THE CIRCLE OF FATE
By: Fate
Note: Yay! I'm back. Sorry if this come out so late. I had troubled with my grades so I needed to study harder T_T. And of course, going through the biggest writer's block in my life .. Anyway, I finally completed this chapter. But somehow, this one is a bit... plain... The next chapter will be better and reveal more things, I'm sure...
Enjoy this!
Disclaimer: I don't own Nanoha. If I really owned, Nanofate would be the canon couple in the anime.
The weather was fine today, as the sky above her glowed in the light of sun. In front of that beautiful scene, she started to wonder that how someone like her deserved such a happy life. There was no doubt that thanked to a certain person, she was able to enjoy this world without any hatred…
Ah, love could really make things wonderful than ever…
"Are you okay, Fate-chan?" Nanoha's worried voice broke her thoughts.
"I'm fine…" She smiled but the white haired girl looked skeptical.
"Are you sure?" Soft hands cupped her cheeks and suddenly, she could see the concern and fear in those pretty violet orbs.
"Nanoha…"
"If you're not feeling well, please tell me…" Such anxiety on that beautiful face made her heart throb in pain. "I-I…"
"Do not worry, I-!" Her words were interrupted with a choking sound and a sharp pain in her very chest, as she coughed heavily.
Salty and wet…Something was trailing down her chin…Something….red…
"Fate-chan!"
She tried to smile, only to find her lips motionless…Hadn't they left Eden already? How could this happen…? Or…
Ha…Shamal's words never rang truer than now…
Fate caught her lover's hand immediately when she saw the said girl activate her device, Raising Heart. She knew what the other girl was going to do…And she wouldn't her do something that could make her exhaust.
"Let go of me, Fate-chan!"
"No…" Her own voice sounded duller than it ever had. "You'll waste your power, Nanoha…"
"I don't care!"
"But I care!"
Nanoha looked surprised at her…Of course she would do that…This was the first time she raised her voice at the white haired girl, after all.
"I don't want you're hurt because of me… You know Divine Blessing can actually take away all your energy…"
The princess frowned in frustration, clearly feeling hopeless and useless in front of her prince's golden eyes. Sometimes, Fate could really make her angry, like now… And this was the second time in her life she'd yelled at someone, and no other than her Fate.
"Then why didn't you think of that when you stabbed yourself, Fate-chan?"
"!"
A gleam of astonishment glowed in golden orbs as a pair of angry amethyst eyes bore into them, as if they were trying to sink her in that pool of guilt, and unsurprisingly, they succeeded. Fate hung her head down while Nanoha kept her heavy breathes steadily. Sensing that "ridiculous" emotion of the blonde, the white haired girl's eyebrows rose again and out of nowhere, she pinched those pale cheeks hard.
"Nanoha!"
"Baka Fate-chan, if you think about me…next time, make sure not to try to do those stupid things!" She pouted. "You know, what I hate most about you is that you put me above yourself! Don't you understand that seeing you in pain, it also makes my heart fill with sorrow…! What if something happens to m-!"
"Don't say that!" Strong arms wrapped around her waist "Don't you dare say it!"
"Fate…-chan?" Nanoha's anger was replaced with surprise when those arms tightened.
"Just…don't…"
"…."
Realization suddenly hit Nanoha's mind… Fate would never let anything happen to her, even if it could cost her life. That was things that the blonde always did, it was her way of loving Nanoha…
She closed her eyes in shame, speaking in a guilt-filled tone that was so husky that she thought she had become another person.
"I'm…sorry…"
Chapter 10
Awaken
"What is that?" Fate's eyes filled with confusion as she watched the scene playing before her.
She was standing in darkness, and as weird as it sounded, she felt like watching a movie in her own dream! She wasn't even sure this was a dream! This could be some kind of illusions you had when your head hit something hard.
"It's your memories…"
She flinched as a mature version of Nanoha's voice echoed in this silent place. The white haired woman, who had lied in the coffin, was standing there, with her hands behind her back and a sad smile on her lips. Fate rolled her eyes at the woman, who simply returned with a small giggle. The blonde's fingers found its way to Bardiche laying silently in her palm, ready for anything.
"Who are you?"
One moment, the Nanoha-alike was standing a few feet in front of her. The next moment, she appeared just 1 meter away form her. Acting on her instinct, Fate's feet stepped backward and her burgundy eyes narrowed slightly. The woman, strangely, took the action as some familiar things to her and she raised her hand, as if she wanted to touch Fate's cheek but she stopped mid way, giggling a little.
"Fate-chan…"
For all her life, there were only three persons called her that name. Mom, Alicia and Nanoha…Hearing it from another person made Fate feel weird but at the same time, nostalgic.
Wait! Nanoha!
"Where's Nanoha!?" She asked dangerously.
"She's resting…"
It made Fate relax a bit, knowing that her most precious person was safe. The woman smiled slightly at her, her violet eyes beamed with an unreadable emotion.
"You're still the same…"
"You know me?"
"Not in this life, of course." She chuckled "But in the past…"
The same…but you're not my Fate-chan.
"It's you…the person there…" Fate pointed out "Just who are you really?"
"You've already had the answer, silly Fate-chan…"
"I've never seen you before!"
"Are you sure? Try to remember again, because you certainly had met me
before…along with her…" The older Nanoha look-alike's smile saddened.
Fate's face appeared a frown as her burgundy eyes hardened at the thought of seeing the woman, whom she even didn't know about! She was confused, not only because of the new-found information, but also due to those mixed feelings in her heart. One part, it told her to at least behave kindly to this person, on the other hand, her mind screamed for caution, to stay away from her. And that sad smile, it made her feel…pained…
As if her instincts activated, her own hand reached the white haired woman's cheek, startling her a bit before those violet orbs filled with happiness and tears.
"Just…how much do you know…about me?"
"A lot…" Soft fingers caressed her hand lovingly.
Nanoha's heartbeat fastened when Fate's eyes bore into her own ones. Such a familiar feeling…coming from her beloved's ….reincarnation.
Tender smiles, loving eyes and the sadness that were hidden behind her perfect smiling mask.
I think I know who you are…
Fate's expression softened and her lips curved into a small but gentle smile. She slowly closed her eyes, taking a deep breathe…
"You're her…You're Nanoha…"
At this, Nanoha just chuckled.
"Smart as ever, Fate-chan…"
"But if you're Nanoha….your hair should be auburn brown…and your eyes, they should be blue, instead…"
"I'm Nanoha…but at the same time, I'm not Nanoha…"
Fate scratched her chin, hesitating "You… come from the future?"
"I'm from the past." Nanoha said "I'm her…incarnation…"
"…."
1, 2, 3,…
"What!"
"Ouch, don't yell so suddenly like that Fate-chan. You hurt my ears." Nanoha faked her anger.
"S-Sorry…it just…" The blonde stuttered. "This is hard to believe. You're not lying, aren't you?"
Rolling her eyes, the older one answered "As a noble princess of Eden, I'm not allowed to tell lies…"
Okay…may be I'd lied sometimes in the past.
"So you're her…in the past life…"
"Correct."
"And you have your own tomb under Lacrimis Academy's school ground."
"Of cour-… Huh?!" Nanoha rolled her eyes at the burgundy eyed girl "You got to be kidding… My tomb is underground?"
"Um." Fate nodded "My Nanoha and I accidentally found out when we fell from the ground above…" The girl blushed when she caught older-Nanoha's smile. "Oh, I also felt strong magical energy around it."
"Strong magical energy? This must be his idea…" Nanoha chuckled. "Always a careful one, didn't he…"
"If you don't mind. Can I ask for the reason why I'm here?"
"About that." The violet eyed woman sighed. "I apologize for asking this, but Fate-chan, do you remember anything about the last day you saw your mother?"
Fate went stiff for a moment before her burgundy eyes filled with guiltiness and sadness. For a second, the older Nanoha thought she had seen a murderous gleam in those eyes.
"Not really, except for blurring scenes and shouting.."
And the pain, too. The said girl mentally added.
"And the time your mother….disappeared?"
"Nothing. I just remember that I….." She lied "I had hurt her."
"Will you believe me…if I show you the situation that day?" Nanoha asked, completely nervous.
"I…" Fate hesitated, she still felt hurt when looking at those familiar eyes of her mother again… Still… she closed her eyes and reopened, beaming with determination "I trust you….."
"Okay then…." The young woman's fingers touched her forehead and suddenly her mind was flooded with images that she had forgotten for a long time. The images of five years ago. When it was over, Fate let out a heavy sigh for she never thought she would see those scenes again in real life, not in her dreams.
Suddenly, the older-Nanoha became serious as she looked at her.
"Fate-chan…What did you do when you had to protect Alicia five years ago?"
"I…."
And Fate T. Harlaown remembered that strange light, that power which had run in her blood, the power which gave her the strength to launch her "mother" a blow, practically sending the woman to oblivion.
"I… don't know… It just… I… I lost control over my power… That mysterious ring and- and…" Burgundy orbs widened as image of a pixie-liked blonde flashed in her memories "That… Device…"
"That device was the reason, wasn't it…?"
"Yes…Fate-chan… Your supporter was the main cause of your losing control…" Nanoha couldn't help but look away, not wanting to meet those surprised burgundy eyes.
"Supporter…?" Suddenly, Fate felt like herself being an uncontrollable monster… Especially when the last moment of her mother hateful glare was still in her mind. "What's my… supporter…!? I don't understand…!" A pair of delicate hands wrapped around her trembling body, the white haired Nanoha caressed her blonde hair as an attempt at comforting her.
"It's okay… it's okay now… Fate-chan… You're not a monster…" Without Fate even spoke out, Nanoha had known the reason why the girl reacted so… out of character like that.
Fear clouded Fate's head, never had before she been this scared… not even when she stood face to face with her mother, Precia Testarossa… She wasn't afraid of this power… She was actually afraid of the chance when she would lose her control again and hurting her loved ones, her friends…
Nanoha…
Yes, she was afraid of losing this girl the most. Just what if she harmed her? What if she mercilessly fought her….? What if…. She killed her? All those questions attacked her fragile mind.
"I…" Tears were trailing down, soaking the dress of the one who was hugging her. Gripping the material harder, Fate managed to speak of her fear "I'll harm her for sure… I'll only bring her pains… No…I must stay away from her…from everyone…!"
"Your departure will be the only reason hurt her… Fate-chan… And the power you had and are having is a blessing…not a mischief…"
"How can this… power be a blessing?! I've killed my mother with it, with my own hands!"
"She was the one trying to kill you and Alicia first…" Nanoha's voice was full of concern. "If you hadn't reacted in time, both of you wouldn't have been here, Mid-Childa five years later… And you wouldn't have met Nanoha." She cupped Fate's cheeks and stared at the teary red eyes. "Listen to me Fate-chan, the past is the past. You have to move on now, or you'll be lose your sight of your precious ones… Besides, you have to be stronger, because… your life will change forever… after this…"
"What do you mean!?"
"You have to be stronger… to protect everyone… and Nanoha…" The white haired girl began to sweat.
"I don't-…!"
"You don't need to… Just believe in your heart, Fate-chan… I'm sure someday you'll understand… Someday…" Nanoha's breathes turned heavier than before, as if she was having a hard time to inhale the air around them "You've already known it… But be careful… Use it wisely… to save everyone…"
Electricity shot through Fate's head, sending pains all over her body. The said girl couldn't help releasing Nanoha and kneeling down, hands held her head as she let out the loudest scream people ever heard from her. Frowning in tears, Nanoha smiled sadly as she placed a small kiss on Fate's blonde hair, who was still clutching onto her hair in pain.
"I'm sorry… but I don't have much time… Goodbye…my dear…"
The place was swallowed by white light… and the princess started to fade away… bringing with her the most gentle smile.
Release…
"ALERT! RECEIVE COMMAND! SEALS, RELEASE!"
"FINALLY OPEN THE CONNECTION TO [TEARS OF EDEN]!"
"WELCOME. FATE TESTAROSSA HARLAOWN."
"… Yuuno…"
Yuuno Scrya opened his eyes, only to see the worried faces of Elder Davison and Eric Scrya… Tired emerald orbs glanced around then suddenly he got up, startling them with his frightened expression.
"Brother?"
"Yuuno?"
"I… I have to stop it… They're in danger!" Without hesitation, he tried to get out of the room when Elder Davison held his wrist "Davison-sama!?"
"Where do you think you're going Yuuno?"
"Mid-Childa…" He looked at him.
"For what?" As if he wanted to confirm, Elder Davison continued his question "For what, Young Scrya?"
"For my friends and her highness…" Yuuno said, determination shined in his gaze. And suddenly Davison Scrya felt like he was meeting that very man... again.
"Then go…" He pushed the boy away "Go and help her highness, Yuuno…"
"Thank you…" With that, he ran away, leaving a smiling Elder Davison and a confused Eric.
"Davison-sama? What… just happened?"
"Let just say the Scrya clan's wisest member has come back."
Yuuno took all his strength to make his steps faster. Now, he had remembered everything so he wouldn't let the same things happen again. For everyone's sake and for his most precious person's sake. Princess Namida.
Nanoha…
CLANG! CLANG!
Devices clashed dangerously in a frightening attempt to take the life of their opponents. The gunblade in the older Harlaown twin glowed brightly every time its blade met the very edge of the fan-like device. The more Alicia used her power, the brighter Aura got, as if it reflected the fighting spirit and the determination of the blonde herself. Still, her strength couldn't match her enemy, he was just too strong to be pushed back by a support mage like her.
For God's sake, this man is a monster!
Honestly, fighting him until now was some kind of miracle to Alicia, for she had never been good at close range combat. It had been 30 minutes since they started but the second Harlaown still kept up with him!
"Silent Crash!"
"Tacere Fragore!"
CLANG!
"Interesting…I thought you would be beaten up after the first 10 minutes…" The red haired man grinned, which only made the blonde's eyes narrow hard.
"You talk too much." Alicia scowled.
"Come!" Gerrand laughed maniacally, pushing the girl back.
Far from the battle, Hayate followed their figures with worried eyes. She knew Alicia would soon exhaust herself by using too much power to dodge and fight back. And the girl was slowly losing her focus because of anger. This seemed like a one-side battle to her, which her girlfriend's chance of winning was very low. But Hayate wouldn't let it happen.
"Rein, you ready?"
"Power is at maximum rate. We're ready to engage, Hayate!"
"Good…" The brunette murmured "Because I'm going to blow up his stupid face!"
"Ali-chan, Can you hear me?"
"Haya-chan? Something wrong?"
"I have a plan. I'll count from 1 to 3, then launching my attack at him. Can you run away at that time?"
"Of course. I'm getting tired after all.."
"Alright then… Let get this done…" A white Belkan triangle appeared at Hayate's feet, brightening a part of the place she was flying. The spell was being cast was the one Hayate herself didn't want to use again. This, was the one she used in that battle with Reinforce, the one that ended her poor friend's life. It always brought her pain when the thought of this spell was in her mind. However, the situation didn't allow her to hesitate, for her beloved was near the edge of losing.
1…
Alicia then smirked at the read head, earning a confused yet interested look from him. Now wasting her time, the blonde turned away and used all her strength to fly as fast as she could.
2…
Gerrand was surprised for a moment, but he began to grin and ready to follow the said girl.
3!
"Resound, horn of the end!"
The man stared at the three triangles in front of him, completely taken by the presence of the brunette. From the triangles, three white energy spheres started to form and before he knew, Hayate's voice echoed again… This time, bringing him a painful assault.
"Ragnarok!"
"Ragnarok!"
Hayate and Rein shouted at the same time, and the spheres became three white beams of energy, releasing all of her power. Gerrand wasn't fast enough to get away in time. And in the end, his figure was swallowed by the white light.
BOOM!
At a safe yet close distance, Alicia couldn't help but jaw-drop at the display of her girlfriend's power. She'd always known the brunette had the largest magical energy but seeing it with her own eyes was just… amazing…
"You're down… Madman." She flashed a smile at Hayate, who gladly returned it with a victory grin. But it didn't last long as the smoke faded slowly, revealing a figure in red armor with the angriest expression they'd ever seen on his face. One of his arm was bleeding badly.
Gerrand gritted his teeth, he wasn't the same man they first met. It was like... the blash had made him go crazy.
"You think… This could defeat me!? Foolish guardian of Eden, you've made a big mistake!"
Damn…
Realizing the danger, Alicia flied as fast as she could to the side of Hayate. Just then, Gerrand started his attack. The fan, Tianlang, had become a long sword and its blade was coming closer and closer to the brunette. Hayate was stunned, not even knowing what to do when Alicia's back appeared before her very blue eyes.
At that very moment, the brown haired girl felt like the sky was collapsing and numbness spread in her body. Clear blue eyes lost their normal gleam, gluing to the form of a taller blonde.
"No!" Hayate tried to reach for her beloved.
Then…
"Get out of my way, Signum!" Vincent yelled as his lance made another the swing, crashing again and again with Signum's Laeventine.
"A knight will never back down!" Signum yelled back, pushing him away.
"Damn it, stop your chivalrous idea! All of these years you still haven't realized that, Knight of Sword!"
"You're the one who should stop. You're harming people there, destroying all the pillars…" The pinkette's eyes darkened at the thought of Hayate, Nanoha and students of the Academy being hurt.
"Destroy the pillars!? I don't know what you're talking about, let me go!" Vicent once again lost his cool and threw a punch at Signum's face, only to be stopped by Laeventine.
"Did it then deny? Coward."
"Why you!" Vincent shouted. His only purpose now was teaching the pink haired woman before him a good lesson. He was a calm and quiet man, but when being provoked with such comments, even the calmest man would go angry. Plus the whole things he had been experiencing, you couldn't blame him at all.
Their devices met again, this time, with more moves that wanted to finish each other at any time.
"Saying I'm a coward, then what about you!? Are you not a coward!? Being in love with Knight of Lake for a long time but doesn't have the gut to tell her, you're just the same!"
"Tsk!"
So into the fight they were, neither of them noticed the strange change of the weather and the sky itself.
"How is the condition?" Chrono worriedly said. His sisters were missing at the moment and the Admiral couldn't help but feel angry at himself for letting this happen.
A long time ago, he had made a promise to himself. That he would protect his family just like his father used to do, until that very incident took away his life. He had promised, but he couldn't keep it. What a loser he was.
Alicia, Fate… Wait for me, I'll save you…
"The barrier will be broken after one more minute, Sir. Team Beta is ready to engage."
"Alright." Then he looked at his girlfriend, Amy "I'll join them there." Durandal was already in its Device form.
"Okay!" Amy answered in her usual cheerful tone although she was worrying for him. After all this seemed to be dangerous. "Be careful, Chrono."
"Um." He nodded, giving her a smile. But he didn't smile for long as Griffin's horrified voice interrupted.
"Sir! The dimension barrier is broken!"
Shouting, Chrono slightly trembled at the news "Enhance the shield. I repeat, enhance the shield!"
Shit! What's going on here!?
Bastille
In the throne room of the great Bastille castle, a woman was sitting on the golden throne, closing her eyes as if she was focusing on something in her mind. But if you looked closely, you would see that the purple orbs didn't close completely. A smirk was decorating on her beautiful but cold face.
"After all these years… both of you still think you can win…?" She whispered to no one. "Ironically, I won't let that happen… My dear… Just like old time…"
"Let's see if you can handle this…"
Around the flying castle, the space suddenly became a mess when the energy the queen released broke the balance itself, sending her power in a form of hundreds of thunderbolts through the barrier and aiming at their targets. The forgotten angel guardian and a mad devil general. Also… a flying warship, Asura.
Hayate's warning was swallowed by the noises coming from the sky above her. Gerrand, as if he realized something, looked at the darker sky now, a hint of fear was clear in his black eyes. Before they knew, thunderbolts were shot from the black clouds, trying to take away their lives.
"Hayate!"
"Meister Hayate!"
Speed of light…
Hayate felt someone pushing her away… The girl's blue eyes widened as she saw the person she loved so much smile… a bitter smile… For seconds, she thought she had held those hands that pushed her… Still, they slipped out of her palms… the distance increased… And…
Lightnings struck her beloved… One… Two… Three… The energy kept shooting at the blonde, mercilessly giving her the pains that she didn't deserve… Also the pains for Hayate's heart…
The red haired man did scream… but his screams couldn't compare to the ones she was hearing right now, from her lover… The sound of spring…now filled with fatal shouting…
Then… the light went out…
The man, who was flying, fell down… to the ground… And the blonde also lost her balance… But then a pair of hands embraced her, holding her closer… She heard…
"Alicia, look at me! Alicia!" Her beloved was yelling. And she just noticed how much she hated that depesrate voice, which was something Hayate shouldn't have had. "Please…"
"Haya…te?"
The Mistress of the Night Sky smiled tearfully "Yes…" One teardrop fell on her pale cheek; still, she couldn't help smiling weakly at the crying brunette.
"Ah…Finally…" Somehow, those words came out so… bitter. "I'm… glad…"
"…."
"You know… I'm… a little…tired…" She chuckled "A good break… would be nice…"
"I won't let you sleep…" Clear blue eyes clouded with fear. "I can't lose you…"
"Baka… I'm not going to leave you… I only want… to lean onto you…" Alicia felt Hayate's hug tightening at her words. "I just… rest for a moment… Don't worry…" Her voice became lower and lower. Seconds later, it completely shut up. At the moment Alicia closed her eyes, Hayate's heart almost lost their beats… She couldn't breathe… Only when she held the blonde's wrist, hearing the small but steady beats did she let out a relieved sigh…
"Baka Ali…"
"Damn it…" *cough* "Is everyone alright?" Chrono asked worriedly as he looked around the commander room. The lightnings struck and damaged their ship, even when they'd enhanced the barrier.
"What happened, Chrono!?" He was surprised to see Yuuno's monitor suddenly appearing in front of everyone's eyes. The boy's emerald eyes narrowed hard, showing his discomfort.
"Ambush…" The blue haired man gritted his teeth. He still couldn't believe that he was so careless to let the enemy pay back like that.
"Is there anyone…hurt?" Yuuno sighed when he received a nod from the oldest Harlaown "I'll bring the reinforcement, wait for me!"
"Understand!" Chrono found himself grinning at his number 1 rival.
Picking up Durandal, he told everyone to report about the damage.
"We can't use the left side of the ship, sir!" Said one of the officers
"Send engineers to repair that one. Team Beta, come with me! We'll join Team Alpha there!"
END OF ACT ONE
