Shatana's POV
Gotta meet daddy!
...I couldn't wait any longer! I wanna see him right now! So I dashed! and dashed! and dashed! and-
Ooo~ dumplings~...And Dashed! AND DASHED AND-
Shatana: "Three boxes of family sized Cheese Pizza Please!"
And eventually I reached Lowee!
Shatana: "Daddy~! I'm here~!"
Grab!
Shatana: "Eh..?"
Neptunio: "Shaaaa....taaaaaa....naaaaa!!!!???"
...Uh-oh, he's pissed!? Why though!?
Shatana: "Umm... Did I do something bad?"
Neptunio: "Take a look at this..."
...He shows me his credit balance... -3,000,050 C
Shatana: "Ah..."
Neptunio: "DON'T JUST 'ah' Me little lady! What the hell have you been buying!?"
Shatana: "Umm... Food?"
Neptunio: "And?"
Shatana: "Ice cream...?"
Neptunio: "That's still just food..."
Shatana: "Uuu~ I was hungry~! I kept fighting! and fighting! and so I got really hungry~!"
Neptunio: "Haaa... I knew I should have kept the limiter."
Shatana: "I'm sorry..."
Neptune: "Oh give her a break Nio, when a girl wants to eat she's gotta eat."
Neptunio: "Yeah, of course you would know."
Neptune: "Look, if it makes you feel better, then here you can have some pudding."
Neptunio: "...That's not really going to fix anything you know...haa... Oh well..."
Shatana: "Sorry daddy..."
Neptunio: "Can't really help it... But, I will be keeping limiter from now on."
Neptune: "Hehehe~ Hey Shatany~ Why don't you just go on quests?"
Shatana: "Yeah... I guess I'll have to..."
...Geez...so much for a fun meet up...
...The next day, we all gathered in the living room. And there...
Cracker: "..."
Shatana: "..."
...This guy was here... come to think of it, we haven't really talked that much huh...
Ngine: "S-so! We were able to secure the caverns but..."
Neptune: "Ehem..."
Nepgear: "Uhehehe~ There's still no sign of beast *snuggle~*"
Edge Gear: "But if the crystals continue to appear, the cities might be in peril."
Neptunio: "Hrmm... I see, I have a bad feeling about this, have you scanned the area for any signs of earthquakes?"
Cracker: "A-ah.. If you mean the possibility of Amon appearing below the ground, then don't worry... I've scanned the soil multiple times and there's no sign of it."
Neptunio: "Gotcha. Guess all we can really do now is wait for Amon to appear."
Neptune: "U-umm... guys...?"
Nepgear: "Uhehehehe~ Yeah... We'll just have to wait~ *SNUGGLeS~!*"
Neptune: "N-Neppu~!"
Neptunio: "Uggghh!!!!"
Shatana: "Ah! Nepgear! You're crushing daddy too!!!"
Nepgear: "G-goodness! I'm so sorry! Aww... I've just missed my sister so much..."
Neptune: "You miss me all the time... But you're aim is getting better..."
Shatana: "Geez... If you wanted to hug her, at least keep in mind that Daddy's connected to her okay~! (I do remember getting hugged all of a sudden before, even though no one was doing it to me, I guess it was her fault...)"
Neptunio: "Ugh.... Anyway, looks like, the only option for us is to scout the caverns ourselves..."
Ngine: "True... I guess we'll have to do that then, we can't really wait for too long, the crystals will eventually grow out of control."
Cracker: "Ahh... Then we better prepare... Let's call the last person who can counter the crystals."
Neptune: "Yeah, yeah! Got it, just a press of a button and..~"
ring* ring* ring~*
Narration
...While the group was continuing the meeting, there were two inquisitive girls listening on the talks of adults while hidden behind the door...
Ram: "Guguguguguuuu!! This is so not fair!"
Rom: "Uh-huh~ we want to help too~"
Ram: "They keep treating us like kids, we are CPU candidates for pete's sake you dummies!"
Rom: "Mmhm~ Maybe we can do something to prove that we can actually help."
Ram: "Oh! Good Idea Rom! But... What can we do...? It's gotta be something impressive."
Rom: "Well...~ They did say that they were going to shcout the caverns, maybe if we scout it first, they will see that we can be helpful~!"
Ram: "Nice! I like that plan! And it's actually "Scouting" Rom, but oh well, let's go grab our coats!"
Rom: "Kay~"
...The two were on a hurry to leave, unable to stand the unfairness of their treatment the duo set out to take action.
Shatana: "Hm?"
...Shatana noticed something in the premise, she sniffs out the air and noticed something strange...
Shatana: "This smell...Malice...?"
Cracker: "Malice?"
Shatana: "I'm not talking to you."
Cracker: "O-okay... Hrmm..."
...The Cracker quickly sent out small drones to recon the area...
Neptunio: "Shatana, what's going on?"
Shatana: "There's malice in the air, I can smell it..."
Neptune: "Smell it? Not feel? What are you, some kind of dog?"
Neptunio: "She does carry Atas' power within her, and Atas is a three headed wolf so that must be it."
Shatana: "Either way, it's really strong..."
Ngine: "Do you think it's in the Basilicom?"
Shatana: "Well... I can't really tell. But we had better raise the security patrols to make sure nothing bad happens."
Neptune: "So you have a great sense of smell eh... Can you sniff this out? It's the case to the game I lost, think you can find it?"
Edge gear: "Sis, is that really what you should be asking for now?"
Neptune: "Oh please, this is probably just a distraction for us to give the author an opportunity to create an event later."
Neptunio: "It scares me to think that you might actually be right."
Neptune: "I can be "left" too ya'know~! ;3"
...Silence...
Cracker: "Booooo..."
Neptune: "Oh come on!"
Plutia: "Hey there~"
...Meanwhile...
Plutia: "Wait a minute... That's all I get to say...?"
Neptune: "IT WAS A GOOD JOKE!"
>>>NO IT WAS NOT!<<<
...Meanwhile!
...The Two girls found themselves in the deep caverns...
Rom's POV
This place is creepy... It was dark and cold, but we have to prove ourselves!
Ram: "Come on Rom!"
Rom: "Wait for me~!"
Ram: "Hup!"
...Ram takes a small jump and enters the caverns... Just then there was a sudden surge of energy...
Rom: "Hey Ram...? Did you feel that?"
Ram: "Hm? If you mean the sense of power, then yeah! I can feel it!"
Rom: "Uhh... Okay...?"
...Ram's acting weird...
Rom: "Uuu~ Um... Ram?"
Ram: "Yeah?"
Rom: "I don't think this is a good Idea after all..."
Ram: "Oh don't be such a scaredy cat~"
...I don't know Ram...What is this feeling..? Wh-why can't I stop shaking...?
Rom: "Hey Ram~? Be honest here... Are you really not scared at all?"
Ram: "Now that you mention it, no... In fact, I feel stronger... Like I have this really strange feeling of power...hehe...Ehehehe....~"
Something's not right...
Rom: "Ram...?"
Ram: "Ahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Rom: "Eek! Hey... Back off..."
Ram: "What's wrong Rom...? Let's go~ Let's go find out what's inside these caverns..."
...There's something shining in her arm! Is that... The sigil of Amon? What's happening to her?
Rom: "Hey, Ram, I've.. I've changed my mind...This isn't a good Idea... Let's go back! Please! It's fine if we-"
Ram: "What do you mean "fine?"..."
Rom: "Eh..? Ram...?"
...Her tone changed... Almost warped even... There's something else taking over her body!
Ram: "Hehehe...Ehehehehehe...~"
Rom: "Ram! Stop making that face! This isn't fun!"
Ram: "Oh yeah? Then what is? Being treated like a kid? Like a useless piece of junk!? They look at us as if we were nothing more than weak children!"
Rom: "Ram!"
Ram: "I'm so sick of always waiting! Always in the back line! ALWAYS PROTECTED! I don't want that anymore! I can help! I CAN BE POWERFUL!!!"
Rom: "That's enough Ram!"
...I need to stop her and get her out of here! The moment we came, I've noticed Ram change, she's become more violent! It's these crystals, they are resonating with her.
Rom: "It's my fault... I shouldn't have suggested coming here... Ram, I will stop you myself!"
Ram: "Stop me...? You? Hehehehe... You'd rather hide in their shadows, how can you even stand against me when I'm this powerful?"
Rom: "Erk..."
...This isn't Ram anymore... She's something else... Something very evil...
Rom: "Just because I hide behind the others, doesn't mean I've become weak... I am strong... And I will prove that by stopping you!"
Ram: "Hehehehe... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! How laughable..."
Rom: "Tch... ICE COFFIN!!!"
Ram: "Roter Angriff..."
...Just as I send out a wave of ice, Ram transformed! But it wasn't HDD... Her hair extended and her eyes glowed like the sunset! It looked like fire was surrounding her, but it was colder than anything else!
The wave of Ice that I sent out was negated easily by the surge of red crystals so I had to jump and transform as well, I dropped my hat in the jump, but I'll grab that back later, I tried to fire an energy blast but the burst of energy was not enough to shatter the red crystals, so I had to fly to the ceiling to avoid it.
Ram: "What's wrong Rom!? Is that all you've got!?"
...Ram draws a crimson sword and ran up the walls, she kicks the wall and jumped towards me at an unprecedented speed!
W.Sister (Rom): "Ack!"
...She swung her sword downward and I block her attack with my staff, the attack was heavy! Really heavy! And I was sent down to the ground...
Luckily I recovered... But Ram wasn't done... She kicks the ceiling and started diving towards me...
W.Sister (Rom): "Eternal force Blizzard!"
Ram: "Gh!?"
...I plunge my staff into the ground summoning the powerful force of ice, Though the force didn't really stop Ram's descent, it at least slowed her down and as she got closer...
W. Sister (Rom): "Wake up RAM!"
Ram: "Kya!"
...I smacked her face with my staff... which led to her falling face first to the ground...
Ram: "Tch! Urk... Ggrrrrr!"
W. Sister (Rom): "Whoever you are...Let my sister go!"
Ram: "What are you talking about...? I am your sister!"
W. Sister (Rom): "No! Ram maybe a trouble maker, but she is sweet and loving! You... You're just out to gain power! You're hungry for more power!"
Ram: "Power will prove that we are capable of looking after ourselves! What's so wrong with that!?"
W.Sister (Rom): "With that kind of power you become distant from us, I realize that now... Power alone will never make you grow!"
Ram: "What do you know about growing up? You're just like me! HAA!"
W.Sister (Rom): "Eek!?"
...She disappeared! Where is she!?
I could feel a cold sweat slide down on my back as I anticipate the attack... When suddenly I sensed a murderous intent from behind me.
W.Sister (Rom): "Ei!"
...With all of my power I emitted a powerful ray of energy behind me, and sure enough there was Ram... But she wasn't harmed by the ray at all...
Ram: "Hehe..."
W.Sister (Rom): "Ram...?"
...She had a shield... The same as the crystals that now glowed around us...
Ram: "You're weak..."
W.Sister (Rom): "!!!"
...The whole world turned dark in an instant, I could feel myself slipping out of consciousness...
I... Had lost... I...failed...
Ram...I'm sorry...
I couldn't save you...
...Back in Lowee...
The group went out to different sections of the nation to check things out. with their ear pieces they report their findings.
Nepgear: "Station Clear."
Edge Gear: "Hostiles Negative."
Shatana: "The area looks secure."
Neptune: "hai! Hai! My sector is clear as well~"
Neptunio: "All clear here as well, Plutia?"
Plutia: "Zzzzz....Zzzzzz....Zzzzzz....."
Neptunio: "Umm...."
Shatana: "I checked her area Daddy, it's also clear."
Neptunio: "Good job Shatana, Ngine?"
Ngine: "It's quiet here, I think everything is- Ghu!!!"
Neptunio: "Ngine!?"
Shatana: "What's wrong!?"
Ngine: "I-It's not me... Cracker! CRACKER! Are you alright!?"
...No answer in the intercom...
Ngine: "Damn it! He's lost consciousness! <Come on! Read his mind! Where is he!?>"
...Ngine traces her connection back to the Cracker...
Ngine: "The Basilicom!"
...Everyone gathered back to the basilicom... And there they find...
Cracker: "Ghh....Haaa....haaa..."
...The Cracker sitting in a pool of his own blood... with Rom wrapped safely in his arms...
Ngine: "Oh no! Cracker! What happened!?"
..The Cracker regains consciousness
Cracker: "I got hit."
Neptune: "Oh no! What happened!?"
Cracker: "I just told you... I got hit!"
Nepgear: "She probably meant... how it happened..."
Edge Gear: "Hold still, while I patch you up."
Cracker: "Grhh!"
Shatana: "Rom's out cold as well. Just who or what did this to you?"
Cracker: "I'll... let Ngine...explain...I'm too... urk..."
Plutia: "Ohhh nooo~!!! Don't diee~!!!"
Ngine: "He's not dead Plutie, now let's see..."
Focussing her mind, Ngine finds out what happened.
Plutia: "Hrmm... Rom's fine, she's just sleeping. Poor thing~"
Shatana: "Not as poor as this guy... Geez... Look at that cut..."
Ngine: "We need to call Blanc..."
Neptune: "Uh-oh... Did we do a bad?"
Ngine: "technically... yes... But she is Ram's older sister so she needs to know...urgh..."
Neptune: "Whoa! You okay there cloney?"
Ngine: "The Cracker's... damage... It's too much...Argh! The pain... It's too much...!"
Neptunio: "You can rest... But before that... What happened to him?"
Ngine: "Ram... She's possessed by the malice... The Cracker's drones... found the twins in the caverns... He managed to save Rom just before Ram could-...ahh...."
Ngine faints due to pain...
Shatana: "He put himself in danger, to save Rom... We have to get Ram back... Let's move out."
Neptunio: "Agreed, Tell Blanc and Weiz to meet up at the caverns... Looks like The beast manifested within Ram this time..."
Neptune: "Okie Doki Doki~!"
Edge Gear: "That should stop the bleeding, but he needs proper healing."
Ngine: "I'll stay with him... Not like I have a choice really, I'll just scan his vitals and if possible I'll heal him and myself. We'll catch up later."
...The group contacted Blanc... They met with her in the caverns along with Luna and Weiz.
Luna: "Blanc, wait..."
Blanc: "Don't stop me..."
...Blanc moved towards Neptunio and grabbed him by the collar...
Blanc: "You guys had one job... To keep my sisters safe while I was out there fighting!"
Neptunio: "We apologize for our incompetence, we have nothing to say Blanc. But sorry."
Blanc: "Sorry's not going to cut it you asshole! If we don't get my sister back, I swear I will tear the living hell right out of you!"
Neptunio: "..."
Blanc: "Then again, I guess I'm at fault too... Damn it! I should have disciplined that brat more... Remind me to do that later."
Luna: "Sure..."
BANG!
...With a stomp of her foot the entire entire entrance to the cavern shook as if an earthquake had occurred... Blanc then stormed into the caverns...
Luna: "...She doesn't really mean it... She's just-"
Weiz: "Let's just focus on getting Ram back, come on, don't fall behind."
Neptunio: "I know..."
Shatana: "We should get moving. We don't wanna get left behind."
Plutia: "Puurruuuun~~ Blanny's really angry~ Is it weird that I find it cute~?"
Nepgear: "I know it's really scar- Wait... Did you say you found it cute?"
Plutia: "I diiid~ Ehehehe~ I kinda want to tease her to make her angrier~"
Edge Gear: "And We'll just leave it at that, let's go. (Goodness, she might be crazier than I initially thought.)"
...Neptune and Neptunio were the last ones to enter, Neptune was already heading in, but then stops to look at Neptunio.
Neptune: "Nio..?"
Neptunio: "..."
Neptune: "Hey!"
Neptunio: "...."
Neptune: "Wow... She really got to ya good huh. Hmm..."
...Neptunio was upset, he hated himself, why didn't he check on the twins immediately after Shatana mentioned the Malice...?
Neptune: "Mr. Neptunio~?"
Tap Tap!
Neptunio: "..."
No response...
Neptune: "Wake up Nio!"
SLAP!
Neptunio: "OW!"
Neptune: "Oof, that hurt...Anyway, Hey! It's Me Neppy! The CPU sent from Planeptune!"
Neptunio: "That reference is from a Lastation game, you're gonna get demonitized."
Neptune: "Oh don't sweat it I've got sponsors~ Anyway, you feeling okay? You kinda spaced out back there, hey, don't worry about it, we messed up sure, but all we gotta do is not mess up again, right?"
Neptunio: "I... I guess so."
Neptune: "Oh cheer up will ya? Even I'm getting blue here just looking at you."
Neptunio: "Sorry..."
Neptune: "Ah! Geez! Look at me!"
Grab!*
...Neptune grabbed Neptunio's face and pulled it towards her own, now they were staring at each others eyes...
Neptune: "Nio!"
Neptunio: "W-what?"
Neptune: "If you don't snap out of it... I'm going to kiss you!"
Neptunio: "Y-you?"
Neptune: "Think I can't do it?"
Neptunio: "...Hehe... Thanks goofball."
Neptune: "There's that smile! Now come on, let's get that little prankster back."
Neptunio: "Yeah!"
...And so together the both of them rejoined the group...
Deep into the dark caverns illuminated only by the faint glow of the red crystals... There was a sense of dread, a sense of terror that reverberates into their souls...
Blanc: "Hrm..."
Weiz: "Here..."
...Blanc and Weiz found the hats of the twins, they look at it for a moment...
Weiz: "We'll get her back don't worry."
Luna: "If she got hurt, I'm here to patch her up."
Blanc: "Thanks... Let's go."
There in the deepest part of caverns, waiting for them.... Was The Crimson glow of the CPU candidate Ram. Only...
Blanc: "There you are you twerp, what the hell have you put yourself into this time!?"
Ram: "Sis? Uhuhuhuhu~ It's you! See! I made it to the bottom of the cavern! The place was really packed with monsters, but I was strong enough to fight them all on my own."
Blanc: "Oh! is that so...!?"
...Ram's clothes were tattered, her coat was ripped in multiple places and her right arm had almost fused with the red crystal shield... but the most disturbing of all... Was the mountains of mutilated monsters that surrounded her... her blade is draped in red blood, a clear sign of her carnage against the creature that dwell in this place.
Blanc: "So? You think just because you killed, you're strong? TOO BAD BRAT! You're gonna get a time out once we get home!"
Ram: "T-time out...? Why...?"
...Something inside her stirred uncontrollably, like there was a switch that just got flicked on... Something ticked.. Something snapped!
Ram: "You're not even strong enough to face me..."
...Out of nowhere Ram lashes out with a grim smile on her face, she brandished her blade without a single care for anyone even herself...
Blanc: "gh! Damn!"
..Blanc summons her hammer and blocks one of Ram's attacks,
Ram: "Ahahahahahaha! What now sis!? Am I still too weak!? Too much of a child!? TELL ME!"
Blanc: "Oh you're a child alright... Answering with your tantrums... YOU'RE STILL A CHILD RAM!"
...Benevolent as ever, Blanc drops the hammer by smashing the earth beneath her... The impact caused a huge spire of rock to erect from the ground...
Ram: "How weak! AHahahaha! Why don't you go home sis~?"
Blanc: "Don't get cocky you brat!"
Nepgear: "My turn! Slash wave!"
...Nepgear then steps in and unleashed a wave of energy that raced towards Ram...
BANG!
Ram: "Oh sit down Nepgear!"
...Ram rushed forward with her crystal sword in hand, she aims to stab Nepgear with her weapon but as she thrusts out her sword...
CLANG!
Neptune: "Nuh-uh~ Rammy-roo~ You ain't hittin Nep Jr. with me around!"
Nepgear: "Ahhh! Sis! I love you~!!!"
Snuggles~!!!!
Neptune: "Neppu!!! Not really the time sis!!!"
Ram: "Tch! Are you making a fool out of me! Hah!"
...Irritated by the two's actions, Ram goes in to attack again, only to be interfered by...
CRANK!
Ram: "Angh!"
Iris Heart: "Uhuhuhu~"
...Iris Heart had grabbed her arm and twisted it, delivering an unpleasant feeling that crawled up Ram's arm...
Ram: "Plutia!?"
Iris Heart: "Little Ram... Why have you gotten so naughty...?"
Ram: "Mind your own business! Hrmph!"
Iris Heart: "Hmph!"
...After breaking free Ram and Iris Heart crossed blades, sparks fly as their swords grind against each other.
Iris Heart: "I've got ya...~"
Ram: "Ack!"
...With a press of a button Iris Heart's Serpent blade coiled around Ram... Taking the advantage, Neptunio jumps and then dive bombs towards Ram...
Neptunio: "Give up!"
Ram: "Never!"
Iris Heart: "Oh..?"
...Ram exerts more power and breaks free from the coils and raised her shield towards Neptunio, the Dimension Tripper's great sword clashed with the CPU candidate's shield, the shield cracked but it didn't break entirely, Ram then swung her sword down on Neptunio's greatsword, disarming him in the process, she then proceeds to kick him back.
Neptunio: "Kh!"
Ram: "Die!"
...Ram lunges at the downed Neptunio, but jusr before her attack could connect...
Edge Gear: "For goodness sake Ram! Open your eyes!"
...Edge gear stepped in and summoned Ram's own staff to erect a frozen barrier, after doing so she summons her sister's great sword and proceeded to smash down on Ram who took the attack with her shield, which she then immediately charges at Edge gear, her shield knocks the great sword away with one bash, she then proceeds to punch with her shield, Edge Gear tries to meet the attack with her own saber's Panzer Blade skill... But...
BANG!!!
Edge Gear: "Aahhhh!!!"
Everyone else: "Ahhhhhhh!!!!"
...The shield shattered and the pieces acted as shrapnel that hurt not only Edge Gear but everyone else around including Ram herself...
Luna: "Healing snow!!!"
...Luna instantly casts her spell to heal everyone up... This was an endless battle... They keep getting hurt, and then healed up, and then hurt, and the healed again...
Ram: "Ahahahahaha! Yes! More! SHOW ME MORE POWER!!!!"
Shatana: "Sit down..."
Ram: "Huh!?"
CRASSSHHH!!!!
...Ram was lost in ecstasy the feeling of overwhelming her foes, proving her strength, but then, the embodiment of limitless power appeared before a being unlike any other, with the power to eradicate anything with one blow...
...Terrified by this, Ram erected the strongest crystal wall she could make... but it didn't matter with a single flash of red blazing light, and a single attack the wall she erected was pulverized...
Shatana: "Give it up Ram... This isn't like you."
Ram: "Tch... Shut up... You don't even know what it's like... To be treated like a baggage! to be treated as if you were useless!"
Shatana: "That's not true! I know just how painful it is to feel so powerless! To be in the middle of having a war inside yourself! You're just confused, influenced by the intoxicating power the malice has granted you... But Ram... You know what?"
Ram: "What!?"
Shatana: "That's not true power... Strength alone, will never lead you to your goals... And... so is lying to yourself..."
Ram: "...What do you mean...?"
Shatana: "You don't really want to prove your power, you've already done that a long time ago... It's not really power your after, its the recognition of your sister and everyone else that you're after."
Ram: "...."
Shatana: "Please Ram... Stop this now, or you'll regret it all..."
Ram: "!!!"
...Finally a window of opportunity appears, a light of hope appeared in Ram's eyes...
Ram: "Wh-what was I doing...? Ah! Rom... Sis!"
Blanc: "Ram... geez, you little brat..."
Ram: "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to...*hic~"
...Tears started rolling down her cheeks, she drops the red crystal sword as she looks at her blood stained hands... Blanc approached her sister and returns her hat, she crouched down to look at her sister in the eyes...
Thwack.
Ram: "Auu~! Ah!?"
...A gentle slap, and then it was followed by a big warm embrace...
Blanc: "You idiot! I though I told you to never, NEVER EVER, put yourself in danger! You promised me Ram! You promised me to never endanger yourselves!"
Ram: "Uuu...~ I'm Sorry! Uwaaaaaahhhh~~~!!! AAAAHHHHH!!!! Ahhaaaaaaaa~~!!!"
Blanc: "Sorry's not gonna cut it this time brat... You're getting a spanking, and you will receive it alright!"
Ram: "Yes... Yes...! Uuu....~ Waaaaaahhhhhh!!!"
...Blanc continues to hold her sister close...
Luna: "Whew...~"
Neptune: "That's it... Bring it in everybody~!"
Blanc: "I will punch you."
Neptune: "Okay~ Move out everybody~"
Blanc: "Shatana... thanks..."
Shatana: "I only did what I had to do, and Blanc... Please, find it in your heart to forgive daddy."
Blanc: "...Hrmm....Ahh Crap... If there's anything I've learned today, is that everyone, deserves a second chance."
Shatana: "Thanks."
Blanc: "But... Listen up asshole."
Neptunio: "Yes!?"
Blanc: "Put someone in danger again and I swear, I'll break you."
Neptunio: "Of course. <OH MY GOD!!! SHE'S SERIOUS!!!!>"
...However... While everyone was having their hopes lifted, someone from the dark void, was feeling a little greedy...
"...I will snuff out that light of yours..."
Ram: "huh!? Angh! AHHHHH!!!!!"
Blanc: "Ram!? What's wrong!?"
Ram: "Sis! Everyone! RUN!!"
...The sigil on her arm glowed brighter and brighter as she becomes completely covered in a dark miasma...
Blanc: "Damn it! What's going on!"
Weiz: "Blanc! Watch out!"
...A sudden growth of red crystals emerged from where Blanc and Ram were, Weiz pulled Blanc back on time and managed to erect a reflector as well...
The crystals that dared to touch his reflector were bounced off effortlessly...
...The dark miasma began to grow as it absorbed the light in the red Crystals around it...
The cavern began to shake, debris started falling from the ceiling...
Neptune: "Guys! This cave is gonna collapse soon!"
Edge gear: "Hurry! Everyone outside!"
Blanc: "No... Ram!"
Weiz: "Blanc we need to go now!"
While everyone was evacuating Shatana stayed...
Shatana: "hrmm..."
Neptunio: "Shatana...?"
Shatana: "I'll see you all later, wish me luck daddy."
Neptunio: "SHATANA!!!"
...Shatana jumps into the dark miasma, with her gauntlet equipped...
...Meanwhile outside the caverns...
...The rumbling of the earth continued, when Ngine, the Cracker and Rom arrived at the place, the cavern was already on a very unstable state...
Ngine: "Think they got Ram back?"
Cracker: "Don't know, but with this rumbling? I doubt it."
Rom: "Oh no... Ram..."
Cracker: "S-sorry... Don't worry, I'm sure she's okay."
And...
Neptune: "Mission failed! We'll get her next time!!!!"
Rom: "Awawawawawawaw...~!"
Ngine: "Shut up! you goofball!'
Bonk!
Neptune: "Nepu~!"
Cracker: "What happened!?"
Luna: "It's Ram! She's..."
...Just as Luna points to the Carvern... A Huge monster of brute strength broke through the ceiling of the caverns, priding on its size, it looks down on the group with a menacing glare...
Neptunio: "Whoa..."
Weiz: "Amon..."
Amon: "...hrrr... RAAAHAHHHHHH!!!!!"
...His roar echoes in the frozen land, with a crimson glow in his eyes, and with his monstrous size, he delivers a very commanding aura....
Luna: "He's bigger than before..."
Blanc: "What about Ram? Where is she?"
Neptunio: "She's inside that monster... along with Shatana."
Neptune: "What!? Red is in that thing!? Boy... I wonder what's inside it?"
Cracker: "...Nothingness, it's the same void where Neptunio and I were held captive by the Malice... The beast of sins... Baphomet..."
Nepgear: "Goodness, how are we gonna get them back?"
Edge Gear: "There must be a way..."
Neptune: "Oh don't kick yourself over the head gears, we know what to do."
Blanc: "You do?"
Neptune: "Of course!"
Weiz: "Care to explain?"
Neptune: "We beat him up!"
Luna: "...That's...Great...?"
Neptune: "No really we just beat him up."
Blanc: "How the hell is that gonna get my sister back!?"
Ngine: "We'll only weaken him, if we do that, its hold on Shatana and Ram will loosen and hopefully they will be able to escape the Malice's grasp."
Blanc: "I see... Then what are we waiting for?"
Weiz: "Fighting Amon... Hehe... This is kinda exciting... Are you okay to fight Luna?"
Luna: "Not like we have a choice really, Ngine? Cracker? Are you doing well?"
Ngine: "Don't worry about us, we're not falling here."
Cracker: "As long as were together, we won't fall."
Nepgear: "I may not be able to break those crystals, but I'll give it my all."
Edge Gear: "Think we can handle him?"
Iris Heart: "Well you know what they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall, so yes Edgy darling we can take him."
Rom: "Ram... Just wait for us, we're here to save you."
Ngine: "So how exactly do we beat this guy?"
Weiz: "Simple, Amon has a centralized core in his chest, break it and his done."
Luna: "There are layers in this chest of his, it will require more energy than before due to the change in his body."
...Surrounding the beast were smaller monsters, all infected by malice...
Cracker: "Ngine and I will take care of those punks, you guys weaken the big boss, don't kill just yet though."
Neptunio: "Alright...Well Neptune Lead the charge."
Neptune: "With pleasure~ Everyone! Execute operation: Kick Ass!"
Everyone else: "(=_=')"
Neptune: "Uhh, guys?"
Neptunio: "Don't curse Neptune, it's so not you."
Neptune: "Well EXCUSE ME!"
...While the two argued a huge crimson club starts falling towards them... Amon had began his assault, as his club reached the ground, red crystals began to emerge, luckily everyone managed to get out of the way... The CPUs go HDD and began their counter attack.
Purple Heart: "I'm taking the first attack! Here goes! Neptune Break!!!"
...Neptune lunges a short distance while aiming for the beast's legs, after delivering multiple deadly slashes on the leg she dives down to cause a huge explosion on the beast's right leg breaking its balance...
Purple Heart: "Nepgear, your turn!"
Purple Sister: "Yes!"
...Neptune gives her sister a boost, launching her towards the falling giant...
Amon: "Graah! haaa!!!"
Purple Sister: "Ha! Sei!"
...The beast retaliates by throwing numerous crystals at Nepgear, to which she nimbly dodged and retaliated with her own attack.
Purple Sister: "Celestial Severance!"
Amon: "Graaaahhh!!!"
...Nepgear clashed with the beast's crimson club, the MPBL couldn't cut through the crystal based weapon, however, Nepgear simply used the momentum of the club to carry her downward, her aim was fine and true, she was going for the beast's face, specifically its eyes...
Nepgear: "Haaa!!!!"
...With a single slash, followed by 3 snipe shots, she then proceeds to fire a powerful charged shot on the monster's eyes, leaving it blind...
Amon: "RAGHHHHH!!!!"
...The beast was in pain, but the battle was far from over.
Meanwhile
???
Shatana's POV
"...Urgh... Ah! Where am I...?"
???: "My god... Can you all please stop getting captured!?"
"Who are you?"
???: "That doesn't matter right now! what I want to know is, why do you always have to get caught in every encounter!?"
"...I didn't really get caught...I kinda just jumped in..."
???: "Oh my goodness... Please tell me you're joking."
"...No...I'm serious actually, I'm looking for Ram."
???: "Ram? The troublemaker?"
"...Yeah, she's actually the reason why I jumped in, I need to save her."
???: "Haaa... She's over there..."
...The lady points to the bottom... Wait...
"She's... down there...?"
???: "Yup... I tried to catch her, but the tendrils caught me, I couldn't move for a moment and when I got free, you came dropping in."
"...Umm... Will you help me?"
???: "Of course! Just relay this message to the people out there."
"What is it...?"
Back in the Cavern Ruins
Despite being blinded, the beast was calm still growling but his breathing was calm... His ears twitched to every single sound and he constantly sniffs his surroundings as well...
Purple Heart: "Here I come!"
...Neptune attempts to strike the beast from behind, but the brute immediately turned with its eyes closed, it stood up from its downed state and swung its club at the Goddess.
Purple Heart: "Oh no!"
Luna: "Aura Sphere!"
...Luna levitates to Neptune and summons a Prism Orb that collided with the incoming attack. The orb negated the attack and repelled the club, however, the beast was not done, he may have lost his weapon but his hand was still free and he grabbed Luna...
Luna: "Kh!"
Weiz: "Oh no you don't you son of a bitch!"
Purple Heart: "Let her go!"
...While Neptune flew high into the air Weiz climbed to the monster's arm...
Weiz: "You're arms are you're main source of damage right? Well let's see you do damage without them! Gefrorene Beerdigung!"
...Slaming the pommel of his battle axe into the beast's arm, caused its joints freeze up, with it's current state, it has now become brittle...
Weiz: "Do it Neptune!"
Purple Heart: "Delta Slash!"
...With swings from her great sword, Two waves of energy cracked the arm of the beast, with one final slash, she releases a huge amount of energy which completely breaks the arm apart.
Amon: "Graaaaaaa!!!!"
Weiz: "Luna!"
Luna: "Weizy~!"
...Weiz caught Luna in mid-air and the couple lands safely on the ground...
Violet Heart: "We need to bring him down... Alright... Let's do it Plutia.
Iris Heart: "Right behind you little Edgy~"
...Plutia and Edge gear work in tandem to bring the beast down...
Iris Heart: "Hmhmhmhmh~ You know what? I actually like you~ Sooo..."
...Plutia summons an enormous ball of plasma, she flips backwards moving behind the ball of energy and kicks it downward towards the beast...
Amon: "Hrrng!!"
...The monster tried to catch the plasma ball, but as soon as his one remaining hand touched the ball, his body was then assaulted by a huge amount of electrical damage, paralyzing him.
Violet Heart: "This is where you fall!"
...Edge gear dashed forward, first she draws her MPBL to blast the beast's chest open... Next she draws out Noire's Claymore and begins a series of combos on the exposed part ending with a forward flip to a downward cut...
Amon: "Raaaggghhhh!!!!"
...Amon recovered from the paralysis and tried to grab Edge gear...
Iris Heart: "Ah-ah-ah...~ chu <3~!"
...Iris heart, with a flying kiss, fires 4 intense lasers at the monster's reaching hand preventing him from catching Edge Gear. Taking this oppurtunity, Edge Gear summoned Rom and Ram's wands, with Ram's wand she summons three blazing orbs that revolved around her from top to bottom, and with Rom's wand, she summons a freezing orb that revolved from left to right... These orbs damaged the monster's chest intensely...
Violet Heart: "Tch!"
...The monster covered its chest to protect the exposed part...
Violet Heart: "In the name of Gamindustri, YOU WILL FALL!!!!"
..She summons Vert's great spear and drills through the think armor of the monster's hand, the crystal began to crack, she then summoned Uni's carbine and fired multiple explosive shots on the weakened armor, finally to break open the armor, she busts out her sister's Great Sword, and with one single slash... she breaks the armored hand, revealing the weakened chest... The beasts fall... But it's still willing to fight...
Violet Heart: "It's still not weak enough!"
White Sister (Rom): "Freeze in place!"
...With her wand she froze the beast in place, she then proceeds to focus her energy and raised her wand up to the sky...
White Sister (Rom): "Please... Just give up... And give me back my sister! NORTHERN CROSS!!!"
...With a shout, Rom drops a four orbs around that formed cross of energy on the beast...
Amon: "AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
...The Beast was in pain...
White Sister (Rom): "Please give up..."
Amon: "NEVER!!!!"
White Sister (Rom): "...!!!... SOUTHERN CROSS!!!"
...She drops another set of orbs which formed a cross of energy on the beast doubling the damage...
Amon: "Pitiful... You're... weak!"
Neptunio: "Speak for yourself! Neptune!"
Purple Heart: "Here!"
...Neptune took Neptunio's hand and launched him towards the beast...
Neptunio: "I hope you remember this... Cause this is one of the things that I have done that I will never forget!"
Amon: "DO YOU WORST!"
Neptunio: "ANOTHER HEAVEN!!!!"
...Bringing his great sword to the limits Neptunio charged up his blade with the huge amount of residual energy in the vicinity... These energies came from both the beast and all of the attacks that everyone had just did... The residue of their power gathered into his blade... And with it he dives towards the chest and breaks 4 layers of solid crystal...
Amon: "Arrrrraaaaaaggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
...One final thick layer remained...
Neptunio: "Tch... It's not enough!"
Weiz: "Leave it to us!"
Blanc: "We'll finish this..."
Luna: "Together now..."
...Luna gathers the snow in the area, she hardens all of them into hail, then she applies a frost debuff on the beasts chests...
Amon: "Weiz... Luna..."
Luna: "Amon! You're free from the Malice's hold!"
Weiz: "Sorry I have to do this."
Amon: "Hehehe... Oh don't worry, It's not like I'm gonna die or anything."
Weiz: "Well I guess so... Here we are again old man..."
Amon: "Hrm... You've grown strong Weiz..."
Weiz: "Not just me..."
Amon: "Haha... well yes... Now then... Expose my core! Before the bastard takes over again!"
Weiz: "Of course... Blanc...?"
Blanc: "SOUL IMPORT"
...They connect... And with a single chant...
Blanc / Weiz: "Letzeste... STARDUST!!!"
Amon: "Kh! Guhaaaaaa!!!!"
...Weiz and Blanc delivers a shattering strike into the thick layer of crystal on the beast's chest the single strike cracked the layer, but what really broke it open, was the countless balls of hail that continually struck the chest until it was open.
Blanc: "Bring my sister back... Shatana..."
???
Shatana's POV
???: "Tell me are you willing to sacrifice your life for the life of another."
"...To be honest... No..."
???: "Then why did you bother coming here?"
"...Because... Ram is a precious child, she is Blanc's beloved sister, her anger towards daddy is because we lost Ram, I know she said she was going to forgive daddy, but I just want to make sure that Ram is safe... That way Blanc will calm down and...-"
???: "Is that really it...?"
"...What else could there be?"
???: "Let's say you do save Ram, and you return her to her sister and Blanc forgives Neptunio completely... It all looks so nice and tied up in a cute little bow... But I ask you... What do you get from this?"
"...What...?"
???: "You're not a Machine Shatana, you're just as selfish as any normal person... Some may say that selfishness is something very undesirable... But the way I see it, complete selflessness if just as evil..."
"...I don't get it..."
???: "Every action has a goal that will always, ALWAYS benefit the individual who s doing it unless they are willing to give up their life... No matter how deep or how shallow it maybe, unless it's something that you need to give up your life to, there is always something that you are aiming to gain... So what is it Shatana?"
"...I... Want... I want someone to... hold me... someone to tell me I did a good job... Someone to... appreciate the things I've done..."
???: "Well, well... You're just a child then."
"...I know..."
???: "Oh don't be sad, it's charming, keep that charm Shatana, he'll notice you."
"O///O! I mean- It's not like that! I just-!"
???: "Okay, okay, stop blushing, come on, it looks like the Baphomet's hold has weakened... Let's go get Ram."
"...R-right... hey, you must be the lady that Zeb met right?"
???: "Yeah, that I am."
...What was her name again? I forgot I'll ask daddy later.
...We went to the deep void... and in there was a sleeping Ram.
???: "Go on Take her now and follow the light."
...The lady extended her hands and from it a bright ray of light opened some sort of door way...
<<<YOU WILL NOT LEAVE!>>>
...What was that!? A dark menacing voice... so cold... so cruel...
???: "HURRY! While I hold him off!"
"Yes!"
<<<Woman... you will not hinder me this time!>>>
???: "I will... and ALWAYS!"
...The lady raised her hand once again... and light appeared from it... It was stopping something... And for a brief moment I thought I saw it's face...
"...SET US FREE!!!!"
...I summoned my gauntlet and boosted towards the doorway
Back in The Cavern Ruins
The core exposed and only one more hit to start the sealing everyone was on edge...
Neptunio: "Come on... Shatana..."
Cracker: "Area secured, how's it going?"
Ngine: "Not good, she's still not coming out."
Neptune: "You just gotta breathe! Hii-Hii-Fuu~!"
Blanc: "No one's giving birth you dumb ass!"
Luna: "Hey! Look!"
...From the core, there was a glimmer of light...
Neptunio: "Prepare the Heretic!"
Weiz: "On it!"
...With a few more seconds, the glimmer started to shine... And the finally
CRACK!
...The core cracked open... and from it...
POP!
Neptune: "Okay... SERIOUSLY!? That can't be the right sound effect!"
...Shatana and Ram appeared...
Blanc: "Ram! Oh my god Ram! Are you okay!?"
...Blanc immediately holds her sister in her arms... Tears clearly falling from her eyes.
Rom: "Sis... Is Ram okay?"
Blanc: "I don't know... but she's breathing...Ram...? Please wake up?"
Ram: "Mmm... What? I'm still sleepy..."
Blanc: "Ram!?"
Weiz: "Oh thank goodness..."
Nepgear: "She's alright..!"
Luna: "I'll check her just in case."
Ngine: "I'll do the same."
Neptunio: "We'll seal the beast in the Heretic for now."
Cracker: "Take as much time as you can."
...While the group relaxed and the beast was being sealed, they enjoy the moment of peace that they just got...
Neptune : "Hey there Red, not too shabby."
Shatana: "hehe... yeah, but it's all thanks to that lady though."
Neptune: "Ezekiel huh... I kinda wanna meet her."
Shatana: "So that's her name...wait, I knew that, why couldn't I think of it in there?"
Edge gear: "Well at least were all safe now..."
<<<Don't be so sure...>>>
Everyone: "!!??"
...The carcass of the beast was surrounded by a dark miasma, just like what happened to Eithan the body of the beast became possessed by the Beast of Malice...
Baphomet: "...Yet again... You defy me..."
Neptunio: "Baphomet..."
Baphomet: "You knew far too well the consequences of your actions..."
Cracker: "We are free from you, you will no longer have control over us!"
Neptunio: "We will be free from this patch-like world and tomorrow WILL come for us!"
Baphomet: "Tomorrow...? Ahahahahhaha... There is no tomorrow for you Azazel..."
Neptunio: "..."
Cracker: "YES THERE IS!"
Neptunio: "...Cracker..."
Cracker: "I know now, without a doubt that fate is never written in stone! The future is just as uncertain as it was before, but deep down I know, we are on a path to freedom, no more pain, no more regrets, Far from your devious hands..."
Neptunio: "He's right... There is a future for us! But not with you... You will fall Baphomet, I- no... WE will make sure of it!"
Baphomet: "Do you actually believe that you will succeed...!?"
... The carcass picked up the crimson club that Amon dropped earlier with it's damaged hand... And attempted to smash Neptunio...
Shatana: "Hrngh!"
...With a single grunt and a swift punch, the club cracked and then turned to powder after Shatana pulverized it.
Shatana: "Try that shit again... And you're face will be next..."
Baphomet: "You're but a fragment of me... How could you betray what you are!?"
Shatana: "I haven't done any of the sort... Though, I will admit that I was astray before, but I've learned, as stupid as I am, as dumb and as clueless as I am, I have learned that I have a choice, and this is the result of that choice, I may be a part of you, but not anymore, I choose to stand with the people that I love. And If I have to give up my life to keep them safe! I will do so."
Baphomet: "Hrr... Big words for fragment... I will have all of you yet."
...The miasma consumed the carcass and then proceeded to disappear...
Plutia: "Good Job Shatany~"
Shatana: "Eh?"
Neptune: "Yeah, you were awesome back there! (I'm still keeping the Main Protagonist title though.)"
Ngine: "Just take the praise Shatana, these guys won't stop until you do."
Shatana: "O-okay...?"
Neptunio: "Shatana?"
Shatana: "D-Daddy!?"
Neptunio: "Thanks for saving me... You looked cool back there."
Hugs*
...The Boy's words echoed in her head, his words of thanks, his appreciation, his warm embrace, it enveloped her entire body and soul and- There she goes...
Shatana: "Kyuuuuuuu~~~~ *plop!"
Neptunio: "Whoa! Hey! What happened!?"
Neptune: "Nio!? What did you do!? Did you suck her soul out!?"
Plutia: "Purrruuuuuuunnnn~~~!!!!"
Nepgear: "Goodness! She's really heating up! Someone help!"
Neptunio: "I'll carry her back let's go!"
Neptune: "And I'll carry- Whoa!"
Nepgear: "I'm Carrying sis! YAAY~!!!"
Neptune: "Nepu!!!!"
On the other side
Cracker: "Huh... Well, even I can tell what's going on here."
Ngine: "What do you think will happen if they end up together?"
Cracker: "I doubt it, these cliches often end up with the guy choosing someone else entirely."
Ngine: "Oh... Really?"
Cracker: "Yeah, kinda like what happened to that Subaru guy, there was an obvious chick hungry for him but he went for Emilia instead."
Ngine: "I see... *Steps away from Cracker."
Cracker: "Hm? What are you doing?"
Ngine: "I'm just trying to keep a certain distance between us."
Cracker: "Why?"
Ngine: "Because! Umm... I don't wanna be that cliche chick who gets dumped in the end."
Cracker: "Oh..! Umm... It's fine being close with me you know."
Ngine: "Why is that?"
Cracker: "Well... (I get lonely when you're not near.)"
Ngine: "O///O!"
Cracker: "-///-..."
Ngine: "Whew~ Feeling kinda hot here."
Cracker: "Ya havin a fever, how about you get on my back and rest, I'll carry you on the way home."
Ngine: "Sure, that sounds great."
Meanwhile...
Weiz: "Here, take my coat, she's probably cold."
Blanc: "Thanks."
Luna: "She's fine now... Her temperature is a bit high, but with rest she'll recover."
Rom: "Hauu... I can't find my hat...."
Edge Gear: "Here ya go."
Rom: "Thank you~ Miss Black Nepgear~"
Edge Gear: "Sure. (B-black Nepgear?)"
Blanc: "Hey! You took that out from my inventory"
Edge Gear: "Sorry... She's been looking around for it, so I thought I'd just give it to her."
Luna: "We should get going, it's been a long day, we could all use a rest."
Weiz: "I'll carry Ram for you Blanc."
Blanc: "Oh don't worry, I'm her sister, I'll carry her instead."
Luna: "You can carry me Weizy~"
Weiz: "Anytime my love!"
Blanc: "*irritated...!"
Rom: "Miss Black Nepgear~?"
Edge gear: "Just call me Edge gear please, that name just really sounds so wrong in more ways than one."
Rom: "Okay~ so, Miss Edge Gear? Can you carry me please~? My feet hurt..."
Edge gear: "Of Course, hop on."
Rom: "Yay~!"
...And with that, the group returned to basilicom, with one carrying someone else... With the beast of Greed now secured... The group finally gets to relax for a bit...
One last fallen beast... Just one more... But where it will appear is still a mystery...
Author's Notes
Ahhhhhhh!!! FINALLY! HELL YEAH! BABY! Got it done! How long did it take me this time!?
...Oh...umm.... No comment >.>
Anyway, How's it going guys, Hope you enjoyed this chapter just as much as I enjoyed writing it, It's 10:48 PM now that I've finished this, and I wanted to finish it earlier, but...
THIS IS A LEGIT REASON...
WATTPAD Crashed on me! I know! "Wow! What an excuse blame the site."
But it's true! The site crashed multiple times on me and I just lose progress after progress even though I keep saving it T^T almost had to report it...
But oh well... enough of that.
Point is, I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I'm happy to write with Shatana in the Chapter again, I love the girl ^^, and I hope you do too.
Anyway, if you enjoyed this chapter, Please leave an up vote, and also please spread the Nep love all over the world, spread the Neppiness and I will see you all in the next chapter.
(Or in the comments :3)