Author's Notes: To those who have read these chapters before, do expect fixes to grammar errors and slight changes to some of the sentences' structure. And, for this chapter at least, there are no factual changes.
As promised, the chapter gets longer by a lot.
Thank you for that one review by the way, haha.
"… Are you sure you don't want to Unison with me? This will be dangerous!" Rein whispered desperately into Hayate's ears again but didn't dare to drag her Master away in public. For the tenth time, Hayate answered with a wry grin on her face, "Rein, I'll be just fine. Stop worrying, and remember to shield the field later with all your power."
Was she nervous? That was most definitely a yes; her hands were full of sweat, her pre-prepared tactics felt shaky and weak, and every step was an ordeal of courage not to tremble her legs. And yet Hayate's mind was determined, firm. This little show she's pulling would prove to be highly risky with little rewards, but she was willing to take the chances if it meant anything at all… For Nanoha, or for herself. With a bit of good luck, she might even be able to glean into some of those secrets the brunette tried so hard to conceal. But that would be pushing it, and she cannot afford to be optimistic. Her heels connected to cement with a solid tap.
She glanced emotionlessly at the free flowing colors winging their ways through the clear blue sky, desperately yet excitedly challenging a dominant pink that could not be wavered. It looked another normal day in life except for the existence of a party crasher named Hayate Yagami. Such a shame. But after all that hassle she went through to get Admiral Chrono Hawlaown's permission to remove three levels off her limiter, it would be a shame to do otherwise. She raised a hand and checked her arsenal of pre-casted spells, and everything seemed to be in order.
So let's dye this world thoroughly and completely, white.
Hayate waved Rein a casual goodbye that she wasn't feeling, and marched doggedly towards her soaring best friend, Nanoha Takamichi.
Rein was worried. Very worried. She couldn't help but think that Hayate was hiding something from her.
Even as she began weaving magic to lock down the entire area, she felt a terrible hollowness and fear that gnawed at her insides like a flood of ants. The 'plan' Hayate had told her was reckless, mad, and totally void of the careful and rational reasoning her Mistress always abided to. She could understand why Hayate wanted to do this, but throughout her moderate but meaningful life in the military, Rein had known only one person to have made what would normally be conceived as insanity work, and that was Nanoha Takamichi herself. And right now, her Mistress was going to challenge that worker of miracles.
Twenty magic circles quietly surrounded the training ground and locked themselves into position. Once she confirmed that all the students have left the area she would activate the special barrier at Hayate's signal. Her Mistress didn't say exactly what the signal was, but the nasty suspicion tugging at her heart suggested that she would know all too well when the time was right. Right now, there was still time. Rein slipped a hand to her pocket and took out her custom-made communicator. It had been a special gift from Hayate to celebrate her acquiring of a human form, a proof of her memories so she could proudly declare that none of those days were a lie.
Those happy days, once upon a time.
Rein stared intently at the device with one hand nimbly lifted, but her fingers were shivering with doubts so thick she cannot feel them. What should she do? Hayate had asked her specifically not to inform their family, but only the Wolkenritters have sufficient power to intervene if something awry were to happen. Rein could hardly spare any of her magical reserves for combat once she created and began maintaining the barrier. It was something special that she and Hayate came up with just for this confrontation against the Ace of Aces, but the magic cost was huge and had to be maintained constantly to sustain the barrier's special properties. Rein could do it for at most thirty minutes and no more. In exchange however, no matter how much magic was unleashed within the barrier, no one would be able to detect magic from outside unless the happen to be an inch away from the crossfire, and that was highly unlikely, in addition to the qualities possessed by standard barriers.
There was still time. What should I do?
Rein made up her decision and began typing.
"Status report, please."
Commander Yagami's arrival automatically meant that class was dismissed, and the students did not bother to hang around and watch. Nanoha's sometimes hellish methods of training provided more than ample amount of such motivation.
Nanoha raised a questioning eyebrow at the request. Hayate monitored every step of Project Future like a hawk, so it could only mean that she had a different reason for coming down today. Still, Hayate was her superior, and so the brunette saluted Hayate and began, "Clone double-O one has fully matured, and her memories updated till nine this morning. The next backup will be two days later, Friday."
"I see."
They said no more. Hayate glanced coolly at her friend without a trace of bonds, just as Nanoha regarded her now as no more than a commander. The dead silence went on for a full minute before Nanoha bowed respectfully and tried to dismiss herself, "If there's nothing else, I shall be taking my leave."
"No, stay. I would really like to see just how long you're going to stare at me with those lightless eyes of yours."
Nanoha's right hand twitched a little at the vicious jab, but she remained impassive and replied, "Commander –"
"So you insist on treating me as an outsider, Nanoha?" She didn't add a title to the name. Hayate was giving the brunette a final chance to change the outcome she has envisioned and about to come true.
A pained look crept its way to Nanoha's face as she looked down as if thinking, and with a sad voice she answered, "Haya – No, Commander, I –"
"Don't you dare lie to me with that face, Nanoha." Blinding fast gold shot upwards, and had not instinct leaped her backwards Nanoha would have lost her neck. For an instant the brunette couldn't think fast enough to comprehend the situation; the Staff of Sword Cross slowly lifted above the commander's shoulders, but Hayate didn't give her time to breathe. She colored her voice with deadly resolution and declared, "So be it. Your clone is perfect, her memories are sufficient, and the world doesn't need two of you. Goodbye."
Impossible shock slammed through Nanoha's soul like cold steel, and she never saw them coming. Hayate lowered her staff and immediately lightning spears rained down from heavens to skewer the brunette, but Nanoha's battle instincts were demonically strong in the worst of situations. In the nick of time she dodged, blocked, and forced herself through the biggest of openings with only scratches on her Barrier Jacket. She almost made it through.
Then Nanoha felt her clothes stiffened, and to her horror and disbelief the Barrier Jacket turned rapidly into stone, effectively ending her mad dance of escape. Not even Raising Heart was spared from Misteltein, and as she raised her head in frustration she saw a terrible blue that stomped her fighting spirit to death.
"Atem des Eises."
Four overly large cubes of ice magic crashed down from above, and Nanoha helplessly screamed.
Signum was worried. Very worried. She couldn't help but think that Hayate was hiding something from her.
Almost three months ago she has received orders – although her Mistress insisted that it was a request – to keep an eye on Nanoha Takamichi's actions and report back to her if necessary. Needless to say the silent knight was surprised by this, and while she never doubted Hayate's decisions, one couldn't help but think if Hayate was up to one of her little schemes again. At the age of thirty the Commander was certainly very mature and dignified, but that only applied at work. There hasn't been much to do since that incident except paperwork. Hayate hated paperwork; she couldn't understand why she should be signing an entire desk of papers in a world of futuristic technology, but that was another thing.
The problem was that Hayate's suspicion, whatever it might be, was dead right on the mark. Her slight skepticism about the task was gone on the first day, and by the second she was completely convinced, if not even ashamed. She was not too close to Nanoha, but her well-honed senses said that nearly every expression on the brunette's face was fake. It unsettled and shamed her greatly for not learning of this earlier, and who knows how long has Nanoha pretended to be... living?
It reminded the warrior too much of their painful past.
Hayate had explicitly forbid Signum from engaging Nanoha in combat after listening to her first report. Her Mistress had known exactly how she would react and taken steps to prevent it. But this was also an indicator that Hayate had her own plans in motion to do something about the brunette, and she wasn't telling. Past experiences had told Signum that Hayate was not as calm and rational as her Mistress would like to believe. She knew Hayate had always felt inadequate sitting behind the screens while the others waged battle, and this fear sometimes caused lapses to her better judgment, such as the one occasion her Mistress was stabbed by Curren Huckebein while engaged in a capture and rescue mission. Putting aside the necessity of Hayate's participation, if the enemy hadn't purposely missed her heart she wouldn't even be alive today. Was her life less important than the mission itself?
From her Mistress' view, yes. She would weigh her life against the many thousands of life already lost to the Huckebein and never reconsider. But the Wolkenritters, now… It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they would kill every single Huckebein on that ship before joining Hayate themselves. Worst case scenario. Thankfully it had not arrived at that conclusion, but the peace predictably didn't last long. No one could understand the incident that came too sudden, too humanly impossible to perceive. Knight Carim had nearly torn her cards apart, unable to believe such terrible bloodshed came without any warning at all. Signum shook her head to clear the image. It was one of those abominable memories that she wished to eliminate utterly from her mind. All in all, the long-winded pondering ultimately arrived at the same question she couldn't solve.
Exactly what was Hayate going to do next?
Signum checked briefly the bags of groceries on each hand before continuing her short walk towards home. It was Shamal's turn to cook, and so she had volunteered to buy the necessary goods for a change of mood. It was of course going to be a disastrous failure, but this was a lot better than brooding in the house. Suddenly, a single, long beep entered her ears.
She deftly slipped the device from her pocket to her palm after transferring all the items to one hand. Brought up the main screen.
She read the message.
Hayate glared and hissed at that single pink orb that danced before her face. So it really was just one? After all that running?
She has never hissed before in her entire life, but right now only hissing could describe her emotion.
She had pre-casted two powerful and innovated Immobilizing spells and unleashed them with perfect timing.
She said words she swore never to even think in life and gained the best possible element of surprise.
All that, and Nanoha Takamichi had the nerve to beat the snot out of her with a single, miniature orb of magic.
A few minutes ago, Nanoha caught the full blast Atem des Eises and was frozen up to her neck, in addition to the petrifaction spell that took root throughout her body. The Commander took a good minute to examine her handiwork, tensed for perhaps a hidden card or two but nothing happened. She then looked at Nanoha's struggling face and spoke in amazement, "Well now that, was rather easy."
Nanoha glared at her for a second before looking away. Hayate walked closer casually and waved a hand, "I didn't want to do this, but otherwise you would not have listened, just like how you've been avoiding me for these past two months. To tell you the truth, I was disappointed."
Hayate raised Schwertkreuz slowly and stopped it a few inches away from Nanoha's neck, her voice soft but trickling with pained disbelief, "Even now, Nanoha. Did you actually believe for a second that I was going to kill you? Did you?"
The brunette didn't answer. She simply closed her eyes and ignored Hayate completely. Copper taste filled the tip of her tongue, but Hayate forced down the terrible grief and pretended that she didn't care, "So be it. Captain Nanoha Takamichi, I hereby charge you with repeated insubordination. You are to be removed from all active duties immediately, and while I cannot detain you, you will report to Lieutenant Signum every day and refrain from engaging in any outdoor activities without my permission. If you refuse, then I would have no choice but to lock you right now," Hayate ended softly, "Are we clear?"
Nanoha remained silent, and after a while Hayate decided that there was no need to wait any longer. She took out a limiter from her pocket and moved closer –
"Sorry Hayate, but you will not stop me."
A fist sized magical orb shot from behind Nanoha and rammed directly into Hayate's nose. Rattled by the swirl of sudden pain and confusion, Hayate managed a weak leap backwards while holding her face, only to fell to her knees as pain erupted madly from her belly. By now her excellent intellect has grasped the situation perfectly. Axel Shooter! Already her concentration began to crack as the ice surrounding Nanoha splintered off piece by piece. If I don't stand my ground…! Hayate gritted her teeth and stopped retreating. If I don't concentrate she's gonna...!
The iron ball took a corner and crashed into her left shoulder. Her right elbow. Her left knees. She nearly screamed when it smashed for her kidney, but couldn't open her mouth quickly enough as it punched up her jaws. She swung her staff wildly to catch the orb, but it flew way too nimbly to be caught. Every time the pink orb touched her Jacket its size shrank, but not nearly enough for Hayate to escape the game of torture. Unable to stand it any longer she looked up with tears in her eyes and yelled, "Nanoha!"
A thousand similar pink balls floated behind Nanoha to overwhelm Hayate's vision as she stood dumbfounded by this outrageous spectacle. The combat instructor wordlessly raised an arm and waited for one second. Then she swiped downwards and whispered,
"Shoot."
Hayate ran so quickly she forgot that she could fly.
Now she understood the feeling of the enemies who antagonized the TSAB's Flight Combat Instructor, Ace of Aces.
Hayate hissed once more to dilute a sea of humiliation and stared warily at the distant figure. Her fury at Nanoha's counterattack was seriously threatening to overrun her sound judgment. She broke her nose, her body was blue and black, and finally she was far enough that the attack decided to stop, but by then all her spells have already lost their effects. Had it been anyone else, anyone, Nanoha's hidden card would have failed miserably like a joke. The harsh reality was undeniable: Her complete inexperience of battle and horrible defenses would scare a toddler to death.
Nanoha was now completely free, and Raising Heart was pointed directly at Hayate's direction. Hayate finally managed to kill off that pesky orb, but Nanoha wasn't about to give her the time to counter. Without a storm's warning, the rain has come to claim their prize.
"Shoot!" "Sleipnir!" Shadow wings exploded in size as Hayate reached for skies with a blast of energy. The white light tore reality in a multitude of colors as pink bombs shattered at heavens; a zigzagging angel painting the afternoon blue with vivid fireworks and a hint of black. She tempted, taunted, and left them detonating in a fury of failures, but that was far from enough to shake off the pursuit. Of course it wasn't enough.
"Divine –" The accursed voice rang directly from behind her. Hayate spun around instinctively and was struck by horrible realization, but before she could rectify that fatal mistake the little game was already lost.
"– Buster!"
A beam of holy energy shred the world in two, blasting downwards at the Commander with the mercilessness of Gods. Barely having the time to react, Hayate desperately recalled everything she learned from Yuuno about barriers and threw in every ounce of magic she could muster. As a result, the hastily formed shield did partially block the shot, but the skies are on top, and the ground is below.
There was explosion, smoke, and dust everywhere. Two meters into the human-sized crater Hayate breathed desperately for air but only succeeded in coughing blood. The manic crimson seemed to distort her very world as she groped frantically for her staff. Her book. Anything at all. Anything to relieve her from pain, to focus her mind on again.
Instead Raising Heart jabbed rudely into her vision, the shape of the orb almost made her hissed again by instinct. Funny how she could accurately name an intelligent device at the verge of fainting, but could not even form a comely barrier. Nanoha sounded almost lyrical as she strained her utmost to catch the brunette's words, "Checkmate. Forget everything about today, Hayate."
Hayate almost laughed. It felt like a drill forcing its way into her stomach, but it was that hard to hold in the crazy urge, "Forget? Are you kidding… me? Why don't… you tell that… to yourself? The way you are now is so… pathetic."
"I see." Nanoha shrugged nonchalantly. Her eyes were cold and bright, and deep within those purple orbs Hayate saw a burning hell that bordered on madness, "Then you certainly won't mind me to be pathetic for a few more hours. I'll be reporting this to the higher ups, and don't even bother asking Rein to stop me, neither of you are powerful enough apart. I doubt you have any tricks left, even if you took off your limiter. So," She pressed the device at Hayate's neck and whispered, "Do you surrender?"
Hayate coughed once, then twice, then licked the copper in her mouth carelessly. She had failed miserably, and her own body too ragged for the slightest movement, but contrary to Nanoha's belief she did have a trump card left. Ideally she would have preferred to avoid this, but the past is history. Flashes of those closest to her skipped briefly before her mind's eye as she thought briefly of Rein, Signum, Vita, Shamal, Zafira…
Fate, and Nanoha.
No matter the cost. No matter the loss. She thought she knew what was important, and so she willed herself to believe that she was right. That she could do this.
Forgive me… Rein. Everyone. This might just be it for me, but still…
"Wait, Nanoha…", A lifeless sigh escaped her lips. The brunette was ready to leave, and if she doesn't do it now the black was going to take her. With one arm raised she reached weakly for her friend, a dear friend who once saved her from the darkness, "Nanoha…"
The Ace of Aces averted her eyes and refused to meet, but she spoke in a gentler tone, "What?"
White stars began to crowd her dimming vision. A ripple of jagged ice crawled from the tip of her fingers, snaking its way slowly but surely towards her heart. Her feet were just cold. But still.
But still, I!
"Cough! Last words, you know? Cough!" Hayate's hand fell limply at last, but Nanoha made no move to grab it, for her own eyes were too tightly closed. Too drowned in misery.
"… I guess so." A meaningless answer. One too suitable for the world of hurt that would soon fall from blue skies. Full points for that's left now was the cliché, and Hayate is good with it. Always.
Hmm. How should I draw her attention? Ah yes, that.
"Say," And so Hayate smiled really hard and murmured, "Why don't I cool your head down a little?"
She called forth the final spell, and felt a terrific amount of magic clawing its way out of her heart. Her vision abruptly turned black, and white fire, fell.
Her hand wouldn't reach.
Rein thought it weird, and stretched her right a little longer. Perhaps now it would be suffice.
It still wouldn't reach.
She then switched to her left, illogical it may be. Then both hands. Then she boosted her magic and quickened her flight a little faster, and stretched. Her eyes were blinded with tears and her limbs crying buckets more. But she shoved down the excruciating pain, and channeled a little more magic for flying.
You mustn't come.
Her head rose at the ghastly whispers that was her current Mistress, warning her of the impending doom ahead. For an instant she saw a shadow of the past, but it was just pure instinct, a trait all living things share. That, and now she could almost see her Mistress now, and unsurprisingly her head was turned at Rein's direction. What a foolish girl; even now she was still worrying about others. Perhaps that silent, fading plea from before wasn't just her imagination.
But it couldn't be, because her Mistress was strong. It must be her, but it still couldn't be. The Hayate Yagami she knew was always very much alive.
"Mistress Hayate…" Rein hesitated. She had a foolish question to ask, and expected an equally foolish answer from her Mistress. But she asked all the same, hoping to hear them once more for reasons she cannot phantom. Her human life… her new life was yet too short.
"Hmm?" Hayate, as usual, wore a super bored expression as she flipped through the ton of documents laid before her table. She was indeed skilled and excellent as a Commander, but it did not mean that she love all parts of her job. Still, Hayate never failed to smile as she looked at Rein with gentle eyes. An honest smile from the depths of her heart.
Sometimes, just sometimes, Rein would wonder whether that smile was truly meant for her. Sometimes, she couldn't help but fear that she was just a substitute of the past Reinforce. Sometimes, she was just insecure.
"This might sound stupid but, I mean it is stupid but I, but…" For some reason her face was red, and heart was fluttering dangerously fast at the sight of Hayate's smile. She took a deep breath, and finally got the question out. Two words.
"…Why me?"
For a second there the Commander bore an incredulous look, and then she immediately jumped at Rein like a pouncing lion with both hands grabbing for breasts, "Ah, I'm sorry Yuuno! I can't hold it anymore! So cute! It's gonna be your own fault if you lose your virginity tonight Rein!"
"Eh? Eh? Hyah! Eeeeehhh?"
It took a great deal of minutes to calm down her bored-driven Mistress, and by the time hell was finally over Rein was left shivering at the darkest corner like a rain-drenched cat. She finally understood the human term 'I'll never be able to get married again', and it took another hour before Hayate's apology finally got through her gloominess. Hayate had a bitter grin on her face as she was reminded of the Book of Darkness' near impenetrable defenses, and took note that it did not disappear; it merely transformed into something else.
She smiled at the thought. A grudging pair of eyes beamed wickedly from the ice wielder (To which Hayate ignored completely while rubbing Rein's head), but her smile never wavered. There was never the need for thought; a reason to smile. That's why she hugged Rein from behind, and answered simply,
"We're family, right?"
Memories faded behind reality, and death rang from above. From on top the deep skies awoke a radiant Belkan Triangle, its tips sparkled, crackled, and boomed. Her thoughts were half mad; Her Mistress was betting everything on her once friend now enemy to change her fate, and that was totally like the Hayate she knew, but it was so stupid. It would take just one step, one change of thought and she would be – No, she couldn't die, she's as cunning as a fox. Happened to love the worst pranks in universe too, anytime now she would call a timeout and admit defeat, and everything would be back to normal.
She couldn't die.
All the sudden there was a tap on her shoulder. She turned around reflexively, and pink hair shot past her failing body, trailing behind it a wisp of silvery fire.
Nanoha flinched instinctively at Hayate's challenge.
Unaccustomed at eating her own words, she wasted a second looking at the Commander trying to figure out a pointless meaning. Raising Heart's immediate warning came later, but by then time has become a scarce and precious resource and was counting down in ten. Nine and eight was used to set up Excelion Mode, and then she realized that even Excelion Buster might not cut the dough. Seven to five scanned for the farthest and safest place from the imminent ground zero. Four noticed that the destructive beam's angle was a bit weird, but three said that she couldn't spare time to think. So Nanoha leaped over two and reached for Hayate, but –
One slammed realization into her gut.
"Excelion –"
Hraesvelgr crashed into her hastily casted Protection Plus, thus shattering her futile attempt to fire off any Buster. While the attack spell was far from powerful as compared to the original, it was also narrower and much more focused, perfect for single mage bombardment. Not only that, the beam seemed to get stronger with every inch it gained, and her heart was in raging turmoil from the dots she connected just seconds ago. Nanoha didn't want to believe it, but there can be no other explanation.
A suicide attack. She aimed at herself, gambling at the probability that my first priority was to save her before anything. Why would she go this far for me? No…
How could she even trust me? After all that I've done to her?
Nanoha felt more shaken than she had ever been since that incident, and it was beginning to chew through her resolve. Doubts and hopes, despair and prayers, they mingled as one despite the differences to falter her strength. Should she listen to Hayate? Should she tell the truth? Already cracks began to draw all over her weakening barrier as if taunting her weakness; her inability to protect herself or the wounded friend right behind her, and by her own bloody hands that cannot save anyone –
This is your full strength? Don't make me laugh, Ace of Aces.
The next thing I'm going to take is your lover's arm, and you can do nothing to stop me.
Nanoha's eyes burned, but not from the bright light of judgment that's close enough to singe her hair. Her slackening grip tightened suddenly in a seizure of madness, and she thought she could wrench steel with just pure fury. She remembered that day very well. She fought again and again in her day dreams or nightmares for a better outcome, but not even in fantasy world could she succeed.
But even so, didn't she swear to protect everyone's smiles? That she would never allow that day to repeat ever again?
She looked once more at her limp friend who was either half aware or about to faint, desperately trying to reach out to her. Hayate, the kind girl who always gives for nothing in return. Hayate, the brilliant strategist who never failed to defend her comrades and saved countless of lives. Hayate, the best friend she ever has who was always there to listen and supportive with her own mischievous ways.
Nanoha felt a single tear flowing down her cheeks. So she could cry after all, but it no longer mattered. She summoned one final courage from the depths of her soul, and prepared herself for the greatest act in her life.
Thank you, Hayate. And I'm sorry.
"Gu… Ugh…"
How long was I out? The strain had swallowed nearly all of her strength, and every cell in her brain was screaming desperately for sleep. Somehow though, she was awake, and that must mean a reason. If only her head wasn't so heavy like some super glue, or the very uncomfortable smell of burned flesh –
Light. Flesh. Burn… Nanoha! Revelation clicked into Hayate's brain, and she forced open her eyes to see what had become of her friend. A hand outstretched, she tried whispering Nanoha's name but only managed a croak. She was still alive, which meant that Nanoha was still holding away Hraesvelgr, but for how long? She has designed several variations for this spell, and one of them was for Hraesvelgr to act like a powerful bomb that would detonate all of its power at once, and so could not be controlled or stopped. If she had miscalculated somewhere then…
Hayate didn't think it possible, but her eyes widened at something terribly wrong unfolding before her eyes. White flames had suddenly halted its progress as if fearing the black fury that leaked out from the very essence of Nanoha. Impossibly, unbelievably, from that broken stance that threatened to crumble, Nanoha turned her head around and stabbed a monstrous glance into her close friend's heart. Hayate's heart was stuck at her throat, and she couldn't breathe. Perhaps at that moment, if the brunette had a single instant to spare a knife at hand, would she really –
Kill… me?
Nanoha thought she heard a clear chink somewhere, and then noticed that it was Raising Heart's jewel that cracked. Like a machine she evaluated the situation emotionlessly and came to a conclusion for the cause: Sudden discharge of overloading magic, poor positioning and angling, stress from the previous training sessions, and more importantly old wounds. It was back then when she and Raising Heart went beyond imaginable limits, beyond the threshold of reversal. Go past those things, and they say only a miracle could save you.
But she didn't care.
"Sorry, Raising Heart. Even if I have to use you like a tool –"
[Do not worry, my master. Continuous cartridge load!] The intelligent device continuously pumped in magazines of magic despite the fact that splinters was falling off its reinforced body. At that moment, Nanoha would swear that Raising Heart shared her heart and soul. It understood.
No more holding back.
"… Thank you."
To Hayate's disbelieving eyes, the cracking barrier suddenly pushed back against her Hraesvelgr, its strength reinforced by twice the amount of magic channeled from the cartridges Nanoha loaded. And she was still loading more magazines! A ball of pink energy began to form at an impossible pace and was already pushing against the inner surface of the shield, raring to explode.
"Double Action. Barrier Burst standby, Excelion –"
[Charging complete. Ready to fire!]
"– Buster."
The defense shattered into a million pieces as Excellion Buster banged against the fire of judgment in a fury of rainbows. While the clashing was flashy, it turned out to be more of an endurance battle. Nanoha simply unleashed everything within her limit, and left the extra boost all to Raising Heart. It was between the cracking gold, bending steel, shivering hands, wobbly feet, breaking bones, blinded eyes against that pure, white flame that accused her of everything – Just absolutely everything –
It abruptly ended. Hayate's final trump card expended all of its reserve magic, and light clawed sky from bottom to top, triumphant yet weak. The mad clash of power faded and disappeared as if never there. Almost at once Raising Heart shut itself down and began automatic self-repair, its damaged frame looked so delicate it's as if it would shatter by the gentlest of touch.
But Nanoha was still standing. She was standing pretty upright and tall, and she wasn't done just yet. She turned around without a care for the glittering gold and red, and walked purposefully towards the Commander. Hayate Yagami closed her eyes feeling a welling emotion of despair, and ironically despair gave her strength to scream,
"Raising Heart... How could you do this? Nanoha!"
One step. Nanoha smiled gently, but Hayate felt only a terrible surge of fright as it blasted through her veins. The brunette raised her device high in the sky and came ever so closer,
"Really, Hayate? Am I that terrible? Wasn't it your fault at the first place? A suicide attack... So you want to die that badly, huh?"
She's close now. Very close. A primal, frantic urge to flee seized control as Hayate shivered uncontrollably, but her eyes were heavy with regret and helpless anger, that she couldn't do anything to stop Nanoha,
"I… Lost. Nanoha… I'm sorry I lost. I'm sorry I can't stop – Gaggh!"
With eyes colder than ice she jabbed the tip of Raising Heart against Hayate's throat, and let it stayed. Blood bled down from the new wound with metal pieces, and Hayate could only breathe a bare minimum of air. It would seem that her consciousness was going to end painfully short, Hayate noted to herself with a hint of hysteria.
"This is my resolve, Hayate. Even if I have to use – Even if I have to kill, I will do it. There's… No more turning back."
Her words were clear as bells, and they would accompany Hayate's sleep for a very long time. Very, very long.
Signum held Hayate gently in her arms, but her heart burned with a terrible sadness that could find no cure. Finally she turned around and walked for the nearest infirmary, but not without leaving the final words to the motionless brunette. Her face one full of resignation, of quiet acceptance... and farewell.
"As you wish, it will be your own fight, and no one else. May the warrior's fortune be with you… Nanoha."
Unexpectedly, she felt tears in her eyes that threatened to fall. But Nanoha could not say sorry now, not after what she did push Hayate away, to keep her safe. Not now. Steeling her will, Nanoha shifted her focus towards the so very blue sky.
"… Ah."
This time, no one else but me would get hurt.
This time, no one else but me would suffer.
This time… Only two will die.
She flew.
[Playback complete. Saving record to permanent memory, event designated codename 'Conflict'. Next selected time year 0082 month 4 day 1 0034. Begin playback.]