Inu Fate

By Yoko Shizuma

Disclamer: I do not own Magical Lyrical Nanoha or any of its properties and characters. They are owned by their rightful distributors.

Chapter 1: Friend or Foe?

I've been running. Running as fast as my little paws can carry me. She is after me again and this time I will make sure I will get far away from her. It was my mother. She was a cruel woman with a sick sadistic side. You see I'm a dog. But my mother is a human. I was apparently a human at one point of time in my life but I can't recall. I had just escaped from my mother's science lab and I am running for dear life. I can hear people chasing after me. The stupid collar that's around my neck helps them track me down and because I don't have hands I can't take it off.

I can't stand being there anymore and I'm not going back this time. I love my mother…but…for some reason she just doesn't seem like…she likes me. I remember when she looked at me when I was still a human and gave me a disgusting look. It hurt but I thought maybe if I tried hard at being a good daughter things might become better…but instead they turned worse. Now that I am a little older and feel that things between us must change I have been escaping constantly. Every time I do escape I get found, captured, and beaten. I don't understand why mother hates me so much…so much so that she had to turn me into a dog. So much so that she won't even give me a complement when I do the experiments she makes me do right. Anything.

Something snapped inside me. Today is when my world came crashing down my friend who was like a sister to me, Arf couldn't stand to see me being tortured anymore. She told me that I deserve happiness and that even though my mother gave me life that doesn't mean that she can abuse me or take my happiness away. She would encourage me every night, take care of me and lick my wounds when I was badly hurt. Arf would stay by my side day in and day out as the tests went on. But…today was the day I may not see Arf Ever again. She made a sacrifice to help get me out of the lab by going wild attacking the assistant, distracting them while I made my way out. Today was different from any other day because this will be the day I won't get caught. This will be the day I will be free. And even though I am not human anymore its better then being stuck in that place that I use to call home. My eyes began to become clouded with water as my golden paws ran though the brush. I'm not sure what happened to Arf but I will not let her sacrifice go to waist or be in vain. I will figure out a way to get her, turn back into a human somehow and make things right. If it weren't for her I don't know if I could live on.

As I run I noticed there were hunting dogs and a few other security guards with guns following me. I pushed forward not caring where my four paws took me. I heard one dog catching up to me and it jumped on the back of my neck and threw me down. I tumbled towards a bush but immediately got up and scratched the bigger hound on the nose. He squeaked but lunged at me and I jumped away in time. Even though I'm a dog I have special agility and powers unlike any other being. The larger K-9 gave out a howl that seemed to create a wave of sound that knocked me over. Unfortunately I forgot that most of the dogs or any animal at the science lab ….also had powers of some sort. This one was a loud one. I got hit with the sound blast and the bigger hound grabbed the side of my body with his teeth and bit down hard causing me to yelp in utter pain. This dog didn't think I was a play mate…but more of a play thing that was going to get destroyed if I didn't do anything about it. While he started to shake me like a rag doll I some how managed to paw some dust in his face causing him to become temporarily blinded. He yipped again and I bit his front paw and then bit his nose causing him to scream, yelp and bite wildly even though he could only see darkness. I slipped away from him in his disoriented state and ran towards a small cliff. I stopped so I could observe my options. Right when I was about to attempt to climb down the small cliff the big hound dog charged at me with a vengeance. I held my ground and came up with a swift idea as he lunged at me, I quickly lay on my back and kicked him with my back legs in the chest hauling him over the cliff. Panting and relived that he was gone I checked over the cliff to see where his body would be. The water below had made a big splashing noise and I thought my chase was over. But I was wrong, the battle had took a toll on me and the group of men that were following caught up. I took the risk and jumped off the cliff heading to the water below. I curled up into a ball so that the impact of the water wouldn't be so bad but I ended up blacking out.

When I woke up I was cold, wet, and feeling weak. I started to stand up and it took all of my strength and will power to stand up on all my legs. I began to walk but my back leg was cut open and I began to limp but collapsed. I whimpered but focused my mind and pushed forward. I didn't know where I was and I didn't care. I just knew that I was better off figuring out what to do then getting brutally tortured every day for science. Looking around with tired eyes I noticed that I seemed to be in a small river that had a bridge, the shore that I was on had sand and grass as I limped I saw children riding their bikes and laughing as they rode by, they started me and I skittered under the bridge. It was getting dark so I curled up and fell asleep once more. Seeing as I wasn't a normal creature my wound should heal enough for me to move on tomorrow.

When I woke up I was hungry, very hungry. Getting up and partially stretching I slowly stood up. My body hurt more then I had thought but it didn't matter. I began to walk slowly from my resting spot and walked for a while. Managing to get out of the little canal I began to look up and glance at my surroundings. I seemed to have dropped into a city. Not sure where but I made the best of it.

Walking for an extremely long time I heard running, as I passed though an open alley way. I saw a girl with a side pony tail run and jump over a garbage can, as it fell over a man and a dog were following her yelling at her. For some reason my curious nose wanted to know the situation so I slowly followed them. The girl with the side pony tail turned a corner and the man and dog persued. I began to pick up my speed and stopped and peeped around the corner and noticed she was trapped in the alley way.

"So you going to give me your money today or what?" The man with greasy hair and wife beater said.

"Ha if I gave it to you, you would probably spend it on drugs and hookers then probably die in your own vomit. Nyahahah. That's a waste of my money if you ask me." The girl said in a smart alec manner.

"Why you little bitch! Let's teach her a lesson Duke get her!" The dog charged at her but I took the opportunity to push myself and ram myself into the Doberman looking dog. Scratching biting and tumbling in a dust cloud of a fight, I made sure that this so called Duke wouldn't harm the girl. I didn't know what came over me but I felt the need to help her. As we fought the girl ran up to them man and made a spin hook kick to his face braking his jaw, punching him in the stomach and kicking him in the groin. The man doubled over in pain. While she was fighting the other dog had bit my leg that I had hurt the other night and after yelping in pain I turned around and bit his small tail so hard I ripped it off. Duke yelped like a little baby and I bit his throat and threw him into a pile of garbage. The dog got up and yipped and screamed running away. The man lay on the ground unconscious.

I decided to take my leave when the girl approached me."Oh my gosh you helped me! You must be some kind of wonder dog." She came closer and I became scared and my ears folded back. And I began to growl.

"Shhh its okay don't be afraid I won't hurt you." She kneeled down to my level and extended her hand. Her voice was gentle and calming...not like the people who handled me before. Should I trust her? Something deep down inside told me that I should. But for some reason still my fear took over. She came closer to me and reached her hand out and touched under my chin. She smelled heavenly like lavender and fresh flowers. Due to the lack of water, food, energy and my senses becoming over whelmed, all that I could remember was darkness.

Is this a dream? Am I dead? I smelled something very familiar, it was calming and ...nice. My ears twitched as I heard a small pitter patter of rain drops, as well as a gentle song tickling my ears. I felt something warm wrapped around me as if I were lying on a fluffy cloud. As I opened my eyes fully It looked like we were in a kitchen of some sort. I then noticed that girl from the ally way was sitting up with a blanket around her, humming a soft tune while she was looking out the window. She had a tranquil look on her face. I felt strange. Usually when other humans are around they poke me with sharp objects while I'm in a cage but...this girl...no…woman...is sitting and watching over me. I felt very thirsty and noticed a bowl of water near me. I went to sit up and walk towards it but the girl with the pony tail heard me whimper a little bit and gently put her hand on my back so I would lay down again.

"Hey there girl don't get up, your very weak from that courageous fight." She moved the bowl closer to my muzzle so I could drink and I began to lap down the cool, cold refreshing water. After I drank the whole bowl of water she spoke again, "You're a strange mutt running up and saving me like that." She scooted closer to me and was about to touch my head but for some reason I became scared again. I wasn't sure if she would turn on me or hit me so I closed my eyes and moved my head away from her but no blow came, just a soft hand caressing my head. I opened my eyes as she pet my head gently. "I don't have any intentions on hurting you." She stroked my head ever so gently and picked off a piece of crust from my face. I never let anyone touch my face. What's going on here? "Well…you must be something very special to be helping me. No human or animal has helped me like that before until today. Even though I took out that stupid guy I don't think I could have taken out his dog duke like you did. Duke has bitten me before…it wasn't so nice." The girl then proceeded to scratch behind my ear and made my eyes roll back into my head with pleasure. Never had I thought I would feel so good from being touched by someone. She continued to speak, "I know this sounds strange…and I don't know if you can understand me but I want to thank you. For helping me."

She …thanked me? She thanked me. No one has ever…not even my mom has thanked me even when I thought I did something right. I looked up into her eyes wiggled my tail and nuzzled her hands to try to let her know some how that I understand.

"Nyahhahah by doing that it makes me think you do understand." She sighed and continued to pet me while looking at the rain. She seemed very lonely.

"Well…that aside my name is Nanoha Takamachi. I've been living on my own for a while. I'm actually kind of glad that you crossed my path." She sighed and looked at me again. "So I wonder what your name is? You have a pretty blond color and you kind of look like a collie. But I don't think collies are brown and gold. Princess? NO wait I know !"

Ms. Mutt wow she could ramble. I made a displeased sneeze at that comment, but at least she gave me a name. "You don't like Ms. Mutt eh? Nyahahah."

"I wonder what your name is." She began to massage my neck until she felt my collar that was deep within my fur, "Oh well it looks like we might be able to find out who you are and where you came from." She rubbed the hard leather metal piece. It hurt like hell to be around my neck. It was super tight but by focusing my mind off the pain I was always able to forget about it.

"Oh wow…this feels….horribly tight and tense." She moved more fur away and tried to move the collar but seeing as it was so tight it wouldn't budge and I whimpered. "Oh no…does it hurt?" I whimpered again. I would fight her to make her stop but…that strange feeling of trusting this odd girl named Nanoha kicked in again. "Don't worry Girl I'll be right back, this might be worse then I thought." She got up and came back with a bowl of water and a tackle box with other supplies. I saw a needle in the clear box and began to panic. I thought I could trust her…but it looks like she is just one of those crazy science guys that jab me every day. I tried to get up as she moved it toward me and I growled at it and she noticed my panic.

"Shhh oh no girl don't worry I won't hurt you." I started to get up but collapsed on the ground. I was still very tired and I would do anything to try and get away from that needle. "Okay, Okay I'll take it away oh my. Hmm….how will I do this with out you having pain. I know!" she got up and came back again with another blanket. She covered my eyes and I began to shake. What is she going to do? Is she going to hurt me like mother did? I thought I could trust her. I began to pant wildly but stopped when I felt something soft under my chin and her hand rubbing my floppy ear. She began to sing a song. It….was…all so strange to me… I know I helped this woman but why would she help me? The song helped me calm down and I forgot about what the problem was. I heard a quick sniping noise and I whimpered just a little bit. She calmed me down by telling me that it was okay and then slowly removed my collar.

"Its okay girl I got it off. Oh my gosh…who would do this to you?" When she removed the collar there were little spikes inside the band that had pierced into my skin a long time ago. It was a way to control me but I would not fall into those stupid scientists hands. "Oh my gosh…who the hell would do this to a dog?" She cut the hair around my neck while still singing and keeping a calm form. I had a feeling she didn't want me to panic which I was very close to doing. That collar hurt. BADLY. When she finally finished removing it, she rubbed my head again in small circles and said "this may hurt a little bit okay girl" Gently she washed my wound which caused me to whimper again. I didn't know what to do at this point. Pain was all around but then a cool cream was put over my neck and there was relief again. She removed the towel from my eyes and she had a smile on her face, "There all better! That wasn't so bad was it?" I wiggled my nose and to show my gratitude I licked her hand while my head was still in her lap. "Oh you're welcome" she then rested her head on top of mine and said, "No one should treat a sweat heart such as yourself like this. You deserve more."

Deserve more? I didn't understand. But seeing as my body hurt I couldn't concentrate on all the questions swirling in my head. I watched the young woman as she examined my collar and furrowed her face in disgust. Blood and fur riddled the beat up strap of leather. She turned it around and looked up side down to see what was on it.

"Hmm...What is this? Fate...#050...industry...something. I can't seem to make out the rest..." I watched her with sleepy eyes as she looked at my former shackle. "Is your name...Fate?" I wiggled my tail and licked her, as my way of saying yes when she brought it down to my muzzle. "Nyahahaha Fate. What a nice name. Well Fate it looks like I will be taking care of you from now on. Who ever...had owned you previously...obviously didn't treat you right." She got up put the collar in a plastic bag and rested it on the kitchen counter. She left the room again and brought more blankets and an extra pillow to make a better nesting spot for her next to me. Then she scooted next to me lifted my head up once again, put the pillow in her lap and she rested my head on the pillow. I felt as if I could melt. She pulled the small blanket that was now ruffled further against my body and rested her hand on my side while her other one rested on top of my head. New feelings arose within me. What could they be? I couldn't get over this woman's kindness, how warm she is, how soft her touch is, how kind and sweet her voice is. Never in my life have I been treated this way... especially by a stranger. I heard her stifle a yawn and look back out side the window.

"Another rainy day but this time...I'm not so lonely. Rest well Fate I will take care of you tomorrow." With that said she hummed her song from before and my eyes became heavy as I drifted off to sleep.

-End of Chapter 1

Authors notes: Hello everyone this is my first fanfic. I had a dream about Fate being a dog and Nanoha taking care of her a while ago and I thought I'd put my thoughts and dreams to paper. Just so everyone knows there will be NO BEASTIALITY in this story what so ever so don't even think for a second. And lastly I'd like to thank Sammy-Chan for helping me with the story. She's an awesome person as well as an awesome writer! Rock on Sammy! Tell me what you guys think of the story thus far. And last but not least thank you for reading. Have a good one!