The Neptunia Chronicles

The Dark Corners of the Black Market

Andrew Hawker and Neptune were enjoying a peaceful, quiet evening together in the Basilicom of Planeptune. It had been almost a week since they got married, and they had the day to themselves. Histoire wasn't particularly irritated at the lack of work being done today since... well... there wasn't any to be done. The past crises have calmed down enough that things are returning to normal, and hardly any action was necessary.

"Andrew, Neptune!" Compa called out from the elevator entryway as she walked in with what sounded like grocery bags.

"Coming!" Andrew replied, getting up. "Wait right here, my love. I'll be right back." Andrew cooed lovingly to Neptune, who replied with a smile. As Andrew was walking to see what Compa wanted- POW! Andrew fell to the floor as a ginger-haired girl in a bee-striped tiger suit pounced on him.

"OW!" Andrew shouted as the little girl giggled. "Peashy, I told you, don't pounce on me like that. Had I been near one of those glass railings, you or I could have been seriously hurt!" Andrew yelled authoritatively. Peashy didn't stop giggling, and soon after, Andrew joined in the laughter, rubbing the girl's hair gently. It took both of them a minute to finally calm down.

"Y'know Peashy, the fact that you catch me off guard like this, you could easily be a member of the special forces division." Andrew complimented. "Speaking of which, I wonder how Avan is doing." Andrew muttered to himself. Peashy slowly rises up from on top of Andrew and he gets up as well. Just as Andrew rose to his feet, Histoire came in. "Something the matter, Histoire?" Andrew asked.

"No, just seeing how you're all doing." Histoire replied gleefully. Compa came in with a bit of rosemary chicken, a smile on her face. Nobody noticed the drips that fell on the plate, however.

"I've got dinner ready, just out of the oven. I even went to the market and got some ingredients for homemade pudding." Compa reported. Andrew fell into a slight daze as he smelled the chicken. "Smells good." Peashy shouted as she jumped up and down, trying to take a bite off of the plate Compa had in her hands. "What's all the fuss about?" Neptune asked as she walked in. "Our dinner is ready, Neptune." Andrew said happily.

------

Everyone walked to the table, which was already set up prior to Compa leaving to get groceries, and they sat down.

"Well everyone, go ahead and eat." Compa announced as everyone began to dig in.

"This is good." Andrew said after swallowing a bite. Neptune ate a bit and looked somewhat green.

"I don't feel so good..." Neptune moaned.

"Neptune. Is something wrong?" Histoire asked, a look of worry plastered on her face.

"Is it getting... woah. this is so trippy..." Neptune muttered, her upper body beginning to wobble.

"This doesn't look good. What was on her plate other than the food?" Andrew asked, keeping Neptune in his sight.

"I-I-I-" Compa fumbled. "Oooohhhh! Everyone looks so... big. I'm seeing... double rainbows across the table... Why is the author making me talk like this?" Neptune continued to mutter, before she keeled over and fell off the chair. Andrew got up in a split second and ran to her.

"Neptune! Neptune, are you okay?!" Andrew shouted as he shook her warm, but motionless body. Dead? Andrew began to check for vital signs, and sighs in relief.

"She's got a normal pulse, so poison is out of the picture." Andrew said.

"Oh thank heavens." Compa muttered. Something didn't add up, though. Why did she faint like this after taking a bite of Compa's Rosemary Chicken?