The girls watched Terra's memory on a screen above him, watching from his point of view racing to be a big hovercraft on the edge of Tari. At the front was his two friends Emily and Lauren "there you are, come on quick get aboard" Terra got onto the craft where his two friends sighed in relief, Emily speaking first "Thank goodness...we're all together"
"Only a few minutes and we'll all be in safety" said Lauren while an explosion sounded behind them, turning them to the destroying town, people scattering about in panic
"In the end...we just couldn't save it" said Terra regrettably "We...did all we could"
"Everything tried to stop us" said Emily "And we came so close too" Terra held his hand, which glowed blue while the engine roared to life "Well we're off now, it's time to flee this town"
As Terra looked to what was left of the town, people still fleeing to safety as buildings collapsed he sighed deeply "Emily...Lauren, sorry but...I'm staying here"
"What!?" exclaimed Lauren
"There's a chance the town can be saved, if I take the Soul Ascension project" he turned to them the look of worry on their faces "I've being thinking and thinking...and even if this town can't be saved, I'd be guilty for the rest of my life"
"Terra...Terra look just...come with us" said Emily pleading "You...you can't do anything"
"Maybe not but...I...I want to try"
Terra turned to them "Emily...Lauren, this could the final time...we ever meet you know? It's being...a lot of fun" the hovercraft began to move
"Terra...no wait I'll come with you" said Lauren
"No don't. Compared to me...you have families down there waiting for you. My home is here, even if a mess so just...promise me one thing"
"What's that?" asked Emily
"Just...try to have a happier life than we've had" as the Hovercraft moved, Terra jumped off, onto the land, before it flew off into the distance. Terra waved it goodbye, until it vanished from view, and ran as fast as he could.
Fierce shakes began to rupture the world, people running and fleeing for any mode of transport, as Terra made it to the facility "Alexander...Alexander! Where are you?" the place was empty but to his surprise
"Huh, huh who's there?" Alexander came out, Terra running to him "What the!? What are you doing here!?"
"The same question can be ask of you...whoa!" he near fell over to the next Quake
"I've...decided to go down with the ship. I'm storing all our research into data for maybe future sources to find...and learn, but nevermind me what about you? You should be come?"
"Alexander...use the Soul Ascension Project on me!"
Alexander looked in shock "Please...I'm asking you" said Terra "use the project on me!"
"What...but...you're not...ahh" Alexander fell to his bottom from the next quake "But you're not 100% ready yet"
"Well...I think at this point" Terra gesturing outside "Neither of us have anything to lose. Look I missed the last shuttle and I can't leave even if I wanted to plus...I'd like to know I really did all I could"
"I...I understand but this...won't be pleasant. Now let's hurry"
Alexander took Terra to a room with a big white chair "Now then...be prepared for this" he said "Cassidy, the last girl who took this, complained of severe burning when she was subjected to this. It's here I used this Gem" he took the same gem Affimojas had "It's a weakening gem, it'll hurt to a degree but it'll weaken you like an anaesthetic"
"Just...do it Doctor" said Terra to which Alexander did bind his arms, and applied the Gem first.
The Gem shone a red light, which burnt Terra's body but drastically weakened him and made him sleepy. It was then Alexander brought forth...a blue crystal but sleek and smooth like a teardrop which he pushed into Terra's body. The video showed Terra calling out a bit, a blue light engulfing the area...before a loud explosion sounded, the video going blank.
Though nothing was on screen, static could be seen "Hey...hey...hey...Sil...Silver, Silver"
"Silver!?" Nepgear remarked as the memory screen showed Terra hardly opening his eyes to see a fuzzy Alexander
"You're...awake and you survived with...no corruption you made and...ah!" a bigger explosion sounded and now a quake was constant
"WARNING, WARNING. TARI DESCENT RAPIDLY INCREASING. PLEASE EVACUATE NOW, WARNING, WARNING"
Alexander heard the blaring alarms, looking round as Terra faded...before opening his eyes again, as Alexander dragged Terra along "Hang in there Silver...after everything you did, I won't you die here" the screen went black once more, and then an image showed Terra opening his eyes to Alexander who was typing madly away "Come on, come on hang in there"
Alexander panicked as the rumbling got worse. He turned to Terra and sadly sighed "I'm sorry about this...Silver, after everything you did and were put through...it seems it was all for naught. You did it though...you really did. You were JUST compatible with the project. No corruption in sight...but sadly your body needs times...which we don't have"
A Shush sound followed in the background, Alexander Sighing "Well there's nothing that can be done, but I refuse to let you die not after coming this far" Terra was lifted up to see an Open capsule...and within was a busty girl of red hair but blonde highlights in a simple grey suit. The girl weakly opened her eyes
"Doc...Doctor?"
"I...I kept my promise to you...Captain to see you off. The town is fallen. I'm sorry"
"It's...it's okay and...wait is that?" she looked to Terra, the screen showing he could hardly stay conscious, voices now more predominant
"After everything...he chose to stay behind. The project worked...but sadly it's too late. You two...are all I can save" after some shuffling, Terra's view showed him being spun around, facing Alexander while two arms wrapped around his front.
Terra eyes could barely be called open "Silver...and Tara Yoshino, forgive me and these stupid people" said Alexander through the glass
"Wait...Tara, as if...Terra's big sis Tara?" asked Nisa confused while a very final image showed Terra looking at the glass that enclosed on him, his reflection in it and Tara above him in a simple dress, smiling happily
"I can't be certain what will happen...but...good luck to you both" and with these words the memory died.
As the screen showed Static, the girls look on and between each other while it came to one's attention, particularly Uni "Terra...hey look" tears were falling down his unconscious face, while a dark vapour ebbed from his body
"He's...he's crying" said IF while Compa wiped his tears with an hanky
"It looks like...there's still more to go" said Uzume now human form "But it seems Terra's memory really was tempered with, and no doubt by that dark me"
"Terra...tried all he could to save Tari" said Nepgear depressed "he wasn't forced to be a CPU, he chose to do it on his own"
"And that his sister" said Uni "Turned out to his be Captain from his group" it was then another image appeared but it was silent.
Terra looked to be in his apartment room, playing a video game madly "He looks pretty engaged doesn't he?" asked B-Sha "Whatever he's playing he's doing it furiously" after a few minutes, the game stopped and the image showed Terra crawling to an orange cube
"Wait, wait...that's the console" said Nepgear "The same one back in Planeptune, the one we...saved?" she saw Uzume stare at the console herself, and more so as Terra turned left and saw...Uzume in shot. Uzume was red-haired, bright and energetic, jabbing Terra and even play-fighting.
Uzume looked on, her expression a mix of sadness but relief "It seems...Terra and I do have some history after all"
"It seems so" Said Umio smiling "Though looking at this, it seems you were good friends with one another"
"Yeah it seems so...but" it was then Uzume clenched her hand tightly
"Uzume?"
"Don't mind me...honestly don't mind me" the screen then faded and the screen vanished from view.
Terra came around, blue eyes once again, and saw the world and people around him...he saw some worry and relief in their voices "Terra, Terra hey" Compa said to his side "Come on up" he even received a hand from Uzume who helped him rise to his feet "How are you feeling?"
"Terra...you okay?" asked Uzume but Terra didn't answer as he walked just a little away, looking out onto the ruined world.
The girls were a little unsure of how to approach as Terra just silently looked on "Terra...Terra hey" said Nepgear approaching very cautiously "Are you...okay?" he shook his head "Do you remember everything now?"
"Everything...that I need to" he said sombrely "I'm an idiot...just a big pitiful idiot, strung along like a puppet"
"Terra it's...oh!" as Nepgear went around his side, she saw the tears flowing down his miserable face
"In the end...I...I gave it all I have, to try and save the town but...it still wasn't enough" he looked to his hand "In the end I let myself...get caught in my own anger and just...and just..." he then felt a gentle hand rubbing his head
"Welcome to the club...Terra"
Terra turned left to see C-Sha with a smiling face "You're not at fault here...that Dark Uzume is to blame. Just like us the Gold Third...you saw and felt things that are untrue"
"But...that's it, it wasn't completely untrue" he said looking back "I...I still hate the people, the people of Tari and the CPU who looked after us. The people didn't want to help themselves, only wanted to hurt each other...because they refused to help themselves"
"That's...the general populace unfortunately" said S-Sha sighing "The general citizen...is a sheep just following along to what's its told. Not to say everyone is like that...but by nature humanity just seeks out...what's easiest for them"
"But as C-Sha said, you're now one of us" said B-Sha putting a positive spin on things "Just like me...your fear was fed by Dark Uzume, making you say and see things that weren't there"
"And in end...you saw it the truth didn't you?" asked K-Sha "You gave it all you had, there's got to be some merit in it"
"If...you say so" said Terra.
Terra wiped his eyes and looked to Zero Dimension "So...in the end, the same person who led me and my friends...was the same older sister who sheltered me in that place, to think I forgot something so important"
"Terra..." said Nisa from behind "We might believe it so...but Justice is not as absolute as many people think. What one group sees as Justice, another sees as evil...but the way I see it, Justice is best when performed...from the kindness of one's heart, for the good of those around him, when hope is all lost" Terra looked to Nisa and then himself
"Terra, Terra...hey" said Uni gently drawing his attention to her "This is...this for you" she held in her hands Neptune's hoody
"You...kept this?" he said in slight surprise
"Well it belongs to you" said Nepgear "so yeah"
Terra seemed troubled in expression as he looked to the shirt before sighing "I...I...I said some...pretty horrible things to you all, things that shouldn't have being said, especially when you only tried to help. I...I only wanted something to decide for myself, a place...I felt I could call home but...I...nearly lost it all in my own arrogance and needs"
"It's...not quite so arrogant to want one thing for yourself" said Ram "I mean me and Rom share things all the time, but we still like our own things"
"Ram's right Terra" said Rom "And If you need a home, you can stay with all of us" Terra flinched again before turning away
"But...can what I said be forgiven? And...would you really want this pitiful CPU on your..." but he was broken off as Nepgear hugged him from the side "Nepgear"
"You're not pitiful Terra...just lost and lonely" said Nepgear happily "We'll stick with you, being your friends" Uni then came to his other side and hugged him too
"I think you're best giving up Terra" said Uni "You're stuck with us now" as the two then let go, Rom and ram hugged him by the waist. Terra made a small forced laugh and rubbed their heads, with a smile on his face.
As Terra let go of Rom and Ram, Uni handed him the hoody once more...which he gently took, smiled and then wore around his body, zipping it up...for his body to glow and a text box to open above
Terra has acquired the status: Happily Accepted Vagabond
"I guess that makes it official" said Uzume jabbing Terra from the side "You gave us some headaches but it seems your back with us"
"Sorry for the runaround" said Terra "and to you Gold Third, thanks for coming to help me when you didn't have to"
"No biggie" said B-Sha "Just as I have a debt to pay to Nep, there's one I need to owe you too"
"I don't mind" said C-Sha "Like B-Sha...I wanted to repay you for saving me when I needed it"
"I'll just say" said S-Sha showing a rare honest smile "Good to have you on the team, from me and E-Sha"
"Thanks everyone..." he said happily before yawning loudly "Jeez...I feel tired all of the sudden"
"That'll be sleep deprivation for you" said IF "Uzume I know we've got a job to do, but...anywhere we can rest for a while"
"There is indeed" said Umio for her "There's a Camp near here, let us rest there"
Terra walked along, with friends around him. The candidates stayed close to him while Terra held out his hand, to resummons Neptune's Katana which he vanished once more "so...Terra" said Uni looking unsure "What you said, about CPU's...do you still dislike them?" Terra sighed quite a bit
"I...I still can't forgive Rei Ryghts for what she did" said Terra "to rule a town in fear, is not the way to go. If she did her Job as a CPU...I or anyone else wouldn't have needed to become one. I wish I could say she's completely at fault...but who knows what made her that way. Was all her? The weight of the nation? No rivals...who can say"
"terra" said Nepgear
"But...it has no bearing on you girls today. You're all friends...who just happen to be CPU's" he got a few chuckles, while Rom and Ram held his hands before he yawned again, looking tired
"Come on let's get you some sleep...I think it's long overdue" Said Uni.
From the back Uzume walked with Umio, thinking to herself "Are you trying to remember?" asked Umio
"I am...and when I saw that memory, I felt things rise inside me" said Uzume "I do remember, long ago, there was a friend I once had...but had to say goodbye to and never see again"
"I think the expression...it's a small world applies here. A CPU of an ancient land, left to be forgotten, meets you Uzume in a forgotten world"
"I'm just glad he's back with us now"
Terra was soon asleep, and though watched over a little he was in peace. His eyes did open...but to a very familiar red room. A deep chuckle sounded his welcome "And so...your journey has come full circle" Terra stood up, looking to Igor as he sat to his table "And we meet again"
"Igor..."
"The delusions of your memory has being swept away, the darkness lifted to see the truth of your actions and the light that surrounded you"
"I wish I could blame that Dark Uzume but...it was my own fault"
"The fact you admit that...proves your resolve. Though not on purpose you imprisoned yourself in a cage of your own making. What was once kindness or purpose...turned into duty and fate and once you entered this prison, your own heart forbade you from leaving"
"I...I wondered for so long. I knew what I did to myself...but...I just couldn't leave"
"Take heart...CPU of the lost land. Though Ancient you may be, a child you are too"
Igor sounded a little proud in his words "A child young...full of wonder and curiosity. Yes you will make mistakes, but that is the nature of life. It's true not all of us have...such gifted starts in life, in-fact could be fair to say the Deck of Fate is stacked against us but..." Igor swept his hand on the table, showing cards depicting all of his friends "you have found bonds, comrades in which believe in you and support you. Not as a Vagabond, nor a CPU of ruined line...but for the person that is you...Terra"
"The person...that is me?" he said holding his chest, which felt pleasant and warm
"Now then...it's time to send you on your way. Ruin is still approaching and only you and your comrades can stop it"
"I know and don't worry"
"But before we depart...a warning to you"
Terra seemed puzzled "Another one?"
"There is still one truth hidden whether intentional or not I can't say but the key to seeking that truth, or some of it, lies inside you. Look past the delusions and seek the truth"
"Alright, I will"
"We will meet...only two more times for your journey of truth has finished, but not your adventure. May we meet again"
Terra's eyes opened this to the roof of his tent, eyes opened and body refreshed. He stepped outside, to see it was quiet and peaceful. Terra stretched quite a bit and sighed "I see you're awake...you must've needed your sleep" said Uzume approaching from his right "You've being asleep for nearly 36 hours straight, how are you feeling?"
"Like a million bucks" he said happily "I haven't slept that well in a long time. Why is it so quiet?"
"It's actually the early morning...it's still an hour or two before breakfast and everyone is still asleep"
"Alright then...it gives me a little time. Uzume...I need to go back to Planeptune, just for a little bit"
Uzume tilted her head "Oh how come?"
"There's a promise I need to keep...to a friend back there. I'd tell her everything one my memory returned...huh" his body began to glow yellow and look to be fading
"Terra, you alright!?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine" he said easing her "I'll be back shortly alright" and with that he vanished with Uzume smiling
"See you shortly"
Terra found himself teleported from Zero Dimension, back to Hyperdimension and inside the Basilicom. He looked around in wonder "I'm...back already? Did Histoire bring me back? Histoire!? Histoire you here?"
"My goodness. Please hold on" Histoire flew in on her tome "Oh Terra you returned!" she said happily
"Histoire...how did I? I was in Zero Dimension and then..." Histoire chuckled "Oh you brought me back?"
"When we shook hands...I implanted a little of my power into you, connecting you to me mentally. Once I felt your resolve, and wish to come back...I teleported you back here to this place"
"I...see" he said sighing "So if you felt what I felt, then..." Histoire did a sadder smile "Yeah It's being...tough but" he then brightened "my memory came back and it seems...it seems the ending was much different than I thought"
Terra looked outside, through the back patio, to see it was dawn with the sun not quite risen "Well...I want to fulfil my promise to you, to tell you all I've remembered" Histoire smiled widely "For then...I've got some CPU's to save"
"Then let us get comfortable" said Histoire "Come, come" Terra sat on the Sofa, Histoire floated in-front of him and listened to his story.
END OF CHAPTER
"So...there we go. Terra's memory has returned. Sure it was a sombre memory still but in the end, Terra did all he could...and he couldn't do anymore. Hi guys it's me Theodore once more, here once more to delight your ears with my precise and calm wording. Well onto the next Game Retrospective...and it's the next Fan voted game... Tagdimension Blanc and Neptune, the Zombie horde"
"Blanc won the next popularity contest and had her game, Tag Dimension Blanc and Neptune. It was a game in a similar style to Ultra Dimension U, a hack-and-slash but with undead themed monsters. The premise of the game though was...VERY unimaginative. Just literally take the CPU's and candidate, put them in a school setting with school-girl roles like counsellor, president etc...and that's it. The gameplay was dull...and the story was rather non-existent. I mean yes Neptunia doesn't have good stories, but this one felt dull and uninspired. It was literally school-girls versus Zombies...but with Neptune and pals as the school girls. Well from here, only one VERY final game is left to talk about...kinda sad really. Now onto the Preview and we've got...Nisa actually"
"Hello fellow story readers, I Nisa will now deliver this justice filled preview to you all. Next time on Neptunia's Second LC, with Terra back on the forces of good we head after the Dark Uzume into a strange new world. As we go deeper, we encounter the villain in Arfoire...strangely beating on the bigger Neptune. Still with new resolve and courage in his heart, Terra stands against Arfoire once more with allies in tow. Now Stay tuned for Chapter 4: the Reward of Resolve. See you then"