A/N: Back again with an update. This chapter is riddled with Errors and Cliches, hence the title. I thought I would have some fun with the story, and so the result was this. Anyway, expect me to update again in two days or so, that seems to be the pattern I've fallen into now. Until then, enjoy this.

- Kode-Dekka

Part 2: Sudden Assault, and A Terrible Cliche

The four travelers and their young guide finally left the horrible forest, to find a small town not far from the exit. They couldn't believe that they had been so close, yet still couldn't find it without the help of a little girl; it was a little embarrassing for the group.

Nonetheless they were grateful for the help. Without their little helper, they could have been stuck in the woods for days. To express their gratitude, Hayate offered to reward the girl and her family with a gift. The girl politely declined, instead asking them to stay for dinner.

So that's how they ended up at the front steps the little girl's -whose name they learned was Annie- house. Though they did hesitate, the four of them entered with Annie.

"Mama, I'm home!" Coming to her call, a middle-aged woman appeared in front of them. She didn't really like all that old, and was in fact quite pretty, or at least Hayate thought so. The look of surprise that registered on her face, Hayate also found a little cute.

"My my, what have we here? Who are your friends?"

"I found them in the woods, they got lost." Annie then got really excited and ran up to her mother. "Mama, this woman-" Pointing at Hayate, "-She made a hole in the woods with magic, it was really cool, but kind of scary!" Hayate scratched her cheek, embarrassed.

"Well, it was getting frustrating being there, sorry if I did something wrong."

The older woman pondered the four travelers for a moment, and then curved her lips in a pleasing manner. "No harm done, at least not yet. Anyway, why don't you all stay for dinner, you look hungry." Vivio and Subaru instantly waved their hands with excitement, though Fate and Hayate protested.

"We couldn't impose on you like this. Besides, we don't have much time to spare, we're looking for something important, and were hoping to get some help from your town's historians." The woman looked a little disappointed for a moment, as did Vivio and Subaru. However, the woman continued to smile.

"Please, I insist. After dinner, I'll take you to the mayor, I'm sure he can help you." This raised their spirits, and so they agreed.

"Very well, if you insist."

"Good!" She clapped her hands and shooed them into the living room. "I have to make a phone call, excuse me for a moment." And so the four of them were left alone with Annie, who played guessing games with Vivio. While they chatted about the adventure they've been on, Hayate suddenly started to leave the room.

"Where are you going, Hayate?" Fate looked at her suspiciously, Hayate just stared back at her.

"Just to the bathroom." Without another word the magician left the room, heading through the hall, toward the kitchen, where Annie's mother was making her call.

"From what Annie told me, she's really strong..." It was a whisper, but Hayate heard clearly, she was ease dropping after all. "Maybe they can do it, they can beat the evil witch."

Witch? Hayate's suspicions were correct. Ever since they had stepped foot in the town, something wasn't right. Hayate had felt a weird presence in the distance, it felt magical, and it was powerful. Not only that, she had also received strange looks from the passing citizens, it looked a lot like fear. The phone call made her understand, something was going on in this town.

Hayate decided that it was time to stop her game of hiding. She stepped into the kitchen, surprising Annie's mother, who immediately slammed the phone down on its receiver. She was wide eyed, and a little ashamed. "Did you hear it?" Hayate nodded.

"Sorry for listening. I thought it was strange, the weird magic surrounding this town, the looks of fear thrown my way, and the fact that you let us into your home so easily, only after hearing about what I did in the forest." The woman lowered her head, "Whatever is going on in this town, this 'witch' as you say; were planning on roping us into it? After hearing about my magic, you wanted to use us to solve your problem."

"That's a terrible way of putting it. I called the mayor, getting his opinion, thinking maybe you could save us from her. I'm sorry." Hayate sighed, shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm the one who should be sorry, I'm kind of acting like a jerk right now, even though you were kind enough to offer us dinner and bring us into your home." Hayate looked behind her, there was no one there but she was sure Fate was listening. "Anyway, I'd like it if you talked to me and my companions about this situation, when we'll decide what to do about it." The woman's face lit up, but Hayate put her hand out. "Don't get the wrong idea, I haven't agreed to help yet. We'll talk about it for now, we have our own goals after all, so maybe we'll find what were looking for here." Annie's mother nodded, which made Hayate smile. "Okay, enough of all that seriousness, I'm hungry. Would you like me to help you with dinner?"

Dinner was relaxing for everyone except Hayate, who was a little tense. She was seriously thinking about what they were going to talk about afterward. There is a mage other than me here. If she created a field this large, she must be strong as well... She thought about it in her head for a little while. Even if we don't want to, we may have to do something about it. I don't like interfering in the business of others, but if we want to get information, we may have to do this. If they were up against a witch of this level, then Hayate figured that she was skilled at summoning familiars, or at the least had strong partners, it could get dangerous real fast. If possible she wanted to avoid battle on this journey, but now, it seemed impossible.

"Vivio, why don't you and Annie play outside for a little while." Fate suggested this when Hayate told her that there was something important to discuss.

"Un!" The two girls fled the house, laughing on the way. With them out of the way, the adults were free to talk about things.

"Now, what is this about, Hayate?"

"I'll let her explain it, since I don't know anything either." Annie's mother nodded, telling the three travelers to have a seat.

"It happened about two years ago. One day, during the spring, a terrible witch and her servants descended on the town. Using her cruel magic, she turned some of the men into monsters, and forced them into slavery. She constantly harasses and strikes fear in the citizens, and there isn't anything we can do about it, since were all powerless against her magic."

I knew it, she sounds strong. Hayate bit her thumb, now she really didn't want to get involved. However, she allowed the woman to continue.

"The witch calls herself Nanoha Takamachi. She is always robbed in white, so we call her the 'White Devil'. Since we can't stand against her, we have no choice but to remain slaves to her whims. However, the four of you came along, and if what my daughter said is true, then you may be able to stop her." Fate looked at Hayate, who looked nervous.

"I'm not sure if I can win against her. While I have strong offensive magic, I haven't perfected it, so I'll have a hard time against an experienced mage." The woman's hope left her, this was not Hayate's intention, but it was better to know the truth, than to believe in a gentle lie. Fate and Subaru looked unconvinced.

"Are you sure? You're the strongest person I know, maybe you're over thinking things?" Hayate couldn't help but smirk.

"Oh I wish I was. You're always so optimistic, Fate-chan. You are kind as well, you want to save everyone, because you..." She shut herself up quickly, though Fate just shook her head, acknowledging that it was an accident.

"Still, we can try and do something, I don't like bullies." Subaru too was optimistic, Hayate knew she wouldn't win against them.

"Fine, we can try."

Once again, the light of hope flickered in the woman. "Thank you."

"Please don't, we're just a group of idiots who happened to pass by. But when this is over, I want you to do something for me."

"Anything!"

"I want to see all the old records of this land, its important to us." The woman nodded.

"Of course, I'll make sure the mayor allows it, if you can defeat the witch." Hayate sighed, it was all so troublesome, but they had no choice.

"Alright. Anyway, Fate-chan, go get Vivio, we have to-" An explosion outside shook the ground and stopped Hayate mid-speech. "What the hell was that!" There was another one, and then screams, they belonged to Vivio and Annie.

"Vivio!" Fate immediately jumped up, practically busted the door down as she left the house. Hayate, Subaru and Annie's mother followed. "Vivio!" When they got outside, they saw two craters in the ground, smoke rising from them. Beside the holes, lie Vivio and Annie, unconscious. Before they could move, they heard a screechy laugh from above.

"Looks like I've drawn you out, foolish humans." A small girl, clad in all red, carrying a large hammer, hovered in the air. "Are you all ready to die?" Fate made a move forward, but the girl raised the hammer and made a ball of red light appear. "Take one more step, and I'll blow them both to pieces." Fate stopped, clenching her teeth and balling her hands into fists.

"What do you want!" Hayate pointed her staff at the girl, ready to use a spell if needed.

"I want you, mage. More specifically, my master requests your presence."

"So the witch sent you then?" The girl's face got red from ear to ear.

"You will address Mistress Nanoha with respect, she is far more than a mere witch. Anyway, she wants to see you, and I'm afraid that I can't take no for an answer." Hayate ignored her and looked at Fate and Subaru. They understood without saying anything or nodded, it was time to act.

"Alright, I'll come with you, on one condition." While the girl thought about it, Hayate mumbled something under her breath.

"What is your condition?" Hayate smiled, grinned.

"Look up." The girl felt it before she saw it. Looking up, a beam of light rained down on her, leaving her no time to dodge. She blocked with the hammer just in time, but was distracted. "Now!" Fate and Subaru dash out quickly, sweeping up the kids in seconds. When they got back, Hayate let her smile fall, now looking very angry. "I wont forgive you for trying to hurt my precious companion."

"D-Damn you!" The girl also looked furious now. "Graf Eisen, Explosion!" The hammer became surrounded by light, and then grew several times its original size. "I wont forgive you, I wont forgive you. Damn it, damn it, damn it!" While Hayate grabbed the Book of Darkness and began to recite a spell, the girl made a large red ball appear in the air, it looked like she was going to strike it towards her.

"Fate-chan, little help."

"Right! Subaru take care of them."

As the girl hit the ball, it sped at Hayate like a bullet. However, Fate was fast, and drew her sword, rushing in the middle, and slicing the ball in half. This only made the girl angrier.

"Damn it! Take this!" More balls appeared, these ones were hit by the hammer, but just flew at them. Fate sliced through each one with ease. She was just buying time, but there was no way to keep this up forever.

"Are you almost done, Hayate?"

"Yeah, just a second." Hayate continued to chant, saying things in a language that Fate didn't understand. A magic circle appeared under her, it was almost time. Fate continued to block the incoming attacks, but she was getting tired of it. "Fate move!" It was time, and Fate jumped up in the air and landed behind Hayate as she pushed her staff out.

"Light and Darkness, come together and struggle to become one. Unleash the fire of destruction, erase thy enemies. Reinforce!" A white flash of light shot from the staff. Like the last time, the girl couldn't dodge. Unlike last time, she wouldn't be getting away with a just scratch.

The light hit the girl, she screamed as it sent her flying down in a swirl of smoke. When she hit the ground, she tried to move, but it was a pointless struggle. Hayate breathed out with relief and wiped the sweat from her brow. Her and Fate slowly approached the girl.

"Now, lets see what you master has to say about this." The girl smiled, as if she knew something they didn't.

"You wont have to wait long."

Hayate felt it right away, but it was too late. From the clouds above, a red wave of energy flowed down and struck the ground in front of them. The blasted knocked both of them away and they landed on their backs several feet away. Damn it, what was that power... Hayate got on her hands and knees, trying to stand up, Fate did so as well.

"What a disappointment, I was hoping for someone stronger." The voice of another women came down from the sky, and soon, so did the women it belonged to. A women dressed in white, carrying an odd staff in her hands, smiled wickedly at them.

"M-Mistress..."

Hayate had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach when looking at the witch, who looked back at her.

"So you're the one giving my cute little Vita so much trouble, I'm not even mildly amused by this joke." The witch, Nanoha flew down to Vita and cradled her in her arms affectionately. "Oh my, such terrible wounds, how awful."

"Mistress." Vita blushed heavily and took comfort in Nanoha's touch.

"Now now, I wont let them get away with this. After all, the only one who can mess you up like this, is me." She murmured something under her breath, it was a spell. Vita became encased in a ball of light, and then floated away toward the sky. "Go on and rest my dear, I'll handle this."

Hayate, now on her feet, faced the woman. Fate stood beside her, and Subaru was a little behind them, protecting Vivio and their new friends. "How boring, using such half-baked spells to hurt my Vita." Nanoha commanded silence and left no room to respond. "Shall I..." She pointed her staff at them, and they got ready. "Show you true power?" The staff glowed red, charging up power.

What, she's attacking without even reciting a spell? Hayate had never seen such magic before, but there was a first time for everything.

"Disappear." Like the one before it, a flash of red light beamed down at them with high speed. Hayate prepared to used a defensive spell, but Fate got in between them held her sword out.

"Leave this to me." The sword started to shine with light. Please, help us, Bardiche. With a shout, Fate intercepted the blast with her sword. However, the amount of energy she was blocking was massive, and it pushed her back.

"Oh?." Nanoha grinned at them and outputted more power. "How do you like this?" Fate was clearly being overpowered, but didn't back down.

"Fate-chan, are you alright?"

"Yeah, but I don't know how long I can hold on. Take Vivio and run away with Subaru while I hold her off." Hayate protested it of course, shaking her head wildly.

"I can't do that, I'll stay here with you."

"That's a nice thought, but I'm not asking. Go!" Seeing the serious look in Fate's eyes as she resisted the intense attack, Hayate finally gave in and turned around.

"As if I'd let you, idiots! Signum!" A woman dressed in knight's armor, appeared behind Subaru suddenly. Before she had a chance to react, she was struck in the neck and knocked out cold.

"When did she get there!" Hayate was stunned, so was Fate. In the moment that they were distracted, Nanoha made a final push.

"Die, you fools!" It was too much. The blast hit Fate with the force of a train, and the explosion engulfed both her and Hayate. "Nyahahahaha! Fall before the might of the great Nanoha!"

The battle was over, everyone was defeated. Hayate lay on the ground sleeping. Fate was still conscious, and hovered over her friend, protecting her with her own body. Seeing that Hayate was fine, Fate struggled to stay awake. "Thank...goodness..."

"Interesting, you're still alive, even after shielding her with your feeble body." Nanoha stood beside them, still carrying a cocky grin on her face. "That was fun, we should play again sometime." Nanoha bent down and stroked Fate's disgusted face. "Don't look at me like that. Since I'm in a good mood today, I've decided not to take your lives right now. However, in exchange..." She snapped her fingers. Signum grabbed Vivio and hoisted her over her shoulder. "I'll be taking this cute little girl, maybe I'll make her into one of my servants, or a pet." Nanoha laughed and patted Fate -still unable to move- on the head. "If you want to see her again, then come to the castle when you're all healed up, I'd love to play again with you and your friend. Until then, have a nice dream." Fate collapsed on top of Hayate then, barely able to focus in and out as the witch and her servant took Vivio away and into the sky.

"Vivio..." Fate finally passed out after calling her name.

The members of the town flooded out one after another to see the fallen heroes. Dreading the future, and having their hopes shattered, moved out to recover them. Still remaining in the air, was the remains of a witch's cackle.