"There cannot be any other living beings in Heart Dimension." Spoke Kurome, looking at the stone-faced girl behind a taco stand who had suddenly appeared in her realm. "So I must assume that you are a mere fragment of my imagination."

"Oh... that's not a bad guess actually." Nepgya said, raising one of her hands in greeting. "I hope we can at least be imaginary friends!"

"I have no friends." The teenage girl with dark blue hair said, taking a seat at one of the stand's plastic tables. "Only regrets."

It was a chilly, windy day at the Planeptune Productivity Centre. Segami was standing outside, looking at the boundless sea of grass surrounding the area, and at the mountains in the distance. For some reason, she loved this kind of weather. It reminded her of her days of glory, of adventure...

Flashback starts

Planeptune city was in ruins. Its roads were cracked, and its skyscrapers now sunk into the ground, covered with vines and overgrown vegetation. A giant, serpentine creature with many tendrils occupied the center of the city, letting out a terrifying roar.

One brave heroine stood alone, off to fight her last hopeless battle.

"Hey, Uzume!" Segami called out to her, running after her with Histoire.

"Segami?" Uzume responded, relieved to see a familiar face among the destruction.

"Here, take this!" Segami said, holding a discoloured share crystal.

"Hey guys," Uzume said, noticing Umio and Dreamcast who had arrived from the other side. "What's up?"

"Time Eater only used the negative power of the share crystals." Umio explained. "Uzume, you should be able to harness their REAL power."

"As much as I hate to admit it," Spoke Dreamcast, Uzume's fiercest rival in the past "I think Umio is right about this."

"GO, UZUME!" The voice of a man reached her from inside a building. "Uzume, we believe in you!" Another man said. Soon, the voices of the survivors were forming a huge uproar, all chanting for the young redheaded CPU.

It was at that point that Uzume transformed.

"Negative forces aren't the only way to empower the share crystals." Histoire asserted. "Our positive feelings towards each other can make them work. Our hearts together form awesome power."

(Nobody could hear Histy's explanation.)

CPU Orange Heart rose up into the sky, and pointed her megaphone at the monster known as Time Eater. "I'm sorry, Timmy, but things have come to this. HYAAAAAA!" She shouted into her weapon at full lungs, hitting the monster with a stream of soundwaves.

"Timmy...?" Everyone commented in disbelief.

But there was no time for questioning. Immediately Dreamcast started running towards the monster, dodging one of its tendrils as it slammed onto the ground. Segami promptly smashed it with her hammer, and Time Eater let out a roar of pain.

"Uzume" Segami called out. "Now's your chance!"

...

"Uzume?"

There was no response. Segami looked around herself, searching for wherever Orange Heart went.

"Yummyyyyyy!" Orange Heart exclaimed "These tacos you made are really delicious, Gyasy."

Segami looked up.

Orange Heart had suddenly taken a break in the middle of the battle, and was now happily munching on a taco on one of the city's rooftops, where a familiar girl had magically set up shop. One of Time Eater's tendrils made its way to the taco stand, carefully picked up a taco, and threw it into his gaping mouth.

"Good appetite, and thanks for your patronage!" Nepgya waved her hand at the monster.

"Get out of my flashbacks!" Segami shouted, tossing her hammer towards Nepgya's Interdimensional Taco Stand with all her might.

Flashback ends

Ah, yes, those were the days.

"Well, it was a real hassle rebuilding the capital after that." Segami reminisced. "But I'd say it was worth it. Wait - does that make me a terrible person?" She thought out loud, remembering all the souls that perished in the accident.

"Hey Se-Se, what are you doing?" Compa appeared from behind her.

"Oh..." Segami muttered.

"You'll get a cold if you stay out there." The caring nurse said.

Segami smiled at that. Considering how many times throughout her innaturally long life she had been frozen or tossed into cold waters without catching as much as a single sneeze, coming up to her and saying "Dress up for the cold" was nothing if not an obvious joke.

But she appreciated the humor.

"Thanks for your concern." Segami finally replied. "...Mortal." She snarked, looking at the cozy wool sweater her human friend was wearing.

"Say," Segami spoke up "do you think I am a horrible person?"

"Oh, Se-Se..." Compa reacted "My poor, silly Se-Se..." She commented in a patronizing tone, instead of giving a clear reply.

"Smartass." Segami caller her out, making her cynical face. Wrinkles be damned!

Compa looked at her with her deep orange eyes, and her friendly smile.

"I think what my grandfather always said should come in handy in this situation." The nurse began.

Oh shit, here we go again. Segami thought, bracing herself for yet another nonsensical anecdote.

"Surprise me." The gloomy blue-haired girl said, looking away into the distance.

The world she found herself living in was that of an empty nothingness, the small floating island she was standing on being the lone exception.

Nepgya didn't speak, instead she crouched down to look under the stand, checking the ingredients that were stored. Slowly, she picked up an empty wrap and put it on a platter. This won't do. She thought.

"So, entertain me." Kurome spoke up, addressing the figment of her imagination. "Why are you here? I am curious to hear whatever story my subconscious will come up with to explain your presence."

"I..." Nepgya began to think, slightly caught off-guard by the sudden question. "I have a very important mission!" She then spoke, with renewed confidence. "I was given the task of running this taco stand by my friends."

Those simple words for some reason resonated with the fallen heroine of the past.

Friends? What friends?

"Well, Segami, first of all. Also IF and Compa."

Segami? Kurome's eyes widened. Tell me more.

"It went like that: Segami knocked on my door, said she was checking on my home. Then she took pity on me and said she would make me the protagonist of her new game. And here I am!"

"No!" Kurome shouted, her hand reaching out, as a dark impulse ran through her body. This was a terrible idea.

Segami is a horrible person.

Bad memories started drowning out every inch of her mind, shutting down every rational thought. Her past was catching up to her.

She is doing that to more innocent souls.

"Don't do it! Please don't!" Kurome begged, her face pale.

Nepgya looked at her, shocked by the sudden reaction. Well, not that it mattered. Her face was always shocked.

"I am sorry!" The panicked Nepgya began to speak. She had hurt her. She didn't know why, but she knew she had hurt her. She had to fix this. "I will fix this. Just tell me how. I know! I will make you a taco! Just tell me your favourite, and it'll be done in a heartbeat." Nepgya lied. There were barely any ingredients in her stand, certainly not enough to cook up anything decent, but she had to say something to pull her out of this condition.

Kurome laid her head on the table, and slammed her fist on it.

**THUNK!**

I feel sad. I feel so wrong.

...

...

...

I woke up, and I found myself in a black hallway.

My legs started walking on their own. I had to do something.

"I am not a god... I cannot be perfect... Yes, I have sinned, I admit it. But my responsibilities are far beyond those of a mere mortal." The loving nurse spoke.

27 November 1998

Today is my first day as CPU.

I was brimming with hope.

"That's... That's actually pretty deep." Segami asserted, standing outside the building, hearing Compa's dramatic speaking. "Was your grandpa a poet or something?"

Segami is the best girl I know. She's strong, and fights for everyone. She's super-cool!

Segami believed in me. I won't let her down.

Trust exists to be shattered.



"He was a bird-watcher." Compa declared, very sketchily.

Histoire and I got matching hats now. We are real besties!



Those girls are too nice for someone like me. I'll get spoiled at this rate!

No friendship is built to last.

Segami gave her a mean look. "Seriously, though." Segami resumed "You have a talent for dark, dramatic stuff... and not in a bad way either. So many people were left traumatized by Conquest ending, it's not even funny. You should do more stuff like that."

I want to make Planeptune the best place in the world.

I will serve smiles to everyone!

I desperately run after myself.



Please, don't go, "me". Why is this happening again? I want to take it all back.

Compa smiled, just standing there. "My dear Se-Se... I am a nurse. I would be doing a very bad job if my games hurt the patients instead of healing them."

This is only the beginning, it can only get better from now on.

I need to stop this cycle of suffering.

Let's carve our way into the future!

Anything but this.

Please... stop.

Segami felt the air become chillier. Compa looked at her with her deep, orange eyes: "Don't you think so, Segami?"

You sick fucks.

"Well, this is pretty strange." IF commented, looking absent-mindedly at the tablet monitoring Nepgya's adventure as she sat at one of the tables in the cafeteria, sipping on a cup of American black coffe. "Hey girls, check this out." She said, noticing Segami and Compa coming in from the entrance door.

"What happened, Iffy?" Compa asked first.

"The location changed mid-episode." IF spoke "They were in some empty, gloomy world with floating islands at first, but now it changed to a high school setting. With quite a few familiar faces, as well."

"Today sure was something!" A tall girl with blue hair and a red scarf streched her arms out dramatically, as she walked towards the school's exit with her friend. "You did great, Uzume!" She said, giving her friend a pat on the shoulder.

"I really didn't do anything..." The other girl said.

"You killed it today, sis!" The energetic ally of Justice continued, unfazed by her friend's lack of enthusiasm. "That's the kind of team spirit we need!"

A couple of two other girls appeared in the distance.

"...And then I said: Nepgyaaa! A man like you, with a face and two legs, could very well become the next secretary for our play, if you just join the Gamacademi Drama Club! And so he made a happy self-insert smile, said 'okay', and accepted to become one of our group now and forever." Cheerily spoke a familiar girl with purple eyes and long purple hair.

"I'm not sure I fully understood it." Commented the second familiar girl accompanying her, who had light blue hair in a long ponytail and a lively yellow hair bow popping out from behind her head. "But I'm glad you could draw someone into our club, at least. You know what they said to me?"

"What? What?" The purple-haired girl asked, curious to hear about her friend's misfortunes.

"You guys are jokes. Stop living in a fantasy world. You're almost 18 now. Grow up."

"Damn, that's harsh, Segami." IF commented, looking at her light blue-haired friend in the real world, who had a clearly unamused expression. "I guess no matter the dimension, Sega's destinity is to always be ridiculed."

"Careful now, Idea Factory..." Segami looked at her brunette friend "I still have your drawings from when you were a child."

"EEP!" IF shouted as she shrank back.

"So we have Ge-Ge, Se-Se..." Compa said, pointing at the figures in the monitor. "That one with the red scarf... it has to be Nisa. And she's with some other blue-haired girl with pigtails I don't recognize."

"Hmm," Segami took a look. "I think I recognize her. Probably someone from the company's past. But I can't exactly pinpoint what she did and who she was."

... ...

"Oh look, someone's coming." Segami suddenly noticed. Everybody leaned in to the monitor...

"Oh no..." Said Segami and IF.

"Oh no..." Said Kurome and Segami.

"Hello, my beautiful ladies. How was the day?" A short girl with bright red hair addressed the group, getting everyone's eyes onto her.

"I guess it's my time to run off" Nepgear spoke to Segami, leaning in against her ear "And good luck finding happiness."

Segami snapped back defensively "I don't want...! Happiness..."

Nepgear smiled, giggled and replied "I know", then skipped away.

"So, how was the day?" The merry redhead asked again.

"Pretty great!" Nisa replied, her fist raised to the air. "We got four new recruits for our track team! All thanks to Uzume's work."

"Really, please... I didn't do anything..." Spoke the girl with pigtails, looking away in embarrassment.

"Four recruits?" Segami commented. "I'm kind of envious."

"Ah, that is good, citizien." Nisa asserted, eager to dish out some inspiration "Take that feeling of envy, and let it push you to greater heights!" She said doing a Superman pose.

"Sooo, I decided to start my own club." RED spoke, taking everyone by surprise. The eyes of the group fixated on her once again. "I am gonna call it the 'Happy Club', and it's gonna be composed of beautiful girls attending to my every desire."

"So, a slavery club?" Kurome murmured to Segami.

"Well, at least she doesn't lack bravery." Segami responded.

"A club? Good luck, RED!" Nisa said.

"We are gonna have so much fun together." RED continued her explanation. "It will be composed solely of girls, and we will solely do cute things together. We will care for each other, compliment each other, love each other..."

Kurome cringed.

"We will be enveloped in a blanket of love, and once our blanket is large enough, we will use it to cover the whole planet!" RED exclaimed and made a little jump.

"...But she does lack brains." Segami added.

"What are you girls conspiring in secret?" Nisa suddenly spoke, addressing the whispering duo of Kurome and Segami.

"Aaahh... Nothing!" Reacted Segami. "We were just, um, talking about how we haven't gone to GTS in a while."

"Gya's Taco Shop? Nice thinking, Sega!" Nisa bounced back. "Let us head now, before the place is full!"

Kurome and Segami breathed a sigh of relief, and the group soon headed to their coveted taco shop.

"Welcome! What can I serve you?" The funny-faced heroine greeted the four students in a cheery tone.

"We'll wait at a table, you can give us the menus." RED said.

The four walked over to a table by the window, and sat down on the booths. RED slumped her back and placed her arms on the booth, looking over to the proud Nisa who was sitting next to her with her back straight, eyes facing forward.

"Why are you looking at me?" Kurome asked, annoyed.

"Proper posture dictates I must be facing the person in front of me at all times!" Nisa declared.

"Does proper posture also dictate that you place your hands on your sides all the time?" Kurome asked, pointing out the pose Nisa had been doing just now.

Nisa didn't reply, instead she looked at Kurome and fought to hold back a laugh.

Nepgya came over and handed them the menus. Nisa made sure to give thanks while RED winked at her. Kurome picked up a menu and hid her face with it.

"How you doing?" RED asked Segami, who had been quietly looking outside the window, not speaking once since they got inside the taco shop. Nisa was also looking at her.

"Oh?" Segami replied "I was... just thinking."

"How was class?" RED asked Segami, again.

"It was fine. Still don't have any friends, though." Segami said.

"Huh..." Kurome interjected from behind the menu.

"Why is that? Are they bullying you?" Nisa promptly asked, her fist raised.

A phone rang from behind the counter.

"Excuse me my dear customers, I will be back very soon!" Nepgya said, bowed, and ran off to pick up the phone.

*Click*

"This is bad." IF's voice - from our world - called out to Nepgya through the phone "The story is getting sidetracked. Nobody wants to listen to ten minutes of high school drama. Be more assertive. Remember: this is a fic about you selling tacos."

"Roger." Nepgya replied, and put down the phone.

"Uzume, I challenge you!" Nisa shouted back at the table, pointing her finger at the blue-haired heroine.

"Pass." Kurome said, not taking her eyes off the menu. It's probably something dumb.

"Uzume," Nisa repeated, unshaken "I challenge you to an eating contest! Who can eat the most hot tacos?"

"No." Kurome replied.

"Ohhh. Why not?" RED interjected.

"I mean, why would I want to burn my insides and leave my intestines scarred for life?" Kurome said.

"Exactly." RED said.

"That... that would actually be pretty cool." Segami suddenly spoke.

"Cool, huh...?" Kurome asked, looking at her friend Segami.

"Extremely cool." Nisa assured her.

"Super-de-duper cool!" RED added.

And it would cheer Segami up.

"Alright, let's do this!" The teenage high schooler with dark blue hair pressed her hands on the table, and moved her gaze to Nepgya, who was coming back just now.

"Hello, can I get your order?" Nepgya asked.

"Get us two spicy tacos! Extra large!" Kurome exclaimed.

"Onto it!" Nepgya replied, made a military salute, and turned heels.

"Wait! You haven't got my and Segami's order!" RED called out, but it was too late. "Oof... I really wanted a crepe with nutella and smarties." She said sadly, looking at Segami.

"Bad kids get no nutella." Segami said, with a smirk.

"Aww..." RED said, looking down.

"Here are your tacos." Soon enough, Nepgya came back, holding the plates in her hands, and placing them in front of Kurome and Nisa. The two contenders gave a look at their meals, then at each other.

"I'll be the referee." Segami spoke, standing up. "On my three, you start digging on your tacos." She raised her hand. "One. Two. GO!"

The contenders looked at her, unsure on whether or not to start.

"Wow, Sega." Iffy spoke "You're amazing. I have never seen someone fuck up something as simple as counting to three. Sega?"

Segami didn't speak, and just sadly looked at the screen. The two contenders finally resolved to start eating, and Kurome seemed to be having trouble handling the spicy flavour in her mouth, while Nisa stoically munched on.

"Go, Nisa! You can do this, my wifey!" RED shouted.

"Uzume! You can't lose this! So go and make me proud!" Segami incited her.

Kurome tried her hardest to chew through that mouthful, and ignore the burning sensation on her tongue and mouth that was now filling up her nasal cavity. Meanwhile, Nisa finally swallowed, looked at Kurome, smirked, and took a gulp of a water from a plastic bottle. Kurome slowed down, losing hope at the clear disadvantage, but then she remembered Segami's encouragement and decided she would see this race to the end.

...

"I win!" The scarfed heroine proudly declared, as RED cheered and tried to hug her. "I... I need some water." Nisa said, she stood up, moved RED aside, and slowly walked to the counter. RED went after her, and helped her move. Good thing RED is so short, Nisa thought as she rested an arm on her head.

"So... You didn't win." Segami commented, in a neutral tone.

"Heh, I guess not..." Kurome began to speak, her back slumped against the booth with a bloated belly, as she turned her head to RED and Nisa "Hey, girls? Can you get me some of that water, too?" To which RED made an ok sign.

"It's okay, you did your best." The goddess in light blue hair spoke, and made a small smile.

"I... see. Thank you." Kurome said, and laid her head and arms on the table. "Now I can rest in peace."

And with these last words, the delusion began to vanish.

"Hey, why is everything disappearing into thin air?" IF asked, looking at the screen. "I don't get it. Was this supposed to be some kind of dream sequence?" She continued. "Segami." IF turned around. "Segami, why are you crying?"

o-o-o-NEPSTATION-o-o-o

Today's hosts: Neptune and Copypaste

Neptune: Helloooo, ladies and neppermen! Welcome to another episode, of NEEEPstation. Hope you guys are enjoying this fic, even if I, NEP, am not in it.

Copypaste: Why, hello there my good followers and friends through the interwebs! May I share a cup of delicious hot tea with you guys?

Neptune: Whoa, that is one big cup of tea. I could have a shower, or maybe even a full bath with it.

Copypaste: You must refrain, little Neppy. Our network forbids little ones like you from taking a bath on-screen, how very unfortunate.

Neptune: It's okay, Mr. Pasta... I still have the other me for, you know... gathering shares...

Copypaste: So, it is time for us to read our fanmails. Let's see... We got one from Lunagray, one from KL1862, and from a certain... Lady Pasta Heart.

Neptune: Ohhh boy, this is gonna be good.

Copypaste: Well, Lady Pasta, let's see what you have written for us: "It's not a taco stand? She's not wearing a sombrero? 0/10, worst fanfic ever. Wait, but Segami's pointing out IF/CH's laziness? New spirit animal, 10/10, best fic ever. But wait, Blanc doesn't like Dedede? 0/10, worst fic again. Hmm, on the other hand, Blanc also thinks Copypaste should be in the fi-"

WEEEWOOO WEEEWOOO

Neptune: NEP! A sudden alarm with red lights. What is that?

Copypaste: A notification has appeared on the screen. Look!

Yoshizilla-Rhedosaurus is now following Nepgya's Interdimensional Taco Stand

Neptune: ...

Copypaste: ...

Neptune: ...God has entered the chat. I mean... Oh. My. God. Who would've thought our fic would attract the attention of the man himself!

Copypaste: All thanks to the power of creativity and hard-work! Welcome, new friend!

Neptune: This sorta begs the question: what does Yoshizilla, the creator of the original Taco Stand, think about our fic? Is he having trouble following a story that features characters from a franchise that's completely new and unknown to him, or is he having a good time reading it nonetheless?

Copypaste: Worry not, little Neppy, the original Taco Stand is a delightful story featuring many faces. Many, many faces! So I am certain Yoshizilla will be happy to meet and discover even more friends! I'll tell you more: this sense of mystery, of possibility that you have upon approaching something new and unknown, it is one of life's greatest delights!

Neptune: Thank you Mr. Pasta... You know, I was under the impression that you were a disagreeable cranky old robot for a while.

Copypaste: Hahaha! And why would that be?

Neptune: Y'see, we have this sort of running gag on Neppit... Whenever someone made a post on n/gamindustri, this guy with a Copypaste flair would show up and make a comment like "Your fanart is cool and good, yes, but have you heard about OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR COPYPASTE? Your waifu is nothing in comparison to him." You know the title of the latest discussion thread he opened? "CPUs have no reason to exist". Unthinkable! I am a CPU, after all.

Copypaste: Hahaha! Such bravery, such spirit! This is exactly what I would expect from one of my fans. Thank you, little Neppy.

Neptune: Thank you as well. Oh, come here you giant cranky piece of machinery, gimme a hug!

Copypaste: Hah, sure! I hope you can take it.

Neptune: o_o Maybe this wasn't a good idea...