Lyrical Nanoha: Belkan Pride

Chapter 2: Gruesome Graduation

Fate sat poking at her breakfast of a spinach and cheese omelets and orange juice. Nanoha made a face of frustration before standing and leaning over the table and waving a hand in her friend's face. The blonde Enforcer gasped and started, nearly knocking over the glass of juice. Vivio watched with a slight measure of concern. She knew that sometimes Fate-mama got broody but this wasn't a normal introspection. The fact that it was getting on Nanoha-mama's nerves made it all the more clear to her.

"Fate-chan! This is too much, what's bugging you to the point of killing your appetite? Normally you finish before I do."

The woman looked apologetically at her childhood friend and then down at the crossed hands in her lap. Picking up her glass, she quaffed half its contents before trying to talk.

"Sorry Nanoha, I talked with Signum late last night. She had a lot on her mind and she won't even tell Hayate or the others."

Nanoha paused, this wasn't something she had anticipated so she couldn't rebuff her friend for being pouty like usual. Taking a seat again, she propped a cheek in hand and leaned on her elbow, waiting for details. It wasn't often that things disturbed the sword master of the Wolkenritter.

"Then what's on her mind?"

"I don't think it'd be considerate if Hayate's not here. Besides, I promised Signum I'd keep silent unless she told me it was okay. Please Nanoha-chan, I've never seen her this way."

The concern that crossed Fate's facial features made Nanoha draw back a bit. She hadn't seen her like this since she had worried over her recovery rehab six years ago. Something in the back of her mind told to let it go. It would probably come into the open in the future anyway. Signum wasn't foolish enough to let something get to her to the point of harming others. Closing her eyes, she nodded once, giving Fate an understanding nod of her head.

"Fine, I'll let it go. But!" She leaned forward again and placed her index finger on her friend's nose. "You don't need to suffer because of it! Now finish your breakfast or I'll force you to eat it."

Fate laughed at the thought. Knowing Nanoha, she knew the brunette would follow through on it without hesitation. As much as she would have liked to see the woman to do just that, Vivio was in the room. She sighed and picked up her fork and began to eat her food in earnest; satisfying her friend for the time being. The hetero-chromed daughter of theirs smiled and dug back into her own breakfast; even going so far as to eating the peppers without a fuss if it kept them happy.

"Master, the time is 08:40."

"Eh?!" Glancing down at her watch, Nanoha dropped her fork and went straight into panic mode. "EWHAA? Oh no! I'm late for the ceremony!"

Nanoha rushed out of the room with Raising Heart right behind her frantic master.

"Master!"


In the medical ward, Signum and Vita were finishing their morning check up routine with Shamal. The teal green haired woman fussed incessantly over Vita as usual. The little Wolkenritter shrugged her shoulders as she finished donning her TSAB uniform. Waving the peer's concern off, she marched out of the room with Graf Eisen in hand. It was almost time for her to rejoin Nanoha for the morning's training sessions with all the new mage recruits. Looking down at Levantine in her palm, she shook her head of the thoughts running through her mind. A gentle hand on her shoulder told her Shamal had taken notice of her mood.

"You had the dream again didn't you?"

"It was more detailed this time. I remembered his last words to me before the transition ceremony. Shamal . . . do you remember his last words to you? He did speak with all of us separately."

Shamal placed a hand to her chin in thought. She had been the final one he had spoken to all those years ago. Part of her recalled how she'd seen a rare emotion in his eyes that night. Regret.

"He told me to watch over everyone and not to push myself too hard. He always was concerned as I never was a frontlines fighter like you or Vita, or even Zafira. He even worried about the first Reinforce and her well being."

Signum nodded and got up from the bedside. Putting on her coat, she finished straightening her tie before walking toward the door.

"I see."

Exiting, she saw Erio standing with Cairo and her dragon. Sighing with a small smile, she nodded in their direction. He hadn't stopped sparring with her on the rare occasion that they visited from the special wildlife habitat station they'd been reassigned too. Part of her was beginning to truly enjoy the exercises. He learned extraordinarily fast though she always held back her trump moves. Particularly the Hiryu Issen and Karyu Issen which she had developed under Omega's tutelage back then. After she garnered the ability to perform Union with Agito, she made sure never to use Karyu Issen, as her fiery powers had suddenly experienced a permanent power up from their first battle as one unit.

Even sparring with Fate on the rare occasion saw Signum holding back her fire based powers due to the inexplicable increase. Shamal hadn't been quite able to figure it out either, but didn't see any harmful repercussions of the boost. Hayate and Rein Zwei hadn't noticed any irregularities either, and so, life continued as normal.

"Good morning Sub Commander Signum."

"Please, it's just Signum Erio. You're technically not on duty are you?"

The young boy had grown as had Cairo. The two of them were blooming much like Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate had during that time in their lives. Subaru was now an official Striker for the TSAB and was frequently on call saving innocent lives or doing this or that around Midchilda. Meanwhile, Teana had moved up and onward to become a Enforcer team leader and headed up her own squad. Rather, more accurately, would be selecting her squad from the next graduating class of trainees being taught by Nanoha.

"Yes ma'am. Is this a bad time to ask for a training bout?"

"Unfortunately yes, Teana is about to select her remaining members for her four man cell of Enforcers today at the graduation. Would you like to join me?"

The two young TSAB members looked at each other with a slight measure of apprehension.

"Is that allowed?"

Allowing herself a small grin, she nodded and the two youngsters eagerly joined her in walking to the graduation grounds. Approaching the location, they noticed a winded Nanoha undoing her Barrier Jacket's Sacred Mode. Returning to her instructor uniform, the group grinned.

"Flight and Combat Instructor Takamachi late for an official ceremony? Sign of the times Nanoha."

The brunette puffed her cheeks out and waved her hands side to side.

"I got distracted."

"Master, it's time."

Smoothing her expression over, Nanoha made note of Erio and Cairo.

"You two can follow us out. Fate and Hayate aren't able to make it."

Nodding, they joined the two in walking out to the center of the stage. Nanoha's class this time was unusually large. Vita had asked Signum to assist due to the unruly size. Teana was also present off to the side. The three of them stopped at their respective seats alongside Vita as Nanoha made her way to the podium. She beamed at her class.

"Everyone, this is a special day for you all . . ."


High up above the processions a lone individual with gray cloak wearing a worn emblem with burnt portions watched with a feeling akin to disgust.

"Look at them, happily becoming pawns to a rotten and fetid system. Give them a wakeup call, but don't kill them. Scaring them half to death is more than enough for now."

The three individuals took their combat posts.

"My friend, stay here with Tigra. I'll go. You've yet to recover all your powers unlike us."

"Very well Astra. My apologies, you have to do double the work."

Tigra looked at him with a small smile.

"It's alright; you've got more complex abilities than the two of us do. It's only natural that you're not up to snuff yet. I think we can handle an instructor, her helpers and a flock of greenhorns."

"Don't be too sure of yourself, I think I recognize two of them down there."

Looking down at the group down below, Tigra activated her device. Her wristband elongated and shifted until the great bow was fully deployed. She herself stood at five-eight and the bow was a massive eighty inches; making it just shy of seven feet.

"Verhöckern Sie Flügel (Hawk Wing)."

"Jawohl. Heckenschütze Modus (Sniper Mode)."

Around her eyes a transparent crimson set of shades projected targeting data and gave her a close up view of the stage in detail. The instructor speaking didn't seem all that threatening, in fact she appeared more motherly than a harsh combat instructor. Granted that also had the possibility of a fierce fighter should she feel her loved ones were in danger. She made note to tread carefully with that one. The others surprised her, they were so young.

"They deploy such young people to combat units. Is that wise? One of them even looks like she's . . . Mein Got!"

"What?" The two men looked at Tigra in surprise. It was rare to hear her swear.

"Link with me, I think this just got personal."

They strengthened their bonds until they were able to see what Tigra was able to. The images her mind projected made the third member's mouth dry out. Clenching a fist, he glared.

"Astra. Change of plans my friend."

"I know, Tigra, we go on your shot."

"Flugel."

"Engelhaftes Gesetz (Seraphic Law)."


Down below Nanoha was about ready to present her first graduates when Raising Heart rose up above her. Curious, she looked up above her device before setting up her Barrier Jacket out of reflex.

"Round Shield."

The pink lattice work of runes enlarged and engulfed the grounds before a column of bright energy slammed into the shielding magic. Screams echoed as graduates flinched away from the magical assault. Signum and Vita stood, their devices activating their Armor.

"Eingefetteten Blitz (Greased Blitz)!"

The centermost group of students went flying as a neon blue flash of energy crashed through the lapse in the Round Shield as the bombardment attack faded out. In the center of the aftermath, the single figure that appeared glanced about him as a few of the mage graduates drew their staves against him. Lifting his sword to his face, he kissed the cross guard.

"Grimhrist."

"Ja?"

"Combat Level 3."

"Understood."


On the stage, Vita recognized the jeweled Intelligence Device with shock. Signum also grit her teeth at the man's presence. He was a trusted knight of the King of Belka. Astra Bedivere the Knight of Merlin as some called him for his association with the arch mage of times past. He was a master of magic yet commanded considerable skill with his blade. Vita drew Graf Eisen.

"Don't fight him!"

"You have a different problem Iron Knight Vita."

The red head spun to see a short hafted axe flying at her from above. Graf Eisen projected his surrounding shield around her without waiting for her command.

"Panzer Schild!"

The weapon collided with her defensive measure with a shower of sparks and the shrieking of metal. The weapon recoiled from the impact and the man spun. Erio and Caro cheered only to gasp as the axe disappeared into thin air only to be replaced with a warhammer with a long haft section which he gripped with both hands.

"Hammer Smasher."

The bludgeoning weapon smashed into her shields and the red barrier cracked, then shattered and sent the small knight flying past Nanoha, who was trying to dodge shots from above while returning fire with her Crossfire Shoot. Signum brought Levantine to bear and charged. The weapon ejected two cartridges and sheathed itself in flames as she brought the weapon up in a cleaving rising slash.

"Shiden Issen!"

"Drache Blitz (Dragon Flash)!"

Two blades locked and a pillar of fire from the two shot into the air several feet before dissipating, leaving sparking, naked blades combating for superiority. Signum looked her opponent in the eye and swallowed a bitter feeling. This was the last situation she ever wanted to find herself in. The hammer was gone, now a long sword rested in his hands.

"Master Omega."

"This is disheartening . . . Signum."

Flipping their lock in a circle, they disengaged, each of them sliding back away from the other before setting themselves into combat ready stances again. The pink haired woman noticed out of the corner of her eye that Astra was merely playing around with the graduates that were really trying to fight him. Vita shakily stood from her destroyed landing spot several meters away. The girl was using Eisen like a crutch. Rapidly approaching footfalls made her tense.

"Don't come any closer! Go to Vita!"

"But Signum!" The voice was coming from Teana. Judging from the number of footsteps that stopped Erio and Caro were also with her.

"But nothing Teana. He's too much for you three even working together! Help Vita . . . I have . . . I have a feeling he wants to speak to me."

The group looked to Vita, then to Signum and back at the mysterious attacker. Erio already had Strada and his Barrier Jacket out and ready.

"Signum!"

"No Erio! If you tried to help and got hurt I could never forgive myself. Fate care's about you too much, I can't do that to her. Please check on Vita."

"What about you?!"

Her grip tightened on Levantine. Sheathing the weapon, she brought the covered weapon over and behind her back. The triangular magic emblem of Belkan magic formed under her feet. Erio and the others flinched. They'd never seen the technique she was about to use, but Fate had told them about it. The thought of her using the Hiryu Issen without building up to it was foreboding about the opponent she faced.

"The Hiryu Issen so soon Signum? Getting a bit excited are we? Very well."

The long sword disappeared and was replaced by a bastard sword that he raised to the sky. Magical energy began to gather in the weapon and shine pure white. A silver Belkan triangle formed beneath him. Teana's eyes grew wide.

"He's a Belkan Knight?!"

"N-not just any knight." The trio looked to Vita who stood on wobbly legs with a ticked expression. "He's one of the exclusive Knights. We Wolkenritter once served under him."

Realization of Signum's earlier warning rang in Erio and the other's minds as they watched her unleash the Hiryu Issen. Just as the attack of Levantine was about to make contact, the man brought his sword down and a bright, blinding flash shot from the blade like a crescent wave. The energy rushed through her strike, batting aside the chain link blade whip and colliding with her Panzer Geist. The energy split as it rushed around her. The resulting aftermath was a pair of five foot deep chasms on either side of her.

"Halbmond Blitz (Crescent Flash)."

"Yeah! She's alright!"

The man released his sword to the air and clapped slowly. He wore a small smile of satisfaction. Erio and Caro wore confused looks. Vita swallowed roughly as she recognized his expression. He was pleased. It'd been awhile since she'd seen that.

"I'm impressed Signum. That used to drop you to one knee. You've improved quite a bit. You have as well Levantine. That strike nearly connected before I could fire my attack."

"Danke."

The sword reappeared and the man took it in both hands before setting himself. Signum did the same and Erio noticed she'd lowered herself to the same stance. He tightened the grip on Strada and the spear echoed.

"He is powerful; multiple magical signatures surround the opponent."

Erio was about to ask what he meant when the man lunged at the same instant as the Sword Knight. Teana took the opportunity with the swordsman busy to check on the students. What she saw both horrified and pleased her. Three individuals were still standing a girl and two guys. The girl was an obvious mage and the guys were obviously more like Enforcers than true pure mages like Hayate. However, all the rest were down for the count. None of them appeared too seriously injured, though they were all obviously exhausted to unhealthy levels. The man wore a half cloak over his left shoulder and kept his form perfect. His cloths were still pristine.

"You three disengage! You can't take him!"

Raising her Cross Mirage with dual gunner mode active, she fired twice.

"Shoot Barrel: Barret F."

The homing shots zoomed toward the man who avoided them with ease. As the shots curved around to reorient themselves, she readied her next course of action. The two barrels fired bursts of energy.

"Crossfire Shoot!"

The spheres of the energy barrage jetted toward Astra, who took to the air upon seeing the barrage of fire. The projectiles arced upward to chase him as the previous two shots tracked him down like hungry hounds.

"A homing shooter type? Not bad at all for one so young."

The sudden illumination of the sky with bright pink energy drew everyone's attention as a piercing voice broke the air.

"Starlight Breaker!"

"Roger! Starlight Breaker."

The massive release of energy made the two Belkan Knights' jaws drop. That's when the Knight of Merlin noticed several cylindrical objects falling from the blue and white instructor.

'Tigra!'

'I'll be alright, she missed me, but I think it's time to retreat.'

'Astra, Tigra, take the master and go! I'll serve as the distraction.'

From her place in the air, Tigra homed in on his signal and glared in his direction though she knew he couldn't see her.

'You're crazy, you're not even at half power right now. They're obviously using a finished cartridge system and you don't even have it.'

'I don't need it. Get going Tigra, that white witch is getting ready with another shot.'

Sighing, she turned to their new liege.

"Master, we have to retreat, there's been an unexpected development below."

The man nodded and proceeded to teleport out. The archer followed shortly after Astra arrived at her side after evading Teana's barrage and destroying her Barret F. shots. Signum had obviously caught part of their telepathic communication by his facial expressions because she pressed her attack, forcing her opponent to evade rather than defend.

Landing opposite of each other on the side of a building, he took a deep breath. Even though he wasn't at half full capacity, he'd still managed to make Signum work for her strikes. He'd grown rusty, or she'd improved even more than he'd thought she had since the Judas Rebellion.

"Signum, why are you with the TSAB? What have they done to earn your loyalty?"

"Omega . . . We have a new mistress. She is an officer in their ranks."

Omega thought on that for a moment before sheathing his weapon and it disappeared. Signum still kept her distance, knowing he could pull a weapon from anywhere. She also sensed that he'd only recently reawakened, his Halbmond Blitz didn't have anywhere near the bite it did at his prime.

'That still doesn't make him weak in any way. He's fighting on experience rather than ability at the moment since he isn't fully awakened.'

'Signum!'

"Nanoha?!"

The pink haired swordswoman looked to see Nanoha prepping a shot at Omega.

"Divine . . . Buster!"

The powerful lance of energy flew true. The assault was stopped short by an unseen barrier in front of the Belkan. He frowned a bit seeing cracks develop through his latticework. Stepping aside, the energy broke through, barreling past him and through the building they were on.

"That kind of assault . . ." His eyes narrowed at Nanoha. Signum gripped Levantine as he suddenly disappeared from view entirely. Particles of magical traces floated by her.

"Nanoha!" Attention turned to the brunette as he suddenly materialized behind her with the bastard sword readied. "Behind you!!"

"What?" Nanoha turned only to be grabbed by the collar. A look of concern surprised her.

"That shooting skill of yours is too much on your body. You'll kill yourself at this rate. That being said . . ." He lifted the point to her mid-section. Runic glyphs surrounded the tip of the blade before pressing through her Barrier Jacket. "This is the only thing that I can do."

Nanoha felt her body go numb and her eyes dilated before he released her. Her limp form fell to the ground and the last thing she heard was Vita screaming her name before she blacked out. Above her, Omega teleported out of the area to meet up with his allies.


Back at their home, Vivio was watching TV as Fate was finally getting to the dishes. Reaching for Nanoha's mug, the handle cracked and broke off the body. The ceramic dish fell to the gound and shattered. Fate looked off in the direction of the ceremony grounds and felt a cold wind go through her gut.

Just then, Vivio came in with tears in her heterochrome eyes.

"Fate-mama, Fate-mama! Nanoha-mama is . . . Nanoha-mama is!"

Fate rushed to the girl with a hug before hearing the news on the television.

"This just in, the 134th Graduation Ceremony of TSAB Mage graduates has come under unpredicted assault by three individuals today. The reports indicate that the entire class save three of the graduates were incapacitateded by a single member of this mysterious trio. Combat Instructor and Mage Ace Nanoha Takamachi dueled with their long range specialist to a standstill before the two retreated. The last member who was engaged with combat assistant instructor, Second Lieutenant Signum then switched targets to Takamachi before performing some kind of Ancient Belka type magic on her. Her status is still unknown to us at this time."

Fate clutched the child to her and began crying in concern along with her adopted daughter.

'Nanoha . . . Nanoha-chan! NANOHA!'

She felt her world crashing as Nanoha didn't respond to any of her telepathic messages.


Well, there goes graduation . . .

Just what has Omega done?