LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Please bear in mind that the story is loosely based on the multi-series Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, created by Ivory and produced by Seven Arcs. I, the author, lay no claim to the series whatsoever.
My name is Nanoha Takamachi; I'm 21 years old and a founding member of the Time-Space Administrative Bureau's Riot Force 6.
All I could remember was the incident at the Narita Airport. I and my subordinates were faced with an entity we could not defeat. But then, this mysterious man appeared and changed my life indefinitely. I don't know what he wants, or even what happened the month after… But I do know one thing…
魔法少女リリカルなのはウィングす、始ります！
Year 0078 April 22AM 07:44
City of Uminari, Takamachi Residence
To begin, we fly over the house that Nanoha had lived in before she was recruited by the Bureau; actually, it was more of an empty nest since the Takamachi children moved out years ago. But that was alright; Kyouya, Miyuki, and Nanoha still contact their mother every now and then.
Anyways, it was morning and time for the ring tone that seemed so familiar to go off. Luckily, slowly but surely, our heroine managed to shut off her cell phone before emerging from the pink blanket with a yawn. She looked around the space to find herself…in her old room.
NANOHA: I… I am home…
As she looked around, she was greeted by a blonde woman in a white lab coat—Shamal, one of the Wolkenritter Knights.
SHAMAL: I'm glad that you are awake, Commander.
She sat up on the mattress, questioning Shamal.
NANOHA: What happened? All I can remember is the airport…and that strange man, and… Why am I…?
SHAMAL: You must have fallen into a coma during the assignment. I do not know how, but all I have to say is: "Welcome back."
NANOHA: Th…thank you, Shamal…
A couple of seconds later, she starts to regurgitate something.
SHAMAL: Oh, dear… Mind if I get you a waste basket?
As Nanoha rushes to the nearest bathroom, Shamal starts pondering.
SHAMAL: I can sense something strange…
第三話：現への帰り
Chapter Three: Return to Reality
Five minutes later, Shamal was busy helping Momoko Takamachi with today's breakfast; she was minding the rice cooker as it finished cooking the fried rice for the omurice. Enter Nanoha, who was still putting on the pieces of her Bureau uniform.
NANOHA: Morning, Mother.
MOMOKO: Ah, Nanoha. Bright and early, as usual. Why not set the table for our guests?
Handed a tray full of cups, Nanoha says with as much enthusiasm as she could muster…
NANOHA: OK.
SHAMAL: Here, Nanoha. Allow me.
As Nanoha lays each of the cups near a plate at each seat, she asks…
NANOHA: Say, Mother…What do you mean by "guests"?
MOMOKO: Oh, I thought I'd have your friends stay here for a while, until you'd recover.
By "friends," Nanoha's mom meant her subordinates in the Stars Squadron who were outside. One of them, Subaru Nakajima—17, with blue haired tied in a ponytail by a white ribbon—was busy taking out her aggression on a hanging sandbag; while the other, Teana Landstar—18, with fiery red hair tied in pigtails—was taking the load off, playing some game on a visual screen using what looks like a remote control. Their were in their "civilian" clothes—respectively, Subaru was wearing an ice blue hockey jersey with the word "BLIZZARD" in turquoise capitals; Teana wore a dark red shirt with a teddy bear leaning against the words "I Am Bad Girl;" and both were wearing blue jeans. Nanoha came up to them.
NANOHA: Subaru! Teana! How are you today?
SUBARU: Well, look at this! Sleepy-head is out of her coma already!
TEANA: Cut it, Su! You know how rude that is. to Nanoha: Glad to see you again, Nanoha.
NANOHA: Don't mention it.
As she said that, she started regurgitating again. Running up to her instructor, Subaru said…
SUBARU: Hey! Are you alright?
Not wanting any vomit on her uniform, she said while vomiting…
NANOHA: I'll be fine… It's not that…I have had anything good to eat in a few weeks…
TEANA: scoff How long have you been unconscious, Nano…ha?
Suddenly, the sandbag Subaru was beating up started flying at them. It must have been the sudden breezes that picked up blowing it off the tree in the yard. Subaru was, as usual, quick to react to that.
SUBARU: Watch out! Protection…Powered!
She crosses her forearms across her face, setting up a large, aqua-colored barrier around the girls which has deflected the falling sandbag. Her instructor was amazed.
SUBARU: Heh. You liked that? I've been practicing!
TEANA: Shut up, Subaru! I've had it up to my pigtails with your bragging!
Well, in the midst of Subaru's "bragging," the voice of Nanoha's mother can be heard from out one of the windows.
MOMOKO: Nanoha! Teana! Subaru! Breakfast is ready!
Cut back to the kitchen where, as usual, Momoko has made a feast! The table was filled with omurice, wheat toast, ambrosia fruit salad, and pitchers of orange juice and milk. Nanoha was only hungry for the ambrosia and not what everyone else was eating. As they had their breakfast, they also had a conversation.
SUBARU: Oh, man! This ambrosia is sweet; it's like the nectar of the Gods!
MOMOKO: You think so? I couldn't resist putting strawberries and bananas in it or topping it off with ice cream!
SHAMAL: Nectar of the Gods? Don't you think that's some sort of myth?
SUBARU: Who cares? I wish I had a mother who cooks as well as our instructor's!
NANOHA: That's true.
Subaru's remark embarrassed Momoko.
MOMOKO: Heh. That's what they all say!
Nothing but chuckles emerged from the ladies. As Nanoha took nibble after nibble of her fruit salad, she asked her students…
NANOHA: So, anyhow, did I miss anything important?
SUBARU: Well…
Teana interrupted her sister-in-arms.
TEANA: Aside from the debriefing you missed? Nah, it's been business as usual for about a month or so.
As they explained everything, we visualize the Bureau's Mid-Childa headquarters.
NANOHA, narrating: It has been two years since we started Riot Force 6, a task force assigned to investigate Lost Logia gone haywire, and the case of those known as "Relics." And although this task force hasn't taken on a major task since then, we have found some activities to keep ourselves busy. For example, my partners Fate and Hayate have taken their jobs to new levels involving journalism…
In a news studio the division took some time to build, we see Hayate as an anchorwoman reading a news story about using magic illegally.
HAYATE: Such practices have been outlawed after the incarceration of their heretic leaders. Even so, cults who participate in these outlandish activities have steadily escalated…
NANOHA, narrating: …meteorology…
Followed by Reinforce Zwei waving her hand across a map of a sector of Mid-Childa.
REINFORCE ZWEI: For tomorrow's forecast, expect a cloud system to cover over the northern city limits. A chance of rain is expected.
NANOHA, narrating: …and even a potentially dangerous task, babysitting. Especially when it's for Fate's niece and nephew.
We see Fate at the Harlaown residence, feeding the twins. Holding a spoonful of rice pudding, she makes some zooming noises.
FATE: I'm going in! Sonic Move!
She sticks the spoon into her nephew's mouth.
NANOHA, narrating: As for me and my trainees, we've intensified our training—even taking our training to my home on Earth, using Mom's house as our "base of operations."
This brings them back to the dinner table where the ladies were talking about something.
NANOHA, narrating: But aside from that, my best students, Subaru and Teana, were busy with other things as well; I guess I could call it "going undercover."
For these two years, Nanoha and the gang were, if not investigating Lost Logia, doing many activities, including but not limited to:
The usual cadet activities: basic training, target practice, and the like;
Minding the house for Momoko; and
Occasionally karaoke, as evidenced by Nanoha, Subaru, and Teana singing "Hoshizora no Spica."
SUBARU: Hey Nanoha! Your mom even made us work at the coffeehouse! Nice atmosphere, eh?
MOMOKO: I hear you're doing great!
Yes, during Nanoha's coma, Momoko even had Subaru and Teana work weekends at the Midori-ya Coffeehouse by the train station. Subaru worked as a rollerblading waitress doing what she does best, while Teana stood at the cash register; she wasn't very calculating or bright, however. The rest of the week is another story.
Now that breakfast was done, Teana and Shamal helped Momoko clean off the table and wash the dishes. While they were doing so, Nanoha and Subaru were watching something on a portable DVD player. It was the debriefing she was not a part of because she fell unconscious the night before. So Fate, in her usual, calm voice, spoke on behalf; we see footage of the debriefing as taken by a camera probe.
FATE: Subaru Nakajima. Teana Landstar. I speak for your commander, Nanoha, when I tell you…how extremely disappointed we are of you.
SUBARU: Sorry.
TEANA: Sorry, ma'am.
FATE: If only I knew… What a grave mistake it was to send with you such an inexperienced team as the 338th. Because of this, we decided to call the incident at the Narita Airport on Earth, a "fiasco."
The Star Squadron members hang their heads at that remark.
FATE: However…
She turned toward the defeated girls.
FATE: …what you and the battalion lacked in experience, you made up for in teamwork and the ability to support each other. So, while Nanoha is resting, I'll leave your training—and that of the battalion—to your sub-commanders, the Wolkenritter. I hope you have learned something from this. You are dismissed.
SUBARU: Yes, ma'am.
TEANA: in unison with Subaru: Yes, ma'am.
The recording on the disc ended, leading back to the Disc Menu. Nanoha looked at her pupil with much surprise.
NANOHA: You were still training while I was asleep?
SUBARU: "Asleep" isn't quite the way to say "in a coma," but it's a long story…
"A long story", indeed. However, for the sake of time compression, I present one of Subaru's memories: a training mission on a Mid-Childean coastline with Vita in command. Vita, of course, was wearing her recently re-designed (by Hayate) Knight Armor—what looked more like a tutu over a frilly-sleeved leotard than armor, but her signature red over jet black respectively.
VITA: It is with a heavy heart that Commander Nanoha Takamachi could not be here for this surgical mission. But don't be discouraged, team. My name is 1st Lieutenant Vita, and I'll be your instructor in her place. Pleased to meet you.
Subaru, Teana, and the battalion salute their substitute commander.
338TH Madam!
SUBARU: Madam!
TEANA: Ma'am!
The mission was simple enough: navigate the entire southern portion of the coast from start to finish while avoiding various obstacles along the way. Subaru led one team of five boy and five girl cadets—all wearing white wristbands. Teana led the other, and her teammates wore red wristbands. Their mission was monitored by Hayate Yagami herself, with deputy commanders Vita and Signum by her side of course. Signum also wore her re-designed costume—a pale pink blouse with an orchid-colored skirt. Over that, she wore a purple-dyed leather breastplate.
HAYATE: Another fine day for training, do you not agree?
VITA: Indeed we do, Meister.
SIGNUM: Granted, this beachside exercise is almost as challenging as what I had the Lightning Squad do.
In a ravaged city, we find Lightning Squad member Private First Class Ellio Mondial on the back of the dragon Friedrich, where they are traversing a course littered with floating rings of light. Friedrich, of course, is the summoning of the other Lightning Squad member Private First Class Caro-Lou Loussier, who—for their exercise—must telepathically navigate him through the course blind-folded. And she is doing so from a dark area under the course, with Fate's familiar Arph watching.
CARO: S'il vous plait, Mademoiselle Arph, I'm not sure if I can get the hang of this…
ARPH: A companion is an extension of one's mind, little Caro.
…The dog-girl said to the girl with the pink braid. She looked as young as Caro-Lou is now, which is why she was suppressing her magical powers because there was no need for them anymore.
ARPH:Focus your mind, Caro. Let your companion know what you feel.
CARO: I'll do my best.
While Caro-Lou was trying to open a telepathic link to her familiar, go back to Ellio on the back of her dragon friend. As far as they are concerned, they are progressing through the rings albeit with some trouble.
ELLIO: Whoa! Steady as he goes, Caro! I need to keep my balance!
CARO: Sorry, Ellio. Friedrich, in unison with her device, Kerkeyion: Boost UP: Acceleration!
The dragon picks up a burst of speed as loop around, under and then over the next hoop. Ellio falls in, readying Strata for the ring collection.
ELLIO: Get ready, Strata!
STRADA: In Ordnung! Donner…Durchdringen! Translation: All right! Thunder...Pierce!
Ellio got his spear-like Device ready for the attack he was learning and jumped in the middle of Friedrich's loop-da-loop. He spun his spear to slow down his descent, trying to keep his ring within his level of sight. And then, he aimed the energized spearhead at the ring, performing the most active motion, while Friedrich behind him was picking up more speed. The pair nailed it!
Meanwhile, back at the beach… The team led by Subaru was racing along the coast, firing their Sovereign shooters at any target drone that shot at them. They kept running until they came to a three-way junction—one with hills made of logs at the left and right, and a high wall in the center. The team was conferring upon their decision.
SUBARU: Alright, guys! How are we going to get through?
Quickly, the Romeo Leader had an idea.
338TH BOY LEADER: Okay, listen up! Here's how I say it:
He points to the girl with brown dreadlocks.
338TH BOY LEADER: Juliet-5, you are with me and Subaru, scaling the wall.
338TH GIRL CADET 5: Got it!
338TH BOY LEADER: The rest of you Juliets, take the right. And you Romeos, you've got the left. Remember, we all have to work together.
The entire team was in agreement.
338TH One, two, three…BREAK!
The team was separated and took their respective paths. While the Romeos and Juliets were climbing the log hills on their chosen sides, Subaru, Romeo Leader, and Juliet-5 came to a remarkably high wall.
338TH GIRL CADET 5: I'm going to need a boost here, guys!
Subaru and Romeo Leader nod in agreement, and within ten seconds, Subaru was on her hands and knees with the Romeo Leader standing on her back, trying to hoist Juliet-5 over the wall.
SUBARU: Better hurry, guys! My back's killing me here!
338TH BOY LEADER: Sorry, ma'am, but we're doing the best we can!
Somehow, Juliet-5 managed to find a rope with which to climb over the obstacle. She struggles to get down the other side and drop down to the ground. Luckily, none of her bones are broken.
338TH GIRL CADET 5: Come on, let's go!
Back on Subaru's side of the wall, Romeo Leader declares himself the next to climb over. Subaru gives the nod and gives the young boy a lift. He makes it up and over the wall making it look almost effortless. Now Subaru was the only one left to scale the obstacle.
SUBARU: All right, Mach Calibur! Let's see what we can do!
MACH CALIBUR: Okay. Absorb Grip!
With that, her feet were empowered with the ability to walk on the wall—all eighteen feet of the wooden menace. And with a flying leap, she lands farther than her two teammates. They applaud as she turns her head towards them.
SUBARU: Don't celebrate just yet! We've still got a long way to go!
Meanwhile, on their end of the coast, Teana and the team wearing the red wristbands have their own obstacle to conquer: the guillotine doors. There were three of them, but the first weren't much of a challenge for the team. They approached the last of the doorways—the one where the door opens as quickly as it closes.
TEANA: O…kay… How are we going to get through this one?
After a few seconds of brainstorming, Juliet Leader spotted a few logs in the vicinity.
338TH GIRL LEADER: Perhaps we can use these logs to stop the doorway!
TEANA: It's worth a shot. Romeos, gather those logs!
At that command, Romeos-3, 5, 7, and 9 run up to gather the two logs on the side. Meanwhile, Teana hooks the grappling hook up to her devices and then has both her guns aimed at the remaining log.
TEANA: Alright, Cross Mirage! Fire when ready!
CROSS MIRAGE: Anchor Beam!
The guns fire their grappling hooks—direct hit! Ensuring that the hooks have a good enough grip on the log, the pig-tailed girl reels it in with the triggers pulled.
TEANA: I could use some assistance!
With all three logs gathered, the red-wristbanded team struggles to get them stacked up so that their plan could fall into place. Slowly and carefully, they get the stack to the rapidly moving doorway. But will it work?
YES! The blade of the guillotine became so dull from slamming shut so many times, that it caught the thick logs stopping it from closing the whole way.
TEANA: Juliet Leader, you are a genius!
338TH GIRL LEADER: I have a feeling it won't hold for long! Let's go! The same goes for the rest of you!
With one of the team—Romeo-1—maintaining an extra-tight grip on the stack, Teana and Juliet Leader make haste through the progressively closing window of opportunity. One by one, with great agility, the team scampered through the doorway, until…
CLANG! The stack of logs was split in halves, reactivating the doorway and leaving behind the only one on the side strong enough to hold said stack, Romeo-1.
338TH BOY CADET 1: Uh, I don't know about this you guys…
338TH GIRL LEADER: C'mon, Romeo-1! You can do it!
TEANA: We're counting on you, Romeo-1!
With all of his comrades cheering him on from the opposite side, Romeo-1 took several steps away from the door and took a few deep breaths. Somehow summoning whatever courage he had remaining, he took a running start toward the doorway and, timing it just right, did the broad jump through the doorway, throwing his legs toward his torso just as it closed in on him. The entire team applauded at his feat.
TEANA: Way to go, everyone! Now let's keep moving!
And the two teams continue their race under their commanders' eyes.
VITA: It's verblüffend how twenty kids could stand a chance in our task force.
SIGNUM: Meister, are you certain that this training will help them learn from the mistake they made? I mean, we made?
As she watches the Battalion, Hayate ponders everything her guardians said to her.
HAYATE: Certainly…these children lack the discipline or experience we have, but with any luck, I'm sure they'll prove themselves useful soon enough.
And that, unfortunately, is all that Subaru could remember.
NANOHA: So what happened then, Subaru?
SUBARU: Needless to say, we passed the test… Well, barely.
There were sweatdrops all around at that remark. Anyway, Teana was finished with the chore she was assigned.
TEANA: Yeah, yeah, that's a nice story and all, but…whatever! Hey Su, now that I'm done with these dishes, how about we do some…target practice?
NANOHA: Excellent idea, Teana. Why don't you go on ahead, Subaru?
She said as she struggled to get off her seat.
SUBARU: You're not coming to watch us, Nanoha?
NANOHA: Oh, I'll be fine. It's going to take a little getting used to without me around to watch you.
A fraction of a second before she could finish her sentence, Nanoha started regurgitating again. Fortunately, her mother and Shamal were coming to help.
SHAMAL: Nanoha!
MOMOKO: Are you okay?
As we fly over, panning away from the Takamachi residence, we hear the sound of Nanoha throwing up again, somewhat disgusting her comrades.
SUBARU: Eww. Yeah, more like a lot of getting used to.
Momoko laughs.
NANOHA, narrating: Surely, much has changed in a long time, I am certain. But there's still one that hasn't/won't change: With or without me, the Lost Property Riot Force 6 will always… Always do their best.
Here is a preview of the next chapter, as said by Raising Heart.
Two years… It almost seems like a long time, does it not? We all have something to remember like it happened during that time. These are the memories our brave heroes want to keep in their hearts… And the ones that one forgotten soul wishes to forget.
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha WingS—the next chapter is:
第四話：思い出
Chapter Four: Memories
Spread your wings and fly!