Previously, on Magical Lyrical Nanoha FATE...
"Sheesh, Project FATE is far more important than anything else, isn't it?"
"Of course. She is the reason why I was created in the first place."
"Command wants us to investigate a series of unknown signals approaching Uminari City. The present location is within the shopping mall. I am transporting right now as we speak."
Fate was surprised as she looked at them. "These were the ones who attacked you, Signum-san? They…they look like humans to me!"
"Look at their left arms!" Signum said as the three attackers transformed their left arms into blades again. Vita and Teana were shocked. "Whoa! What are they?" the sniper said in awe.
"Unidentified? It isn't magic then? Or Lost Logia?" Fate said. Anubis looked at her. "No child. What you are seeing is a power far older than you can imagine; you are looking at the very source of technology that your Intelligent Devices and even your Lost Logia have come from."
"Wait! What are you saying?"Fate asked. "I don't understand everything you're saying!"
"We shall meet again lass." Anubis said as the creature disappeared as well.
Part 3 – Crisis in Mid-Childa
TSAB INFIRMARY, MID-CHILDA
Nanoha Takamachi rushed inside the TSAB Infirmary, together with Vivio, her adoptive daughter, and Yuuno Scrya, her boyfriend. The pony-tailed brunette walked rather really fast as she went directly to the nurse's station while her blonde boyfriend and daughter followed her close. "Excuse me, which room is Captain Fate T. Harlaown assigned to?" Nanoha asked worriedly. The nurse looked at her and then gave a surprised look! "Oh, Captain Takamachi! I didn't notice it was you! Capt. Harlaown is in Room 45. Just take the elevator over to the right." The nurse kindly said. Nanoha immediately walked away, leaving Yuuno to thank the nurse. She immediately got inside the elevator, with Vivio and Yuuno barely making it in time to get inside!
"Nanoha-mama! You walk too fast!" said Vivio. "Sorry, sorry! I am just so worried about your Fate-mama!" Nanoha smiled. Yuuno didn't say anything, as he knew that despite her cheerful appearance today, Nanoha was terrified when she learned of what had happened to her best friend.
FLASHBACK:
"Nanoha-mama! Can I have some cotton candy?" Vivio asked. "Okay. Here's some change. Make sure that you brush your teeth once we get back home, alright sweety?" Nanoha smiled as she gave Vivio some money. "Okay!" the blonde girl smiled as she accepted the change and quickly ran towards the cotton candy maker. Nanoha sat in a bench while enjoying the Mid-Childa Fair. She then spotted Yuuno walking towards her with a big pink teddy bear on his arm. "Looks like you've got your hands full, Yuuno-kun…" she giggled as the man sat down beside her.
"Ah, well…you did want me to bring you a prize…so here it is." Yuuno smiled. Nanoha blushed when her boyfriend handed the stuffed toy to her. "You know, I'm pretty sure you would want something in return for this." She gave an all-knowing look at Yuuno. The blonde man just looked at her with a quizzical look. "Whatever do you mean, oh lovely Ace of the Training Corps. Nanoha Takamachi?" he joked. Nanoha just giggled. "Oh, you do know what I mean, Chief of the Infinite Library Yuuno Scrya…" as the two leaned in closer when Raising Heart began glowing. "My Master…incoming transmission from Subaru Nakajima of the Rescue Force." The device said. Yuuno just sighed as Nanoha looked at a hologram representation of Subaru. "Hello Subaru-chan, what's up?" she asked.
"Uh, I am sorry to disturb your date with Yuuno-san, Nanoha-san, but something came up. Fate-san and Teana-chan have been found and sent to the Infirmary together with Signum-san and Vita-san. They were…badly wounded…"
END OF FLASHBACK
Nanoha opened the door of Room 45 and saw Fate together with her mother Lindy beside her bed. Erio and Caro, Fate's adoptive children, were also inside the room together with Hayate and Signum. "Ah, hello Nanoha-chan!" Hayate smiled. "It's so nice of you to drop by!"
"Fate-chan! Are you alright?" Nanoha immediately rushed towards Fate. The blonde was surprised to see her best friend close to tears. "I…I'm fine Nanoha-chan! No need to worry; just some minor wounds!" as Nanoha began to sniffle. "I didn't know that things were so dangerous. If only I have known, I would've joined you with Raising Heart!" the brunette said. Vivio entered the room with Yuuno beside her. "Yuuno-papa? Why is Nanoha-mama crying? Is she and Fate-mama fighting again?" she asked in a worried tone. "No, no! We are not fighting Vivio!" Fate smiled. "Nanoha-mama is just worried about Fate-mama. Ok?"
"Ok…" Vivio replied as she gave out a small yawn. Yuuno looked at Nanoha. "I'm going to take Vivio back home, since its way past her bed time. Just give me a call, alright?" he smiled. Nanoha smiled back at him. "Okay. Thank you Yuuno-kun." She said. Yuuno made a small bow. "I'll be going now. Hope you get well soon Fate-chan." He said.
"Thank you Yuuno-kun." Fate said as the blonde man went out together with Vivio. "You are quite lucky to have someone as understanding as Yuuno-kun, Nanoha-chan. I hope Fate-chan here also finds someone who will take care of her as well." Lindy gave out a sigh, as Erio and Caro both grinned. "Mom!" Fate just blushed in embarrassment. Nanoha and Hayate just giggled while Signum remained frowned all the time. "Signum-san? What's wrong? Why are you scowling?" Nanoha asked.
"Hehe, her pride got wounded…as Fate-chan here have told us what happened back in the Uminari City Mall!" Hayate smiled. Signum just crossed her arms. "I swear on my pride as a Belkan Knight, I will show this…this Alexander Lyoneid who the weak one really is!" she grumbled as Fate, Hayate and Nanoha started laughing, however, the ponytailed brunette immediately stopped laughing when she recognized the name Signum have said. "A…Alexander Lyoneid? Isn't that the name of one of our classmates?" she gasped. All of them went silent because of Nanoha's sudden revelation…
Fate sighed. "I better tell you the whole story before Hayate thinks of something else, Nanoha-chan."
Meanwhile, Teana and Shari were inside the Enforcers Command Database. "No, there's nothing in the database about Warlocks or Demon Blade. Are you sure this is what Fate-san wanted us to look for?" Shari asked. Teana nodded. "That creepy one-eyed guy is supposedly called "The Demon Blade", as Fate-san would recall it. I don't know the exact details though, but he and that "wolf creature" did manage to save us. So that means they're not the bad guys, right?" the sniper asked. Shari thought for a while as she arranged her glasses. "And those creatures that attacked you…the one you called Warlocks? How powerful were they?" she asked.
Teana shuddered as she remembered how she, Vita and Signum were defeated by the two other Warlocks inside the shopping mall.
FLASHBACK
"Teana! Back me up!" as Signum rushed towards at a Warlock, which was still disguised as a man! Teana fired multiple shots, hitting the Warlock directly on its chest! The enemy simply stood there, looking at its mid-section blown off with hole on its chest! Signum dashed and then tried to decapitate its head but the third Warlock blocked her attack, parrying it at the right moment! Signum backed away as Vita flew overhead! "It's time to finish all of you with one blow! GRAF EISEN!" as she was just inches away from dealing the crushing blow! The third Warlock that parried Signum's attack suddenly changed from its human form to its real form, opening its horrifying mouth and began shrieking a horrifying sound!
"GYAAAH!" Vita yelled as she was thrown off, hitting Signum who was behind her! Teana herself yelled in constant pain as she felt painful spikes burn her entire body! The last thing she saw was that she collapsed on the floor and everything went black…
END OF FLASHBACK
"And that's all I remember…" Teana said as she wrapped up her story. Shari looked at her in complete disbelief. "It would have been helpful if we managed to get a sample of one of those Warlock things…maybe we could get a clue as to what they really are and how we can fight them off if in case they might appear here in Mid-childa." The bespectacled girl said.
Teana scoffed. "What? You think those things might come here in Mid-childa? I don't think so…"
Shari shrugged her shoulders. "It never hurts to be careful, you know." She said.
Back in Room 45 of the TSAB Infirmary…
"Are you telling me…that that one-eyed person we met at school…just killed all three of those things you call as Warlocks?" Nanoha asked skeptically. Fate just sighed. "I know it's difficult to believe at first, but it's all true. Alexander Lyoneid isn't what he really looks like, which is why we need to be careful when he is around." She said. Hayate looked up as if thinking. "Hmmm, well, I think you should get to know him even better during your school hours, Fate-chan…" she suddenly declared.
"Huh? Why?" the blonde asked, surprised. Hayate smiled. "Think about it; you did say that he saved you, Signum-chan, Vita-chan, and Teana-chan and plus, he seems to have an issue with those things that attacked you, right? It could prove to be quite useful to learn more about him, thus in the process, we learn more about the nature of the new enemy."
"Looks like it. He…he killed them all like he hated them for a long time…" Fate felt a cold chill down her spine as she remembered Al's reaction during that time. "But still, I think we need to be careful around him. I don't like the way he fights or his attitude. He's…too serious…too dark…too brooding…even when he is in class…and he's awfully rude and direct to the point!" the blonde Enforcer sighed.
"Ara, ara…and how is it that you know of these qualities of his?" Hayate grinned. "Is it true as to what Teana Lanster has told me before; that you have been checking someone out lately?" she teased.
"W…W…What? What are you talking about?" Fate stammered. Nanoha looked at Fate and sighed. "So that's the reason why you left me at the mercy of Arisa and Suzuka back at the university. You were so busy looking at Alexander, weren't you?" she looked at the blonde suspiciously. Fate instantly blushed. "No! That's not-"she stuttered when she noticed her mother and her two adopted children.
"Ahh, at last, my daughter is starting to like someone…" Lindy said with a dramatic sigh. "I thought I have to reach sixty just to see this day…"
"Wow, Fate-san! Congratulations!" Caro smiled. "We'll be rooting for you!"
"That's right. Prove to Commander Yagami that you're going to get a boyfriend!" Erio gave a thumbs-up. Fate just sighed in defeat. "Why does everyone treat me like I am going to be single forever?" she pouted. "But seriously speaking though, that wolf creature, Anubis, said something about Mid-Childa being in danger as well. Do you think those Warlocks might attack us here as well?" she asked.
"No, I really don't think so; everyone knows that anything on Earth can't reach Mid-childa without the power of a teleportation device or maybe, a Lost Logia." Hayate said while placing her arms on her hips. "But enough about the sad news! I have more important things to discuss, since you and Nanoha-chan are here!" the young commander grinned. She then went near the communications system that was present inside the room. "That perverted Admiral, Chrono-kun, have just said something about bringing back the 6th Mobile Force Unit. This time, we are set to investigate some craters in Alzas. However, these are no ordinary craters; these were the remains of what was supposedly a very big communications outpost of the TSAB." As she pressed some buttons and then a screen flashed before all of them, showing the devastation of the craters in Alzas in the screen. Nanoha and Fate were stunned to see the damages. "How could something like that happen?" Caro asked. "I hope no one got hurt…"
"There were no casualties, fortunately, but it was a big blow to the TSAB, since that communications outpost was the one thing keeping our transmissions from the other sectors of High Command active." Hayate explained. "And as the Admiral has told me, reports of unknown signals have been detected in Mid-childa and the same signals were the ones that Signum-chan and Vita-chan were sent to do a recon mission while the Enforcers were to do an investigation back in Uminari City."
Fate thought for a while. "How about in Alzas? Did any of the mages in there encounter Warlocks, just like we did?" she asked. Hayate gave a long sigh. "That is the problem; the High Council forbid anyone from asking the mages who were stationed in there. The funny thing is that the mages stationed at that communications post were high-ranking mages, so if they have indeed encountered anything like the Warlocks that you said, Fate-chan, then we would have received a message for help." The brunette said.
Nanoha scratched her head. "Nyahaha, anyway, I am glad that the 6th Mobile Force Division has been reactivated again. I'm sure Subaru-chan and Teana-chan will be glad to be under the same team again, right?" she said. "Right! Nove-san will also be a part of the team, along with the rest of Numbers as support squad. We will need more help than usual, because this seems a very big concern to the TSAB as of the moment." Caro said.
"I will be in-charge of training and squad tactics, making sure that everyone knows how to position themselves in battle." Signum said proudly. "I will start studying how the Warlocks fight so I can prepare for them the next time they appear again!"
"Lutecia-chan is also included in the team, as her mother have approved of her desire to help us." Erio smiled. Fate then noticed that Caro's smile immediately disappeared the moment Erio mentioned Lutecia, making her giggle softly. While Hayate and Nanoha chatted with Signum and the two kids, she felt someone was looking at her from outside the window. She blinked and then saw that it was simply just the curtain window flowing freely from outside.
But from across the hospital, on a towering building was Al standing on top of a platform, wearing his long black cape. He closed his eyes. "Project Fate…I will keep protecting you, just like what Father would have wanted." He whispered. Suddenly, five shining blasts erupted all over the southern part of Mid-childa, alerting him as he looked around the hospital building. "Damn it! They're finally here!" he hissed as he disappeared into a speeding shadow, heading towards the ground while running from the top of the building down towards the ground! When he came to the middle part of the building, he spun to the left and did a back-flip jump, landing on the ground with a loud thud. He faced the direction where the explosions occurred while behind him was the entrance towards the hospital.
"To protect Project Fate?" as he looked behind him. "Or to protect those she holds dear?" as his mind filled with the images of Fate laughing and smiling happily with Nanoha, Vivio, and the rest of her friends. Al gritted his teeth. "Damn it! I hate decisions!" as a black flame burst in front of him. He grabbed the flame with his right hand and swayed it towards his left, revealing his Demon Sword. He then sped towards the direction of the explosions.
At that very same time, inside Room 45 of the TSAB Infirmary…
"What in the world?" Nanoha exclaimed as the whole building rocked because of the explosions that occurred outside. Hayate and Signum looked outside and saw the southern part of the city in smoke and flames! "What! The…city! In flames?" Hayate stammered in shock. Nanoha hurriedly looked at the window as she knew that particular place all too well! "No! Vivio and Yuuno-kun!" she said as she hurriedly flipped open her cellular phone and began dialing. She walked to and fro while placing the phone on her head. "Please pick up, Yuuno-kun!" she muttered. The door suddenly opened, with Agito and Reinforce Zwei rushing in! "Mistress Hayate! We have an emergency going on in the southern corner of Mid-Childa! Some unknown creatures were spotted crawling out from the exploded areas and are being handled by the resident mages!" Reinforce said. Fate's eyes widened when she heard Reinforce mentioned something about "unknown creatures". "It's the Warlocks! They're here!" she said. Hayate and Nanoha looked at her. "What? How could...how is it possible? Argh! Never mind! Let's scramble all available forces that can help in those areas! Reinforce, you are coming with me!" said Hayate. "Signum-chan, you and Agito remain here and make sure that Fate-chan and Vita-chan are in safe hands!"
"Yes, my lady!" Signum said. "Leave it to us!" Agito grinned.
"Don't think you can leave me behind!" Nanoha said as she clutched Raising Heart. "Yuuno and Vivio might be in serious danger!"
"But Nanoha-chan, are you sure?" Fate asked with a worried voice. Nanoha nodded with a determined look. "If those creatures hurt Vivio or Yuuno-kun, I will make them all pay!" she said, making the blonde shudder because of a deep chill that climbed down her spine. When it comes to her family, Fate knows that it is best not to make her best friend angry.
Erio and Caro stood up. "We'll check out the explosions, if you don't mind Fate-san! We want to help Commander Hayate as much as we can and it would be interesting to know how powerful these Warlocks really are. Right, Caro?" Erio asked.
"Right! We have been training really hard, Fate-san, so we can help you when the right time comes!" Caro smiled. Fate sighed. "How I wish I wasn't filled with all of these tubes and needles; then I could've helped you as well! Please, be careful all of you! The Warlocks could shape-shift to look like people, so always be on your guard." She told everyone. Hayate, Nanoha, Erio and Caro nodded and they all rushed outside the room. The blonde woman gave out a long sigh. "For some reason, Signum, I felt as if he was here as well…" she said. Signum looked at her, confused. "Surely, you are not serious?" she asked.
"I don't know for sure. I only felt like he was indeed out there…because I know for sure that he HATES Warlocks…" Fate muttered as she looked at the window while smoke and flames was seen in the city.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Author's Notes: Finally, an update! It was quite a stressful day as I had to juggle my schedule from work and this fanfic. And it's really not a joke, considering some of the emails that I have been receiving constantly from several people; some are quite nice, while most are full of hostility. In any case, I will continue working on this fic until it's finished, so please bear with me a little if I am a bit slow with the updates! Thanks everyone!