Shamal went to the tech section of Combat Unit 9 to discuss about the devices that could be manufactured for Rin and Sakura. Mari, however, had bad news for her.

"We can't do it."

Shamal blinked at her. "What do you mean you can't do it?"

Mari gave a laugh that was somewhat hysterical. "Well, their wavelengths are so unique and pure, we'd need a year just to stabilize a core that could function with that."

"Tell me you have something, at least?"

"Yes, we do."

"Then show me."

"Right this way."

Inside a magical stasis area, two strange looking devices floated freely.

"Here we are. We found these a few months ago."

The devices looked like two great round jewels, one a deep green color, the other a deep ruby red. These were surrounded by what looked like roots that then united to become one, finishing in a grip.

Shamal wasn't impressed. "These look more like party favors."

Mari didn't disagree. "Right? That's what the archaeologists thought too. But they're magical devices alright. The spheres are perfect and the wood-like material is bonded with them at a molecular level."

"So they're very well made party trinkets." Shamal snorted.

"You'd think so, but an analysis showed us these were very clearly meant to be devices. The material channels magic excellently. It works wonders with neutral sources. But no one who we tried was compatible with them. Except... for miss Rin and miss Sakura."

Shamal's expression turned to disbelief before it became suspicion. "This sounds too good to be true. Are we sure they're safe?"

Mari grimaced. "Well, the tech people were very curious about them. So they put them under all sorts of tests. Really silly ones to see how strong and tough they were. We had them hooked to a magical reactor and they didn't do any harm."

Hayate's voice drifted from behind. "My my, it sounds like the technical department has a lot of free time on its hands. Perhaps it would be better served trying to make safe devices for new recruits, hmm?"

Mari froze, jerkily turned around and saluted. "Ma'am, yes ma'am. We tested these devices to the utmost and found them to be both resilient and benign."

Hayate nodded. "Thoroughly you say?"

"Every test we could think of."

"And how did you determine they would be compatible with Rin and Sakura?" Hayate raised an eyebrow.

"When we tested the ideal wavelength, we found them to be very similar to those created naturally by miss Rin and miss Sakura."

Shamal gazed at the devices, far more similar to wands, then spoke calmly as Hayate pondered the answers.

"Could I please feel one of those?"

Mari nodded. "Yes, we've all handled them."

The technician picked up the device with the green orb and handed it over to Shamal, who inspected it thoroughly. Then she held it in her hand tightly and sighed.

"It's safe. We can give this one to Rin."

"How are you certain?" Hayate asked with curiosity.

"I can't explain, but I know it's safe. And almost certainly connected to Gloria." Shamal muttered the last part.

Hayate laughed. "I think I'm eager to get know her. In the meanwhile, I'll call Rin."

Having just come out of the shower, Rin was taken by surprise when Hayate called for her.

"You have my device?"

"Yes, well I think your friend already sent it over."

Rin smiled dubiously. "Oh boy."

Her smile turned to disbelief when she saw the device.

"A wand?" She asked rhetorically, a touch of incredibility in her voice.

Shamal shrugged awkwardly. "I guess Gloria knows you'll always have trouble with devices."

Rin pouted. "Right. Let's see how it works."

She grabbed it harshly.

As soon as she did that a kind gentle voice spoke.

"Hello master. I am Emerald Flight. I have been made to help you use your magic properly."

Rin relaxed visibly, as did everyone in the room.

"Right. Pleased to meet you. May I ask, who made you?"

"You already know the answer." The wand answered.

Hayate laughed coyly. "Man I already like Gloria. Well then, the devices work, I'll call Nanoha over. Please don't activate it until she arrives."

"Very well."

Nanoha arrived a couple minutes later with a not too pleased expression.

"We shouldn't rush these things." She chastised Hayate.

"I'm sure you'll understand once you see it."

Rin was still pouting a bit, but Nanoha's careful gaze made her less inclined.

"What's it called?" Nanoha asked.

"Emerald Flight." Rin replied calmly.

"Pleased to meet you."

Mari raised her arm. "Ah, excuse me, but why haven't you said anything up till now?"

"I was forbidden from talking until I was found by my master."

"Figures." Mari grumbled.

"Well then. Rin." Nanoha spoke as drill sergeant once more. "What do you think?"

"I have no complaints. It feels very natural in a way." Rin said as she twirled the wand.

"Very well. Let's see you activate it."

Rin nodded.

"Emerald Flight."

"Let's go, master."

In an instant Rin's form was obscured by her barrier jacket. Emerald Flight had not changed form. Rin, however, was wearing a short red puffed dress with a low neckline and no sleeves. Black, almost sheer stockings covered her legs just above the knees and she wore black platforms now as well.

"Scans?" Nanoha asked Raising Heart, her eyes not leaving her friend.

"Master, despite deceptive appearance, the barrier offers all around magical protection from light to heavy attacks. Very high mobility and magical output. Excellent compatibility."

Rin on the other hand felt a bit self conscious. "Ah, this seems a little racy." she commented as she looked herself over.

"I have been programmed to not let master hide her true feelings when she does not need to. Master is very proud of her shape." Emeral Flight stated.

The reply had the result of making Rin blush.

"Silence you!" she shouted, shaking the wand.

Nanoha giggled. "Relax, you pass. We can start proper work tomorrow."

Rin breathed a sigh of relief as Sakura came into the room.

"Oh wow nee-san, you look fantastic!" She moved in for a better look. "I can't wait till I get my device."

"Don't worry, we have yours too." Mari spoke without thinking.

Hayate threw her an ice cold look. Mari got the message instantly, but Emerald Flight spoke up.

"It's alright. You may give her my compatriot."

Hayate's pose relaxed somewhat. "Very well. Mari, do the honors."

A less than enthusiastic technician took out the other want and gave it to Sakura. A sultry but kind voice spoke from it.

"Hello, my master. I am Crimson Fancy. I will serve you to my fullest ability once you are properly healed."

Sakura expression was half confused, half saddened by the declaration.

"It is not the body that troubles you, master. It is your heart, which will still needs time. I know, because I was made to reflect your heart."

Shamal sighed. "I suspected this. Whenever we scanned you, your energy would vary wildly even from one moment to another. You've immense potential, but you really must rest."

"Damn it..." Sakura sighed.

Rin embraced her this time, cradling her head and rocking her gently.

"I'm sorry. I focused a bit too much on myself again. Please don't force yourself so much all the time." She murmured to her sister.

Nanoha offered her own support by placing a gentle hand of the plum-haired girl's shoulder. "It won't do to have you suffer in silence like that. I know it hurts, very much. But you cannot just sit in silence by yourself. Your sister starts proper training tomorrow. Until you're fit for training, you sit next to me. I'll have Fate come over when she can."

Sakura kept her head down. "I'm sorry to trouble you all."

"You're not troubling anyone!" Rin said in an authoritative voice.

"Indeed." Hayate chimed in. "I will not have you be alone. Stay with your sister and Nanoha, take as much time as you need. And understand that helping people is our job."

Sakura nodded, having calmed down considerably. "Thank you."

Nanoha went back to Instructor mode. "Rin, can you fly?" She asked.

"I can try."

In a moment her feet were off the ground and she was flying around gently.

"Wow, this is, ah, unique." The brunette commented as she twirled in the air.

"I know, you'll love it." Nanoha giggled.

Rin, getting more comfortable, nodded. "Yeah, I think I will."

"Don't overdo it though."

"Don't worry, this feels like I'm using absolutely nothing."

"Right." Nanoha nodded. "Get down, we'll start proper practice tomorrow. You are dismissed."

"Very well."

A joyful Hayate clapped her hands. "This is perfect! I look forward to seeing how well the training goes."

Later, Hayate met with the members who'd gone to check on the Infinity Library and received their report.

"Looks like I'll be having Artoria and Joan join you. But I can't have Nanoha and the children defenseless, so Fate will stay here."

Medusa nodded. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, you'll be in the thick of it starting tomorrow. I'm not suited for close quarter combat, so I'll be working with Yuuno to coordinate your operations. Rein will go with Vita, Agito with Signum, Medusa, Joan and Artoria solo, Zafira will guard me and Yuuno."

Vita raised an eyebrow. "That's all but one of us who can fight the undead."

"Yes. I want us to go in there properly. We can't afford to half-ass this. We haven't had time to train and coordinate, but I trust you'll all do just fine."

"I just hope we aren't leaving our base exposed." Vita muttered.

"We'll be getting back here after every day, just in case. The children will stay where they are, until we deem the library at least partially cleared. Dismissed."

Early the next morning, Nanoha, Fate, Rin and Sakura met up at the training facility.

"Good morning. Today, we will test your magical abilities. Nothing too harsh, but enough to make the muscles pumping." Nanoha told Rin.

Rin, Emerald Flight in hand nodded. "I'm ready."

"Very well. Within this prepared area there is a magical drone that you must take out without it hitting you. Don't be frustrated if you fail. We will repeat the exercise until you finish it."

The area prepared was a semi urban environment with some open spaces, some roads and some high buildings. There was other infrastructure present that would pose a problem like power lines and pipes. The areas with no buildings were covered by heavy vegetation in some areas.

"You have an hour to complete the task."

Rin nodded. "Emerald Flight."

"Right!"

She donned the dress that served as he barrier jacket.

"If you wish, we can discover our target in a moment."

"Yes, please."

"Very well."

The next moment, Rin felt more connected to the environment than she had ever felt in her life. There wasn't a single corner of the area that she couldn't see with her mind's eye.

"Over there."

Rin pointed her wand towards the location of the drone and in the next moment a line of emerald green energy flew straight toward her target, neutralizing it in an instant.

"Go, nee-san!" Sakura, who had been watching from the sidelines cheered on.

Nanoha on the other hand was evaluating.

"Results?"

"High magical output. Very high precision. Very efficient." Raising Heart reported.

"Excellent. Rin, you up for doing another exercise?"

"Anytime." The ex-magus replied.

Nanoha set up the area once more.

"You have three drones with thrice the processing capability." She announced. "Do your best."

"Emerald Flight."

"We already know where they are, but those ones are moving with purpose."

"Is that a problem?" Rin asked

"None. What do you wish master?"

"Take them down."

"As you wish."

The drones were neutralized in a single moment as emerald green magic passed through their cores.

Nanoha watched her like a hawk. "Has the type of magic being determined yet?"

"Magic is of new type and quality. Very unlikely to be previously known." Raising Heart replied.

"As I suspected." Nanoha hummed.

Beside her, Fate shook her head in wonder. "That ability is extraordinary. The bureau is lucky to have both her and you, Sakura."

"We're the lucky ones." Sakura said with a soft smile, her eyes not leaving her sister.

Fate smiled kindly. "Then that makes two lucky parties."

"You're very kind." Sakura said before her smile turned into a frown. "I understand why I can't yet go into training. I really do. But... it's very hard to explain."

"You need time." Fate reminded her.

"We might not have it. The children are still in danger."

Fate frowned at that. "If you know something we don't, please tell us."

Sakura spoke with some hesitation. "I don't know, I just... feel it."

"Mistress is still resting, but her abilities are sharp." Her wand confirmed.

Fate put her hand on Sakura's shoulder.

"It'll be alright."