Next chapter is here. Not really a whole lot to say other then some things will be revealed and as always, please enjoy.

*Same disclaimer as before*

Sighing. Lying and thinking. These were the things currently in Drav's head. After the 'mission' the other day, he retreated back to his secret home away from home, at least for now resting on a tree trunk. Normally he would be resting after the job, but Drav found that the failure this time pissed him off royally. Especially with the added bonus of the third ace now on Earth. So he woke up in the afternoon now in a foul mood.

'As if two bureau members wasn't bad enough, now we have a third one.' the sandy haired man thought, glaring at the skies above and with a scowl continues his thought. 'God this sucks. I should have fought that guy when I had the chance or at least fought Nanoha, Fate and Shiro while that girl was distracted.' He closes his eyes and thought aloud. "Things could not get any worse."

Almost as if the gods were testing Drav's patience, he faintly hears a roaring sound in the air prompting him to open his eyes. Drav tries to find out where the sound was but could not find anything and was thinking it may had been a plane. Fortunately, the sound was getting closer and closer to his location and looking up he spots something that he made him freeze: a low level pod that was the same as his.

Drav jumps off the tree trunk and starts to run at the location of where the ship was going to land. "Who the hell would be on Earth besides me?" questioned the man while heading to the ship. He knew that Saika would not land on Earth due to his duties on the moon base and Ixia refuses to leave at all and only wished for Gaia back which is why he oked Drav being on Earth. The ship now lands about a few feet behind some trees and the claw user was just in time to see the hatch open and the person who was revealed to him gave him a huge mix of emotions.

Outside the pod was Anna and she hops down from the door with a playfully grin on her face. She stares at Drav who by the look on his face was not at all happy to see her.

"Anna, why are you here on Earth?" the claw user asked with a annoyed eye at the resident female in the follower gang. Sadly Anna was just looking around the forest area she landed, being very impressed with how different it was from the moon base.

"Wow I never thought that Earth from space would be pretty to look at but the forest itself is great. Nice hiding spot and not that easy to find. You did a fine job beast, so now..."

Anna was about to walk pass Drav wanting to explore more until she feels a hand on her arm. Turning around, she sees that the hand was Drav and he begins to pull her aside so he could try talking with her again. "Drav I was just about to explore a bit. You know, to get to know the place?"

"Not until you stop playing around and tell me why are you here?" Drav replied leaving Anna to shrug in a playing manner but slowly shift to a serious tone. "Ok Drav fine you want to know? I will tell you." She sits by a nearby stump and began her tale.

"To start with, after the mission yesterday was a failure and with the data indicting the presence of Hayate Yagami was also on Earth, Saika and Ixia were discussing about what could be done next. From there, the two debated on different factors to go on and Ixia decided on a plan. Since Saika is to still remain on the moon," She stops and spins a drill on her hair which made Drav faceplam and sigh. "he suggest that if the bureau were sending backup, then we should even the playing field and that is why I am here."

Drav scoffs and growls while glaring at the drill haired woman and replied back with a mutter. "You should go back. I don't need the help of someone like you. I would rather take a drone to battle. Besides, I can kill that man and take Gaia back."

"Oh really?" Anna questioned as she points at the man with the same smirk on her face from when she first made contact on Earth. "Because last time I checked, you have a not so great track record on your plate ever since you got here. First time you arrived, you did beat Shiro very harshly I may add. However you fought him as he first started out. Then rematch and you got your ass kicked and by the same person who has Gaia now. Finally even with a few gadget drones, you still lost."

"Hey I was following your orders so don't give me that crap!" interrupted Drav rightfully angry at the woman but she ignores him and continues on with her 'report' on his progress. "That may be but you still could have used your head a lot more. Maybe think outside of the box a bit like Saika would. However, due to this development I am here to help out. So whether you like it or not, you are stick with me until the mission is done. All right beast?"

Drav growls again but briefly looks away. He grips his fists in anger, obviously upset and pissed off for two reasons. One was that Anna was pointing out his failures just like that when she has not been fighting yet. Shockingly to him, and as much as it pained him, Anna was right. When it was just him, he beat Shiro once and only once but then he came back stronger then he was the last time and as such this pissed Drav off even more.

Now with Anna, he may have a chance of not only beating the bureau mages but also the one who gave him both a good hunt and an embarrassing defeat. He sighs and looks back at Anna and said. "Yeah you are right. Ok Anna we will work together for the rest of the operation."

"Great great great Drav! I knew you would see things my way." spoke a very chipper Anna who claps her hands almost like Drav just learned a new trick. Annoyed by the act, he crossed his arms as Anna went on. "Well now that you are on board, the first thing that I should do is get used to the area. And you're going to help me Drav."

"And how am I going to do..."

Just when Drav was about to ask, Anna grabs his arm and starts to drag him away which made the man try and pull Anna's hand away. However he could not do that leaving the drill haired woman to smile and replied to the poor man. "You can start by showing me all of the areas you saw while you were searching for Shiro. That way we can put markers around for recon missions. So let's go!"

Anna precedes to drag a very confused Drav to their mission. But unknown to him, the woman's objectives are not known to him yet though he will find out.

At the college, class was now over and the students were excused from their first class and leaving the room. The four mages plus one normal were stepping out leading Hayate to stretch her arms.

"Wow college is a lot more tiring then high school was. Paying attention to the class was making me fall asleep and man that teacher can talk."

Nanoha rubs her head in agreement. "Yeah, it gets rough on your first day. I was like that a few days ago. So I understand Hayate."

The brunette smiles happy to not have suffered while the others could only look on. Here Nanoha turns on serious mode and starts to ask her friend a question that was bugging both her and her friends minus Hitoshi. "So Hayate your reason for being here?"

"Oh right right that," Hayate said with her tongue sticking out playfully for a bit before motioning the group closer to her so she could whisper her plan. "since I was asked to come here, I first thought maybe I could be a nurse but then I remembered Shamal is not here. Then I thought about just getting a hotel room and spy on the area but honestly, I really wanted to see the college so like Nanoha and Fate, some of the Atrhra members, namely Lindy, pulled some strings for me, she oked the paperwork and here I am."

At the idea, Nanoha and Fate nodded, Shiro spoke with an 'oh' and Hitoshi also nodded. It would make sense for Hayate to be close to the target as well as keep a close eye on her friends. Plus since neither of the three girls went to college before due to their jobs with the TSAB, this was a good experience for them even if it was for a mission. They were about to split and things were running smoothly until from Hayate's half opened bag flew out the mini Unison device Reinforce Zwei who raised her little arms with a yawn.

"Whew. I can move again! So this is college? Amazing Hayate now let's go and check this place out. You, me, Nanoha, Fate, Shiro and Hitoshi?"

The group all had their eyes wide open and were in shock. In a panic, Hayate immediately grabs Rein in an attempt to put her back in the bag but the small girl was struggling and wanting to see more of the school. Sadly this was seen by a lot of the students who were walking around and looking at the display. The living lost Logia was able to get her partner in the bag but when she looked at the others, she stared at the amount of people who were looking at her like she was crazy.

If any people saw Rein then questions will indeed be asked and they can't let more people know about magic so Hayate with a worried grin on her face, chuckles and told the students.

"Oh you were all wondering what that was? Well it was ah...it was..." Then an idea hit her head and decided to use her Yagami acting skills. "It was all practice for a play. You know a new idea in my head ever since I enrolled here. And my friends here will help me. Right guys?"

She turns to Nanoha, Fate, Shiro and Hitoshi and winks at them, hoping to God that they get the hint. Fortunate for her, they did and Nanoha raised her arm in an overly dramatic fashion. "Yes we have been training for days to get ready for when Hayate was enrolling. Right Shiro?"

"Uhhh yes we have ever since Hayate called Fate." Shiro obviously shaken by this allowing Fate to mimic Nanoha and Shiro's acts much to her embarrassment. "I agree. This play will be a fantastic production."

Then Hitoshi also does an epic pose by grabbing his arms and finishes the act by saying. "This will be a play for the ages!"

And at the sight, everyone could only view them for a bit and then the students decided to leave thinking that they were just training for a play and they might be in a drama club or something. With that, the group sighs leaving everyone relaxed and Hayate smiling at the group. "Thank you guys." leaving them to go to the cafe to relax.

"So...does the little fairy always act like this when she isn't let out from her bag or is it new?"

Hitoshi smirks as he was drinking his soda. The comment made Rein glare at the young man while taking a huge fork and playing with a piece of salad. The group were all sitting at a table in the cafe after the whole 'play' fiasco. In response to the whole Rein freak out, Hayate shook her head and pats her small partner on the head. "Well, she does do that but only if she waits for my signal. We can't have people know about magic that much so she stays in the bag." She closed her left eye while staring at Rein.

"Although given that we have not been back to Earth in a long time, I can't blame her for being excited...just give me fair warning next time ok Rein?"

The mini unison device smiles a bright smile and replied with an ok and the group went on eating. Shiro was staring at Rein completely in shock at what he saw and a sweat drop appeared on the back of his head. He scratched his hair and with a surprised tone. "I can't believe that Rein can still eat just like us. And that is including her size."

"Well she is a unison device after all," Nanoha spoke while patting the young man's back. "that is just one of the many things you still need to learn about this world of ours."

The sword mage then went on with his drink as Hayate, who was staring at the whole act twiddles her fingers together in embarrassment. She seemed to have a conflicted look etched on her face and from that everyone wished to know what is going on in the young girl's mind.

Hayate looks at Nanoha, Fate, Shiro and Hitoshi's faces and asked. "Uhh guys what is it?"

"You ask us," Fate spoke deciding to act on the question. "Hayate you seem as though you have something on your mind. What is it?"

"Well...it's just that now that I am starting out in college, I am at a bit of a disadvantage when compared to you guys. Just need some help in certain things so I can catch up."

Then Nanoha holds Hayate's hands and replied to the brunette in a calm voice. "It will be all right. We can help you out if you can't handle the work that much."

Very happy to hear the words from her friend, Hayate hugs the white mage and with a shinning aura almost is really happy with the news. After that, Hitoshi snapped his fingers and took over the reigns of the conversation before it went too random. Even though it was pretty fun, he still wanted his questions about Hayate answered. "Hey Hayate so about those perks you talked about yesterday."

The brunette hits her head with her left fist and remembered what she promised. "Right I did mention the perks. So you remembered when I rescued you yesterday from being blasted by a lot of gunfire?" Hitoshi could only click his tongue in irritation allowing Hayate to understand that the young man did indeed remember. "I will briefly explain the perks right now so you will understand. Shiro pay attention also," this made the short haired man to really pay attention as the young woman began her small lecture.

"Now a Unison Device is the same as other devices only obviously they look like you and me. They can boost a person's power and some could even add elements to their Masters." While listening, Rein is instantly reminded of a certain fire fairy she and Signum fought against as Hayate continues her speech. "However in my case, I need Rein for everything."

"What do you mean. I thought you only need her for a power boost?" Shiro asked making Hitoshi lift his eyebrow also in confusion. Nanoha and Fate knew the reason why but Hayate told the two men just this. "Yes that is true Shiro except I can't really fire my spells without Rein and I am a glass cannon. Which is why in some missions either I am protected, I don't fight on the field as much like Nanoha and Fate and at one point, I needed a group of people to help me target my spells. So I am a fragile princess but I am still really strong." She ends her lecture with a smile letting Shiro and Hitoshi take in the information that they just heard.

They both understood what the girl said and Hitoshi just stared at her. He was thinking of all the things that Hayate said and the thing that made him tilt his head was when Hayate said that she can't use her spells to fire.

'Did she never train before or is there something more then that? Or maybe she did not even thought about training before. First it was Nanoha's training method and now this? This 'bureau' must be different from the norm, but I don't know.'

The long haired man then continued to stare at Hayate and Rein who were just enjoying the peace of a college student and Rein noticed that he was looking at the 3rd ace. Wondering what could be wrong, she was about to ask until Nanoha's cell rang. Fate tapped her best friend on the shoulder and told her. "Nanoha your phone is ringing." The white mage starts to answer her phone and on the other end was revealed to be Yuuno.

"Good afternoon Nanoha. How were things going with class?"

Nanoha played with her hair and replied back to the librarian with a nervous laugh. "It was very...eventful to say the least."

"Let me guess, was Hayate involved in some way?"

The only response Yuuno had was another laugh from the white mage giving him the answer he needed. He chuckles as well allowing the others to wonder what the two were laughing about though Hayate pouts thinking that it was most likely about her.

"So apart from that, why did you call me Yuuno? Is the reason about the parts we sent yesterday?"

"Actually Nanoha that is the reason why I called. I took a look at the parts that you and Fate has sent a few weeks ago and compared them with the new parts you guys sent to me yesterday. I will give this person credit, these drones were well made. As expected of a man of science."

He brings a few screens around, looking at the data as he speaks to Nanoha. "I can safely say that I am definitely getting much closer with finding out where Ixia and his group are."

Nanoha was smiling all the way through and replied to her friend. "Nice job Yuuno. I will tell Fate and Hayate the good news while you can continue searching."

"Right and be sure to tell Fate, Hayate, Rein and Shiro that I said hi." Yuuno spoke with a smile and was about to hang up but then Shiro stood up. Everyone looked in his direction and the young man spoke to the white mage,

"Wait Nanoha could I ask about something?"

Nanoha raised an eyebrow quizzically and answered her friend. "Oh ok well what do you want to ask Shiro?"

"Just something that was bugging me for a while ever since you told me from the very first day we met. Since then, you and Fate only told me that someone made Gaia and this person's drones who were after it even other people but not much on the specifics. I was wondering if Yuuno or you could tell me who this guy is."

Upon saying that, the group minus Hitoshi were staring at the sword mage with a confused look on their faces and wondered why does he want to know? What would drive him to want to know about Ixia? Nanoha and Fate both knew the reason why. It was due to the drones attacking Hitoshi and Drav's attempts at getting Gaia back from Shiro. At the same time, they knew that Shiro would be even more in danger if he knew Ixia's name so Hayate questioned the man. "But Shiro why do you want to know?"

"Because if someone was about to go this far to attack my friend, then I have the right to know who made Gaia in the first place. Plus," he touches Gaia with his free hand and finishes what he said. "I am sick of being on the back-row and I wish to know about the man who made Gaia so I can better prepare myself. Since Drav knows me, I think it is only fair I know about the man."

"I agree with Shiro." Hitoshi replied, backing up his best friend leaving the girls to look at the two men. Rein stood up and flew in front of Hitoshi and starts the asking game. "Ok I know that Shiro wants to know but he has a reason. Why do you want to know Hitoshi?"

Hitoshi pats Rein's head and told her his reasons. "Rein I got attacked by a shit ton of robots, saw my best friend fight against a dude with magic and a spaceship! At this point, I think I should know since I am also close to him. Besides someone needs to keep an eye on this hard worker." Hitoshi says this by pointing at Shiro which made the man glare at his friend who laughs. From afar, Fate sees Shiro and could tell that he truthfully wants to know who Ixia was. The plan was to tell him about the man later like when they would storm the base but it seems that the plan has changed since Hitoshi was also attacked. She turns to Nanoha, who was absorbing the words that the two men had spoken about and was about to tell them no until the ferret boy butted in.

"Hold on Nanoha. I know what you were about to do. Just hear me on this. They both need to know and there is no harm in telling them about Ixia. If we don't we will do something we can never take back. I will tell them my findings. Sounds fine?"

Nanoha was about to ready a rebuttal until she realizes that the group was right. If Shiro didn't know the man who made his device now, a huge disadvantage would be upon them and the mission may be a failure if Gaia was taken back. Not to mention, he trusts her and Fate and that trust may be broken. With this in mind, Nanoha replied to her friend. "All right Yuuno, let's tell them."

She puts her phone on the table and everyone gathered around so that the light around them would not be shown and raise suspicion from the other students who were still in the lunchroom at the time. The phone shines and Yuuno's face was shown on the digital screen. After a brief introduction to Hitoshi and Yuuno along with a hi from Hayate and Rein, the young librarian began his explanation.

"Now what I have been doing is tracking the pattern that the lead scientist has been on for the past few weeks to about two years ago. Unfortunately I needed a bit more clues hence why the parts were needed. But not just the parts for the search, anything at all like records of his travels, other planets he stopped at and even where he last was."

Hitoshi crossed his arms and asked. "That is all well and good but who is this guy or is he just called That Man?"

Yuuno smirked at the response and proceeded to pull up another screen that appeared next to him only this one was different as it showed the image of the man who made Gaia. The image showed a man with bleach white hair that was long, baby pink eyes and a lab coat on his body. Nanoha clears her throat and followed up the report. "The man is named Ixia, a scientist from another world. He was brought up along with some people he hand picked for help along with the bureau. Ixia was a part of a secret program."

"That program was to make a group of mages in response and for backup reasons," Fate spoke as she crossed her arms explaining this. "as well as further support for mages that are out in the field. This was made to decrease problems such as the Jail incident or any other problems."

"So it was that bad?"

"It was a huge problem Hitoshi and that was why this program was made." Yuuno spoke with his eyes closed. "However let's just say that something happened between Ixia and the bureau."

"And that is?" Shiro questioned leaving Nanoha to answer his question but with a cold stare. "His experiments were life threatening almost to a very negative degree. When they got too dangerous, he was sentenced to jail but escaped along with his followers. After that he vanished and came back but..."

She stares at the green band on Shiro's right hand. "Now with a new project."

Shiro looks at Gaia with a perplexed look on his face and slowly wonders what the hell could this Ixia be doing? Hayate drinks her soda and told the two. "That is the reason why I am here. Since he attacked a civilian, we need to be on guard. We have to keep Ixia away from Gaia otherwise he may repeat the experiments again or worse."

"Other then that, I am still searching for his base so once I get more information on it, I will respond back."

"Ok thank you so much Yuuno. We will be in touch." spoke Nanoha with a smile and the transmission was about to be cut off until one last thing was said. "Oh Yuuno don't forget to take a quick nap. I can see the circles in your eyes."

The librarian blushed a hue of red and turns to the side ending the transmission. From there, lunch ended and the gang were leaving the room, with Rein still in the bag of course.

Just then, Hayate remembered something and checked her bag to see Rein briefly bringing up her homework for the day. She sweat drops and told her friends that she was going back to her dorm room to work on her assignment which leads to her waving to them and saying that they will meet at the transport spot for the ship. Only Nanoha, Fate, Shiro and Hitoshi were left.

"Well now that Hayate is busy we should start with..." Nanoha was about to tell Shiro about the plan for today but she sees Hitoshi and like Shiro, a thought entered her head. What he said yesterday bugged her a lot so much so that even the look in his eyes from that day, strikes her as odd. This made her interested and with that she smiles and instead tells the three. "On second thought, why don't we train a bit later? I am pretty sure what you heard today shocked you two?"

No duh I mean it is not everyday you hear about a man involved in experiments. Right Shiro?"

Hitoshi hits Shiro on the back but all he did was mutter making the others look worried about him. "In any case for what reason Nanoha?"

"Oh nothing too important. I just feel like talking with you before training." Nanoha said with a smile making the long haired man look at her with a look of confusion but shrugs and told her. "All right then."

Meanwhile, Shiro briefly shook off his funk for a bit, seeing Fate concerned about him. "Are you ok?" she asked leaving the young man in response to turn away and say. "Who me? Don't worry about me Fate I am fine. I am just ok." He was about to say more until he remembered something.

A question that he asked Fate but did not get an answer. He thinks that since Hitoshi and him both know about Ixia then maybe he can ask Fate 'that question' and he can get an answer from the blond. He turns back to Fate's view, gulps and decides to jump again.

"Fate since Nanoha will be borrowing Hitoshi for a bit and Hayate is busy, do you think that we can be alone for a while. I mean you know because I still have a question that only you can answer."

"Well if I can help then sure." the blond mage said with a smile leaving the two to walk away thus leaving Nanoha and Hitoshi alone.

Here the two were just standing a few feet from each other with the only sound being other students walking and talking. The long haired man looked at the auburn haired woman to his right, sighed and starts to strike a conversation with the woman.

"So we are alone. No one else is here besides the students walking. What did you want to talk about Nanoha?"

"I just wanted to ask you about something if you don't mind Hitoshi." Nanoha asked with her hands behind her back.

"Well shoot fire away." Hitoshi replied leading Nanoha to take a deep breath and start with her question.

"It is about your eyes from yesterday. More specifically, the way your eyes looked. They felt almost familiar. Almost like my own from long ago. The eyes of someone who was alone."

In an instant, Hitoshi then steps back and was trying to come up with something to throw the white mage off her trail. However, dealing with lonely people is Nanoha's secret art after what had happened with many people she met and as such when she saw the attempt, she raises her left hand to stop whatever Hitoshi was about to do.

"I have no idea what you are talking about Nanoha. Me lonely? Bullshit."

"Hitoshi if that was the case, then why as we talked yesterday, your eyes had that same glow? Well?" Nanoha spoke while staring at the yellow eyed young man directly. Hitoshi could only glare back but in the end, he sighed and looked away from Nanoha's violet eyes.

"I saw right through you today when I looked at your eyes. It had me puzzled for a while until I pieced it together. While I know that you still don't trust me, I do understand where you are coming from. I was in the same boat when I was little when my father was close to dying." She closed her eyes and briefly thinks back to the memory.

"I felt weak and powerless to do anything to help him and I was scared just like how you were with Shiro. Although my father is all right, I do understand how you feel and combined with the real threat from your brother dead, you are afraid that it will be the same with Shiro and if he died, you will feel lonely again." The woman now opens her eyes and continues to look at the man. "Am I right Hitoshi?"

The young man clicks his tongue in annoyance and was about to disprove what Nanoha had just said. But then he realized something. Everything she said did make sense. He was very worried about Shiro and with his brother gone, the magic business with his friend's lack of experience made this a recipe for disaster. In addition, she did understood what he went through it is just that she was lucky that her father was still alive. Reluctantly, Hitoshi grumbles and rubs his hair for a while finally reaching a decision.

"Sighs. Nanoha look I am sorry that happened with you and I hate to admit it you are right. Being alone does suck and while I still don't trust you, I think we reached a small understanding. Just a little." He ends this with a pinch from his fingers allowing Nanoha to smile back.

"Yes that is definitely a good start."

This will be the start of a budding friendship.

Meanwhile, at the small college town, Shiro and Fate were walking together after Fate parked her car. Much like the conversation with Nanoha and Hitoshi, the one between the sword mage and lighting mage did not even start yet. Once they left the car, they just started walking with no words. The reason being that Shiro was trying to strike a word with Fate. Sadly, nothing came out of his mouth leading to Fate looking at him.

"So Shiro what do you wish to speak about?" the blond asks with a cheerful grin causing Shiro to hit his head, jump starting what he wished to ask his friend. "Remember when I asked you a question a while ago? You know before Hitoshi found out about what I have been doing? I think you remember."

The blond cups her chin and thought hard to try and think of what was the question. She remembered but frowns at the young man. "I remember now but really, I had hoped you forgot about it. Why are you still on the whole I want to want your past?"

"It's because I want to know more about you. I wish to know how you met Nanoha and Yuuno." Shiro replied with a hopeful look on his face. "And since I now know about Ixia, I want to know what happened that made you not answer me. Please Fate?"

Fate stopped in front of Shiro and was just about to repeat what she told him last time when he asked this question but she had a different plan in mind. However it was a cop out but it was still a serious question. "Shiro instead of that question, how about you answer a question for me?"

"...What?" Shiro questioned with his hopeful face replaced with a confused yet pissed off face. 'I am so sorry Shiro.' Fate thought in her mind as she hoped that Shiro given his personally, he should be all right with answering her question. Luckily for her, a soft voice rang out.

"Ok then what is your question Fate?"

"Huh? But I thought you would be angry?" Fate asked leaving Shiro to shrug and reply back to the blond. "I am a little angry but I will still respect your privacy if it is still that difficult to say. I promise. Now what was your question?"

Fate sighed in relief. She was happy that the outcome was like this and so she starts asking her question while looking at the man's gray eyes. "My question is this:How would you feel if I was a clone of someone else and would you still be friends with me?"

"Fate now why you would..."

Fate turns her face and not answer back leaving Shiro to just stand there and be well in awe. 'This question must be really serious if she would ask me this. Ok, I have to think about this how a Nagase would do things.' Then Shiro crossed his arms and thought for a few seconds. The minute he reached a thought, he stops thinking and to shock Fate and himself, he laughs.

The blond pouts at the man and glares a silent rage. "Shiro why are you laughing?!"

"Sorry sorry. I was just being stupid. I am going about this all wrong." Shiro apologized as he looked at Fate's red eyes. "About your question, these are my honest feelings. Well..."

The sword mage rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke with honestly. "I don't care if you were a clone because I care about the woman who is standing right in front of me right now. The girl that me, Nanoha, Hitoshi and every other person you have met. That is the Fate Testarossa Haralown I am glad to have known. And about the whole me being friends with you still..."

Fate was waiting until Shiro starts to walk to her and with a bright smile said to the blond. "Of course we will be friends. No matter what."

"You promise Shiro?"

"Fate I swear that we will always friends. You can count on me." the young sword mage still smiling at Fate who smiles back at him. The two mages then decided to continue walking. As they went on their trek, Fate was glancing at Shiro only for the man to look back and immediately turn away.

'Is it just me or has Fate always been this...' he thought while thinking about the girl. Fate being concerned walks to him and shakes him by the shoulder to get his attention.

"Shiro are you all right?"

In a panic, he waves his arms in a frenzy and in a nervous tone. "I I I am just fine Fate. Just peachy!"

"Hmm, I see. As long as you are all right." Fate said again with that warm smile making Shiro look away and a small blush was on his cheeks and mutters. "Damn it what the hell is wrong with me?" From that moment, the two went on their way and things were normal...until they both heard two voices getting close.

"We hit that store and it seems to be a good distance away. If we keep this up, the entire town will be nothing more then a backyard for us. Isn't this great Drav?"

The two next hear a growl and the next voice spoke in an agitated tone. "Anna, you tricked me into going shopping for you. This was NO MISSION! Just a damn shopping spree!"

Fate and Shiro turned to each other surprised and each had a sweat drop behind their heads, prompting Fate with a blank expression on her face. "Shiro did you hear that?"

"Yeah I did," the sword mage said also with a blank expression only for it to change drastically to one of fear. "but Fate look over there."

He points the blond to a direction where the two of them see something they never thought they would see. A woman with dull black drill hair, green eyes and what looks to a form fitting dress on her, smiling with some bags in each of her hands. Behind her was a mountain of bags each of size and bigger with each passing one making Shiro and Fate almost feel sorry for whoever had to carry them. When Anna was walking, she grinned at the bag mountain and told it.

"Well can you blame me? A girl needs to be prepared for what is ahead. Besides, I have never been to Earth before so this is prefect. And it is the same with my world, explore the world and then take take take."

Drav sighed in response to his partner's words and drags his feet to lift the bags. "Yeah I remembered that when we were in Mid-Childa, you went on a shopping spree there. God when you are not fighting, you are a monster."

"Oh come on, your world last I checked had nothing besides trees and animals. And some people living there. Why Ixia chose you other then your magic, I will never know."

"Same for you!" Drav yelled making Anna giggle as the two went on their way. Anna looked and grinned spotting Fate and Shiro walking to them forcing her to look at Drav and the minute this happened, Fate turned to Shiro's side.

'Shiro,' Fate using telepathy told the young man. 'Do you feel that? This feeling in the air?'

'Yeah I do. That guy carrying the bags is definitely Drav. Meaning that woman is with Ixia. What do we do? They don't seem to be causing trouble.'

'Let's just keep an eye on them and analyze the situation. After that, we report to Nanoha and the others.' They end the link with a nod from Shiro as the two stared at the two mages. Things started to surprise the both of them when

the two sides met in the center. As this happened, Drav felt as through he was about to drop the bags and fight Shiro to take Gaia like usually however a hand stops him from doing so.

"Slow down Drav. I know you want to fight him but not now."

Drav's eyes start to narrow at the woman who turns to Shiro, who was protecting Gaia and Fate just looking at her. "Now now calm down you two. Like I told my friend here, I meant what I said. We are not here to fight this time. Only for a little shopping."

"How can we trust you including him?" Fate asked as the drill haired mage replied, grinning all the way. "Look dear I am serious here. While we would be fighting for Gaia right now, we won't. At least not now so if you will excuse us. Come along Drav."

Drav mutters while following Anna as the two slowly walking passed Fate and Shiro. For a brief moment things were coming along smoothly from there. Just then, by the time Anna walks pass the two mages, in a playful yet threatening voice, Anna told the two this but using telepathy.

However, it is just this time there will be a cease fire. Next time we'll most likely fight you guys and take away the prototype. So you guys better watch your backs.'

And from that warning, the two walked away leaving only Shiro and Fate to keep what Anna said in heart. What she said was indeed a warning. How big a warning was to be seen but it was a warning. Shiro now frighten looks to Fate and said.

"Damn that felt like a declaration of war."

"It was which is why we need to warn the others so we can discuss a plan."

"Yeah I agree." Shiro nods and with, the two went back to the car, ready to tell the group what had happened.

A few hours pass and everyone met at the teleport spot and Fate began to explain everything to the others. Just from hearing the news, Nanoha and Hayate crossed their arms while Hitoshi was by Shiro's side.

"So they were just shopping?" Hayate asked.

"Yeah they were from what it looked like. But still that woman and her threat was scary." Shiro shuddered still remembering the tone fresh in his ears. Nanoha then appeared to pat the young man's shoulder and gives him a calm smile. "Shiro things will be ok. As long as you keep up with your training, you will be all right. Plus we are here to provide anything bad from happening."

The young mage could only smile leading Nanoha to state the plan. "In any event even with the addition of a new mage, the plan still stays. We have to wait until Yuuno gets more information regarding the base's location. He is getting close but we have to do our part."

Fate and Hayate along with Rein respectively salute at the white mage, Shiro nods and Hitoshi while playing also salutes and as the warp appeared, the training continues only now with the added tension of the arrival of the new rival mage. This is only a step of things to come in the foreseeable future.

So yeah Ixia is now known to Shiro and Hitoshi, Anna appears, some small growth between Nanoha, Hitoshi, Shiro and Fate and some hi jinks with Hayate and Rein. Sweet Jesus this was a lot of words! I don't know why but as I got to writing this and the last one, I wanted to write a bit more then usual. However, I will try my best to not go insane with the rest of the chapters. Speaking of that, telling you guys right now, the next three will be filler but it will be used to develop the characters as best as I can. With that said, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and feel free to hit me with some support and suggestions to improve my writing and fix my mistakes. Be seeing you guys.