The Forgotten Sky
by xlheslydesux
Disclaimer: I don't own Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha or any of its characters.
Chapter 9
Hayate looked at Vormund with a shocked expression on her face. Her mind couldn't process everything that Vormund told her. She wants to say something but words won't come out. She sagged onto the wall feeling overwhelmed. When she collected herself, she told Vormund in a non blaming voice…
"I can't believe all of that happened because of you…"
Vormund sighed a deep and long one before answering in a very sad voice.
"Back then, I was too focused in protecting my master that I didn't think about the consequences of my actions."
"If Nanoha find out about this…
"She won't!" Vormund said cutting Hayate off. "She mustn't know… she can't know. You know what this will do to her if she finds out."
"I know… I understand that but…" Hayate cried in exasperation. "I understand why you don't want her to know but she will be in much more pain if we don't tell her. Trust me, I know! I have been there. I also know that if Nanoha finds out about this, she will definitely feel responsible, that is why we can't hide this from her especially if we want to help her."
"Nanoha will be really mad if we don't tell her. But more importantly, I think she will be really sad. She is that kind of person." Rein said in a low voice. She is now sitting on Vormund's left shoulder.
"I understand. I will tell her someday but now is not the right time." Vormund said.
"You, the TSAB, Scaglietti and Fate's mother… what kind of fate is this." Hayate said in a trembling voice.
"I'm sorry." Vormund uttered.
"I'm not blaming you, I understand why you did what you did but we can't ignore the fact that everything started because of you. What is done is done. We shouldn't dwell on it, besides you did it for Nanoha's sake right? What we should focus onto now is how to save Nanoha and the everyone else." Hayate walk towards Vormund and placed a hand in his shoulders. "We need you strong Vormund."
Vormund felt Hayate's determination and appreciated it. He places his hands over Hayate's and nodded.
"Now, Let us go and save our princess." Hayate said smiling.
Vormund smiled and was about to say something when he felt a presence behind them.
"Who is there?!" He shouted.
A figure of a woman slowly appeared from the dark, walking towards them.
"A person?" Hayate whispered while looking at the figure before them.
The woman has a striking black long hair and dark green eyes. She is wearing a white lab coat and looks like a regular physician.
"A doctor? A scientist maybe?" Hayate thought.
"Hayate, no one is supposed to be here." Rein said telepathically.
"I know." Hayate answered." Who are you? This is a restricted area; you are not allowed to be here."
"I know that." The woman answered nonchalantly.
"We are from the TSAB would you kindly state your name and the planet you hail from?" Hayate continued ignoring the woman's tone.
"My name is Jenell… and I'm from Al Hazard." the woman answered calmly.
"Huh?" Hayate said.
She didn't expect the woman's answer and she was taken a back. She stared at Vormund looking for any sign that she misheard the woman but the guarded expression on Vormund's face told her that she didn't. Hayate took a step back while Vormund and Rein moved in front of her.
The woman looked at them with a big smile on her face. She isn't bothered by the fact that the atmosphere has dropped and the people in front of her have put their guard up. It is as if she didn't care at all.
"What is wrong? You don't have to be that shocked you know." Jenell said smirking.
"Who are you? What do you mean by you came from Al Hazard?" Vormund asked.
"It means what it means… Guardian-san." as Jenell said this a big hole appeared beneath Hayate and Vormund.
Vormund was able to grab Hayate in time and jump away from it but an orb-like barrier swallowed them up.
"What is this?!" Vormund said while hitting the barrier trying to shatter it.
Vormund didn't feel anything out of place around them, that's why he couldn't foresee what happened. The woman in front of them isn't emitting anything dangerous and he can't sense a hint, even an ounce of magical energy from her.
"It's no use. Even you can't break that thing, calm down will you." Jenell said.
Vormund gathered his magical energy in his right fist and punched the barrier but it was dispelled in a blink upon impact. Vormund was bewildered at what happened. It was the first time that his magic didn't work.
"That's why I told you it won't work." Jenell said.
"Who are you? What are you after?" Vormund asked.
"I just want you to stay out of my way for a while. Don't worry; I don't have any plan on doing anything to you." Jenell said as she stood in front of the orb enclosing Hayate, Rein and Vormund. She looked at them one by one as if inspecting them.
"What do you mean ~out of your way~?" Rein asked.
"I just want you to observed things for a while. Inside that thing." Jenell answered.
"Observed what?" Hayate asked.
Jenell looked at Hayate with a smile and said…
"How a person's heart change and affect the fate of the world."
Inside the Spaceship, Aegle
Not far from the planet Altstadt
"Fate, I have entered the coordinates. You just need to adjust it and then you are all set." Lucino said through the communication lines.
"Yeah, Thank you Lucino."
Fate entered the teleportation field and held out her palm with the small red sphere inside. She concentrated her mind searching for a particular part in the barrier around Altstadt and when she found it, she adjusted the coordinates and activated the spell.
"Nanoha, I'm coming."
"Aaaahhh!" Subaru cried as she was blown to the far side of the floor.
"Subaru!" Alazne called out. "Ugh!"
Alazne tried to stand up but her whole body is screaming in pain. She is having difficulty in breathing and her vision is has become too blurry to see anything.
"Alazne!" Teana said as she kneels beside Alazne. "Erio, Caro protect her! I am going to cover Subaru."
"Yes!" Erio and Caro answered as they try to evade the attacks of the enemy as they run towards Alazne.
Teana fired a few shots clearing her way towards Subaru, who is now crouching on the floor defending herself from the attacks of the rampaging robots. Just a few minutes ago, the Item that was silently hovering on the air suddenly released a vast amount of magical energy making the robots violent and hostile. At the same time, Alazne was enveloped in a strange light that is sucking her magical energy. Because of this, she couldn't move and was in agonizing pain.
"Teana, what should we do? Our attacks don't work on them." Subaru said as soon as Teana reached her.
"I don't know but we can't go on like this. If this continues, we will just exhaust ourselves making us more vulnerable." Teana said.
"Subaru, Teana, come here."
Alazne called out to Subaru and Teana in telepathy.
"Alazne?"
Subaru and Teana both look back where Alazne is and saw that she is still lying on the floor being cradled by Caro and being protected by Erio.
"Come here, Hurry!"
Subaru and Teana stood up at the same time and force their way back to Alazne, engaging the robots while trying to lead them away. When they were only inches away, Teana called out to Erio and Caro.
"Erio, Caro!"
Erio and Caro who knows Teana and Subaru very well automatically knew what to do when they saw the two run towards them.
"Fried!" Caro called out.
Friedrich turned to his Adult Form and blast the robots away from them but it only stop them from moving for a few seconds. When they resumed their attacks, the four Forwards are now forming a square like defense line around Alazne, their devices held out in front of them.
"Combination 7, Quarz Cage!" their devices said at the same time.
A barrier made of the Forwards combined magical energy enclosed the six of them and protected them… so they thought but one attack by the robot made a crack in the barrier, slowly breaking it.
Each and one of the attacks of the robots in the barrier aren't just breaking it. It also is sucking their magical energy.
"Tea, I can't hold out any more." Subaru said as she desperately try to maintain her magical energy to the barrier.
"Teana, I'm also running out." Erio said a few seconds after.
"Me too." Caro said.
"Hold out as long as you can. We can't give up now or we will be in trouble!" Teana said forcefully.
She too is running out of magical energy but she can't say it out loud. She knew that they are at the end of the rope but she can't, no… she should not accept it. If they give up now, all their efforts to save Nanoha, to save the one person who help and protected them will be in vain.
"We can't give up." Teana said as tears start to build up in her eyes.
"Everyone…" Alazne said weakly.
The Forwards opened their eyes and stared at Alazne. She is still lying on the floor not moving but her hand is grasping something strongly.
"Calm down. Focused your last magical energy to your devices and slowly deactivate the barrier." Alazne said through telepathy.
"But if we do that, we will be defenseless." Erio dared to protest.
"What do plan on doing?" Caro asked.
"I'll activate an Item in my care to blast them all away." Alazne answered.
"You can't! If you do that it will also harm you!" Subaru said vehemently.
"Don't worry, I'll be all right. I need to seal the other Item too so I need to conserve my magical energy as much as possible." Alazne said.
Teana looked at Alazne trying to decide what the right thing to do. She knew at some level that Alazne is just making light of the situation by saying that she will be all right. Vormund told them the extent of the damage that Alazne will incur if she use and seal an Item; it's far from all right.
"Teana… it's okay." Alazne said noticing Teana's silence.
"But…"
"Trust me." Alazne said reassuringly.
Teana trembled and grip her device stronger. She trust Nanoha, without a single doubt she will follow her without hesitation any time but… she knows this is not a good idea.
"Teana…"
"I understand." Teana said reluctantly.
"Thank you." Alazne said.
"Subaru, Erio, Caro… Let us do this." Teana said to the other Forwards.
Subaru, Erio and Caro looked at each other troubled at what to do.
"All we can do is trust her… We need to trust Nanoha!" Teana said to the others silently with her eyes.
The three nodded.
"We understand." Erio and Caro both said.
"Here we go, Alazne." Subaru said.
The four Forwards readied their devices and focused their remaining strength. They slowly deactivated the barrier on Alazne's signal.
"Thank you, everyone." Alazne said as she opens her eyes.
She weakly raised her hand and the sword-like Item dangling on her wrist disappeared and reappeared in front of her.
"Eckhard, will you please." Alazne whispered to the Item. "Erwecken."
The Item called Eckhard shone brightly and released a strong gust of wind and energy blasting everything out of the way except Alazne and the Forwards.
A warm pink light enveloped the Forwards and their devices as their strength and wounds slowly returned and heal. The Forwards was in a lost on what is happening when Alazne suddenly told them…
"I will be able to boost and lend you my powers for 1 minute. Used this chance to obliterate and defeat all the security robots quickly. Don't worry and believe in yourselves. Don't hesitate and blast them all at once!" Alazne said.
"Yes!" the Forwards answered.
"Let's go, Mach Caliber!" Subaru said as she dashed forward.
"Knuckle Duster." Mach Caliber replied.
Subaru run straight into one of the robots and punched it at the body. When she retracted her arm she spun around and attacked the other ones.
"Caliber Shot."
Subaru quickly destroyed 3 machines consecutively and successfully without breaking a sweat.
"In – Incredible." Subaru stuttered amazed at her power.
"Subaru you idiot!" Teana shouted as she shoots 2 robots behind Subaru who managed to creep behind her. "Pay attention. Cross Mirage."
"Cross Fire"
"Shoot!" Teana shouted as multiple magical energy spheres strike a number of robots around them. "Now, Caro!"
"Friedrich!"
Fried roared and flaps his wings. He flew in the air with amazing speed towards the Item called Tirandaz. In his back were Erio and Alazne.
"Let's protect them Kerykeion." Caro said as she kisses her device.
"Wheel Protection." Kerykeion replied.
A whirlpool of magical energy surrounded Friedrich dispersing every attack and enemy in their way. When they broke through Erio held Alazne in his left arm while his right arm is holding his device. He gathered her close to his chest and jump off Friedrich towards the tainted Item.
Sensing the danger, the Item surrounded itself with something that looks like a big boulder of rocks.
"Strada!" Erio called out.
"Speerangriff." Strada replied.
Erio swing his device and thrusts with everything he has and destroyed the Item's shield into pieces. When it shattered, Alazne grab the Item and purified it.
"Reinigen."
The force from the Item being purified blast Erio away making him crashed to the ground fiercely.
Caro rushed to Erio's side while the Subaru and Teana watch the light that brightly shines around Alazne. The 1 minute boost that Alazne gave them has run out as they waited for the light to slowly subside.
When the light finally ebbs, they saw Alazne floating in the air for a few seconds before she falls towards the ground. They tried to run towards her but they couldn't, they are having difficulty in moving because of the powerful and sudden boost that they got earlier. It pushed and stress their body pass their limits.
The four mages watch the limp body of their teacher slowly fall towards the hard ground…
"Alazne!" the Forwards screamed.
"Sonic Move."
And then she disappeared… Alazne disappeared before she hits the ground. The Forwards look around desperately, looking for Alazne's body or any sign that she fell but they couldn't. When they looked up, what they saw made them cry in relief.
Fate… Fate has arrived and saved Alazne before she crash on the ground. The blond enforcer carried the worn-out body of the woman that she loves on the sky. She carefully held her tight against her and said in a loving voice…
"I have come, my love."
"It's warm… What is this nostalgic feeling?" Nanoha asked herself. "It feels so good. It feels like when Fate-chan embraces me. A hug that tells me I'm loved, needed and protected."
She snuggled closer to the source of the feeling and relaxed her body. She is aching all over and is so weak but she doesn't want to let go of the comfortable feeling so she tried to grasps it desperately
"Nanoha…"
She hears someone call out her name.
"Nanoha, open your eyes."
Nanoha attempted to shrug the voice aside but the familiarity of the tone force her to obey.
"Hi." the voice said.
Nanoha tried to focus her vision to look at the owner of the voice. She was surprised to see a pair of burgundy eyes looking at her tenderly and lovingly.
"Fate-chan?" Nanoha said in a weak voice.
"Yeah. Good Morning, Princess… My Princess." Fate said as she hugged Nanoha so tight that the other woman gasps in pain. "Ah! I'm sorry, Are you alright?" she asked worriedly.
Nanoha looked at Fate, still not believing what she is seeing. Not caring for anything else, she weakly raised her hand and touch Fate's cheek, caressing it gently.
"It is you." Nanoha said.
"Yes, It is me. Are you expecting someone else?" Fate asked teasingly.
Nanoha smiled and kiss Fate on the lips softly and quickly. She put her arms around Fate's waist and nuzzled closer to her. At that moment, she decided to forget everything and anything else besides Fate. She needed her, wanted her so much that she is now willing to let go of everything and just hide under the of warmth of Fate's body. Now, more than ever.
Nanoha's action awakened something inside Fate, making her clear burgundy eyes turn to a pair with a dark shade.
"Screw it." Fate muttered.
She cupped Nanoha's face and did what she wanted to do for a long time since Nanoha left. Fate kissed her, gently at first but as she feels Nanoha's warmth through her tongue it became intense.
Nanoha froze in shock, and then she was nothing but happiness. She surrendered to the force of Fate's feelings; she closed her eyes and let the heat of Fate's love wash through her body. She couldn't feel the pain of her recent wounds except for the ache in her heart that only Fate could cure. She pulled Fate closer not wanting the feeling to disappear.
When Fate lifted her lips away, Nanoha moan a protest. Her hands were trembling and she was clinging to Fate's barrier jacket desperately.
"Enforcer-san, do you have the habit of kissing someone who isn't your fiancée?" Nanoha asked breathlessly.
"No… but I have a habit of kissing my fiancée until she can't get enough of me." Fate answered smiling.
Nanoha couldn't help but blushed.
"How did you found out?" she asked.
"Vormund told us everything." Fate answered.
"I kinda knew that… he was acting a bit weird since the last time we saw each other." Nanoha said as she rubs her fingers against Fate's barrier jacket.
"I missed you." Fate whispered into Nanoha's ear.
"I missed you too… I love you so much, Fate!" Nanoha sobbed.
Tears that she had been holding back far too long streaked out of her eyes. She strongly held on to Fate as she cried her heart out. When she finally calmed down, Fate wiped her tears away and kisses her forehead.
"Are you okay?" Fate asked.
"Now that you are here, I am." Nanoha answered.
"Good, because I need to put you down now. My boost is almost at its limit and my flying spell won't work anymore." Fate said.
She slowly descended to the ground near the Forwards and gently laid Nanoha on the ground. She checked and asked the Forwards of their condition. When she finally made sure that the Forwards didn't sustain any life threatening wound that needed attention, she returned to Nanoha's side. Nanoha felt Fate's presence and opened her eyes. She smiled as Fate's figure slowly approaches her.
Because of the boost from Eckhard, she didn't sustain any physical wound from purifying Tirandaz but that doesn't mean she didn't took any damage. It was only delayed for a few minutes… hours… or days. Vormund said that using Eckhard will be suicide in her current condition that is why he prohibited her from using it. Eckhard has the special function of boosting its master or anyone else for a limited time, depending on the keeper's will. But the energy that will be used or passed on to the recipient will be extracted straight from the caster. Meaning the keeper will be the one to pay the price and the Item will only act as a conduit.
Lending out her magical energy when she herself is out of it is indeed a suicide. Other than the fact that she used Eckhard in a weaken state, she also purified an Item while she is being boosted. The damage and the pain will definitely be triple when the delay runs out.
"If I survived the damage, I think Vormund will be the one that will kill me." Nanoha shudder at the thought.
"Oh, lucky me the keeper is in a worn-out state. No, not a worn-out state but in a dangerous state actually. If I act now I might get lucky and capture her." Jenell said from the dark.
She is observing everything that has transpired since Nanoha activated Eckhard until the moment Fate arrives. She wasn't surprised on Fate's appearance because she has already felt her presence the moment Fate entered the barrier.
"What are you planning on doing to the Princess?" Vormund asked.
He and Hayate were still trapped at the orb-like barrier. The barrier was blocking his telepathic spell and the only one who can hear their voice inside the barrier is Jenell, which is why he couldn't call out to Nanoha. He was surprised, mad and worried for Nanoha when he saw her activate Eckhard. He desperately tried to free himself out of the orb-like barrier but failed miserably. Andvari isn't responding to him and all his magic spells isn't working. He has exhausted himself and is now bleeding from hitting the barrier too much.
"Just wait and see." Jenell answered.
"What do you mean by ~How a person's heart change and affect the fate of the world.~" Rein asked.
Jenell just smiled at Rein and didn't respond.
Hayate who has been really quiet ever since they have been captured was silently watching Jenell's every action. She wanted to know who this person is and how she is connected to the things that are happening. Vormund didn't seem to know her and she doubts that Nanoha do, but this person knew both Nanoha and Vormund. She also said she is from Al Hazard, a place that only a few believed exists. Many questions were playing on her mind but she decided to voice out a particular one.
"You… are not a human, right?" Hayate asked carefully.
Jenell looked straight into her eyes and said.
"I never said I am."
"What?" Vormund and Rein both said.
Vormund and Rein both has the ability to know if the person in front of them is a human or something else but this time they didn't… no, couldn't noticed anything.
"Impossible." Rein said not believing. "But you are emitting a human wavelength."
"I guess, I am." Jenell said laughing.
"Don't mess with us! Who are you? and Why do you possess this kind of magic?" Vormund asked in an annoyed tone.
Jenell is really getting in his nerves. Vormund was always calm and reasonable but he just couldn't stay that way in front of Jenell. Something is telling him that she is a dangerous existence to Nanoha but at the same time something is telling him that they are the same. Confused, he finally dared to ask the question that he couldn't think was possible.
"Tell me the truth. Are you an Item?"
Hayate and Rein looked at him shocked. Another guardian? Another special humanoid function? Then why? Why is she fighting against them.
Jenell's expression suddenly turned into a dark one. The smile that she has been wearing since they met her has shred off her face. She slowly walked towards Vormund and without any hesitation suddenly stabs him at the heart. Vormund didn't see what was coming until he felt a pain in his chest. He fell onto his knees and lost consciousness.
"Vormund!" Hayate shouted. "What did you do?!"
"Nothing, I just took some sample from him." Jenell said as she raised her hand that holds a very peculiar dagger. "Don't worry, he is not dead. This dagger can't kill anything."
"Why are you doing this? If you are an Item, a special function or whatever you are, shouldn't you be protecting Nanoha?" Hayate said trying to calm herself down.
"I have no interest on doing anything like that. I have only one goal… and that is to preserve my life." Jenell said as she walked away from Hayate. "I'm going to go and introduced myself to your friends so I advised you to just sit back and relax. This is gonna be fun and definitely worth your while."
A/N: Finally, I was able to update… I'm really sorry guys for taking too long, the real world has held me hostage and I couldn't escape… I kinda felt that I rushed this chapter because it didn't turn out just like what I originally plan but I think its okay… I hope you guys like it… Feel free to leave some comments or suggestions. Thank you... :)