Ch.1 Beta Testing

(For all intents and purposes, the characters will not have their appearances described since I expect Hyperdimension fans to already know what the characters look like. However, if a character changes clothes, it will be described.)

The world of Gamindustri, a world with four great nations with its own Goddess governing it, and the people of each nation give their belief and prayers to their governing Goddess. The futuristic land of video games filled with skyscrapers and advance technology, Planeptune and the governing Goddess Purple Heart, the industrial land full of machines and factories of ever progressing value Lastation and the governing Goddess Black Heart, a wonderland of snow and magic where it looks like a dream world of magic, Lowee and the ruling Goddess White Heart, and the magical kingdom-like city where castles and princesses appear to reign, Leanbox and the governing Goddess Green Heart.

The world is enjoying an era of peace and tranquility. There are monsters here and there, but nothing that can't be handled with ease, and there is crime but it is small and easy to bust. The people also have faith in their Goddess for a variety of reasons whether it is personal belief or simple attraction. The Goddess that we will be focusing on is none other than….(not Neptune) ! #$$%&%^#%$! T$%^&*(&E$WW$ !%$^%$&$^%&^#$$RQW

Neptune: What!? But I'm the main character of the franchise!"

Azurknight1: Not in the spinoffs you aren't seeing as how Blanc, Noire, and IF got their own games, and Nepgear was the hero of the second game.

Neptune: PFFT, but I'm so beloved my millions of fans, so I command that I be the protagonist of this fan story!

Azurknight1: So is everyone else seeing that Hyperdimension is a game franchise where everyone picks their Waifus, and a lot of people adore Noire more than you.

Neptune: Whatever, I'm going to be involved whether you like it or not, Bub. So who are you going to star instead of the ever-so-popular, beautiful, and totally awesome Neptune?"

Azurknight1:….

Neptune: What? Not gonna spill it? Fine, oh I know, you're totally doing a JoJo thing right? I read your PMs. Ooh, I totally want a stand. Can my stand be Filthy Acts At A Reasonable Price? Hey don't censor my request. What are you, a Twitch Admin or something?"

Azurknight1: We're done here, Neptune. So just sit back and enjoy with these other fine people.

(Neptune has been ejected from prologue and will not appear until chapter?)

Anyway, the story begins in the magical snowy land of Lowee. The Goddess, White Heart, or Blanc, is sitting in her room located in the Basilicom and is sitting at her computer working on a secret project. She types something down and talks to herself in a quiet and stoic tone.

"Okay, just a little longer…and (clicks one last key) done….Finally."

She then stands up and stretches a little bit since she has been sitting in her chair for a while now. She then sits back in her chair and clicks on a camera icon to make contact with someone. After a few seconds of waiting, a person pops up on the screen, the Goddess of Leanbox, Green Heart, or Vert. She has an earpiece on and is clicking buttons on a controller. Blanc attempts to talk to her with a slight smile on as she tells Vert.

"Vert, I finally finished it."

Vert pays no attention or even doesn't seem to hear Blanc, who gets irritated and says it again.

"Vert, I said I finished it!"

Vert still pays no attention to Blanc's words causing Blanc to get her red eyes, sharp expression, and shouts.

"Will listen to what I'm telling you, Thundertits, and quit playing that goddamn game!?"

Vert then turns her head around the room since she has been startled by Blanc snapping at her. She (Vert) then notices Blanc on her computer screen and says in a slightly apologetic tone.

"Oh, I'm very sorry, Blanc. I've been playing Four Goddesses Online for four days straight, so my focus hasn't been that good."

Blanc is still irritated and mumbles to herself.

"Of all the fricking days for you to be on a bender…"

Blanc calms down and Vert now hears what she said a moment ago. After some moments of talking about codes, Vert asks in an enthusiastic tone.

"So where should we go from here?"

Blanc just plainly responds.

"I think we should begin Beta Testing today."

Vert is happy to hear this and makes the plan.

"Okay, I'll finish my session and be over within a couple of hours. We'll meet in our prototype area."

Blanc nods and ends the conversation. She then shuts off her computer and prepares to meet up with Vert, but needs something to eat before meeting her. She goes into the kitchen and eats a quick lunch of Ramen and salad with a tall glass of milk (she still hopes it'll help with her predicament). But as she readies herself to go to the meeting area, Blanc's sisters, the CPU candidates of Lowee, Rom and Ram, enter the kitchen with enthusiastic smiles on their faces. They immediately get close to their sister and Rom asks her.

"Hey, Big Sis, did you finish your new game yet?"

Ram gets up and asks with greater energy.

"Can we play it with you?"

Blanc, with her stoic look, simply says.

"No, it hasn't been tested yet…(more mad)wait, how do you two know about that?"

The two CPU candidates aren't happy with this and Rom immediately retorts while completely blowing off the question.

"But we can help you test it, so why not let us?"

Blanc's eye twitches a little and she keeps calm and then tells her sisters.

"No, I'm not sure if it's safe yet, so go play somewhere else."

The two persist and ensure that they can handle it, but Blanc isn't hearing of it. She keeps her temper in check, but then the two simply ask.

"Can we play the game, Big Sis? Can we play the game, Big Sis? Can we play the game, Big Sis? Can we play the game, Big Sis? Can we play the game, Big Sis? Can we play the game, Big Sis? Can we play the game, Big Sis? Can we play the game, Big Sis?"

Blanc is at the boiling point and snaps.

"I SAID NO, YOU ANNOYING BRATS! GO SOME PLACE ELSE, AND LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE! CAN'T I GET ONE DAY OF GODDAMN PEACE AND WORK WITHOUT THE TWO OF YOU PESTERING THE PISS OUT OF ME!?"

Blanc's outburst causes her sisters to become visibly shaken a little with Rom starting to back away and Ram having an expression that makes her look like she's ready to cry but is also angry. They are ready to go away, but not before Ram snapping back at Blanc.

"We'll go somewhere else, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO EVER SEE YOU AGAIN, BLANC! YOU SUCK!"

The two run away feeling hurt and Blanc wants to chase after them to apologize due to the sudden shock of what she just shouted at them. However, she has been working on this project with Vert for years and today is the day when they begin the final steps before it can be revealed. Not long after this, Financier appears to Blanc in a hallway and informs her of Vert's arrival, and Blanc tells Financier.

"Just tell her to meet me in our private room, and that'll be all, Financier."

The chamberlain then leaves without any question and Blanc makes her way into the room in question. This is a room that is top-secret with very limited access that only Blanc can enter. Vert is always with her when the room is entered, but she can't open the door. The room is quite plain with a white chrome design giving it a very empty feeling. The only things in this room are four pod-like devices that stick out of the ground like pillars and are connected to a major wiring on the floor. There is also a computer with a unique keyboard, monitor, and a large cabinet. This room was built with help from a team of scientists but they've moved on since the contract is finished with them. Blanc sits in a chair that appears in the room and she begins typing on the unique keyboard and is now simply waiting for Vert to arrive in the room since she left it unlocked. Vert comes into the room shortly with an excited expression. She approaches Blanc and asks her.

"So, are we prepared to see the fruits of our labors?"

Blanc answers in her stoic tone again.

"I am, and this will be our biggest test yet, so I'm making sure to take all necessary precautions to ensure maximum analysis."

Blanc clicks a button, and two of the pods open up revealing a hollow white interior. She then says.

"Okay, Vert, simply walk into the scanner and I'll send us both in."

Vert isn't opposed to this, but she asks.

"Actually, Blanc, I was hoping to type in the code to send us. I don't distrust you, of course, but I would like the practice."

Blanc has no real objections and tells her.

"Okay, but make sure to set us up at level 99 for caution. I don't want us losing because of our levels. I set my class and character already, so go ahead and pick yours."

Blanc stands up and walks inside one of the scanners while Vert takes her time to type in the code needed to send them both. Blanc gets impatient and tells Vert in an irritated tone.

"I'm waiting, Vert!"

Vert then clicks a final button and a timer appears on the monitor as she stands up and gets into a scanner as well. The scanners close as a blue and green light appears inside of them and it scans the bodies of both Vert and Blanc for a minute. Then, in a blinding light, they feel a very light sensation as the scanners make a very distinct static noise and open again to reveal that both Goddesses have disappeared.

Moments later, in a new place, a town devoid of any life that resembles an older medieval village with shops, blacksmiths, and alchemy stores, but has a beautiful blue sky, two figures of blue colors appear in the sky of this area and then they gain color as they fall to the ground and land on a soft white surface like a marshmallow. They are Blanc and Vert but they are wearing different outfits as Blanc now wears a blue and white puffy hat. In addition to her hat she wears a matching blue and white dress with a big red ribbon on her collar. She wears brown leather guards. Blanc also has a brown belt on her waist. She wears brown sandals and white knee socks that reach up to her thighs. Her hat and sandals are decorated with an 8 pronged wheel symbol on it and she is holding a staff as her weapon. Vert wears a more "nature" themed outfit. She has leaves and flowers on her hair as accessories. She wears a short green and white sleeveless silk mini-skirt decorated with a golden leaf and flower pattern. The white in her skirt area is a bit see-through. Below her shoulders are white clothes wrapped elegantly as sleeves. On her right arm is two bracelets held together by an X. On the left arm and thigh is a plant shaped bracelet. She wears brown boots, and she holds a rapier for a weapon.

The two have landed on their butts because this is the first time entering this world and they weren't sure how they'd enter. They stand up right away and examine their new outfits. Blanc and Vert are relatively happy with their new outfits, until Blanc feels the chest and mutters to herself.

"What the hell?! I thought I…"

Vert hears this and explains.

"Oh, I saw that you were attempting bodily modification with our game, but that isn't safe so I undid it on your behalf."

Blanc clenches her free hand into a fist with her enraged expression coming forward, but it is broken when Vert suggests.

"Okay, so now I think we should test the player cooperation interface."

Blanc calms down and nods as Vert waves her hand and a menu appears. Blanc does the same and there are icons meant for character specifics like equipment, skill allocation, inventory, warp, stats, friends, quests, party, and log out. They tinker with this to make these functions are properly working, which they are, and that's when they exchange player info to become official friends in the game and form a party. Blanc smiles over this seeing that her and Vert's hard work is showing. They are both at max level and stats for their classes with Blanc as a Priest and Vert as an Enchanter.

After this quick peek into the workings of the game, Blanc and Vert test another key feature as they walk around the barren town and spot a fountain with glistening water spouting from the center and it sounds very calming. Blanc and Vert walks up to it to stick their hands in the water to test out one the biggest things in the game, they feel it, and it feels just like real water running across their fingers and Blanc even gets her sleeve a little damp from the water. To them, this is an amazing achievement with Vert commenting with delight.

"We've done it, Blanc. We've created a virtual world that feels real to the touch."

Blanc smiles and replies.

"Yes, and we'll make so many people happy when we finally announce it."

This will have to wait a while until the final touches are applied since this is just the beta. While they're here, Blanc wants to test another feature that she has been working on. She opens up another menu with the word "Assist" on it and she presses it with her palm which causes a blue light to appear in front of her as a blue silhouette appears. It has the shape of a human woman, but has no face or defining features aside from the female figure and it talks with a very soft voice as it asks.

"How may assist you, Lady White Heart?"

Vert approaches the figure with intrigue since she didn't know about this as Blanc explains to her.

"I didn't want to say anything until I got her working properly, but this is that assist system we talked about three years ago."

Vert puts one hand into a fist and bumps it on her palm because she remembers something about that because she thought it would be easier for players. Blanc then asks the AI.

"What's the current status of the game?"

The AI then immediately answers with her soft tone.

"The game is currently in Beta, only two players are currently subscribed, no events, no updates, and no active quests for your current party."

Vert rubs her chin a little and asks Blanc more.

"So did you create this AI specifically to inform players of their status, events, and changes in the game?"

Blanc nods and answers in her usual stoic tone.

"Yes, but I also gave her the ability to learn and have full access to the game's coding and progress so that she wouldn't have to be constantly updated."

Upon observing this AI more, Vert asks the question.

"Have you given her a name yet?"

Blanc shakes her head and it hits her.

"No, I haven't actually thought of a name yet."

Vert thinks for a minute and proposes a name.

"How about S.O.F.T."

Vert's breasts jiggle a little and Blanc gets a little frustrated at that name.

"Was that intended to be a friggin joke? Because it wasn't funny."

Vert dismisses the notion by correcting Blanc.

"No, I meant it as an acronym. S.O.F.T as in Self-Observing-Functioning-Tool as a reference to her learning capabilities of observing changes independently."

Thinking on that, Blanc has a different perception on that name but refuses none the less.

"Seeing it that way is different, but since YOU proposed that name, it still pisses me off."

Blanc proposes a name herself since the AI is her creation.

"I kind of like S.N.E.S as in Singular-Notification-Enforcer-System since she's also programmed to make sure players follow the rules of towns to prevent player killing in the non-violent areas."

Liking the idea, Vert must also disagree with the name since most players would not get that so the name will have to wait. So they are trying to decide what to test next whether it should be the shop function, food and taste, or combat. But to their surprise, the AI suggests.

"Why not test combat next? Surely players will be spending a majority of their time in combat and exploring the areas while doing so."

The AI has a good point and the fact of the matter is that they can't properly test shop function until they set prices and micro transactions for exclusive equipment, plus they can get food from drops. The idea is sound, so Blanc thanks the AI for her suggestion. With that said both Blanc and Vert open up their menus and join a party together so that they'll travel to the same area at the same time. The most basic area they have right now is the meadow region, so they teleport there by having Vert open her menu, click on the option for warp, looking at the current options which are currently, meadow, snow, castle, forest, desert, and carnival for the prototype names but obviously Vert clicks on meadow and the two fade into a blue light.

Moments later, the two are warped in front of a marble statue of an angel without any defining characteristics. The area is a simple meadow of grass, flowers, and a blue sky with a shining sun looming over it. There are also ponds scattered around, butterflies and birds flying around, a couple of scattered trees, and a view a house overlooking a marsh. Vert and Blanc both designed this area with both putting in shared time developing it. They then take a moment to feel the breeze and revel in their achievement in this field. After some breathtaking awe, the two Goddesses begin exploring the field. Since this is still the Beta, there aren't chests but there are plenty of monsters. Since common monsters in the real world like dogoos are so common, Vert programmed other monsters like ones she sees in her video games like goblins and slimes.

As a test, Blanc allows a goblin to attack her with its crude bladed weapon that it holds. It is a creepy little creature but not scary as it runs up and cuts Blanc's side which sends a slight sensation that makes her aware of touch but doesn't hurt as the blade makes a neon blue cut at her side to illustrate damage. This was programmed to give players awareness without hurting them. The monsters are programmed with fake weapons and attacks to inflict damage to the player's health without causing them pain but the player's actual senses still work fine. Blanc disposes of the goblin by simply smacking it with her staff since it is a very weak monster and she's level 99.

Blanc and Vert test their in-game skills like their magic and physical skills, mostly Vert since Blanc is a priest. After some more time, the two kill plenty of monsters, acquire drops like gold and materials, inspect more scenery, and take a break to check off what they've tested with Blanc checking off the stuff from a list she pulls up from her menu. Vert sits down on the grass as Blanc sits on a rock as the former looks up at the sky and simply giggles with excitement and exclaims.

"Twenty-five long years of development and we're finally at the finishing touches. It's just something so exciting, and not to mention all the raid parties I'll have, all the events, the promotions, and all the people of Gamindustri playing a game created by us, the Goddesses. It'll be such a grand release."

Blanc agrees but feels a little bad about not telling Neptune and Noire about this since they've kept this secret from them. Blanc then tells Vert.

"But we have to remember to have Neptune and Noire design their own areas so that their nations will feel more invested in the game. We wouldn't' want to cause a national incident."

Vert agrees with this since they do want to stay on friendly terms and causing an incident is the last thing they want. Once Blanc finishes the checklist that she has up, Vert suggests.

"I say we check out one more area before returning to the town hub area for good measure."

Both mutually think the idea is sound and Vert pulls up her menu again. Normal players can't do this but Vert and Blanc also have admin level access so she picks another area at random and they are again warped to a new area, the snow area.

This is area is vastly different with a darker sky, a perpetual vision of falling snow, lights of neon colors in the distance, glaciers, trees covered in snow, a frozen lake, and snowmen that bare a familiar resemblance to Blanc, Rom, and Ram. The warp area also contains an ivory statue of Blanc in her Goddess form or her HDD. But this area causes a stir in Blanc as seeing this area and the snowmen causes her to get an uncomfortable look as she asks with slight annoyance.

"Could we go to a different area? I can't be here right now."

Vert is confused while she wants a reason for this.

"I thought you'd be excited to check this area since you personally designed it."

Blanc then gets more frustrated and retorts.

"I said I don't want to be here right now."

Sensing that something is wrong; Vert tries to be friendlier as she asks.

"Blanc, what is it? Did something happen recently in Lowee?"

She doesn't want to say, but Blanc is feeling remorse over what happened with her sisters earlier and this place doesn't help because Blanc designed this area for her, Rom, and Ram to play in together once the game launched so it isn't easy for her to be here right now. Even though she doesn't understand, Vert still encourages Blanc.

"If you have something you wish to apologize for, and then do it. We've tested enough for one day and we can always do it another time.

Blanc shakes her head and insists.

"I'm fine, I just need to cool my head."

Vert sighs and mutters.

"So stubborn…"

Vert opens her menu to push a button as Blanc feels a tingle and looks at her feet to see that pixels are scattering off her body leaving a blue figure of her body made of lines as it begins disappearing. Blanc then finds herself back in the scanner but she is tired from the roundtrip as she stumbles a little while getting out. She walks back to the monitor and sees Vert still in the game as she (Vert) tells her.

"Take care of your business, I'll handle some additional testing and then I'll leave, so don't worry."

Blanc isn't happy about that since Vert used admin access to eject her (Blanc) from the game. Seeing this as an opportunity, albeit a forced one, Blanc decides that she will indeed use this time to apologize to her sisters. She trusts Vert to lock up anyway and leaves this room.

After some time of looking around the Basilicom, Blanc finds something that is a dead giveaway to finding her sisters, a fort made of books they took from Blanc's room with a sign written in crayon that crudely says "No Big Sisters Allowed" with a picture of Blanc's angry expression, complete with sharp teeth, below the words. While she would be upset that Rom and Ram took her books, apologizing takes priority. She approaches the fort and approaches the entrance with Ram sticking her face through the view and tells Blanc before the latter can say anything.

"We don't want you near our fort. Read the sign."

Blanc stops moving and just sits on the ground where she is and says in a calm and relaxed tone.

"Okay, I won't get closer but I still need to talk to you both."

Hearing this, Rom wants to listen, but Ram reminds her.

"Hey remember what she told us? She said we annoyed her and that we're brats. I don't think we should listen to her."

Blanc hears this and instantly tells her sisters.

"I didn't mean that. I was just frustrated."

Ram pokes her head out of the fort and rebukes.

"If you didn't mean it, then why did say it, huh? You even made Rom cry, and that's why you suck even more."

Thinking back, Rom was on the verge of crying the last time Blanc saw her. Blanc takes a deep breath and gets to a more sincere area to express her apology better.

"I know what I said was wrong and won't make any excuses for it. I just want you both to know that I'm sorry for snapping and that I promise to not do it again."

Rom gets near Ram and puts her head next to her twin sister and asks in an unsure tone.

"Do you promise?"

Ram is not happy with Rom's quicker forgiveness and tries to argue.

"Rom, we said we wouldn't accept her apology until she started with gifts."

Blanc looks at Ram with a slightly sinister look and sarcastically asks.

"Oh, so that's what you were thinking, was it?"

She stands up and says with a more confident tone and announces with her more aggressive voice.

"Fine, if that's what you want then if you accept my apology now, then I'll spend the rest of the day with you both and do whatever you both want. How's that for showering with gifts?"

Ram then steps out of the fort and asks with a mischievous smile.

"Anything?"

Blanc nods thinking that they plan on something embarrassing for her as retribution since both of the twins go inside to hide and whisper in their fort. After some minutes, the two come out and Ram explains.

"Okay, if that's how it's going to be, we want three things from you."

Blanc just sits quietly as her sisters tell her their demands with Rom starting.

"Okay, first we'd like for to take us to the Super Nintendland for a couple of hours."

Ram then follows with.

"Then we want you to take us to that new pizza place, Luigi Mario's."

Then they both say their final demand.

"Then we want you to read us as many stories as we want."

Blanc is a little surprised by the simplicity of the requests because they are very normal for children, so Blanc agrees. Although, Ram has to ask.

"What kind of name is Luigi Mario anyway?"

Blanc remembers the construction of that place and she explains.

"I told the owner to say he opened the store with his brother named Mario because he always got questions about his name."

Rom now questions the brother's name.

"So his brother is named Mario Mario?"

Blanc thinks on that and finds it strange but she doesn't dwell on it and tells them that they should leave now before the sun begins setting and they can have fun.

Back in the game, Vert is checking the snow region and appreciates Blanc's hard work into creating this area and thinks this would be a great place for a Christmas event, so she makes a note of that. She then accesses the navigation AI like Blanc did and asks her.

"Can you make notes on our behalf?"

The AI nods and explains.

"Lady White heart programmed me with information storing capabilities to help with my learning capacity. She also programmed me with admin capabilities to enforce the game's laws more effectively."

Vert is very impressed with this and can't help but compliment her.

"Oh my, you are a very special program aren't you? I can't help but think you a Goddess in this world."

The Ai looks down upon hearing this praise and asks the Goddess of Leanbox.

"But don't you think me a tool?"

Vert is wondering where that came from but she remembers her pitched name Self Observing Functioning Tool and swiftly apologizes for that.

"Oh, I meant no offense. I was just going off the top of my head without proper thought. I am truly sorry if that offended you."

The AI looks at Vert more clearly and accepts her apology while assuring her.

"Oh no, you need not apologize. I was just curious that's all…..but me a "Goddess" like Lady White heart…."

Vert can swear she hears a slight giggle from the AI but isn't sure because of the monsters approaching them as Vert readies for my combat while saying to herself.

"Oh my, I may just become addicted to this game as well."

She charges towards the enemies with her rapier as the AI stays where she is and begins thinking to herself.

"How can I be on the same level as Lady White Heart? Perhaps I just think too much…."

Vert messes around the game for two more hours, takes some notes, and is ready to leave as the AI sleeps for now while the game isn't being played. But Vert and Blanc have made a breakthrough in video game technology that can revolutionize the world of Gamindustri. But these grand aspirations have to wait until full testing is finished.