Blanc hesitated. At first she was determined to ask Neptune her question, but now she was worried she might be moving too fast. Blanc clenched and unclenched her hands into tight fists. She moved all her weight onto one foot and then the other. Finally Blanc turned her eyes to Histoire, who simply nodded at her.
“Whoa… What’s with this seriousness? Did I do something wrong?” Neptune asked.
Blanc took a deep breath. “Neptune? I want to ask you a few questions actually. The first one is this. Why did Histoire choose you to reactivate all the Fairy Towers?”
“Huh? Why?” Neptune began, tapping her lower lip thoughtfully. “She said she knew I would see this quest through until the end. That’s why.” Neptune said, smiling brightly. “And I’ve been doing a pretty darn good job so far!”
“You have.” Said Histoire, nodding.
“Yes, but why you?” Blanc asked. “I’m sure there are dozens, if not thousands of people on Planeptune that would be willing to take on this quest. Who’s just as determined, if not more to see this quest through to the end. Your sister for instance.”
Neptune’s shoulders sagged. “You’re making fun of me, huh?”
Blanc shook her head. “Not at all.” Blanc said, holding up her hands.
“What’s going on?” Ram asked.
“Please don’t fight.” Rom said, nervously.
“Were not fighting, but I am asking Neptune some very important questions.” Said Blanc, clearing her throat a little. “Neptune. I want to ask you something else. Did Histoire give you complete access to the Fairy Tower data?”
“Yep!” Said Neptune.
“Why?” Asked Blanc.
“Because… Huh… not sure.” Neptune admitted.
“Only goddesses and certain individuals have unmitigated access to that information.” Said Histoire.
“Exactly. So why give you and your sister access to all that data?” Blanc asked.
Neptune winced in pain. “Owie.” The girl said, as she began rubbing the place between her eyebrows. “Memories are coming back and they aren’t stopping.”
Blanc reached down and took Neptune by the hand. After that she placed Neptune’s hand on the Fairy Tower. Instantly the pain went away. “Is that better Neptune?”
“Y-Yeah… No… I feel weird and it’s not going away.” Neptune said, slowly shaking her head. “What’s going on? Do I need to lay down or something?”
“No Neptune. You’re memories are being returned to you.” Said Histoire. “And with your memories. Your true self will be returned to you.”
“My true self?” Neptune opened her eyes, but she was no longer standing in a snowy field. The Fairy Tower, Blanc, Rom and Ram were also gone. Neptune was now standing in a dark void. The sound of water trickling from overhead could be heard.
“Where am I?” Neptune wondered, aloud.
“Who’s there?” Came a familiar voice.
Neptune and the owner of the voice moved forward until they came face-to-face with each other. “Lady Purple Heart?” Neptune said, surprised.
Lady Purple Heart smiled brightly at Neptune. “Didn’t I tell you to call me Purple Heart? Were friends, remember?”
Neptune giggled and blushed. “Sorry about that.” Neptune said, as she scratched the back of her head nervously. “Anyways, Purple Heart. Where are we?”
Purple Heart glanced around the area, but shook her head. “I don’t know. I was starting to feel weird and before I knew it, I was here.” Purple Heart took a deep breath. “I hope Purple Sister won’t be too worried about me. By the way. How’s Nepgear doing?” Purple Heart asked.
“We got separated, but I just found out that she’s still alive.” Said Neptune. “Were meeting back up at the third Fairy Tower.” Neptune opened her mouth to say something, when a thought suddenly came to her. “Purple Heart? What are you missing?”
“Missing?” Purple Heart asked. A nervous look appeared on Purple Heart’s face. She then covered her face with her hands.
“Why do I know that look?” Neptune wondered to herself. “It’s a look of shame.”
Purple Heart slowly moved her hands away from her face. “I was hoping no one would notice, but yes. I’m missing something very important.” The girl said, taking several deep breaths. “I’m scared. What if Planeptune finds out? What if they hate me? They should hate me.”
“Whoa! Settle down Purple Heart!” Neptune said, running over to the goddess and taking her hands into her own. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault that you’re missing this important thing.”
Purple Heart looked at Neptune for a moment. A look of doubt appeared on her face. “How do you know?”
Neptune shook her head. “I just do. For some reason.” Said Neptune, closing her eyes and thinking back. “I’m starting to know a lot of things that I didn’t before. I know this missing thing of yours is out there. Probably closer than we think. At least that’s what my brain is telling me.”
“Really?” Purple Heart said, tilting her head slightly to the right.
Neptune opened her eyes and smiled even brighter than before. “Really! So tell me. Without fear. What are you missing?”
Purple Heart hesitated for a moment, before she finally said. “Love for my people.”
Neptune’s body started to glow brightly, but the girl didn’t seem to notice. Instead she gave Purple Heart’s hands a gentle squeeze. “That’s because all your love for your people is within me!”
“How? Why?” Purple Heart asked.
“Because. I’m you.” Said Neptune.
Purple Heart’s eyes went wide, before they closed and a gentle smile appeared on Purple Heart’s face. “Right. I remember now.”
***
“I think she’s broken.” Ram said, as she began patting Neptune’s head.
“Don’t do that Ram.” Said Blanc.
Before Blanc could grab Ram’s hand, both Neptune and Ram flew high into the air. Blanc’s eyes went wide. “RAM!” Blanc screamed. Blanc watched as Neptune and Ram flew higher and higher into the air. Neptune’s body glowed with an otherworldly shine.
“HELP ME!” Ram cried out, in terror.
“H-Hold on!” Blanc cried.
Blanc ran several yards away from the Fairy Tower, while Rom watched in terror. “Don’t worry Ram! I’m going to jump in and catch you. I won’t let you-”
“It’s alright.” A voice said.
The light coming from Neptune grew brighter and brighter, but soon it disappeared. Neptune was gone, but Lady Purple Heart remained. “I got you!” Purple Heart said, as she caught Ram before the small girl started to fall. “Sorry about that Ram. I didn’t mean to bring you up with me.”
“I’m… okay…” Ram said, blinking her eyes several times. “Who are you lady?”
“Who am I? You don’t remember?” Purple Heart asked.
Purple Heart gently flew to the ground. Once her feet touched the snow, she put Ram down. “Sorry about that Blanc. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
Blanc shook her head. “Just don’t scare me like that again you idiot.” Blanc said, trying to keep her temper in check. “So I was right. Neptune really was Lady Purple Heart.”
“Yes, but please call me Purple Heart. Or better yet.” Purple Heart’s body flashed and now Neptune was standing there. Neptune wore a large smile on her face and her hands were up on her hips. “Call me Neptune!”
“Whoa!” Ram and Rom said, in unison. “You mean you’re the goddess of Planeptune?” Ram asked.
“Uh-oh!” Rom said, as she bowed low to Neptune. “Lady Neptune. It’s a-” Rom began, but Neptune cut her off.
“Oh please! I don’t want my good buddies to bow to me! Treat me normally, okay?” Neptune said, happily. Neptune turned to Histoire. “Histoire? Did you know I was actually the goddess of Planeptune? All this time?” She asked.
Histoire shook her head. “No. Please remember that activating the Fairy Towers also means restoring memories to the Fairy Towers themselves. I had no idea that Neptune and Lady Purple Heart were one in the same.”
“I see. I was going to be a mad Nep if you actually knew.” Said Neptune.
“Actually. I don’t think it would have mattered if I told you or not.” Said Histoire. “Your memories were forcefully sealed away after all.” Histoire turned her eyes towards Blanc. “For example. Blanc you are actually … …!” Histoire said. “Do you believe me?”
“Do I believe mumble, mumble?” Blanc asked, furrowing her brow. Blanc turned her eyes towards Rom and Ram who also looked confused. Neptune on the other hand looked completely shocked.
“No way!” Neptune said.
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t hear what Histoire said.” Said Blanc.
“Me either.” Said Ram.
“Same here.” Said Rom.
Histoire nodded. “That’s because your memories are sealed and the parts of your brain that can contain that information are also blocked off. Of course you’d never see these blocks if you were to get a ct scan.”
“I see…” Blanc said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “It’s strange. I have a feeling I know what you want to tell me, but at the same time my brain is rejecting it.”
“Rejecting what? I’m confused!” Ram said.
Blanc giggled. “It’s okay Ram. Rom. Everything’s fine. Nothing to worry about.”
“Anyways, this will make things a lot easier for us!” Said Neptune. “Now that I’m Purple Heart again, we can just fly to the next Fairy Tower!”
“Well we can’t fly.” Said Blanc. “Unless you think you can carry all of us.”
Neptune’s smile vanished. “No… I don’t think I can…”
“It’s alright Neptune.” Said Histoire. “Just take your time getting to the third Fairy Tower. You still need to become stronger after all.”
“That’s true.” Said Neptune, sighing deeply. “Oh! Histoire! I bet Purple Heart isn’t the only one who’s actually someone else, right? Are they ready to hear this hard hitting truth?”
Histoire nodded. “There are a few, but don’t worry about them. I’ll contact them myself.”
“Okies!” Neptune said, saluting. Neptune turned to Blanc, Rom and Ram. “Sorry about that. I’m ready to go when you are.”
“Great.” Blanc said, taking Rom and Ram by the hand. “Let’s get going girls.”
“Right!” Ram said.
“I’m ready to go.” Said Rom.
Neptune started walking beside her friends. As she walked, Rom and Ram kept stealing glanced at her. “What is it girls?” Neptune asked, blushing a little.
“I want to fly.” Said Rom.
“Me too! It was so fun!” Said Ram.
“Fun? You looked like you were about to wet yourself.” Neptune teased.
“I was not! You just scared me a little!” Ram said, annoyed by Neptune’s accusation.
“Just teasing!” Said Neptune. “I don’t mind flying with you two, but I have a feeling that you won’t need me for that soon enough!”
“Really? Why?” Ram asked.
“Airplane maybe?” Rom offered.
Even though Blanc’s brain rejected what Neptune was saying, she knew that her friend was right. “Someday we’ll all go flying.” Blanc said, giving her sisters hands a gentle squeeze. “No matter what my brain tells me.”
***
Nepgear and Cyberconnect2 continued making their way across the snow fields of Lowee. As they walked, the girls talked amongst themselves. “I’m really curious what Lowee city is like. Have you ever been there before?”
Cyberconect2 nodded. “I have. It’s a really cute city. Also the Basilicom looks like a castle! It’s really cute!”
“Awesome!” Nepgear said, happily. “I know my sister will want to check out any arcades. She might even buy a new console. I won’t lecture her if she does.”
Cyberconnect2 giggled. “Do you usually have to lecture her?”
Neptune blushed a little. “I hate to say it, but my sister doesn’t always make the best buying decisions. It’s not like were poor or anything, but I do wish she’d think about some of her expenditures.”
“I know how she feels. Sometimes when I see some new daggers, the first thing I want to do is buy them!” Said Cyberconnect2.
Nepgear nodded. “I’m the same way. Sometimes I’ll see a new computer part or something and I just have to have it! I remember one time-” Before Nepgear could say another word, she heard a beeping sound coming from her other N-Gear.
“What’s that?” Cyberconnect2 asked.
“An emergency broadcast.” Nepgear said, taking out her other N-Gear. Cyberconnect2 watched as the color in Nepgear’s face drained. “Oh no! This is terrible!” Nepgear breathed.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Cyberconnect2 asked.
Nepgear slowly shook her head while she looked down at her other N-Gear. Finally she tore her eyes away from the screen and looked into Cyberconnect2’s eyes. “Lady Purple Heart! She’s missing!”
