"Honestly, just call me Dri"

When Neptunia reached the Light Orphanage, she was worried and nervous. Which is why she had been staring at the door for the past half hour. When she finally got the courage, she knocked on the door.

The door opened and a woman who was 5ft 11" tall opened the door. She had red hair and brown eyes. She wore a hoodie with a gaming pun on it. She looked down and smiled at Neptunia, "Blue-Purple hair, grey eyes and cute looking girl. You must be Neptunia Black."

Neptunia smiled hesitantly, "H-How'd you know?" Neptunia stammered. Shit, she needs to get control. Neptunia thought. She was sure that the woman would laugh at her for stammering but to her surprise, the woman just smiled, "I got a letter from the officials and the letter you left behind. You were the one who wrote about the boarding school right?" Right, she had left a letter about a 'boarding school'. Neptunia figured that she needed to perform a check on the woman. Mental check. How does that work again? Damn it, she'd have to do the innocent girl act.

Neptunia nodded, "I really like it there, could you please not change it?"

The woman smiled and stepped to the side, "Come in, and besides who said anything about taking you out of that school?"

Neptunia smiled and stepped in. She took a look around. It had changed, it was... homier. It gave off the cosy and happy feeling that it should have given off before. The living or main room had two couches, a recliner, two loveseats and a bean bag or two littered around the room. The wall on the left had a bookshelf which held a variety of books. The woman smiled and went to the kitchen. "Would you like to eat anything?"

Neptunia rubbed the back of her neck and replied in the positive. Neptunia climbed up the stairs, the girls and boys rooms had changed as well. There were bunk-bed that looked like they were straight out of a magazine. And it wasn't anything too girly or too boyish. Neptunia smiled, not playing into gender stereotypes. She was liking this woman more and more. Neptunia walked over to the Bunk-bed that was closer to the window and put her bag on the top bunk. She liked having a vantage point.

Once she climbed it, she noticed that there was a flat table-like platform connected to all the top-bunks in the room. It was slightly raised above the top-bunks and there were drawers underneath the platforms so that they could keep a few things. She got down and went to the side of the room which was connected to the bathroom. There was huge cupboard and they were numbered with empty slips underneath the numbers which Neptunia guessed were for names. There were cupboards for their clothes.And the woman, she seemed just nice in general, from what she could see anyway

Neptunia walked downstairs to see the woman sitting on the sofa watching the T.V (They had a TV now?!). The coffee table in front held a few grilled cheese sandwiches. She walked over and sat down on the bean bag. Wow, this place was amazing. She looked down to see a play-station and a bunch of games to along with it. Neptunia looked over to the woman, "How'd you get this stuff? Everything has changed, we've got wardrobes now? And the mini-library? Video Games? Those are extremely costly! The beds looked like they came from a modern living magazine! I haven't checked out the kitchen yet! How'd you get the officials to do this? It's..." Neptunia paused and looked towards the woman who looked hopeful. Neptunia bit her lip as she sniffed, "It's wonderful. How can I ever thank you?"

The woman smiled and held her arms out for a hug. "Well, you can start by getting to know me and then be a friend?"

Neptunia let out a wet laugh and launched herself into the woman's arms. "Hello, My name is Neptunia Severus Black. I'm a little weird and I'm really smart. I have a few degrees and PhDs and I'm eleven years old, it's because I have an eidetic memory that I finished my courses."

The woman laughed, "I'm Dryah. That's spelt with a D.R.Y.A.H. I'm a chocoholic, I'm a teacher at a kindergarten nearby. And I really love video games, guess you can call me a gamer gal. Honestly, just call me Dri."

Dryah smiled, this sweet little child was just adorable.

Neptunia looked to the side, a hopeful feeling growing in her chest, "I guess I no longer have to work at the cafe or the restaurant anymore, do I?" She looked up to Dryah who shook her head.

"No, I know you're that kind of girl who likes to do whatever. So I need to set some guidelines. Okay?"

Neptunia nodded, "You won't leave will you?"

Dryah frowned, "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

Neptunia shook her head, "No." She took a deep breath, "I have a few friends? They live a bit far off and..." Neptunia trailed off before shaking her head. She looked towards the woman, "Would it be okay if I went to visit them sometimes?"

Dryah nodded and smiled, "Sure, I have a feeling you'd be lonely in the orphanage now. So why not."

Neptunia sputtered, "Lonely? What!?" Neptunia thought back to how all of her ducklings were adopted or fostered and she stilled, "Did anyone else not come in?" She looked towards her current guardian.

Dryah smiled sadly, "Darling, after you left a few kids came and went because of their records and since you weren't here..." Dryah trailed off, the message was clear. Neptunia was torn between sadness and happiness. They all had gotten homes.

Neptunia gulped down the odd feeling in her throat; "I'm happy." Neptunia smiled at the shocked face of the woman in front of her. "I am. Truly, it's been so long since foster kids actually experienced happy homes."

Neptunia got up and grabbed the empty plates and moved towards the kitchen. Dryah got up and took the plates from her. Neptunia looked up startled; Dryah just smiled and took it inside, "Why don't you unpack? I'm sure you have a lot to do. We'll go over the rules later." Neptunia nodded and moved upstairs.

As she sat down on the bed she looked towards the changed rooms and chokes out a strangled sob. Oh; Neptunia thinks, this is what grief must be like. The changed rooms, the empty hallways, no creaky floors to tell her whether someone was coming or not. It changed for the better but the happiness that should have come from it wasn't there, it was drowning. Drowning from the fact that her ducklings that were fostered actually got adopted. And she was happy for them. She was! But she wasn't ready for the fact that she was all alone now.

Neptunia got up and wiped her face. She changed into her favourite hoodie and slid her wand into her sleeve with a leather strap holding it in place. Neptunia figured she could ask Ora to make a holder for her. She took out her sketchbook and drew her first drawing. A drawing of a girl in an empty but well-furnished room, full of bunk beds. For now; that was enough.

There was a knock as Neptunia put the finishing touches on the background sketch. Neptunia looked up to see Dryah, who simply smiled and told her it was dinner time. Neptunia nodded and climbed down. She walked to the cupboard to put her sketchbook inside, and after a thought, she put in her wand as well and sent the bag to her room in 'Occultatum regnum elementis' Which was a mouthful. As they walked down the corridor, Neptunia couldn't help but feel awkward. What was she supposed to talk about? Was she supposed to remain silent? Ask about the weather?!!

"Oh and Darling?"

Neptunia raised an eyebrow, this lady was calling her darling a lot...she'll roll with it. "Yes ma'am?"

Dryah just laughed, "Oh don't call me Ma'am, just me Dri or something. Anyways, I was wondering what are your hobbies. Since it's going to be just the two of us for a while."

Neptunia shrugged before answering, "Reading, art? Music."

Dryah nodded and both of them silently ate their dinner. Dryah seemed to take a bite of her chilli before bursting into flames. She chugged the juice and slammed her cup down. Neptunia laughed. "It's not that spicy you know."

Dryah smiled, "Not to you probably."

After Neptunia was done, she picked up her juice, "Aww, the ice melted."

Dryah smiled, "DO you want some?"

Neptunia shook her head, she didn't want to get a sore throat. She finished her juice and licked her lips. She liked Apple jui-...

How did Dryah know? Neptunia placed the cup down, "Do you like Apple juice?"

Dryah shook her head, "No. I like the pomegranate flavour."

Neptunia nodded, something was fishy, she smiled and placed the dishes in the sink. She had a look in the reflection that she could see. Dryah was staring irritatedly at the ice. The ICE! She chugged hers and Neptunia...oh no.

Neptunia turned around, smiled before abruptly faked a yawn. "Woah! That came out of nowhere."

Neptunia could see the world blurring slightly. But she could still see Dryah's face. "Darling, before you go up. You need to know, Mrs Abigail was killed in an accident, a hit and run by a drunk driver.

Neptunia couldn't focus on any object, the world was shaking. The drug was taking effect and whatever Dryah was saying wasn't helpin but she looked Dryah in the eyes.

She was telling the truth. But ugh.

Neptunia clutched her head as she slid onto the floor. She heard a muffled thud. Where did that come from? What was going on? She didn't want to be here. What...was going to happen?

Dryah stepped closer and her heels...why would she wear heels if she was a gamer? "We'll take care of you darling. Your abilities will be helpful for our cause."

Wh-What? Neptunia looked up. Dryah was smiling...but that didn't look nice. Neptunia couldn't keep her eyes open. "Hushh. Don't worry. You'll be useful."

D.R.Y.A.H...no, she didn't want to be -

And before Neptunia could think any further, she blacked out.

Persephone sneered. Honestly, they sent a person named 'Dryah' to a literal genius with weird elemental abilities and expected her not to see through the fake personality. She took off the hoodie she wore. That was disgusting. And being a chocoholic? Unnecessary.

She took the walkie-talkie out of the pocket. "Target is secure." She made to blow something before she realised she wasn't chewing gum.

"Bring in the subject." a clear and cold voice responded.

"What about the original caretaker?"

"Make sure no one finds the body."

"Yes sir."

Persephone looked at the sleeping girl. Her hair was black. Must be her original hair colour. Persephone smiled, Project Cerberus was finally ready and with the power of elements...Hail HYDRA.