A/N: Well everyone here is chapter 4 of Dark Storm. Thank you for the reviews. Sorry this is late posting. I got out of work at 4 AM instead of midnight, so I went straight to bed and then had to get up and head out the door. I had to go to my mom's and help her pack as she needs to move by the end of this month. That also messed up my writing that I was going to do over the past three days. -_-
Special Note: There is no beastiality in this story. There is also no FUTA in this story either. There will be girl to girl romance and eventually intimacy.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha or the rights to Mary H. Herbert's, Dark Horse. This is strictly for entertainment purposes only. All rights reserved to their original creators.
Dalax: Are Percheron sized horses. They've been known to get up to be approximately twenty-seven hands high. They have long wavy manes and tails and their coat is a glossy black. In my story all Dalax are glossy black and their manes and tails are the colors of their human hair. Their eyes are also the same color, whether they are horse or human. The type that I'm using for this description is the telepathic talk of a Dalax, and in future chapters this will be telepathic speech of a human talking to a Dalax.
Villages: Are small nomadic tribes that move with the seasons. They're not quite big enough to be clans just yet, or they haven't found a permanent place to settle down yet.
Clans: Are a large nomadic tribe that is finally settled down and has found a permanent place to winter. They have permanent structures that they can come back to at any time.
Magic: The nomadic tribes have forbidden its practice. It is now considered taboo for anyone to use magic. If anyone is caught using magic they are either exiled or put to death.
Zolore: The father God that created the Dalax.
Valica: The mother Goddess of all creation and protector of mages.
Night/Day Watchman: Patrol around the clans perimeter.
Centuries: Are the long-range lookouts. They are also part of the Chieftain's honor guard.
Sentinel: Guard the herds, this is the second most coveted position any clans person could have. The most coveted is the foaling mares.
Now let the fantasy begin of my version of Dark Horse. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoy bringing to you.
Zona Rose };-
Dark Storm
By
Zona Rose
Chapter Four – Interrogation
"Are you sure you don't know who the trader was, or who may have ordered the massacre of your village?" Lord Gil asked, "You have given us little to go on in finding the exiles."
"I've told you everything that I can." Nanoha says in frustration, looking around the semi-circle of the Chieftain and elders of the clan.
"This doesn't give us an awful lot to go on trying to find the ones behind this. Is there any clue that you could give us to point us in the right direction at least?" An elder next to Lord Gil asked.
"I have my suspicions, but that is all I have. I have no concrete proof as to who or the why of my villages slaughter."
"If you have suspicions then why do not bring them forward?" One of the elders to Nanoha's right asked.
"If my suspicions are wrong, then it would bring dishonor to your clan. That is the last thing that I would want to do."
It has been several hours now and the elders are always asking the same questions even if it comes in a different form, from a different elder. With that last statement, it seemed to satisfy them to some point as they all nodded in agreement, even if it was sadly.
Behind her, Hayate and the other warriors were listened intently to every word, trying to decipher if there was any hidden meeting to anything that was said. Nanoha was extremely self-conscious as she had never been the focus of so many eyes before.
The sky through the windows was starting to turn orange with the setting sun. Nanoha had been able to get something to eat and wash up a little bit before the interrogation had started hours ago. As the same questions kept getting repeated both her mind and body are starting to succumb to exhaustion.
The last stranger they had come to her village was Lord Jail. As he left, he did not look at all pleased with whatever her father had said. A few days later her village was massacred.
"Isn't there anything you can tell us?" Lord Gil pleaded.
"All I can tell you is that father got a visit from a Lord and then a few days later, my village was wiped out."
"Just like that one visit and then a slaughter. That doesn't make any sense." Gil said out loud.
"As the Lord was just outside the borders of the village. He shouted that if my father did not heed his suggestion, there would be no one left to see the coming summer."
Gasps could be heard from several of the warriors and elders. Hayate continue to watch very intently to see if there was any deceit or hint of deception in anything that Nanoha was saying. To think that a clan Chieftain would make such an idle threat and then days later the village is massacred, is unthinkable.
Gil stroked his white beard and thought. "There is only one clan Lord as of late that would fit this description. The rumor of him going from clan to clan over the past few days has grown."
"It is unthinkable that the clan Lord would do this. Especially one so far away from the village that was slaughtered." An elder stated uneasily.
"But it would make sense as the village that was slaughtered was just on the verge of becoming clan and not a village. They were growing in power and in number. If this was going to become a threat to him and his plans, it would make sense he would want to stamp it out before it became a problem."
"How could he use the slaughter of this village to his advantage?" Another elder inquired.
"He can claim that they refused his offers and the penalty was their annihilation. Clans in the immediate area would gather to his ranks just in fear." Nanoha said in a monotone voice.
The silence in the hall was deafening. Gil stood up, crossed his arms with a scowl on his face. "So with the slaughter of this village, he can claim that he is deadly serious to anyone who refuses him."
Nanoha sagged in relief, could it be they finally understand the gravity of the situation. It is only taken her hours to drill it into their heads.
Nanoha's eyes are drawn to the fire as the sound and motion around her is drowned out by the light and sound of the crackling fire. Visions of what had happened on that fateful day swim before her eyes. The last time she saw her family alive…
Miyuki had a strange expression on her face, "Father, what is that smell?"
Shiro stopped and smelled the air. "I don't know." Walking over to the tents door, he opens it and steps outside. His two oldest children follow him into the morning air. Unbeknownst to the three Nanoha peaks out the door.
"Look father, it seems to be fog." Kyouya with concern.
"That's odd for this time of year," Miyuki said.
"What's even stranger is it's coming from the hills. I've never seen the fog rolling from the hills. Kyouya go find Zest he may know something about this."
"Yes father, right away," Kyouya runs off to the north side of camp.
As the fog rolled in the camp, that's when the screams of pain, agony and death started. Zest and Kyouya are running back to the chieftain's tent.
"I have never seen the likes of this before, my Lord," Zest said.
"This almost has the smell of magic to it," Miyuki commented.
"Then let us meet this head-on, come, if it is a fight they want it will be a fight they get. It will not be our deaths. It will be their deaths." As the four of them run off into the dank death fog. Nanoha is pulled back into the tent by her mother.
From outside they can hear people continuing to scream and run around. Then they hear a woman scream out, "fire, the tents are on fi…" There was a gurgling sound where the rest of that word should have been. A sword rips through the side wall of the tent and a strange looking woman steps through. Momoko steps in between Nanoha and the stranger.
"Your husband should have taken Lord Jail up on his offer. If he had, than at least the rest of your clan and family would still be alive."
"He would sooner give up his arm, then one of his own children to the likes of you."
"It doesn't matter now because before the day is out. None of you will be alive." The woman sword slashes the front of Momoko wide open. As she steps back to avoid the sword once more, she steps into Nanoha in the process, the sword goes through both of them. As Momoko falls she spreads her arms out causing her clothing to flare and cover her daughter, hoping in some way she will survive.
The laugh that followed was so cold and chilling. It turned Nanoha's insides to ice. As the screams of the dying faded away into darkness, Nanoha's last thoughts were that no one would know who it was that had done such a horrible thing to her people.
Nanoha falls unconscious from the pain of recanting what had happened that day. Gil look grim as they all heard what had happened on that fateful day. "Hayate take her to the healer. She said that she was injured in the shoulder. It may be affecting her. I think we've gotten all the information that we need as to who was responsible."
Hayate nodded solemnly, gingerly picking up, Nanoha, cradling her in her arms and heading for the healer's tent. As Hayate left the tent Fate immediately came over. "She'll be all right. She just passed out from exhaustion. I'm taking her to the healer's tent. You can follow me if you want."
Fate nodded her head and followed Hayate to the healer's tent. "She must have a strong constitution to have gone so long. It must not have been that long ago that she had saved you from the trap that you were in, plus the journey here and then my uncle's interrogation. Not many people would have been able to last that long. You must be very proud of her."
Pride swelled inside of Fate's chest; yes her little one truly was strong.
A woman with blond hair and violet eyes, dressed in green and white clothing looked up as Gil stepped inside the tent. "My Lord, how many times have I told you, you need to moderate your interrogations? Not everyone has strong will and constitutions to be able to withstand hours on end, the same questions over and over again."
"I know Shamal, but she wouldn't tell us her reasoning's behind her suspicions."
Wiping a cool cloth over Nanoha's forehead and face, "Don't you think she would've told you eventually?"
"Perhaps, but if her being here would put my own clan in danger, it is something I needed to know. No matter how hard I pushed she wouldn't budge." A hint of admiration shown in his gray eyes.
"Well until she's fully healed and that includes her wounded shoulder and blistered hands, you're not getting near her again with your interrogation."
"I think we have all the information we need at the moment. Now it's my turn to do some investigating. There was something that she had said about giving up one of his clan that he refused to do. And that is why her village was wiped out."
"Giving up a clan member? That is an odd request and an even scarier reason to wipe out a village."
"Exactly what I was thinking," Gil said as he was leaving the healer's tent.
"Wait, have you heard from Griffith or Kurt?"
Stopping in the doorway, "No, but they should be back soon. I know they both can take care of themselves." Looking back at Nanoha, "You better take good care of her or the Dalax that's out here, will pulverize you into the dust."
"She'll be fine as long as she doesn't catch fever from her injury."
"Then do the best that you can."
Nanoha slept for two days and nights straight. Her exhaustion was so complete the only reason that Shamal new she was alive was her shallow breathing.
Fate was waiting outside knowing that the nightmares could possibly start at any time.
Nanoha started to stir when Shamal was giving her a fever reducing tea, as she had started getting a low-grade fever over the past twelve marks. She started to whimper and whine as she looked like she was struggling to push something off from her. As Shamal bent over her, Nanoha's eyes snapped open. She gave a bit of a startled cry and pushed her away. Shamal not expecting the force flew halfway across her tent landing in a heap.
Standing up she dusted herself off, "Well, I wasn't exactly expecting that."
"Who are you and where am I? And what have you done to Fate?"
"I am the healer of the Belka clan, my name is Shamal. And as for your Dalax she is just outside the door and has been waiting for you to wake up."
"How long?"
"Two full days. That seems to be the new record as of late."
"You don't look like a clan's man. Where are you from?"
"A city far to the east."
"What is a city dweller doing out here?"
"Out here amongst the nomads?" Sigh, "There are some things one does not talk about."
"I'm sorry if I brought up unpleasant memories."
"It is all right, we all have our own unpleasant memories now, don't we?"
"It would seem."
"At least the gods have blessed you."
"There is no blessing in what I have gone through. Everyone that I knew, everyone that I cared about, are all dead. How can you call that a blessing?"
"You are alive! Alive to claim blood right, don't throw that gift away. The gods chose to have you live for a reason. Take that blessing and use it to your advantage."
"I am unworthy."
"Do not waste what you have been given with grief and self-incrimination. The gods have a plan for you. You just need to find out what it is."
In a small and distant voice, "Thank you, may I leave now?"
"You're welcome, and if you think you can make it to the tent door. You may leave."
Nanoha not liking the ominous sound of that sat up and swung her legs over the bed. Her head felt a little odd, but other than that she felt fine. Standing up carefully to make sure her legs would hold. She slowly makes her way towards the door. Halfway there a wave of dizziness and nausea hits her, making her step falter and crumbles to the floor, hands on both sides of her head to stop it from spinning.
"What's wrong with me?"
"When you push yourself past your reserves, and don't know when to stop, your body makes you stop." Shamal helps Nanoha to stand up and gets her seated on the edge of the bed. Then makes her way over to the door and saw a young girl walked by with lavender hair. "Tell the Chieftain the newcomer is awake."
With that done, she walks over to the stove and ladles out some stew into a bowl. With a bit of bread she brings it over to Nanoha. "Eat this it should help."
"Thank you," Nanoha said in a shaky voice. Taking the bowl, she takes a sip. "This is good."
The tent flap opens and in walks Lord Gil with his hunting hawk nestled on his shoulder. Looking around the tent, he spies that Nanoha is sitting eating stew. Not wanting to disappoint her new Chieftain. Nanoha stands up spilling her stew.
"Forgive my insolence, my Lord," she said with shame.
"You are just recovering. It was not insolence. Just remember outside this tent, the next time you see me."
Nodding her head Nanoha sits back down, as Shamal gets another bowl of stew. "I hear Hayate is going to be her adviser."
"Yes, she wanted to take on her training herself."
"Hayate can go jump in horse dung," Nanoha mumbles.
"Did you say something, Nanoha?" Lord Gil looked at her suspiciously.
"It was nothing. My Lord," Nanoha paled at her stupidity and the slip of the tongue.
"Good. I don't want you disrespecting the person who's going to help you get blood right."
"She should be able to return to normal duties starting tomorrow morning, my Lord." Shamal said with amusement.
"Good, for tomorrow morning you will be riding." Gil turns and leaves.
"Yes, my Lord," Nanoha said as she took a bite of her stew.
I am such a fool. I forget to salute my new Chieftain and then scorn his right hand and heir apparent. One of these days, my carelessness is going to get me killed. I can't avenge my family, my village if I am dead. No more stupidity Nanoha, you've got to pull yourself together. They're giving you the tools, use them.
"I think your Dalax would like to know that you are on the mend. Why don't you go out and reassure her and let her know that you are well."
"I think I will. Thank you for the stew."
Standing carefully, Nanoha hands the bowl to the healer. Then taking a few tentative steps when the nausea and sickness does not return she makes her way out of the tent into the fresh air. Looking around for Fate, she sees her just off from the door.
"Are you all right little one, has the sickness past?"
"Yes, it was only exhaustion that took me," Nanoha leaned into Fate's chest and absorbing her heat in to her cold body. "Have you been standing out here since I've been in there?"
"Yes, I didn't want to leave."
"That means you haven't eaten in two days. We need to find you something to eat."
Nanoha put her hand on Fate's shoulder as they started to walk towards the river. The further away from the healer's tents they got the shaker Nanoha's legs would get, until Fate found a good secluded spot where she could graze and Nanoha could rest.
Sitting down at the edge of the river, Nanoha mindlessly runs her fingers through the water lost in thought. Closing her eyes, she listened to the babbling water as it went by, relaxing for the first time in a long time. Nanoha was so absorbed into this relaxation and peace. She almost missed what Fate said next.
"We have a watcher on top of the hill."
Nanoha's eyes shot open and looked around. On top of the hill she could see alone horse from the distance she couldn't tell if there was a rider or not. "I'm not too surprised, is there a rider?"
"There is no rider present, but she does have a rider. She is another Dalax."
"Hayate has sent a spy. I'm quite sure she still thinks that I was either the trader or an imposter. Fate, if any of them find out my true secret they'll kill me."
"What secret are you hiding Nanoha? You know you can trust me with anything. I will never betray you in any way."
"It is a secret that my family has kept from everyone including our own village. You see Fate, my family is a long line of mages and I at an early age developed those powers. Being the Chieftain's daughter it was easy to keep that a secret, but outside of my village I'm susceptible to the taboos of other villages, and clans. If any of them found out I would be exiled or killed on the spot."
"We all have our secrets Nanoha. Even I have secrets that someday I hope to be able to share with you. Maybe Hayate has good reason to be so cautious and not trust right away. Maybe even in the same way you do not trust her. I think it would be a good start, if you try to trust her."
"I can try, but if she starts to dig too deeply I'll pullback. My main focus is blood right and I will look for any means possible to accomplish it, even if I have to use my taboo powers."
"It would not surprise me if you had hidden allies all over the place. And those allies will want the same thing that you do, and ultimately will try and help you in any way they can."
The piece that Nanoha had found earlier now eluded her with the watchful eyes of the other Dalax. In all her years, she had never known the distrust of the people around her. At the age of seventeen she had never felt so alone or so lost. Her family was close knit as her mother and father were always so loving to each other and showered that love on their three children. Her older brother and sister were always devoted to each other.
Nanoha always felt as if she was the odd wheel to the family. And what made it worse was when her mage powers developed, that seem to push the family to exclude her even more. Nanoha didn't know if it was on purpose, but that's the way she felt. Being alone surrounded by people you loved felt totally different than being alone altogether.
As the chilly evening air settled over them, they both knew it was time to head back. As Fate led Nanoha back to the healer's tent, Nanoha was leaning more and more onto Fate as exhaustion continued to weigh on her heavy limbs. Entering the tent, Nanoha noticed that Shamal was sleeping and tried to be as quiet as possible. On her bed was Raising Heart and next to her bed was her sack. As she lay down a wave of exhaustion hit her and carried her into a dreamless sleep.
"Good night my little one."
A/N: Well everyone that concludes Chapter 4. I again apologize for the lateness of the update. I hope it was well worth the wait. Chapter 5 should be on time for the upcoming Tuesday posting.
Reviews would be awesome and for those of you that have posted reviews, they are greatly appreciated.
In Love & Light,
Zona Rose };-
