The Forgotten Sky
by xlheslydesux
Disclaimer: I don't own Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha or any of its characters.
Chapter 7
"There's really nothing here just like the report." Subaru said as she looks around the ruins on the planet.
"Yeah, seems like it. There's nothing but rocks and abandoned facilities. I also don't see any living creatures, animals or even plants." Caro said.
"Looks like there are abandoned houses not far from here though." Erio said while looking at the city from above not far from their location. He is riding Friedrich and surveying the surroundings from the sky.
"According to the reports, researchers and their families used to live in this planet so it's natural to see some houses not far from the facilities." Teana said.
"But why did the bureau abandon this planet anyway? The environment is safe enough to allow people to live here again even if an accident did happen before right?" Subaru asked.
"That is true but that is not the reason why we are here. Stop brooding about things and just focus on surveying the place." Teana said as she climbs a rock searching for a good spot where she can study their surroundings.
While the Forwards are busy investigating their location, Hayate is quietly studying the report about the planet that they are on.
"This planet was supposed to be a weapons facility where a lot of the bureau's current weapons and equipment where develop. It was also considered the main base for all the important and talented scientist in Mid-childa before so why… why was it abandoned? Abandoned Planet, Incomplete report and a dangerous relic… is there a connection? What secret does this place hold?" Hayate thought to herself while looking at the ruins.
"Hayate, just like what we expect our communication lines are down. Even our telepathy links are being blocked." Rein said.
"It's the same as before." Teana said.
"To think that he can block even the direct telepathy lines in our devices just by using a spell, that person is really impressive." Hayate said.
"What are we going to do now Commander Yagami?" Subaru asked.
"Let's see… We can't just wander around aimlessly without knowing where to find the relic and it's also dangerous splitting our group to search, so why don't we look for the person who knows how to find it." Hayate said smiling.
"People who knows how to find it? You mean Vormund and Alazne?" Caro asked.
"Yes, them." Hayate answered.
"Are you sure about that Hayate? Won't she notice something odd if we suddenly appear in front of them?" Rein asked.
"It's okay; it won't be enough clues for her to know our plans. Besides our presence here will be useless if we don't find them." Hayate said.
"That's true but how do you plan to find them Commander Yagami?" Teana asked.
"Don't worry; I'm sure that person will find us. Erio and I will continue to survey the place from above. Teana, Subaru and Caro you guys will follow us on the ground. Remember to be always on your guard and don't miss any changes in your surroundings." Hayate ordered.
"Yes ma'am." the four Forwards answered.
Alazne and Vormund soared in the sky towards the direction where they sensed the four TSAB mages while carefully examining the whole planet.
"Raising Heart?" Alazne asked the device she's hiding inside her clothes.
"Wide Area Search Complete. No Relic Detected." Raising Heart answered.
"(Sigh.) Vormund, how about you?" Alazne asked her guardian.
"I also don't sense anything." Vormund answered while shaking his head.
They have been flying for quite some time now but they still haven't located the Item and Vormund is starting to feel anxious of their situation. An Item won't be able to hide its presence completely especially if the keeper is nearby, for them not to find is weird. Vormund was about to tell Alazne about his thoughts when he noticed that his master is having trouble breathing…
"Princess, what is wrong?" Vormund asked.
"Eh? Ah, Nothing… I'm okay… I'm just a little out of breathe." Alazne answered.
"Out of breathe? Just from flying?" Vormund said.
He places his palm on top of Alazne's forehead and checked her temperature.
"You are running a very high fever!" Vormund said as he stopped in mid-air.
"Now that you mention it, I do feel that my body is getting heavy." Alazne said as she stopped too.
"Why did you say you were okay earlier when I asked you? I told you not to hide anything from me!" Vormund said as he supports his master who is starting to have difficulty in flying.
"I was really okay earlier but little by little I felt my body getting heavier, as if my energy is being drained." Alazne said while trying to maintain her flying spell.
"What? Don't tell me…" Vormund said as he seems to figure out something.
"What's wrong Vormund?" Alazne asked after noticing that her guardian suddenly became quiet.
"I'm sorry my Princess, looks like I've been a little careless." Vormund said.
"What do you mean?" Alazne asked confused.
Vormund took Andvari out from his pocket and raise it in front of Alazne.
"I call thee to give me your guidance.
The strength of the elements by my side.
Create a shield stronger than steel and protect the keeper with all your might."
After Vormund said this Andvari flashed and a blue light enveloped Alazne's body.
"We need to find the TSAB mages as soon as possible. I have a bad feeling about this." Vormund said as he carried Alazne in bridal style and flew towards the direction of the other mages in an amazing speed.
"Explain what's happening Vormund!" Alazne said a little surprised seeing her guardian panicked.
"Remember me telling you that the Items resonates with the keeper when they are near each other or if it the Item is being activated or going berserk?" Vormund said.
Alazne nodded.
"Before teleporting to this planet you sensed the Item and resonated with it. But when we arrived, we can't detect even a small magical energy from the Item. What do you think is the reason?" Vormund asked.
"Isn't it because of the Item's defense mechanism? Every Item has different nature and program that's why it acts differently when it detects a harmful signature. There is a possibility that the Item in this planet has the ability to erase its presence just like our capes." Alazne answered.
"That's what I thought too but it's different. The reason why we can't detect its presence is because we are already inside its magical field." Vormund said.
Alazne's eyes widened in surprise as she realized what Vormund meant.
"You mean the moment we arrived; we are already in its territory. Then that means…" Alazne said as she looks around them.
"Yeah, that's right. The Item has already merged into the whole planet itself. The reason why we can't find it is because we have only been looking at the surface, it might be hiding underground. I also think that the reason why you're getting weaker is because the Item has been absorbing your magical energy and is using it to conceal its location. I've activated Andvari and placed a barrier around your body. It will stop the Item from absorbing your magical energy." Vormund said.
"If the Item can't absorb my magical energy anymore it will start to use its own magical energy and we can somehow detect its location." Alazne said.
"Exactly but at the same time it might also go berserk, if that happens we might get dragged into it. We have to seal the Item to get out of this planet or we will be in trouble." Vormund said.
"I understand. Let's hurry." Alazne said.
They quickly made their way to their destination, after a few minutes they finally saw one of the things that they are looking for.
"Hayate, there's someone coming at our direction in an incredible speed." Rein said.
"Is it them?" Hayate asked.
"Yes, I think so." Rein answered.
"Princess, it's the TSAB mages." Vormund said as he stopped and put his master down to fly on her own.
"Thank you Vormund. Let's go." Alazne said.
She and Vormund flew towards the TSAB mages. She was already expecting to see Erio and Friedrich but what surprised her is the presence of her best friend.
"Is that Hayate? Why is Hayate here?" she asked herself.
Alazne and Vormund was about to reach Hayate and the others when something happened. The whole sky suddenly went dark and a strong gust of wind blew towards them cancelling their flying spell. Alazne, Vormund and Hayate with Rein quickly fell from the sky. Erio quickly dive in with Friedrich to catch Hayate and Rein while Subaru upon seeing what happened activated her Wing Road to catch Alazne. Vormund on the other hand was able to break his fall by forming a spear like spell that he used to make a safe landing.
"What happened?" Hayate asked after Erio puts her and Rein down.
"I don't know but something is cancelling our aviation ability." Rein answered as she climbs on top of Hayate's head.
"Are you okay?" Subaru asked Alazne while she puts her down.
"Yeah, thank you." Alazne answered.
"This doesn't look good; the Item is starting to be aggressive. Looks like its cancelling our flying spell and if it attacks it would be difficult to defend ourselves. If it has really merged with this planet we can no longer take refuge in the sky if the ground crumbles. All of you gather in one place and be on your guard." Vormund said as he runs to his master's side.
"Wait a minute. What do you mean? What's happening?" Teana asked while looking at Vormund and Alazne alternately.
Hayate upon sensing the seriousness of the situation ordered the forwards to do what Vormund said.
"Do you mind telling us the situation?" Hayate asked.
"I'm sorry, as much as I would like to tell you we don't have time. For now protect yourselves and try not to die." Alazne said as Eckhard appears into her hands.
"That's more than enough. Teana, Subaru, Erio, and Caro you heard the lady." Hayate ordered.
"Yes ma'am!" the Forwards said simultaneously as they put their guards up and get ready for battle.
"Rein, Unison in." Hayate said.
"Yes, Mistress." Rein said as she enters Hayate's body.
They stood firm from their positions and carefully studied their surroundings. Vormund, Alazne and Hayate stood beside each other while Teana, Subaru and Erio stood behind them. Friedrich was back at her smaller form and is flying beside Caro at the center of the two groups.
"What a weak bunch of mages. Is Alazne-sama seriously thinking that those people can help her? What a naïve master we have. The keeper is here but her other half is not, what should I do?" a voice from the shadows said. "Vormund might already realize that this planet has already merged with an Item so I don't think he will notice me even if I play with them a little."
"Nothing is happening." Subaru said.
Alazne focused her mind and tried to sense the changes in their environment. She tried to grasp every movement and energy no matter how small or big it is… and then she felt something from behind them.
"Look above you!" Alazne shouted.
The moment Alazne warned the others the tall building in front of them exploded and a giant creature appeared on top of the destroyed facility. It has the head of a scorpion and a body of a worm.
"Wha-, what kind of bug is that?!" Subaru said after seeing the creature.
"Idiot! Stop spacing out and take cover." Teana said as she fires at the creature.
The creature made a load scream like sound and jumped towards them.
"Don't stay together! Get away from it!" Hayate ordered.
The Forwards including Alazne and Vormund distanced themselves from the creature.
"I so wish we can fly right now." Vormund said as he evades the attacks of the creature.
"I will lend you a coin for that wish." Hayate said. She was having difficulty in running and evading at the same time.
"Mistress!" Rein warned Hayate.
The creature swings its giant hands that looks like a scythe and strike towards Hayate.
"Ahhh!"
Hayate screamed as she was thrown away towards the ruins and hit a building. Rein managed to activate a shield to protect her but was blown away by the creatures force and strength.
"No way! Commander Yagami was swept away in just one hit!" Caro said shocked at what she just witness.
"That's insane." Erio said with sweat starting to form on his face.
The creature stood up high and screamed once again before running towards the Forwards in a very quick movement. Vormund dash to help the Forwards and a huge explosion was heard upon the clash of the two. When the smoke cleared up the Forwards saw Vormund, now holding a sword in his right hand and a big shield in his left hand, blocking the right hand of the creature. The creature swings its left hand and attacked Vormund again. This time Vormund blocked it using his sword but the creature escaped at his right side and continued to run towards the Forwards.
"Damn it!" Vormund curse.
Not being quick enough to evade it, Caro and Teana attacked it using shooting spells while Subaru and Erio prepared themselves to block its attack.
"Don't get close to it! Get Back!"
Alazne shouted as she blocks the creatures' first attack.
"Argh! What's with this strength?!" Alazne said as she gets drag by the creature.
The creature strike again at her but this time Vormund intercepted it and at the same time Hayate attacked the creature forcing it to back off a little.
"Are you okay?" Hayate asked.
"Yeah, thank you." Alazne said.
"No problem. What is that creature?" Hayate asked.
"I'm not sure. The Holy Item that we're looking for has merged into the whole planet, I think that is the reason why the plants have died and no animals can be found. If I'm not mistaken, that creature must be one of the animals living here and have transformed into that because of the Items influence. It will attack anything that the Item considers an enemy." Vormund answered.
"In other words, you mean us." Hayate said.
"Yeah." Vormund said.
"How do we return it to normal?" Alazne asked.
"Beat it up." Vormund said bluntly.
Hayate couldn't help but giggle at Vormund's choose of words.
"Is he always like this?" Hayate asked Alazne.
"I'm sorry, he is." Alazne answered.
Alazne and Hayate shared a little laugh before the creature moved again.
"I think the three of us should handle blocking its attacks. The Forwards can't handle an attack that strong so we need to catch its attention and let them attack when an opportunity arises. Working together is our only choice right now to beat that thing." Hayate said.
"I second that my Princess." Vormund said.
Alazne doesn't want to let the TSAB mages fight specially the Forwards but she knows it isn't the time to argue. She and Vormund can beat the creature by themselves but she isn't in a 100% condition and it will definitely take some time, something that they don't have. They need to find and seal the Item soon or they will be in much more trouble. Having no other choice she agreed with Hayate's plan.
"The three of us will fight it head on, while we are doing that the four of you find an opening and attack it with your full power!" Alazne said.
"Yes ma'am!" the Forwards answered.
Alazne, Vormund and Hayate started their attacks simultaneously the moment the creature moved forward again.
"Let's go, Erio!" Subaru said as she charges towards the side of the creature. "Mach Caliber."
"Okay!" Erio said as he runs after Subaru. "Strada."
"Knuckle Duster."
"Stahlmesser."
Mach Caliber and Strada responded. While Subaru and Erio attacked concurrently, Teana and Caro were giving them fire supports and boost.
"Let's do our thing, Cross Mirage." Teana said.
"Cross Fire Shoot." Cross Mirage responded.
"Let's assist them Kerykeion, Friedrich." Caro said.
"Boost up – Strike Power. Dragon Soul Summon." Kerykeion responded.
Friedrich turned into his adult mode and strike the creature's back side.
"Friedrich, Blast Ray." Caro ordered.
Friedrich shoots his fire breathing ability and bombarded the creature with fire. Its body was engulfed with fire but it suddenly gathered in the creatures' mouth and shot it back at Friedrich. Friedrich was blown away by the attacked and returned to his small form before losing consciousness.
"Unbelievable! It didn't even flinch at Friedrich's attack." Erio said.
"Don't stop attacking." Hayate shouted when the Forwards freeze in disbelief.
"Stay still will you!" Subaru said as she snapped out of it and punched the creature.
In an instant the creature evaded Subaru's attack and used its' tail to strike sending her away. She managed to put a shield up but it shattered upon impact.
"Argh!" Subaru said as she coughs out blood.
Caro rushed at Subaru's side and quickly activated a healing spell. The creature stood up once again and screamed loudly. Alazne, Vormund and Hayate who are visibly getting exhausted because of their nonstop attacks were surprised at the creature's quick movements. Their attacks are getting through but the creature has unbelievable stamina and strength, and it won't stop attacking and it keeps on getting up, making the fight a battle of endurance.
"Are you both still okay?" Alazne called out.
"I'm fine." Hayate said.
"I can still go on." Vormund said.
"Hang in there everyone!" Alazne said as they once again attacked the creature.
Subaru who was able to stand up again thanks to Caro's healing spell joined the attacked. The six mages continued to attack the creature while Caro supported them with boost spells. Little by little the creature was visibly getting weaker and weaker. Hayate saw a chance and distanced herself from the creature.
"Rein." Hayate called her trusted companion.
"Yes, Mistress." Rein responded.
"Approach from beyond,
Mistletoe branches,
Become spears of the silver moon,
Shoot and pierce!
Petrifying spears, Mistilteinn!"
Hayate and Rein launched a bombardment spell. Seven light spears rained down to the creature and petrified its movements.
"Vormund." Alazne shouted as she runs towards the creature.
"Yes!" Vormund answered as he charges at the creature with his master.
The creature broke free from Hayate's spell and attacked Alazne and Vormund. The two managed to block the attack while still running towards the creature at both sides. They evaded every attacked thrown at them and managed to close the distance of the creature from them. The two jumped towards the creature and made a spin in the air before they strike their swords…
"Himmelstreik"
"loderndurteil"
Alazne and Vormund slashed the creature at the same time making it stagger in pain.
"Princess." Vormund said as he jumped backwards away from the creature.
Alazne did the same thing that Vormund did and distanced herself from the creature.
"Everyone, attacked!" Hayate ordered.
The Forwards concentrated their remaining magical energy and aimed their most powerful spell towards the creature.
"Boost up – Barret Power!" Caro said.
"Divine Buster!"
"Starlight Breaker!"
"Thunder Rage!"
Subaru, Teana and Erio launched their strongest spell and fired it at the creature. The whole place was covered with smoke from the explosion and nothing can be heard as the mages verify the result of their attack.
"Did we do it?" Subaru asked.
But before someone can answer her question a strong wave of energy blasted them away.
"Not yet!" Hayate shouted. "Rein."
"O' ruler of the white snow,
With sliver wings turn all the earth in vision into ice!
Come forth, breath of frost."
Four icy - blue cubes appeared above Hayate and strike the creature with ice magic freezing its movement. Right after this a large magical circle appeared beneath her as she prepares her own strongest spell.
"Resound, horn of the end!
Ragnarok!"
Hayate fired her strongest spell at the creature making it screamed in pain.
"We will now end your suffering little one." Vormund said.
"Schutzfeurig."
Vormund's shield and sword suddenly disappeared from his hands and a barrier like box appeared around the creature trapping it inside. At the same time four giant swords plunged into the ground forming a flaming wire that tied the creature down.
"I'm sorry." Alazne said in a low voice.
She raised Eckhard in front of her.
"Heiligenpfeil."
Eckhard slowly rose in mid-air and transformed into one giant sword. It spun for a few times before pointing towards the creature.
"Break!" Alazne said.
She made a gesture of throwing a spear from her hands. Eckhard flew towards the creature in lightning speed and pierced through the barrier that Vormund made. A large magical circle appeared beneath Alazne as she held out her hands in an open palm position.
"Mondlichtbrecher."
A large beam of magical energy launched from Eckhard's tip and blasted the creature inside the barrier. Loud exploding sounds echoed throughout the planet as strong gust of wind blew everything out of the way. When the smoke dissipated in the air into nothing, a small worm-like insect was seen circling around the ground.
"As expected of the keeper, she didn't even use any other Item beside Eckhard to beat it." a voice from the shadows said. "Now that I have evaluated their skills and magic, all there is left is the keeper and her other half."
"It's finally over." Teana said as she slumped to the ground.
"I'm exhausted." Subaru said as she lied down next to Teana.
"Are you okay Commander Yagami?" Erio asked.
"Yeah, just tired. It's not everyday that I used many strong spells consecutively." Hayate answered.
"That's right. I'm drained." Rein said as she came out of Hayate's body and sat at her shoulder.
"To think that we are this worn out just from fighting an animal under the influence of the relic. I shudder at the thought of facing the real deal." Caro said while holding Friedrich.
"That is not exactly true." Vormund said to Caro.
"The Holy Items are just objects… objects that has basic program on how to defend itself. Their movements can be studied and determined after a few tests and observations. Once you know it, they can easily be sealed. The once you should fear are the living things that has been influence by it… animals, especially humans. No matter how powerful a relic is, in the end it is still just an object, but a powerful object in the hands of a human whether good or bad will only result in tragedy. Too much of everything is always bad. Furthermore, we are not exactly the ones who shoulder the burden of sealing the Items." Vormund said as he looks at Alazne.
Everyone looked at Alazne and didn't say anything more.
"Uhm… Are you okay?" Caro asked Alazne.
She noticed that the woman haven't move or said anything for a while and her heavy breathing and paled face is not a good sign. When Caro tried to reach out to touch Alazne, the said woman suddenly fell to her knees.
"Princess!" Vormund said as he scuttled to his master. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just a little dizzy." Alazne said.
"I think you should rest for a while, you don't look so good." Hayate said.
"I'm fine. I can't afford to rest right now, we don't know what will attack us next if we stay here. Furthermore, we won't be able to leave this planet unless we find and seal the Item." Alazne said coldly.
"Is that true?" Hayate asked Vormund.
"Yes. Unfortunately we have accidentally entered into its territory and the only way to get out of here is to find and seal the Item." Vormund answered.
"I see… but I still think that we should rest first. At our current state we won't be able to look for it properly and pushing ourselves more than we already have will just increase the risks of us getting hurt. Besides, you still haven't explained to me our situation, if you really don't want us to get hurt you should properly tell us things." Hayate said as she smiles at Alazne. "By the way, I am Lieutenant Colonel Yagami, Hayate of TSAB… nice meeting you miss."
Alazne couldn't do or say anything more and just agreed with Hayate. She knows more than anyone that Hayate can get really pushy if she decided to do something. Vormund decided to tell Hayate the situation in place of her master. He told her everything including the part where the Item used Alazne's magical energy against them to conceal its location to their suspicion that the Item is hiding underground.
"Underground huh… How do you plan on searching for something underground?" Hayate asked.
"The facilities here have underground laboratories. The people of this planet have conducted large scale of experiments on weapons and magic before. If the Item is hiding underground, it will be the best place to hide because of the labyrinth like passageway below and the security placed at its path." Vormund said.
"How did you know that?" Hayate asked.
"I've been… on this planet before." Vormund said with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"Eh?" Alazne and Hayate both said.
"You've been here before?! You mean you have seen this place when the bureau is still using this planet." Hayate asked.
"Y-Yes ma'am." Vormund answered a little surprise of Hayate's reaction.
"That's – that's good to hear." Hayate said. "What is with this development? Am I lucky or what? Looks like I found someone who can connect all the dots about the mysteries between the bureau and this planet." Hayate thought to herself as she looks at Vormund.
Alazne on the other hand hasn't said anything to Vormund and just stared at him. She didn't miss the glint of sadness in her guardian's eyes when he has spoken earlier but she doesn't know if she would ask him or not. Vormund upon noticing that his master is staring at him asked...
"Princess?" Vormund said.
"Vormund, you've been here before?" Alazne asked him telepathically.
"Yes." Vormund answered telepathically.
"When? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Alazne asked.
"I have told you before that I have been to many different worlds while searching for the Items, this planet is one of them. Also, it took me some time before I realized that I knew this planet and with all the things that happened I didn't really had a chance to tell you. I'm sorry my Princess." Vormund answered.
Alazne wanted to ask her guardian more questions but decided to stop. She knows that the sadness in Vormund's eyes means something but she doesn't want to force it out of the guardian. She trust Vormund with her life so if it is something that her guardian decided not to tell her, it must mean that she does not need to know it for now. Alazne resolved to believe in Vormund before and it will never change what ever happens.
"No… It's okay." Alazne said smiling gently.
"Now that we know and fully understand the situation, and have taken a short rest, isn't it time to move on." Hayate asked. "Forwards, are you ready?"
"Yes ma'am!" the Forwards answered while they stood up from where they rested.
"Yeah, Let's go." Alazne said.
The moment Alazne stood up she suddenly felt an excruciating pain crawled inside her body. She couldn't stop herself from screaming as she collapses back to the ground. The people around her ran to her side and saw that her body is being enveloped by a pink light and her magical energy was visible leaking out of her body.
"What is happening to her?" Subaru asked worried for the woman in front of her who is gasping in pain.
"No way! The Item… The Holy Item is forcibly absorbing the Princess' magical energy out of her body!" Vormund said.
"Ugh… Aaah!..." Alazne tried to endure the pain but failed miserably when she felt her linker core cracking from the inside of her body.
"Rein, Caro heal her!" Hayate shouted.
"That's useless. No healing spell will work on her right now." Vormund said as he stops them.
He brought Andvari out of his hands and recited the aria that he used earlier to place a barrier around his master's body to stop the Item from absorbing her magical energy but it didn't work.
"Damn! My magical energy has lowered because I used Andvari in the battle earlier. The protection spell isn't working anymore." Vormund said in reproach of himself.
Alazne opened her eyes and placed her left hand on top of Andvari inside Vormund's palm. A large magical circle appeared beneath them and a pink light covered the body of the shield – like Item. Alazne forced herself to give a portion of her magical energy to Andvari to fill the magical energy requirement to activate the spell. The spell activated and Alazne once again was enveloped by a blue light. Soon after, her body stopped from shivering in pain and the color from her pale complexion has returned a little. Before she lost consciousness she managed to tell Vormund…
"Don't blame yourself."
Vormund silently held his master in his arms while the others look at them with sad expressions.
"Would you like me to cast some healing spell to relieve her pain… though I don't know if it will work." Caro asked Vormund as she sits beside Alazne.
"Yeah. Will you please?" Vormund said.
"Yes, it would be my pleasure." Caro said as she activated her own magical circle and placed a healing spell at Alazne.
"Let me help too." Erio said as he took Alazne from Vormund's arms.
"She looks so much better now." Subaru said relieved.
"Yeah. Caro let me help you." Teana said as she cast another healing spell at Alazne.
Vormund smiled at the scene before him. The four Forwards circled around his master, helping her with what ever they can. He stood up and walked towards Hayate.
"They are a group of very kind kids." Vormund whispered to Hayate.
"Yeah. They are her top students after all." Hayate said while smiling.
"Hayate, I think we should get out of here soon. I'm starting to feel a large disturbance of magical energy beneath us, without our aviation ability we will be in trouble if something appeared again." Rein said.
"I know… but..." Hayate said as she looks at Alazne.
"I agree with Rein, it will be much safer for us if we are inside the facilities. They may look like a wreck from the outside but I'm sure that the insides are still okay. We need to find the Item as soon as possible."
"I understand. Erio, can you carry Alazne while we move out?" Hayate asked.
"Yes ma'am, no problem." Erio answered.
"Caro and Friedrich will assist you while Teana and Subaru will be your protectors if something happens." Hayate ordered. "Is that ok, Vormund?"
"Yes, I'll lead the way." Vormund said.
The seven mages treaded the path towards the facility that Vormund thinks that the Item will be in. He said that if the Item is doing everything it can to conceal its presence; it means that the actual place where it's hiding won't have any threats. The only problem will be the route to reach it. A few minutes has passed before a large building came into their view.
"Is that it?" Rein asked.
"Yeah. It's the main head quarters of the people who lived here before." Vormund answered.
"It's really large." Subaru said a little amazed.
"You are right. It is my first time seeing a laboratory for weapons this big." Teana said as she looks at the building.
"Weapons huh?" Hayate thought to herself.
Vormund and Hayate with Rein entered first into the building while the Forwards with Alazne tailed not far behind them when suddenly the ground that they are standing on shook violently. Hayate lost her footing and was about to hit the floor when Vormund catch her. The two tried to reach out for the Forwards when the land around the building shattered like glass sinking everything in sight. Vormund and Hayate was about to cast a spell to help the Forwards and Alazne when a huge boulder of rock crashed in front of them blocking their view.
When the ground disappeared beneath them making them fall, Subaru quickly activated her Wing Road and grabbed Teana while Friedrich transformed into his adult mode and grab hold of Caro and Erio who is still holding Alazne. The Forwards was about to reach the top when a string of magical energy wrapped around their bodies and electrified them. The four mages and Friedrich screeched in pain and tried to break free but failed. The Forwards and Alazne plunge into the deep and cold darkness not sensing that a small arrow – like Item is flickering below…
A/N: This is one busy chapter with all the things happening one after the other, you may think that some scenes happened so randomly but trust me, they have meanings that you will surely find out at the next chapters. I tried to put all my ideas about Nanoha, Vormund and Hayate's meeting in one chapter but if I did, it will be really long so I decided to cut it. Feel free to leave some comments or suggestions. Thank you... :)