Lyrical Nanoha: Pride of Belka

Disclaimer: Nanoha isn't mine.

Many references and twists are made to what people probably recognize as King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Keep a look out for other references to other tales and legends.

Chapter 3: Signum's Plea

The light from his teleport spell faded to leave empty sky. Vita propped Nanoha's head on her lap as she silently beat herself about letting the mage get into trouble again. Signum walked over in somber silence. Facing off against Omega in duels used to be her greatest pleasure, but now as apparent adversaries, it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She knew he had only recently reawakened by the power of his Halbmond Blitz. She had also noticed he held reservations about fully engaging her.

"What are you trying to do Commander?"

"Signum?" Turning, Teana gave her a concerned look. Erio and Caro also stood with similar looks. Letting Levantine revert to its pendant mode, she sighed and knelt beside Nanoha. Grasping her Barrier Jacket, she looked to Raising Heart. The Jacket dispelled and Signum went about opening her uniform top. Erio looked away in panic and began to turn red. Caro blushed and turned to the side.

Underneath the woman's uniform shirt lay an intricate array of glyphs, runes, and sigils. They glowed white and ultraviolet black. Signum recognized the spell and jerked back; yanking Vita away in the process. The little Iron Knight protested and flailed.

"Signum! What are you doing! Let go!"

"There's nothing we can do. Levantine!"

"Jawohl." The fire sword pulsated and hovered over the unconscious woman. The familiar violet aura that was her Panzer Geist defensive power surrounded the brunette. The surprise came when Nanoha lifted off the ground and began to glow inside. The group tensed. Signum motioned for them to stay still as the aura surrounded the mage and began to shrink.

"What's going on? What's happening to Nanoha?!"

"The Temperance Seal spell."

The cluster of Enforcers and Strikers looked to her with a bit of confusion. Vita suddenly got quiet and less anxious. Caro, as the supporter, had never heard of such a thing, and voiced her question.

"What's a Temperance Seal?"

"Just watch, you're about to see."

Nanoha continued to shrink, and shrink until there was nothing but an orb just a fraction smaller than Raising Heart. Still held within the protective bubble of Levantine's power, the light glowed pink, save for the traces of the spells sigils rotating around it. Teana took a tentative step forward and swallowed apprehensively.

"Is that . . . what I think it is?" Signum gave her a sidelong glance before nodding affirmatively.

"Yes Teana, you assume correctly. That is Nanoha's Linker Core."

The Sword Knight knew in the back of her mind that the mage Fate and everyone cared about so much was now on her own. She didn't know how Vivio or Fate would react to this revelation. She also knew it wasn't permanent, but with the recent events and especially the obvious hostile intentions of their attackers, it may be too late when the effect wore off. If the spell wore off, there was no telling what would happen.

"Omega's Temperance Seal is a unique spell among all mages. It seals people with great magical power inside their Linker Cores. Those who break free before the spell wears off have garnered a great understanding of themselves and individuals and some like the first Mistress of the Night Sky, gained power unimaginable. He even placed himself under the spell at one time."

"If that's the case then why bother with Nanoha?"

"Think back on the Divine Buster she fired at him. That spell has always put her under a lot of strain and she's been using it since she was nine."

Erio quirked an eyebrow.

"He was able to tell that from her just shooting at him?"

The pink sword master frowned and wondered how to proceed.

"He blocked part of the strike. Though it did break through his barrier, he can tell a lot from being attacked and the force of the blow against his defenses. He was always very analytical of his adversaries."

"W-what happens if they don't break free before the spell wears off?" Caro's tiny voice made them freeze. A cold feeling passed over each of them as Signum looked at the Linker Core before them. She struggled to make sense of it all.

"He's never told anyone. Only he knows."

Somewhere far away, the trio was met by Omega as he teleported in. Astra walked up to him and gave him a questioning glance.

"No pursuit?"

"None. I ensured that they wouldn't have time to. However, I have a question for you, our current master. What exactly happened back then? The TSAB harbors and employs the former Knights of Belka. I would clear your side of the story now before things become dangerously confusing."

The man tapped the tip of Excaliber's scabbard on the floor.

"You really wish to know? Very well. Listen carefully and judge for yourselves."

Meanwhile back at the TSAB medical wards, the cluster of mages around the glowing Linker Core wore differing emotions across their faces. Fate held a strained look between anger and abject worry. Vivio held onto her godmother's legs while crying silently. Chrono and Yuno held looks of frustration, though Yuno was also curious about just what kind of spell held Nanoha in her current state. Hayate and Reinforce Zwei were just outside the door speaking to Signum and Vita. Zafira and Shamal were also present. Rein sat on Hayate's shoulder as Agito sat on Signum's.

"So you all think that the Lost Logia to the Belkan King is in the possession of a malicious person?"

"Yes. His Majesty's sword Excaliber can be the only explanation for those three knights to reappear."

Hayate nodded beginning to understand. This was shaping up to be a similar incident that had gotten Fate and Nanoha into her life, yet Nanoha was no longer with them, well, not in the way that would benefit them anyway.

Fate came out of the room with Vivio in her arms. She gave Signum a questioning glance and the swordswoman got the message. They would speak in greater detail about this that night. Yuuno remained behind in the room, analyzing the spell with fevered determination. Chrono gave the group of women a neutral gaze and nodded, bidding them good night. No doubt he wasn't looking forward to the paper work that was about to hit him.

"Signum."

"Yes Fate?"

"I have Arf sniffing around the grounds for any traces of his magic aura. Can you or any of the Wolkenritter help her? Vivio needs to sleep."

Zafira stepped forward before anyone could speak and nodded to the blonde Enforcer. Walking to the exit, Fate smiled at the Guardian. Everyone had a feeling the two of them were closer than they wanted to let on. She then looked seriously at them.

"How powerful is he?"

The rest of the Belkans looked at each other worriedly and sighed. They all had considered him a teacher at one point. The exception was Shamal, but even she knew his prowess. They all looked to her at the same time and spoke simultaneously.

"Very."

At the ruined ceremonial grounds, Arf was in her child form. Searching around for magical remnants from the battle, she could feel many residual points from Signum, Nanoha, Teana, and the others that had gone offensive or defensive. However, there was always one point that seemed strong, unbearably so, then suddenly disappeared and reappeared elsewhere. This had gone on for the better part of an hour. Finally having had enough magical "Chase the Demon", the dog familiar stamped her foot and focused on the energy.

"I've had it with you! Chain Bind!"

Throwing out her binding spell, the magical energy fluxed and jerked back. It dodged the first two only to be caught by her flanking chains. The object trembled as it struggled against the spells containing nature. Arf frowned. She had been expecting a person or animal, not an inanimate object.

"What is it?"

The familiar woman slowly approached her caught prey. It was transparent, though from the rough outline created wherever the chains held fast, it had definite form.

"Wow, a cloaking spell? It's a . . . a . . ." The object in her spell stopped trembling and resisting, making her tense and stay her ground. Her chains shifted and the change prompted her to throw herself to the side as they shot toward her. The chains held fast even though the caught magical source pierced the ground she had been occupying a few moments ago. Swallowing, Arf strengthened her spell.

"A weapon acting on its own? I've never seen something quite like it. Is it an Intelligent Device?"

"Release me."

"Huh?"

The cloaking faded to reveal a sword with a double-edged blade. The hand guard was styled after a pair of angel's wings. The handle was meant for a two handed grip and the pommel held a meter long sash of some expensive looking material. The sword remained in the ground yet pulsated.

"Release me . . . please."

"Do you have a name like other Devices?"

" . . . . . . . . . I am only part of a whole . . .."

The device's answer confused her. Not convinced that the weapon wouldn't lash out at her upon dispelling her bind, Arf backed away several more feet. The weapon remained where it was in the ground.

"That's one of his weapons."

"Huh? Zafira?"

The Guardian landed behind Arf with a serious expression.

"That's one of the weapons from his Intelligent Device."

"One? It's a Device that has more than a single part?"

The Guardian nodded and took a step forward. The blade leapt from the ground, slashing despite it restrictive binds. Jumping back Arf and Zafira took up battle stances.

'Signum, Hayate, Omega left behind one of his independent swords.'

'We're on our way, don't do anything risky.'

'We'll try.'

Activating his own binding, he surrounded the sword with extra restrictions.

"What's with this sword Zafira? Why the need for your spells along with mine?"

"If that's the usual spy sword that Omega usually leaves behind, we might not be able to contain it with just us. Yuuno would be a great help at the moment, but he's busy."

The sword pulsated and Arf winced. She hadn't felt a magical force this strong since Nanoha first created the Starlight Breaker spell.

"What's it doing?"

"I don't know, just brace yourself!"

"Zafira . . . it has been a long time has it not?"

He swallowed as he recognized the form that teleported in behind the weapon before them. Robed in white and gold armor and a full cloak surrounding him, he held a bastard sword in his hands.

"It has Omega, though I never imagined we'd meet like this."

Raising the sword to the sky, the man gave him a sad look.

"Indeed . . . Halbmond Blitz!"

Bringing the blade down, the crescent of magical force lashed out, forcing the two to disengage and break their binds on the sword. The sword floated around Omega twice before fading out of sight again. Arf looked at the trail the attack left and gawked.

"That's unreal! There's no way to perform such an advanced attack without some amount of charge up time."

"Now that I've retrieved my blade, Zafira, I have a question for you."

"We have questions of our own."

The trio looked toward the source of the voice as the Wolkenritter and others from the TSAB stepped through Shamal's Klarer Wind warp circles. The Knight of Belka let a slight smile pass across his features before turning to face them full on. Hayate looked at him with determination despite meeting for the first time. He took note from the way the rest of the knights formed up around her that she was the new mistress of the Book. The small girl floating beside her however drew his instant curiosity.

"Sky?"

The way the group tensed and the reactions of confusion from Hayate and Zwei made him narrow his gaze.

"Where is Sky?"

Hayate looked to Signum and Shamal, who gave her downcast looks. Hayate could read their message as Shamal looked slightly at Zwei. The little helper looked back and forth between all of them with an apprehensive look.

"Omega, Sky . . ."

He gripped his hands in a fist. Their sheer uncertainty and lack of an immediate answer told him everything without the need for words. Breathing deeply, he let loose a long sigh.

"Signum. This is the new Mistress?"

The swordswoman nodded and stepped forward.

"Hayate is from Earth."

The information left a stunned expression on the man's face. Covering his face with one of his hands, he started chuckling, building up to a full-fledged cackling laughter. Catching his breath, he grinned at the bewildered group. He'd never heard of many mages coming out of the third planet, but whenever they did, they tended to be extraordinary.

"An Earthling eh? Well then."

A sword materialized in his right hand and the group put up their guard. Holding up a hand, he called for peace.

"Easy now, I've not decided to fight all of you here and now. Signum, this is for you."

He tossed the sword end over end and the blade embedded itself in the ground. It was a single edged blade like Levantine, but without a cartridge system. The sword held smooth, clean lines and a rather simplistic cross guard.

"If you're to guard her as a knight should, I think this blade suits you and Levantine well."

"Why are you giving her another Device?"

Looking to Hayate, Omega smirked.

"To level the playing field if only a bit. I will not face opponents who cannot stand against what is to come. I'd rather fight on equal terms if possible."

Hayate shook a fist and glared at him crossly.

"So that's it? Handicapping us? Showing pity because you used to lead the Wolkenritter? I think you don't realize how strong they've been with me."

The magical pressure around the area increased dramatically as the man grew cross. His eyes changed to a golden hue as he radiated magical force. Rising into the air slightly, he looked down at the brown haired girl.

"Sky really didn't tell you? Two administrative control systems existed in the Book. She was the primary, but I was the fail safe if something ever happened to her. Granted, I've been separated from the Book, but that doesn't mean I can't draw power from it as I used to. You know what that means don't you?"

Hayate crumbled to her knees. She felt weak and could barely breath. True, each of the Wolkenritter took a bit of her magical force much like Arf did for Fate, but that had been before the previous Reinforce had changed the programming. She could feel her power ebbing away from her and into him in vast quantities. The drain died off and the pressure ceased as he planted his feet on the ground again with a serious look.

"I strongly recommend you don't fight me Hayate. I will draw your power from you if need be. It won't cause lasting damage, but in a battle, it could be fatal."

He stopped when Signum and Vita placed themselves between them. Vita glared at him with Graf Eisen in her hands. The look in her blue eyes told him of the respect and loyalty she had for the new mistress. Bringing up her weapon, Vita pointed it at him, shocking the rest of the party.

"If you do that again I'll break you apart regardless of who you are to us. Hayate is like our first mistress. I won't forgive you if you hurt her again!"

Walking over, he brushed past Graf Eisen and lifted a hand. Placing it on Vita's head, he ruffled her hat with a small smile. She hadn't changed judging from her impulsive resolve. That was a good sign. When a gasp escaped Shamal's lips, he looked down to his right to see Signum on one knee beside him with her face kept down. Raising an eyebrow, his eyes widened a fraction.

"What's this?"

"Signum!"

"Join us."

On her head, Vita felt the man flinch as she looked down at her psuedo commander. She'd never Signum debase herself like this. Shaking her head slightly, the red haired knight clenched her teeth.

"Signum, don't do that."

"Silence Vita. I'll repeat myself. Won't you rejoin the Wolkenritter?"

Removing his hand from Vita, Omega knelt on level with the Sword Knight. Staring at the top of her crown for a moment's reflection, he'd only seen her do this once before. Back then had been a different time, a different place. She'd had a passionate heart back then and he could feel that some of that was lost, but slowly creeping its way back into her life. Reaching out, he lifted her face up and looked into her eyes and saw her conflicting emotions.

"You know what would happen should I do such a thing."

"Perhaps not, we are no longer magically bound to the Book as before. I'm not asking you to rejoin the Book, but us. Will you?"

"No."

His curt answer shocked them. Signum flinched, an expression of pain and betrayal crossed her face as his face became void of emotions. He drew his hand from her chin and stepped back.

"So long as you are all associate with the Time Space Administrative Bureau I remain your enemy. I only met with you now for the sake of nostalgia, but the master of Excaliber is clear, the TSAB must reform or fall for its sins twenty years past. A hint to help if you wish for a relatively peaceful end to this rift. Look for the Oracle Incident, though I doubt you'll find much. Forgive me Signum, but some things cannot return to the way they once were."

Pulling away Omega began to prepare his teleportation spell. He wore a face of apology.

"Though I wish they could . . . mein geliebter. Abschied."

The man disappeared from view, leaving behind a shocked Wolkenritter and confused Hayate and Arf. Signum clutched Levantine as she clenched her teeth. Vita looked away, unable to believe what she could see from her angle alone. The Iron Knight was determined to find out just what he'd left them with. Maybe then, he'd join them again. Maybe then, the moisture that fell to the ground from a certain leader's eyes would fall for a different reason.

Shamal had always wondered about Signum's rare showing of emotions even with Hayate and the rest of them. Now though, as she looked at Signum, she couldn't help to understand why she hadn't been so expressive. This was going to be a painful, and personal battle not much unlike Nanoha and Fate's battle for Vivio a few years ago.

"Signum . . ."

Mein geliebter. Abschied. (My beloved. Farewell.)