Standard disclaimer applies. I have no beta, so read at your own risk. Please don't sue me if your eyes start bleeding from my terrible writing skills ;)

Colors of the Sky

"All things pass in the world, but never
Sorrow." --Algernon Charles Swinburne

Prologue

Woke from Dreaming

She was dreaming, and what a sweet, deliciously perfect dream it was. She dreamt of that which she lost. The person who meant more to her than her own self. She would happily give up her life if it would mean that the other's could be saved. Her dream was of cherished memories from their shared past, and yet…

"Nanoha?"

…somehow, the more she tried to stay within those happy times, the more they seemed to slip away.

"Nanoha, look at this!"

Like water, no matter how hard she tried to cusp the memories in her hands, they slipped away, in slow, agonizing streams.

"Hey, Nanoha…"

It was painful, at first.

"…have you ever thought about love?"

Almost amusing, really. They both didn't know how to express their feelings. Each afraid of creating an irreparable gap between them, they stumbled over each other, struggling, until one day it happened unexpectedly.

"I guess…I mean, I love my parents, and I love my brother, and my sister…Why do you ask, Fate-chan?"

"Not that 'love', Nanoha…the kind of love…two people share. The love that is theirs alone."

"Fate-chan?"

"The kind of love that…you and Yuuno share?"

"What?"

Every time she would remember, she would laugh. They would laugh together at their childish mistakes. The embarrassment they had felt.

"With Yuuno?"

"Nanoha, don't pretend to not understand!"

"Fate-chan?"

"You're always like this. So…innocent and…it's cruel…"

"Fate-chan? Fate-chan! What's wrong? Stop crying…"

"How can I, Nanoha? How can I when a part of me dies every time you smile for him? Don't you understand?"

Of course, it had started with tears. Fate hadn't understood how to convey her feelings at the time, and Nanoha had been so, so afraid to frighten her with an emotion that she had never really experienced.

"I'm…in love with you, Nanoha."

"—"

She had always thought she would be the one to take the predominant role, but how wrong she was. The blonde parted their lips softly, her cheeks stained with tears. It was only afterward that Nanoha realized that it had probably been Fate's first kiss…and hers as well.

"…I'm sorry. I'll leave tomorrow, so please just…forget about me."

"What are you talking about, Fate-chan? I don't— "

"I won't bother you again."

"Fate! Wait!"

"Nano—"

"You idiot, you stupid, stupid idiot!"

That was the first time they had held each other that intimately. Everything seemed right, somehow. They didn't notice the passage into night or the tearstains on their clothes. And when they did, they didn't care.

"I love you, too. For the longest time, I have."

"Nanoha."

Their lips had touched again, and their hearts became whole. From that day forward, those around them noticed slight changes. They started shyly, merely holding hands or sitting closer to each other than usual. Eventually their courage grew, and they openly displayed their affection. By the time they were sixteen, they had announced to their friends and family what everyone had known all along. Three years had passed, and each day their love grew. When they joined Division Six, they were overjoyed. No more separation. It had been wonderful.

"Nanoha."

She didn't want to wake up.

"Nanoha, come on."

Because waking up would mean that she would remember.

"I'm going to leave you if you don't wake up, Nanoha." A teasing, loving voice whispered to her.

I hear you…wait a minute…

"Na-no-ha…"

Wait for me, I'm coming! I'll be up in just a moment—

"Goodbye, Nanoha…"

No, don't leave! You can't—

"I'm sorry…"

FATE!!!

Right then. Personally, I don't like long author notes, so I'll keep this short. This fic has been bouncing around inside my head and driving me crazy, so I had to buckle down and get it out. Thanks to Satashi for giving me permission to, uh.."borrow" a certain plot origin. This was originally part of a veeery long Chapter 1, but I decided to split it. Thanks for reading, and I hope you'll stick around until the end.

Read and Review, please!