TWOFOLD

"I never loved you..." The voice was nostalgic. It was from someone in the past she held so dear, only to be betrayed in the end.

It echoed throughout the entire place, and everything was pitch black.

"M-mother!-"

"Guu- A dream, huh." whispered the woman with the blonde hair as she sighed. "How long has it been since I last had that kind of dream?"

"We are just a few minutes from our destination. Please check your belongings and make sure everything is fine."

The rough voice from the intercom puts the just then light-headed Fate back into her senses. She's sitting in a seat in the leftmost part of the ship.

"Almost there, hu-" *beep*

An alarm interrupted Fate. "N-Nanoha?" As she answered the call. "I wonder if something's wrong."

"Nanoha, how are you doing? It's very unusu-"

"Don't mind about me." Nanoha's voice seemed to be filled with anxiety. "I don't know why, but I suddenly had this really bad feeling. I couldn't help but check on you. Are you okay? Anything weird happening around you? Nanoha seemed to be on the verge of tears.

"I'm just fine, Nanoha." Replied Fate. "It's just the usual mission. You're worrying too much."

"I-I don't know, Fate-chan. I can't explain why, but I just had a bad feeling about that mission. I can't help but worry about you! Can't you jus-"

"We have arrived at our destination"

Again, the rough voice from the intercom interrupted.

"I-I have to go, Nanoha. Like I said, I'm just fine. Don't worry too much about it."

"O-okay, take care, Fate-chan. I love you." As Nanoha replied with her voice starting to get rough from being about to cry.

"Yeah, me too. Bye."

-•-

"So you're the agent the Bureau sent, huh. And you're a woman."

"Yes. Agent Fate Testarossa Harlaown reporting."

"Tch. Testarossa, huh." The man suddenly clicked his tongue.

"Is this guy somewhat related to..." as Fate thought in her mind, keeping her cool, tried to ignore it.

"A-anyway. Everything used to be fine in this area until two weeks ago. We have been receiving assaults on our crews at random places. We want you to keep a check on that, who OR what the perpetrators are, and their purpose."

"Understood." As Fate replied with confidence.

"If you get it, then leave." Replied the man starting to get grumpy. "This guy will show you to your room. Your luggage are already delivered there as well."

"Yes, I understand."

And the two left the room.

-•-

The hallways are wide. There are windows every meter. Outside, you can see a very busy scenery. People doing their jobs, cargoes being delivered, lift trucks, buildings. It was the sight of a typical base.

"So, you're the famous Agent Harlaown, huh?" Says the young guy in a soft voice.

"What was that?" Fate replied in question.

"I said, so you're that famous agent a lot of people were talking about."

"Y-yes?"

"You're pretty well known, you know?" A woman working as an agent, beautiful, intelligent, and really strong. Even my sister wants to be like you." Says the young man with great enthusiasm. "Can I get a picture together with you later?"

There's nothing great about me, really." Fate responded in a down voice.

"Oh come on, don't be so modes-" *BANG*

A huge sound was heard. The ground suddenly started to shake, as if something big from the sky fell, causing an aftershock.

*WANG* *WANG*

The alarms sounded off.

"W-we're directly under attack?" The young man, who had very little in experience, started to panic and ran off.

"Get a grip of yoursel-" *THUD* *THUD*

Debris of the building fell on top of the young man, squashing him into bits. Blood was all around the floor.

"Ugh." Fate reacted, with remorse on her face.

*BOOM*
More explosions were heard and the building was collapsing more and more. Debris were falling on top of Fate.

"Bardiche!"

"Yes sir."

*BANG*

Fate fired off at the debris falling on top of her, and makes a way out.

"J-just what is happening?" Fate wondered in her thoughts as she escapes of the now reduced to ruins base she was supposed to stay for the mean time. "Everything is just ridiculous. It's just too massive for something so random. And they managed to stay undetected until no-"

Fate was suddenly left speechless at the sight of everything in front of her. Everyone was in disorder, everything was in chaos. For a supposed to be base, nothing was standing. Countless numbers of bodies are lying on the ground.

"T-this is..."

Fate, speechless and unable to move, was trying to process everything that which is in front of her.

*BZZ* *BANG*

"Protection"

Something fired at Fate. She was startled to see something that was very familiar. It was something like a sphere of energy with electricity flowing around. Yes, it was similar to what she used to use.

Then a figure suddenly came rushing at her.

*FLASH MOVE*

The figure moved so fast, Fate was having a hard time keeping up with it. She can even barely see it. She had no choice but to dodge by intuition.

"S-so you're the one who did this." Fate mumbled as she tried to retaliate.

"Zanber Form"

*CHIG* *CHIG* Bardiche reloads cartriges, and changes its form to a magnificent broadsword.

*CLANK* *CHINK*

Sparks fly around as Fate exchange blows with the unknown figure, always moving too fast to exactly see how it looks like. But something was bothering Fate. The way they fight seems so familiar. She can read and understand her opponent's move, but at the same time, it was the same case for her opponent. It was an evenly matched fight. Little by little, Fate manages to get a glimpse of what that mysterious figure looked like. She's seen enough to see that the weapon was a scythe. The more she gets a view of the figure, the more anxiety fills Fate.

"Haken Saber"

Fate was taken by surprise as a very familiar voice spoke as the move was initiated. It was the move she used to do. Not only that, but the voice was also the same as hers.

"Protection" *CLANK*

Fate parries the boomerang that was aimed at her.

"W-what did just-"

The figure suddenly rushed at Fate, who was still stunned by the turn of events.

*SLASH* *SPLURT*

Blood was flying over the air. Fate, who was still trying to process which is which, was fatally wounded somewhere along her stomach.

"U-UGH!" Fate tries to cover her wound with her left hand, but the blood was flowing continuously. Pain was inevitable. "Hah... Hah..." Fate started to pant, as the figure, who used to keep moving continuously, came to a halt.

"J-just w-what..." Fate is shocked by yet another revelation as she saw that mysterious figure's form. The anxiety just grows bigger. Fate was overwhelmed at that figure that is standing in front of her. That silhouette. That golden hair. Those captivating red eyes who seems to be suffering from deep agony. That black barrier jacket. That cape.

*SPLURT*
"UGH!" Fate pukes out some blood. "Who are you?"

The figure that looked exactly like she was few years ago was in front of her, silent and looking down, coldly with those eyes that seemed to be burning at Fate who seem to fall anytime soon.

-•-