ONE DAY AGO…
“Well I finished cleaning Neptune’s room.” IF said, as she stepped out of Neptune’s bedroom and slapped the dust off her hands. “I bet that room hasn’t seen a broom since the last time we visited.”
“Yeah.” Compa said, who was wiping down the kitchen table with a rag. Compa wore a grim look on her face. It’s a look that IF had sadly grown used to.
“What’s wrong Compa? Gear and Nep will be home soon. I mean they’re both in Lowee right now. We’ve all regained our memories. Everything will be fine!” IF said, hoping this time Compa would be able to cheer up.
Unfortunately the only thing that Compa’s words could produce, was a long sigh from her. “I know, but I’m still worried about Ge-Ge! Where is she Iffy?” Compa asked, her lower lip trembled.
IF swallowed hard. She hated seeing Compa in such a sad state, but at the same time she thought Compa looked rather cute like that. “Don’t worry. As soon as Nep and Ge-Ge reunite, I’m sure they’ll send us a message.” IF placed her hands high on her hips and started looking around the room.
Ever since Neptune and Nepgear left on their quest, the two girls had stayed behind and watched over the place. They made sure all the furniture and counters were dust free and the floors were swept and mopped. The girls even made sure spiders didn’t create webs in the corners of the various rooms.
“I know you’re right.” Compa said, after finishing her word. The girl bent down and picked up the package that Neptune had sent to her own home and placed it back on the table. “I’ll try to cheer up.”
“If you can smile for me I’ll buy some pizza tonight.” IF offered.
Compa giggled and smiled warmly at IF. “Thanks Iffy.” The girl said.
IF giggled and smiled back. “You just earned yourself a pizza.” IF said, as she crossed the room and took Compa’s hands into her own. “Anyways. Were done cleaning for today. Do you want to head back home or get some work at the guild. I’ll buy you a pizza, but the shop doesn’t open until later.”
“That’s okay.” Compa said, shaking her head. “We can get a pizza anytime. Let’s go to the guild and get a little work.”
“Sounds good.” Said IF.
IF and Compa headed out of Neptune and Nepgear’s home. After making sure the door was locked, the two girls headed towards the guild building. IF held Compa’s hand using her right hand and held up one of her cellphones with the left. As the girls walked, IF looked at the news.
“Hard to believe both Purple Heart and Purple Sister disappeared and our friends were actually the goddesses.” IF said, titling her head slightly to the right. “Although, it doesn’t really surprise me since we got all our memories back.”
“I know. I knew there was something special about Nep-Nep and Ge-Ge!” Compa said, smiling proudly.
“Yeah.” Said IF, taking a deep breath. IF looked at Compa out of the corners of her eyes. She could still see a bit of worry in them. “What’s wrong Compa?” IF asked. “Still thinking about-”
“No, no.” Compa said, shaking her head.
“Compa…?” IF began.
Compa shook her head once more. “No. It’s not that. I was actually just thinking about Arfoire. We haven’t seen her in a while.”
“Yeah… Arfoire…” IF rubbed the side of her head nervously. Ever since IF and Compa regained their memories, their feelings towards Arfoire had changed. At first the girls felt angry and fearful of Arfoire, simply because Arfoire had tried to destroy Gamindustri in the past. Thankfully Arfoire had reformed and was now a productive citizen of Planeptune.
Still, the saddest thing the girls remembered was the fact that they weren’t friends with Arfoire. IF even remembered some resentment she held against the woman.
“This really sucks.” Compa said, breaking into IF’s thoughts. “I really liked Arfoire. I wish we could still be friends.”
“Yeah.” IF said, giving Compa’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Maybe someday we can put everything behind us and become friends with her. I have a feeling that’s up to her though. Who knows how she feels deep inside?”
A figure suddenly appeared out from an alleyway. The figure held a large sword in her hand and her eyes were covered by the brim of a large pointy hat. “I can tell you exactly how I feel.” The girl breathed.
IF’s lower jaw dropped. “Arfoire?”
“Arfoire?!” Compa said, looking up. “We were just talking about you! Arfoire, listen…”
“SHUT UP!” Arfoire roared, angrily. “I don’t have to listen to a damn thing you say to me!”
“What are you talking about?” IF said, startled.
“I remember everything now.” Arfoire said, as she covered her face with one hand. “I remembered just how much I hated the goddess and how you two helped them defeat me! I won’t stand for this anymore.” Arfoire dropped her hand from her face, tilted her face skywards and laughed.
“Whoa… What a weird laugh.” IF breathed.
“Shut up!” Arfoire snapped, as she aimed the tip of her sword at IF. “I won’t allow you two brats to mock me!”
Compa took a deep breath. “Please Arfoire. Remember all the naughty stuff you did a long time ago? Remember how you atoned for that and changed! We might not be good friends now, but that can change, okay?”
“Remember?” Arfoire said, angrily. “All I remember… All I’ve been reminded of is all the pain you and the goddesses put me through!” Arfoire grabbed the side of her head and screamed as old forgotten memories poured into her mind. She stumbled back and forth and nearly fell over once, but somehow managed to keep standing.
Compa ran forwards. “HEAL!” She cried.
Arfoire’s body started to shine brightly and her screaming stopped, but once the spell from Compa vanished, she grabbed her head once more and continued screaming. “IT HURTS! STOP IT!” Arfoire cried, tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
IF ran forwards. “Compa? We need to take her to the Fairy Tower! That will help her!” IF ran over to Arfoire and grabbed the girl by the arm. IF gasped when she felt all the muscles in Arfoire’s arm tense. Moments later IF was sailing through the air.
“IFFY!” Compa cried.
“What the hell!?” IF thought to herself. IF slammed into a nearby building, before she fell to the street below. IF felt a little pain, but thanks to her training the pain was minimal. “That’s not going to work on me Arfoire!” IF said, as she summoned her pistol.
IF was seconds away from pulling the trigger, but stopped when she saw that Arfoire was standing behind Compa. She held Compa by the throat. “I-Iffy!” Compa cried.
IF pointed her pistol upwards and away from the girls. “Leave Compa alone Arfoire!” IF said, slowly getting to her feet.
Arfoire giggled. “Of course!” She said, smiling evilly. “I remembered something else. I remember someone asking me to join them in a plan. Sealing memories and splitting the goddesses up from their human selves.”
“You!” IF said, her eyes went wide with hatred. “YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!?” The girl demanded.
“What’s with all the shouting?!” Came a loud voice.
Arfoire turned her eyes towards a large man who stepped out of his shop. “I suggest you turn around and get back inside, before I take your head.” Arfoire said, as she raised her sword over her head. When Arfoire brought her sword down, a wave of energy shot through the air and sliced through the man’s shop, missing his head by mere inches.
The man fell backwards, before he scrambled to his feet and ran back into his shop screaming. “How dare you!” IF roared.
“Maybe I should start cutting through the necks of everyone around here! Think that will send a message?” Arfoire asked.
“STOP!” Compa cried, as she grabbed Arfoire’s hand. The same hand she held her sword.
Arfoire giggled. “Isn’t this cute?” Arfoire easily pulled her hand away from Compa. “You know what? I think I’ll use Compa here instead.” Arfoire turned her eyes angrily towards IF. “Tell the goddesses that I have Compa. Tell the loud one, Neptune, to come to me first. After I kill her, send her sister. Eventually I’ll run out of goddesses to kill.” Arfoire suddenly lifted off into the air, carrying Compa with her. “I’ll be in a very special dimension!”
IF watched helplessly as Arfoire flew out of Planeptune city. Moments later a large beam of light rose up from the ground and nearly touched the sky.
“No… Compa?” IF fell to her knees and closed her eyes tightly. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Compa… I…” IF’s body started to shake. It started at the tips of her fingers, but soon moved down her arms and into her shoulders. IF felt an anger she hadn’t felt in years. “Compa? I want Compa now!”
IF jumped to her feet. “ARFOIRE! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!” IF roared in anger. IF began running out of Planeptune as fast as she could. As she ran, she passed by dozens of people who came out to see the beam of light in the distance.
Once IF ran out of the city, instead of heading straight towards the light, she instead started running towards the Fairy Tower.
Once IF was close enough to the Fairy Tower, Histoire’s holographic image appeared. “IF. What’s wrong? I noticed a strange-”
“No time!” IF said, as she ran to the terminal and began pressing buttons on it. “Why didn’t I use this share energy sooner?” IF wondered, as she began pouring Share Energy into her strength and defense stats.
“IF. What happened? I noticed a gateway to a pocket dimension has opened.” Histoire said.
“It’s Arfoire. She’s kidnapped Compa and she’s using her as a hostage to lure out the goddesses.” Said IF.
“Oh no!” Histoire said, horrified by what she just heard. Histoire closed her eyes and started to think. “It’s okay. I know Compa being kidnapped isn’t ideal, but Neptune should be able to handle Arfoire herself.”
“Good, but I’m not waiting.” Said IF, taking a deep breath.
“What do you mean?” Histoire asked, opening her eyes.
“I’m going after Compa.” IF said. “Histoire? Please teleport me to a place where really strong monsters are located. I’m going to take a day and do some more training.”
“IF. You can’t.” Said Histoire.
“Please!” IF said, turning her eyes towards Histoire. “Compa… I love Compa and I have to save her.”
Histoire wanted to argue with the girl, but knew that there was nothing she could say that could convince IF not to do this. “Very well. I’ll send you to a place in Leanbox.” Said Histoire. “I’ll also increase my Fairy Tower’s healing ability so you can work throughout the night without getting tired.”
“Thanks Histoire.” Said IF. “One last thing. Please don’t tell Nep or anyone else what happened. Knowing Nep, she’ll fly straight back to Planeptune and right now she needs to worry about reuniting with Gear and activating the final Fairy Towers.”
“I understand.” Said Histoire. “But I’ll tell Neptune immediately if I think you’re in danger. Understood?”
IF nodded. “Understood.”
“Good.” Histoire said, nodding as well. “I’m sending you to Leanbox.”
IF’s vision turned white. Moments later IF found herself standing in a large forest. “This is Leanbox?”
“Yes it is.” Came a voice.
IF turned quickly and spotted a red haired girl standing a few feet away from her. “Hi there! My name is MarvelousAQL, but you can call me Marvy.” Said the girl. “Let me guess… You’re friends with Neptune, right?”
“How’d you know?” IF asked.
“We all met Neptune, nyu.” Said A small catgirl. “My name is Broccoli, nyu. Pleasure to meet you, nyu.”
“My name’s 5pb..” Said a girl, who was standing to IF’s right.
IF looked at all three girls, before she suddenly remembered. “Yeah! We’ve all met before!” IF said. “Sorry, I’ve regained all my memories, but I’m still not remembering everything perfectly.”
“That’s okay.” Marvy said, holding up her hands. “Anyways, what brings you to Leanbox?”
IF opened her mouth to tell them, but quickly changed her mind. “I can’t worry these girls yet. No doubt their training for the final battle as well.” IF took a deep breath. “I came here to get stronger. Know of any strong monsters around here?”
“Of course.” Said Cave, who suddenly appeared beside 5pb.. “There are Regulus in this forest. They are pretty powerful.”
“Great. Could you all help me? My strength isn’t where it needs to be right now.” IF said, as she summoned her katars.
“Of course. Follow us.” Said Marvy, waving IF onwards. “We’ll power grind you until you’re level nine-hundred and ninety nine!”
“Great!” IF said. “Hold on a little longer Compa. I’m coming for you!”
