A/N: Chapter 10 of Magical Lyrical Nanoha: Fates Collide. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own. Magical Lyrical Nanoha belongs to the rightful owner.
Special thanks to all who have reviewed this story so far.
Chapter 10: Fate's Decision
It's hot...so hot. I...can't...move my body. Claire's mind was in shock. One moment she grabs the Jewel Seeds and gives them to Fate and Nanoha, the next moment she is surrounded in this cage and lightning bolts pierced her body at different angles. Nothing is working, her magic no longer exist within her prison. She felt as though she was floating, suspended in mid-air with lightning bolts protruding from her body. Oddly enough, she wasn't bleeding. Her blood wasn't flowing out, she deemed it unusual. Only her mind worked, the rest of her couldn't. It's like I'm paralyzed from my head to my tail. If her mind had an eye, it would have widened with surprise.
Paralyzed? Paralysis? That's it! This attack isn't meant to kill, but to paralyze the opponent. This is bad, if I can't get out I'll be paralyzed for life! Claire tried to wiggle her body parts, hoping that something besides her mind worked. Nothing. She sighed to herself. Looks like I'll stay here...forever.
"Claire-chan!"
What the-? Nanoha? What's she doing here? Claire's mind went into overdrive as Nanoha floated down to her. She could picture Nanoha's shocked expression since her eyes saw nothing.
"Claire-chan, how could this have happened? I'll get you out as soon as possible!" Nanoha quickly reached over.
DON"T Claire's voice snapped within Nanoha's mind and she retracted her hand. The cat couldn't move at all, everything was frozen and she felt as though her mind was starting to slow down as well.
Listen to me, Nanoha. This is urgent. Claire's voice sounded as though she was starting to panic.
I'm listening. Nanoha replied back, nervously waiting.
I'm in a state of paralysis...well almost completely in a state of paralysis if you know what I mean. My blood still flows and my mind still works, everything else doesn't in fact I think my mind is starting to slow down. My magic is useless and it wouldn't take long before I'll be fully paralyzed for life.
Claire-chan! Nanoha immediately wrapped her arms around the cat, gripping tightly to the fur.
Nanoha... stop...please. There's no use...leave now, I realized that this cage drains the magic flow. Technically it renders the enemy useless and once he or she dies, that's it...nothing else.
No I won't give up! Nanoha gripped the fur even tighter, knowing that Claire can't feel a thing. For the time we spent together, you always protected me, Yūuno-kun as well. I...I can't bare to lose you.
Nanoha...Claire thought passionately. She's willing to sacrifice herself to save me, even entering this void on which she has never experienced before in her life. I'm such a fool...A useless fool who makes friends worry too much.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!
Nanoha! Claire's voice screeched as Nanoha reared back, looking at her hands. They were shaking violently, they wouldn't stop shaking.
Claire-chan, what's going on? Nanoha asked, frightened.
It's already started...when you hugged me, my fur must have caused the lightning bolts in my body to make their way to your hands. This is bad, your paralysis has started, there isn't much time left.
What are we going to do?
Leave now Nanoha. You still have a chance, once your outside the paralysis would stop and you can ask Yūuno for some healing remedies.
What about you?
Don't worry about me...save yourself first.
No, I want to stay with you!
Nanoha...what good would it be if you were paralyzed? Go, I'll be fine, I promise.
But...
Just GO! You still have something worth fighting for right? Nanoha's mind flashed back to the time they met Fate and locked eyes with her. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than becoming friends with her. Claire smiled inwardly to herself.
Go...Nanoha. Go be with her. I'm sure...that you will accomplish what ever you set your mind to.
Nanoha became heart-wrenched at the cat's pleading tone and raced back out. Don't worry Claire-chan, I'll come back and save you, I promise! Once she flew off, Claire's heart felt lighter, the burden of having her most precious friend becoming paralyzed lifted and she sighed.
Nanoha...I'm...glad to have...met...a friend...like...you. A silver tear fell from her eyes and her mind went blank completely, coming to a halt and nothing else occurred. It was silent.
Outside...
"Nanoha!"Yūuno raced to his friend, concern plastered all over his face. Arf and Fate looked up but held back from joining them.
"Yūuno-kun...please..." She looked at him sorrowfully. "Save her. She's on the verge of becoming fully paralyzed!"
"I'll do what I can!" Yūuno promised her. A ringing noised sound and he brought out a monitor. "What's up Amy?"
"Yūuno! It's...It's..." Amy sounded hysterical on the other end.
"Amy please calm down and tell me what happened." Yūuno instructed. Nothing happened then Amy continued.
"It's Claire-chan. We were tracking her heart pulsing and then her signal disappeared off our monitor, nothing has happened over the past 30 minutes. It's like she is..." Amy didn't even want to finish the sentence. The atmosphere felt heavy, nothing seemed to be alive. Yūuno felt as though he couldn't breathe, his head was downcast. Nanoha was quiet, really quiet. She felt as though the whole world shattered before her eyes and she gripped Raging Heart tightly til her knuckles turned white.
"No...it can't be...she's not..."
"Nanoha...calm down." Yūuno nervously reached out to touch her hand but she immediately brushed him off.
" Yūuno-kun, tell me how to save her!" Her eyes were brimming with tears but she was tempted to save her friend once more.
"But Nanoha...you heard Amy...they couldn't even detect a single pulse when you came back. Maybe she is already..."
" Yūuno-kun, do you actually accept that?"
"..."
"...Fine." Nanoha closed her eyes and turned away. "I'll do it myself."
"Nanoha wait!" Yūuno called out as Nanoha raced back into the cage and disappeared.
In the cage...
Everything is on hold. Nothing is moving. What is up? What is down? I don't know. I don't care. Am I dead or am I still alive? I can't move. Darkness all around me. Such paradise, I never felt such despair before nor have I felt at peace in such a long time. Oh...there's the light. A blinding light enters my vision and I am standing in a beautiful meadow. The warm air plays with my hair, the grass tickles my feet. There's a pond full of fish, beautiful and intriguing. I dip my hand in and laugh because the water felt cold and some of the fish came to nibble on my fingers. This place...is my paradise and mine alone. No one is allowed to enter...no one.
"Claire-chan!" Nanoha floated down next to her, looking for signs of life. Sadly the cat was totally paralyzed, if she heard her name, she would have given a sign or replied back. Nanoha brushed the fur with her hand and she didn't feel the warmth she usually felt.
Looks like you actually went didn't you? Nanoha mournfully turned away for a bit. She delicately brushed tears away and paused, her eyes detected something. She turned back and leaned down next to the cat's chest and listened. Faintly just faintly she heard the silent beating of the heart.
So that's how you do it. Nanoha smiled. Claire slowed down her heart rate just enough to be alive but, by doing that her pulse rate disappeared from the monitors. Nanoha wrapped her arms around the cat and closed her eyes.
Wait for me, Claire-chan. I'll get you out in no time.
Outside...
" Yūuno-kun, Nanoha's pulse rate disappeared off the monitor!" Amy's voice sounded.
"What? How's that possible?" Yūuno closed his eyes and sighed. He stared at the lightning cage, debating on what to do. Arf looked at Fate and gestured with her head that they need to leave. Fate shook her head no and made her way to Yūuno.
"Let me handle this." She said. Yūuno looked at her and nodded.
"Anything...please bring them back." Fate smiled lightly and disappeared into the cage herself.
A/N: Done. Hope you liked it!
