s sleeping face. “Neptune and I will make our way there the day after tomorrow. I already promised Chian that we’d do some work for her.”
“Okay.” Nepgear said.
“Neptune?” Noire said, in a small voice. “WAKE UP!”
Neptune yelped loudly and then bolted up right. “What’s happening?!” She cried.
“Dinner’s happening. Get your butt over to the table.” Noire ordered.
“Noire… You’re such a meanie. I worked really hard today you know.” Neptune breathed, but stood anyways and headed over to the table where Uni served them all dinner. Even though Nepgear knew that Neptune was lazy, she couldn’t help, but worry that Noire was pushing her sister too hard. Neptune clapped her hands together before she said, “rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub!”
***
The following morning Noire and Neptune left for the factory they cleared out for Chian the previous day. Noire, like the day before, had a hard time waking Neptune up. “You’re such a workaholic. You need to sober up.” Neptune cried, as she slowly walked beside Noire.
“You’re just lazy. Seriously… how have you survived for so long? It feels like you should have starved to death years ago.” Noire said, annoyed. “What really bugs me about this girl is the fact that she’s stronger than I am.” Thought Noire.
“You’re just mad cause I’m stronger than you are.” Said Neptune.
“WH-WHAT?!” Noire cried, as her cheeks grew bright red. “I didn’t say that out loud did I?”
“Say what out loud?” Neptune asked, her eyes were partially open.
“Nothing.” Noire said, shaking her head. “Listen. You need to shape up now. Not just for your own sake, but for the sake of your sister. All little sisters deserve a big sister they can look up to.”
“Nepgear looks up to me.” Neptune said, giggling.
“Right…” Noire said, sighing deeply.
“What’s bothering you?” Asked Neptune.
Noire shook her head. “Nothing.” Said Noire. “Look. Our job today is simple. We just have to make sure the factory is still cleared of monsters and we have to keep the workers safe. No slacking off today, understand?”
“Gotcha.” Neptune said, dully. “While you’re doing all that, I’ll find a place to keep watch. Maybe a place with a bed and a refrigerator filled with pudding and you’re looking angry, so I’ll stop talking.” Neptune said, after she noticed Noire was getting more and more annoyed.
“Good idea.” Noire said, balling her hands into tight fists.
When the girls finally reached the old factory, the girls headed inside and began looking around for any monsters that might have found a way inside. “I don’t see any monsters. What about you Neptune?” Noire asked, after a few minutes of searching.
“Nope. It’s empty.” Neptune said. “So when is everyone coming?”
“They should be here soon. Let’s go outside and walk around for a bit.” Noire suggested.
Neptune did as she was told and followed after Noire. The two girls slowly made their way around the factory. Noire was surprised that Neptune wasn’t making any jokes, or even talking. Instead she kept quiet and walked beside her. After a few moments of this, Noire started to feel a bit anxious.
“Is something wrong?” Noire asked, breaking their silence.
Neptune shrugged her shoulders. “I was just worried that I might have made you really mad, so I decided I should take this job seriously starting NOW.” Said Neptune.
“Good.” Noire said, taking a deep breath. “But you can talk you know.”
“Really?” Neptune asked, peering into Noire’s eyes. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Uh… I don’t know.” Noire said, shaking her head. “Tell me about your home.”
“Sure.” Neptune said. Neptune thought for a few moments before she started talking about her home. She told Noire about her home, about how she and Nepgear would go on quests together and about her friends IF and Compa.
“So tell me about yourself! Don’t worry about making up any friends, I won’t judge you for not having any.” Neptune said.
“I have friends dammit!” Noire said, as she started walking faster.
“Oh come on Noire! I was just teasing!” Neptune said, as she started to jog in order to keep up with Noire. “If I don’t tease you, your life would be boring!”
“I have enough going on in my life to keep me entertained. I don’t need your help.” Noire said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
“Yeah, okay. So tell me about your life already! I’m dying to know!” Said Neptune.
Noire suddenly lowed down her pace, before glancing over her shoulder at Neptune. Like usual Neptune wore a large smile on her face. Noire wasn’t sure why, but Neptune’s smile did put her at ease. “Alright. Well like I said before, Uni and I have been living here our entire lives. Or as long as we can remember. We take on several quests everyday, usually we work together, but I figured this was a good opportunity for her to work with someone her own age.”
“You mean so she can stop being so poopy at work?” Neptune said.
Noire suddenly turned on her heels and stared angrily into Neptune’s eyes. “What did you just say?” Even though Noire was speaking softly, her words cut through the air like a razor.
“Whoa!” Neptune cried, holding up her hands in defense. “That was just the impression I was getting from you.”
Noire furrowed her brow in confusion. “What do you mean?” She asked.
“I’m just saying, that you made it seem like she wasn’t very good at work. That’s all. I wasn’t implying anything.” Neptune said, hoping she could quell Noire’s anger. “Was I wrong?”
“Well…” Noire took a deep breath. “I don’t know. I just feel like I need to push Uni to be stronger, that’s all. She’s a great worker.”
“Well shucks Noire! Why don’t you tell her that!” Neptune asked.
“Shut up! I tell her that all the time!” Noire said.
“Really?” Asked Neptune.
“Keep walking Neptune.” Noire said, as she gently pushed Neptune forwards.
“Yeah, yeah.” Said Neptune.
Noire took a deep breath as she followed closely behind Neptune. Even though Noire wanted to get angry at Neptune, apart of her knew that the girl was right. “When was the last time I complimented Uni? She does a great job helping me. I’m not always tearing her down am I?”
When Chian and her crew finally arrived, they got to work on repairing the large holes that were embedded in the sides of the factory. “You two did a great job clearing out the monsters and making it so that they couldn’t get back inside. I appreciate that.” Said Chian.
“My pleasure!” Neptune said, saluting. “Noire here wanted to leave the job half done yesterday, but I told her-” Neptune began.
“I did not!” Noire snapped.
Chian giggled. “You two are already good friends, huh?”
“What gave you that idea?” Noire asked, annoyed.
“Well it’s nice that she has at least one.” Said Neptune. “Though a pity friend isn’t really a friend, is it?”
“Oh please Neptune.” Noire began, a smirk appeared on her lips. “The only one taking pity around here is me.
“Aw! Noire pity’s me!” Said Neptune.
“Actually I was talking about Nepgear.” Uni said, her voice was filled with sarcasm.
“Boo! Noire’s a bully!” Neptune said.
“Let’s just get back to work.” Noire said. “Chian. We’ll keep the monsters away from the factory.”
“Thanks!” Said Chian.
Noire and Neptune kept making their way around the factory. As they walked, they kept their eyes open for any signs of monsters. The sounds of the workers inside the factory was the only sounds they could hear.
Several hours later the noise from the factory stopped and the workers, including Chian, stepped outside. “Hey girls.” Chian said, making her way over to Noire and Neptune. “Were all finished for today. Thanks again for helping us out!”
“You’re welcome!” Said Neptune, happily.
“It was our pleasure.” Said Noire.
“Anyways, I went ahead and transferred the credits I owed you to your account Noire.” Said Chian. “I’ll have more work for you soon.”
“Thanks Chian.” Said Noire.
“So now that were finished. Is it time to head home and surf a couch or something?” Neptune asked.
“No. It’s time to go to the guild and get more work.” Noire said. “But if you want to go home and laze around on the couch, I won’t stop you.”
“Really?” Neptune asked, but realized that Noire was mocking her once again. “Alright, let’s go get some more work.”
Later that evening Noire and Neptune finally made it home. After stepping into the house, Noire noticed that her sister was setting out plates while Neptune busied herself with preparing dinner.
“Welcome home big sis.” Noire said.
“Hello Noire. Hi Neptune.” Nepgear said, turning to face both girls.
“Mom’s home! Someone bring me my slippers!” Neptune ordered.
Noire ignored Neptune’s request and made her way over to her sister. “So Uni… Did you and Nepgear… Get any work done today?” She asked.
Uni nodded. “Yes. We did several hunting quests today and gathered a few other items while we were out of the city.”
“Um… Good work Uni, Nepgear.” Noire began, as she reached forwards and patted Uni on the head. “Uni? I’m sure you did a great job today.”
“Big sis?” Uni began. Noire watched in shock as Uni’s cheeks grew bright red and tears began streaming down her cheeks. “Thank you big sister!” Uni said, as she burst into tears.
Neptune and Nepgear both watched as Uni started to sob uncontrollably. “Uni! Why are you crying like that?” Noire asked, worriedly.
“Aw Noire! You’re such a great big sister!” Neptune said, giggling.
“I agree.” Nepgear said, giggling as well.
Noire sighed deeply. “Shut up you two!”
