Disclaimer: MGLN does not belong to me!

Chapter Twelve – First Mission! Retrieve Lost Logia Number 713 Part One

Archeologists from sector 56-03, the Desert Region, are missing.

Said archeologists are said to have located the Lost Logia # 713.

Transmissions ceased twenty-four hours after discovery.

This is a Class A mission.

Request to sortie Rank 1 and Rank 2 of Elementary Division.

"Wait."

Headmistress, is there something you'd like to add?

"I would like to request three additional members for the mission."

State your reasons Headmistress.

"The faculty would like to observe and assess these special students."

State the names of the additional members.

"Fate Testarossa, Nanoha Takamachi and Alice Eunos," the Headmistress smiles.

Request…

… granted…

In the skies of the sector 56, a lone vessel sails through the clouds. The crescent-shaped craft silently glides among the birds. In the bridge, two unlikely friends pass the time. Raven's been feeling uneasy since the beginning of the mission as Lucia has maintained her silence for the last half hour. Raven attempts at conversation.

"Tell me Lucia. What's our mission this time?"

"Huh? Didn't we already have a briefing before leaving?"

"I know. I just want you to remind me of a few things."

"It can't be helped. I guess.' Irritated, Lucia obediently answers. "It seems that some archeologist went missing right after they discovered the whereabouts of Lost Logia # 713."

"What's Lost Logia 713?"

"The information is deemed classify making this mission more dangerous."

"What's the level of this mission again?"

"Class A."

"We've been through Class A missions before, right?"

"Yes."

"Then… why are they here?" Raven points towards Nanoha and Fate. Both seem to be in an argument with Fate acting as referee.

"That's no fair Alice-chan! That's my place!"

"But I got here first."

"Geez… Fate!"

"She was there first."

"Not you too."

Nanoha suddenly grabs Alice by the head covering the eyes of her victim. Alice struggles but fails to shake her off.

"What are you doing?"

"Come one. Just this once. Let me see. Let me see."

"Geez" Alice seizes one of Nanoha's hands and manages to control her footing. "The bridge is full of glass windows. Why don't you use one of them?"

"But…" Nanoha argued. "That window has the best view."

"That doesn't make sense." She gazes deeply into Fate's eyes. "Fate!"

With a sigh, Fate finally takes charge. She places her hand over Nanoha's head.

"Nanoha," her eyes gleam of fury, "play nice with her."

Fate's eyes immediately intimidated Nanoha. Her heart starts to beat faster. Sweat slowly made its way from her forehead to the ground. All this time, Fate's eyes haven't swayed to her counterpart's frightened face.

"Yes."

"Good girl." She said with a smile.

Watching the antics of her classmates, Raven's uneasiness became worse.

"Somehow… I feel that this mission will be a complete failure."

"Did you say something?" Lucia asks.

"No. It's nothing." Raven quickly replies. "Hey Lucia."

"Yes?"

"Since when did you learn to pilot an A-class Glider?"

"As the heir to the Harlaown family, I need to learn other skills aside from magic."

"Why pilot a glider? Can't you just fly using magic?"

"I just had the urge to learn."

"Really? Normally, girls wouldn't be interested in these kinds of things."

An awkward silence follows. Raven is expecting some kind of answer, a sarcastic joke, a death threat, any response would do but Lucia remains silent.

"Look! It's the desert!" Nanoha shrills apparently winning the battle for the window against Alice and Fate. "Wow~ I don't see anything but sand."

"It's a desert. It's supposed to be like that" replies Raven.

"It's like a very big beach."

"Yeah. A beach deprived of water and life."

"That's not true. The desert may be a hostile environment but lots of xerocoles and xerophytes can survive there." Lucia responds. "And even with the low rainfall, the organisms there get enough water to stay alive."

"Amazing. Lucia-chan is really smart. Right, Fate?"

"Yes."

"Look!" Alice shouts.

To the west of their position, Alice spots the excavation area. A small craft lies beneath the desert sands, most likely it's the ship used by the archeologist.

"That's it. Everyone to their positions… prepare to sortie."

The scout team, Fate and Alice, prepare for their descent. The glider lowers itself to a manageable position.

"Roger!"

"Okay!"

"Stand by…" the red signal light flashes twice "… ready…" the blue go signal lights up "… go!" The doors burst open. Fate and Alice immediately don their Barrier Jackets. They jump down towards the ground. As they land, dusts scatter.

*Cough* *Cough* "Lucia, come in. Lucia…" Alice is greeted with static "LUCIA!"

Gzzzt "Yes, I can hear you…" Gzzzt "…need to shout."

"The signal here is too weak. Communication will be impossible once we enter." Fate assesses.

Gzzzt "Ro…" Gzzzt "… we'll just wait…" Gzzzt "… up to arrive. This mi…" Gzzzt "… too dangerous."

"No. We can do it."

"Alice?" Gzzzt "…you talking about?" Gzzzt "…a Class A mission. It would…" Gzzzt "…be dangerous if…" Gzzzt "…stick to the plan!"

"Those people are in danger. And just as you said, this is a Class A mission. A mission of utmost importance so we have to…"

Fate grabs Alice's arm.

"We can't do that."

"Fate."

"We can't jeopardize the mission. If we get lost too then those archeologist will be in real trouble." Fate's words immediately sinks into Alice's mind.

"Yes."

"Good…" Gzzzt "Fate… Alice…." Gzzzt "… to the ship now."

"Roger."

As Fate and Alice approach the ship, the troubled Lucia watches anxiously as the sandstorm quickly escalate. Nanoha and Raven, part of the rescue team, are still waiting for orders. Lucia then gives the orders.

"Nanoha, Raven… go back to the bridge. The sudden sandstorm is wreaking havoc in our communication line. We can't go on with the mission like this."

"Yes."

"Let's go Raven-san"

Outside, the storm rages on. Just as Alice was about to climb on board the glider, the ground collapses. Fate frantically reaches for her arm but was too late. Alice falls to the bottom. Lucia hears the commotion.

"Fate?! What's going on?" Lucia asks through the craft's speaker.

"It's Alice. She was swallowed by the desert."

"Swallowed?"

"Yes. I lost her."

"What?!"

Nanoha and Raven burst into the bridge.

"Lucia, what was that noise outside?" Raven asks bluntly.

Lucia's unable to speak. She lost her friend to the desert.

"Tell me what's going on!"

Still, Lucia is unable to answer.

"LUCIA! I DEMAND TO KNOW."

"Raven…" Nanoha points to the monitor.

"What is…?"

Raven is stunned.

"What is that?"

On the screen, Fate is standing in front of a hole in the middle of the desert. The sandstorm's pace picks up. They are unable to send a search party. What are they to do? They have lost a comrade.

"Alice!!!"

Beneath the desert sand, Alice lies unconscious on the floor. More debris from the surface starts to fall. A huge boulder then rumbles to the ground. She's still unconscious. The boulder tumbles down…

CRASH!!!

"Hey Sierra, I found something very interesting."

"What is it Sei?"

"Look!"

"Well, well… that is an interesting find." Sierra looks up. "If she's here, then it's likely that her friends are here too."

"What should we do with her?"

Sierra grins. "This is a golden opportunity to test 713."

"That's a great idea."

"Isn't it?"

"What are we going to do?" Nanoha asks. "Alice-chan is in danger."

"Well Ms. Rank 1, what will we do now? We lost one of our allies, stuck in the middle of nowhere and now…"

"SHUT UP! I'M TRYING TO THINK!"

It was the first time Lucia lost her cool. She's frustrated. The situation is dire. As every minute passes, Alice's life is put into more danger. Alice was Lucia's first true friend. She cared for her more than anything in the world. Now, she is faced with a dilemma: to look for Alice and put the remaining members of her team in danger or to wait for the storm to calm and risk Alice's life.

"Lucia…"

"This is my fault. I should have been with her."

"Don't beat yourself up. I'm sure she's fine." Fate assures her.

"Yes. Alice is stronger than you think."

"Fate… Nanoha…"

"As always, you've failed as a leader…" Raven blushes. "… but that doesn't mean you didn't try your best."

"Raven…"

Fate comes up to the console. The monitor shows the current condition of the ship and of the weather outside.

"We should wait for the sandstorm to pass by. We can search for her and the archeologist then."

"I'd be hard to search for her out there in this weather. We'll just have to stand by." Nanoha adds.

"Yes. I know she'll get through this unscathed."

Lucia calms down a bit. "We still need to hurry though."

"Roger that!"

With a smile on her face, Lucia stares at the horizon.

"Wait for me Alice. I'll come get you."

In the shadows of an ancient temple, Sierra and Sei finish their excavation of Lost Logia 713. The lifeless Alice is suspended in a sphere on the ominous figure's body. The large golem has yet to be awakened from its slumber.

"It's done."

"Very good Sei… your technique is superb. And with 713, she'll be unstoppable."

"Thank you. I didn't expect her to be a masterpiece myself."

"What do you call her?"

"How about 'Broken Angel'?"

"A perfect name my dear Sei… It's the perfect name."

Note: Chapter 12 is out. Hope you guys enjoy it! **Waits for the First MGLN Movie**