Noire was having an inner crisis.

Ever since she had been exposed to the gas, and done those things with the CPUs, she'd been...feeling something she couldn't explain. She only noticed it more when they dealt with Iris. Noire had realized that looking at Neptune naked made her feel...odd.

Once Uni and Nepgear had started dating, Uni said it was like when she was around Nepgear, smiling and laughing was really easy. Every time they kissed, she felt lighter than air, and when Nepgear smiled at her, her heart beat a thousand miles a minute.

That...was sort of similar to how Noire had begun to feel about...Neptune.

But, that couldn't mean-

Noire's thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the door flew open, and Neptune and Nepgear strode in with Histoire behind them. They both looked exhausted, but somehow for different reasons and their clothes were messy. Their faces were grim.

"Wh-what-?" Noire started to ask.

"Arfoire has the plant." Neptune said, and Noire's heart stopped. "But," Neptune continued. "It's different; she modified it so she could basically control our citizens. She's taken over our Basilicom, and we're pretty sure she isn't just going to stop there." Noire stood silent in thought for a bit before nodding.

"Let's go get the others." Noire said as she transformed into Black Heart. Nepgear nodded and also transformed. Neptune closed her eyes and furrowed her brow in concentration. She almost seemed to flicker before she sighed.

"What's up with her?" Noire asked.

"Big Nep used something on her and now she can't transform," Nepgear said, and Noire went wide-eyed.

"Something like that exists?" Noire asked. "Wait, Big Nep? She's-?"

"That's not what we should be worrying about right now." Someone said. The three girls turned to see a transformed Uni running towards them. "We need to get the others as soon as possible." Noire got ready to protest, but a look from both Neptune and Nepgear stopped her. She nodded, and they set off. Uni and Nepgear worked together to carry Neptune as they traveled to Lowee.

Once they were there, they quickly explained the situation and were about to leave almost immediately when someone spoke up.

"I-I want to go." Rom said as she walked into the room with Ram behind her.

"Yeah! Don't just leave us here!" Ram said.

"Rom, Ram, it's too-" Blanc started, but Ram stomped her foot.

"No, we don't care! If Uni and Nepgear are going, so are we!" She yelled, surprising Blanc enough that she took a step back, "We're been affected by this too, you know?" Rom nodded. Blanc stared at them for a bit before sighing.

"Fine. Just be careful." Blanc said as she transformed along with Rom and Ram; Ram smiled.

They traveled to Leanbox, got Vert caught up and headed back to the Planeptune basilicom.

The first thing they saw when they arrived was a crowd of citizens standing around the entrance.

"I will push them aside if I have to." Blanc said. They landed on the ground, and Uni and Nepgear set Neptune down, who was able to stand well on her feet now. As soon as the citizens noticed them, they started running towards them.

"Neptune, be bait." Noire said.

"Wait, what?!" Neptune said before the other CPUS and candidates started flying. Neptune cried out at the sight of the citizens rushing at her. She quickly turned and began running, knowing what would happen if they caught her.

The others headed up towards the balcony, where they found Arfoire simply smiling at them.

"This'll be easier than I thought." Vert said with a smirk. Arfoire laughed.

"You always underestimate me, don't you?" Arfoire said, before snapping her fingers. The CPUs stared at her in confusion for a bit before they heard a roar and Neptune's yell. The CPUs quickly turned and stared in shock as dozens of dogoos and ancient dragons began to enter the city, heading straight for the Basilicom, and straight for the citizens. "Turns out that it works on monsters, too."

"Damnit." Blanc muttered, and headed towards Neptune. The others followed as Arfoire laughed after them.

The CPUs quickly reached Neptune, who was still fleeing and lifted her up.

"What? What's going-" Neptune said, then stopped once she was lifted high enough to see the monsters. "Oh…"

"How should we do this?" Noire asked. "I can take the dragons, and you two-" Noire was cut off as Neptune finally transformed.

"I'll help you." Neptune said.

"How long can you keep that for?" Noire asked.

"Long enough." Neptune answered, though she already looked slightly exhausted from the initial transformation alone. She turned to the Candidates. "You keep the citizens safe, but don't let them get you. You know what'll happen." Rom shuddered as the others nodded, nervousness in their eyes, and headed over. The rest turned to the monsters, then to each other. After a final nod to each other, they launched themselves towards the monsters.

Neptune and Noire were able to surprise one of the dragons and swiftly defeat it. They quickly dodged the swiping claws of another, and Neptune dragged her blade down its back, making it roar in pain. It turned as fast as it could, but didn't do it fast enough, and Neptune finished it with a slice to its neck. She looked over to see Noire taking down one, and in her moment of distraction, one of the dragons snatched her. She started struggling, but its grip was too strong. It raised her to its mouth, preparing to blast her, but just before it did, Neptune heard a cry of fury as Noire flew in and struck the dragon's neck, hard. It disappeared, and Noire flew over.

"Are you okay?" Noire asked, and Neptune nodded. Their eyes met, and for a second, they just stared at each other, Neptune noticing a faint blush in Noire's cheeks. Before she could ask-

"Neptune! Noire!"

Nepgear's voice shook them out of their thoughts. They looked over to see the candidates flying up at them.

"Why aren't you watching the citizens?" Neptune asked in worry. Nepgear pointed down, and Neptune looked to see IF, Compa, and even Big Nep running around, distracting the citizens.

"Big Nep woke up and told us that Arfoire has a cabin with the plant in it!" Nepgear said.

"You two should go get it, and we'll stay and take care of the dragons." Uni instructed.

"But-" Norie started.

"We've got this! Go get the plant!" Ram said, and Rom nodded in agreement. Neptune and Noire looked at each, sighed, and looked back, nodding.

"We'll be back as fast as we can." Neptune said. Nepgear gave them directions, and they sped off towards the cabin. The trees were too dense for them to be able to see it from the air, so they went to the ground.

They began running in silence. It didn't take long for Noire to feel awkward, despite nothing happening except silence. Though, that could be considered bad enough. Her previous thoughts came back, and she blushed.

"H-hey, Neptune?" She asked. It wasn't often that she showed nervousness in her HDD form. "C-Can we talk?"

"Is now really the time?" Neptune asked, slight annoyance in her voice.

"W-well, it's just…" Noire knew she needed to say it, or else she might never get the courage to. "E-ever since...the first time with the gas, I-" Suddenly, there was a noise like a snap. Before Noire could react. Neptune spring into action.

"Look out!" She cried and tackled Noire as the triggered tripwire trap launched a vial at them, which broke against a tree, purple gas spilling out. Noire opened her eyes, and blushed as she looked up at Neptune's face...and chest. Neptune's hands rested on either side of Noire's head, and Noire's heart beat quickly. Neptune looked down at her.

"You okay?" She asked. It took Noire a moment to collect herself enough to actually speak.

"Y-yeah…" Nore stuttered out. Neptune stared at Noire, confused by her obvious nervousness and uncharacteristic shyness, before eventually nodding and standing. She looked at the tree, where the purple gas was slowly dissipating.

"We need to be careful." Neptune said as she offered Noire a hand. Noire took it and stood, nodding, but still blushing hard. They continued onward and Noire fidgeted with her hands.

"N-Neptune, I-" Norie tried to start again, but was once again cut off, this time by Arfoire, who tackled her from behind.

"Noire!" Neptune said as she quickly turned, summoning her weapon.

Arfoire got ready to get back up, but Noire quickly flipped over and wrapped herself around Arfoire. Noire looked around as Arfoire struggled, and spotted a trigger hidden by leaves. She quickly shot her hand out and pressed it, setting off the trap which dropped another vial on top of them. The vial quickly shattered, and Noire and Arfoire tried to hold their breath, but weren't fast enough. They breathed in the gas, and Arfoire, feeling its effects for the first time, didn't last long before she fell unconscious. Noire felt the dizziness come swiftly as Neptune stared at her in shock.

"N-Noire-" Neptune said, taking a step forward, but Noire shook her head.

"G-go…" She said. Neptune hesitated before nodding. As she turned, however, Noire spoke again. "W-wait…" Neptune turned back around when Noire spoke again. "I-I…" Noire didn't know where her sudden courage came from-likely the gas-but she finally said it, somehow fearing she wouldn't get another chance. "I-I think...I think...I love you…" Neptune's eyes went wide as her cheeks burned. Before Neptune could speak, Noire passed out. Neptune simply stared for a bit, but was shaken out of her shock when Arfoire began to stir. They'd...definitely need to talk about that later.

But she couldn't really stop herself from thinking about it, and the blush covering her usually composed face only deepened, and she almost set off several traps before she finally made it. Just as she was told, there was a nice cottage that definitely didn't give the appearance of the location of a lewd plant. She went inside, and gasped as she marvelled at the complicated set up in front of her; beakers and test tubes and vials all over. Complicated diagrams and charts, full of info on different tests. Neptune never knew Arfoire was this smart. She shook her head, ignoring all of it and locked on to the purple plant sitting in a pot on a table. She noticed immediately that it was bigger than before. She quickly snatched it, but didn't have a moment to prepare to escape before hands came from behind her and latched onto her breasts. Surprised by the annoyingly familiar feeling, she dropped the plant, shattering the pot.

"I-I want your body…" Arfoire said. "I-I mean, the plant…" She reached a hand towards the plant, but she was sluggish enough that Neptune was able to shove her away, accidentally shoving her into a table. She grabbed the plant and ran. She couldn't rip it up, because it would just regrow somewhere else again. She avoided all the traps, worried when she didn't come across Noire at the spot where she set off the trap.

Suddenly, the missing Noire shot out of nowhere and tackled Neptune, causing her to drop the plant once again. "Noire!" Neptune started, but was stopped as Noire kissed her.

Neptune's eyes went wide and her blush returned as Noire kissed her deeply. It…felt incredible. She kissed her deeply and passionately, the gas removing all hesitation from Noire's lips. Neptune felt her heart beating fast, and, forgetting her situation in the moment, wanted nothing more than to hold Noire and keep kissing her as long as possible. Arfoire stumbled into view, grabbed the plant and ran before Neptune could snap out of it. Neptune used all her willpower to push Noire away and run after her with Noire right behind her, shouting her name dreamily.

They ran back into the town where the others were finishing off the monsters. The citizens had almost caught up with IF and Compa. IF's jacket was gone, and her shirt was a mess, as was Compa's sweater. It seemed the citizens had caught them, at least enough to mess with their clothes. Once Arfoire made it into the city, she collected her hazy thoughts and snapped her fingers, causing the citizens to quickly surround her.

"Cr-Croire…" Arfoire mumbled.

"Way ahead of ya." Croire said as she emerged, a smirk on her face. She waved her hands around in a strange fashion and a portal appeared behind Arfoire. She gave a goofy laugh, and went through.

"We need to go, now!" Neptune shouted. The others nodded, and shot towards the closing portal. They flew in, one by one, but Neptune stopped and looked out. Hopefully Gamindustri would be okay without them for a bit. She was suddenly tackled by Noire, and, after prying Noire off of her as she tried to fondle her chest, Neptune went in as well, followed closely by Noire as the portal finally closed behind them.