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.
Two years…
Two years have passed since we, Riot Force 6, uncovered the mystery of those called "Relics." Two years since the Cosmos got to know peace once more. For those two years, it would seem that we would not really be needed. But that is not necessarily the case. Everyone wondered…what really happened during those two years?
魔法少女リリカルなのはウィングす、始ります！
第四話：思い出
Chapter Four: Memories
『白魔道師の思い出』 高町なのは
Memories of the Mage in White Nanoha Takamachi
Year 0078 April 25PM 01:23
City of Uminari, Harlaown Residence
It was a peaceful afternoon at the Harlaown residence. Retired Admiral Lindy Harlaown, whose responsibility now is to take care of her grandchildren since her son Chrono and his wife are on duty, was watching a popular game show stored on her DVR while enjoying her usual green tea—the kind she likes her sugar with.
GAME SHOW HOST: Well, so far, Rie, you are doing quite well. You are only four more questions away from winning one billion yen.
RIE: Yay! I feel like I'm going to faint right now…
Just before she was about to hear Rie's next poll question, she hears someone knocking on her front door.
LINDY: Hm?Hey Arph, could you get the door for me?
The dog-girl familiar Arph, while not busy with Bureau affairs at the moment, runs up to the door and gazes into the small looking glass.
ARPH: Who is this?
NANOHA: Special delivery for Lindy Harlaown!
The door was opened to find that on the other side was Nanoha Takamachi, who was holding a coffee cake that she helped her mother make.
TWINS: Grandma! Grandma! Hooray, Auntie Nanoha is here!
The twins, now going on three years old, were excited to see their godmother.
NANOHA: I'm glad to see you too.
LINDY: And I am glad to see you. So? I see you have something for me.
And Lindy, in her chartreuse yukata, walked up to Nanoha to accept her coffee cake.
NANOHA: Here you go.
LINDY: Thank you, as always. (sniff) And it smells so good, too.
And no more than ten minutes later did the two ladies sit down at the kitchen table for some coffee cake, green tea, and a relaxing chat.
LINDY: My, you caught me at an inopportune time. I was in the middle of this exciting game show. You win money just by guessing the results of viewer polls.
NANOHA: Sounds interesting.
LINDY: It is.
ARPH: I think these game shows are just a mere front to drain our nation's economy. They're highway robbery!
That comment rudely interrupted Lindy's sip of green tea.
LINDY: Arph! That's not a nice thing to say in front of the kids!
NANOHA: Well, if that's what you think, why not tell that to your master? Where is she anyway?
LINDY: Oh, Fate?She's still training our new task force in rudimentary survival skills.
Everyone else was dumbfounded.
LINDY: This reminds me. I never got to tell you, Nanoha, how proud we are of you.
NANOHA: Lindy! You are too kind.
LINDY: Seriously. I can't believe how much responsibility you have now as an instructor. I mean…training two young women was no easy task, but…having your own army—that's quite incredible!
Embarrassed by Lindy's remark, Nanoha gave off nothing less than a giggle.
NANOHA: Uh…thanks. I-I guess…
LINDY: So tell me, Nanoha: How did "the Mid-Childa Marine Corps 338th Magical Forces Battalion" come into being?
NANOHA: Hmm. That's a very good question. It all started two-thirds of a year ago.
Fade to black as our favorite mage tells us the origin story of the 338th Battalion.
NANOHA, narrating: Some of the Bureau's finest, including ourselves, were selected as guests of honor at the Xenophon Military Academy's commencement ceremony on the Bureau-commissioned planet of Inotia. But by the time we got there…
Year 0077 August 29
Xenophon Military Academy, Planet Inotia
The ground around the steel-covered academy was shaking really violently.
NANOHA, narrating: All of a sudden, there was an earthquake. No one knew what hit them.
Inside the academy, the graduating class was panicking and running for a safe place to protect them.
STUDENTS: EARTHQUAKE!! Hit the deck! Someone, help us!
Even the Riot Force, who were in the school's amphitheatre, was shook up by the quake turning their peaceful rehearsal into an impromptu rescue mission.
NANOHA: How could this happen all of a sudden?
SUBARU: Looks like we're off to a rocky start, if you know what I mean.
The tremors were starting to make matters worse as the ground beneath their feet was starting to crack. From stage left, we could hear Fate's voice echoing telepathically.
FATE: Can you hear me, Nanoha?
NANOHA: Fate-chan?
FATE: This academy is starting to fall apart! We must spread out and get everyone out of this place!
NANOHA: I hear you, Fate.
She turned to her teammates to relay the orders.
NANOHA: Fate and I will take care of the central pods; the Lightning Squad has the Western Hallways. Subaru, Teana, you think you can find survivors in the Eastern Hallways?
SUBARU: No problem!
TEANA: Leave it to us.
NANOHA: Great! Let's go!
And so, Nanoha left to join her compatriot while her pupils made haste for the hallways to the east.
At the central pods, there was one teenage boy using a desk as his makeshift shield. He whimpered as he avoided the falling debris from the ceiling.
Cowardly boy: Corsa? Corsa, where are you?
He was looking for his classmate, Corsa Kayn. But then, he screamed as a light fixture came falling from the ceiling—the speed of the drop was forceful enough to break his desk! Or it would have been if it weren't destroyed by a flying yellow blade of energy. All it took was a few seconds and then he was caught by surprise by two women—one with a white jacket, the other with a black jacket and white cape.
NANOHA: It's all right…we're here to save you.
As Fate extended a hand to the boy with the short black hair, she said…
FATE: You have no need to worry; we're here to help. What is your name?
ROMAN: My name is…is Roman LeSabre. Pl-please don't hurt me!
As Nanoha was carrying the boy named Roman on piggyback, he told the team what happened.
ROMAN: I'm looking for my best friend; her name is Corsa Kayn. I was searching this Central Tower for her, when all of a sudden this earthquake happened! IT'S A SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE!
NANOHA: Calm down, Roman. It'll be alright. Your friend is in the Bureau's hands. We've evacuated her as we speak.
ROMAN: Please! Which shuttle is she boarding? Could you take me there please!?
Meanwhile, there was trouble in the Eastern Hallways of the school. A blonde-haired girl was barely hanging on the third floor railing, when a young prodigy with dark blue hair raced to her rescue.
Boy genius: Lumina! I'm coming!
LUMINA: PRIUS!!!
Just as she lost her grip on the railing, she—Lumina Ray—quickly grabbed onto something…the beryl-colored dodecahedral part of some sort of staff. It was actually a Storage Device the boy—Prius McElwood—had made himself; he won Second Prize in a science fair with that Device and had been with it ever since. But now it was Prius hanging onto the rail for dear life.
PRIUS: Hang on, Lumina! I have you!
LUMINA: Prius! I can't hold on much longer!
PRIUS: Don't worry. Someone will save us. I know it!
After more than ten seconds of struggling to hang on, Lumina lost her grip on Prius' device. Prius dove in after her, but just as they were about to hit the crumbling floor, ZOOM! They were gone in streaks of bright supersonic blue light! It was clear to them—they were rescued by Subaru Nakajima on her Wing Road.
SUBARU: You called for a hero?
The students reacted with awe.
PRIUS: Wow, you are so awesome!
SUBARU: Heh. You bet I am! Subaru Nakajima, Forward Stars Squadron! Right, now let's get you two to safety!
Just as Subaru finished her sentence, there was some ringing in the PsychLink. She pressed the 'secret button' in her right ear—apparently, there was a conference call.
CARO: This is Lightning-4. I've picked up five more survivors. Fried and I will try to relay them to the shuttles.
TEANA: Stars-4 here. I've got two more on my end. I'm providing an escort.
ELLIO: This is Lightning-3. I've rescued three for me. I'll try to get them to the shuttles.
NANOHA: This is Stars Leader. Fate and I have care of four more survivors on us. Listen, everyone, we had better make haste! We must get everyone to the escape shuttles on the double! I just heard that this whole planet is about to implode at any moment!
The children and their rescuer were shocked at the announcement as the alarm started blaring.
PRIUS: Implode?!
LUMINA: Oh no!
SUBARU: Now we're REALLY in trouble!
ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS: THE EMERGENCY IMPLOSION MECHANISM HAS BEEN EXECUTED. ALL STUDENTS BOARD THE ESCAPE SHUTTLES IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. THIS ACADEMY WILL SELF-DESTRUCT IN T-MINUS 5 MINUTES.
That was Raising Heart in control of the Academy's public address system. SUBARU: You heard her! We've got to get out of here!
So, Subaru put her Wing Road and Gear Second abilities to good use as she carried Prius and Lumina en route to the shuttles.
With very little time left to prepare and as many students as they could rescue securely on board, the Riot Force make certain that the shuttles are ready for launch.
FATE: All right. Is everyone securely seated? Yes? Good. All right, then, we're ready.
Nanoha did the honors of piloting the first shuttle with Fate riding shotgun in the seat behind her. Subaru and Teana were seated in the shuttle to its left, while Ellio and Caro—holding on to each other—were in the other shuttle to its right.
NANOHA: This is Stars Leader, commandeering Shuttle 1. Main engines, Drive Ignition!
LEFT DRIVER: Copy that, um, Stars Leader. Shuttle 2, main engines, ignition!
RIGHT DRIVER: Shuttle 3, main engines, ignition!
NANOHA: Raising Heart, please!
RAISING HEART: All right. T-Minus 5…4…3…2…1…0.
At the sound of her Device's "0," Nanoha slams the flashing red button!
NANOHA: BLAST…OFF!!!
Simultaneously, all three shuttles blast into the Inotian sky just as the academy the students escaped from started to collapse. The students could only look out the windows in horror as they saw their institution crumble into the ground.
CARO: I can't bear to see it end this way!
ELLIO: Calm down, Caro-chan!
SUBARU: Right now, we're accelerating to 10,000 feet per second!
NANOHA: Hang on, everyone! We're about to escape the planet's gravity!
All three shuttles escaped the thinning, blackening atmosphere with little fuel in their SRB's to spare. And with no time to waste, they jettisoned the boosters and external tanks, thereby bypassing Stage 1 and initiating Stage 2.
FATE: Nanoha, there's no time to waste. The planet is falling apart; we have to get these students to safety!
NANOHA: Right. Chrono, can you open up a wormhole into hyperspace?
She contacted the captain of the Asura, hoping to get these shuttles out of the blast radius.
CHRONO: Nanoha? What did you say? Inotia is about to implode?!?! This can't be happening… Input the coordinates! We have to get the students to safety!
ENSIGN: Yes, sir.
It was the final seconds before the planet's destruction. The dimensional rift was opened at the command of the Asura. The two experienced pilots engaged the warp engines and aimed right at the portal.
DRIVERS: Nanoha, engage your warp drive! Pull the lever right above your head!
NANOHA: Right. Now which one is it…?
Like the drivers warned her, it WAS the one right above her head. She pulled it and braced herself for a bumpy ride. Finally, the shuttles blasted into the rift just as Inotia was blown into interstellar smithereens.
A couple of days after that fateful incident, the ceremony went on as planned—albeit it happened on the TSA Base where Nanoha was treated. And as the 27 survivors of their planet's destruction stood proudly throughout the tearful time, Nanoha finished her speech with these final words.
NANOHA: Brave students, the world you once knew is at an end. Welcome to our world.
And so did Raising Heart, clutched firmly in Nanoha's hand, said these final words to the surviving class:
RAISING HEART: Xenophon Military Academy, Final Class… DISMISSED!!
At the sound of "Dismissed," the class gave one tearful "Huzzah!"
GRADUATES: Huzzah! Huzzah!
NANOHA, narrating: Four months after their graduation, ten girls and ten boys were drafted by the Riot Force and became our own personal army: The Mid-Childa Marine Corps 338th Magical Forces Battalion.
Fade to black and back to Lindy's house where Nanoha was finishing her story.
NANOHA: And that's pretty much how it all began.
LINDY: Wow, Nanoha. You really know how to tell a good story.
Nanoha giggled at that remark as she stood up from her seat.
NANOHA: Well… (giggle) OK, well, we've had a good time together. I must be on my way now.
LINDY: Hey, Nanoha?
Lindy stopped her by placing a hand on her shoulder.
LINDY: I don't mind asking, but do you want to help me take care of the twins for me?
NANOHA: Huh?
LINDY: I mean, I am very busy and the twins could use some added company; but babysitting them is too much for me to do myself.
Nanoha was somewhat stunned for a few seconds, but then she nodded her head.
NANOHA: I'll be glad to.
As the two ladies share a friendly laugh, we cut back to outside the Harlaown abode and fade into the next story.
『星の中書かれ思い出』 スバルとティアナ
Memories Written in the Stars Subaru and Teana
Same DayPM 06:54
City of Uminari, Sakuradai Seaside Park
It was a beautiful afternoon to watch the sun set on the city of Uminari, especially next to the shores where two teenage girls have the best view—those two were Subaru Nakajima (in the dark blue shirt) and Teana Landstar (in the dark red shirt). Teana, the girl with the pigtails, walked up to the bench her comrade was sitting on, with a can of juice in each hand. She offered her blue-haired friend the can in her left hand and said,
TEANA: Here you go.
SUBARU: Ah! Thanks, Tea!
As Teana sat beside Subaru, she said,
TEANA: It's the least I can give you for everything you've been doing.
SUBARU: I heard that.
TEANA: [insert straw into can You've been saving a bunch of people lately, whether it's from a sinking cargo ship or a bunch of burning buildings. You're becoming more and more like your idol every single day, Su!
SUBARU: Heh heh. Wait until you see my full potential!
TEANA: Well! I guess you really could use some help.
All kidding aside, the girls enjoyed a good joke.
SUBARU: It certainly was some year-long reprieve.
TEANA: Hm?
SUBARU: You know? With Nanoha!
TEANA: Oh. Yeah. But, you know…
She stops talking to stretch her arms.
TEANA: (sigh) It's going to be over before you know it and then we go back to Mid-Childa.
SUBARU: Yeah, what a shame.
As both girls looked up to the mandarin-colored sky, all they could think about were the many missions they went on together. A half-minute later, Teana turned to Subaru—who was taking another sip of her juice—and asked her…
TEANA: Hey, Subaru?
SUBARU: Hmm? What is it now?
TEANA: Remember one of the most dangerous training exercises we ever took?
SUBARU: Don't be silly! All of our training is dangerous.
…said Subaru with a chuckle.
TEANA: Seriously, you don't remember anything about…driving lessons?
SUBARU: Driving lessons?
Subaru was quick to get off the bench and turn toward her partner.
SUBARU: The thought of that crossed my mind a long time ago! Now let's see…How did it all begin? Oh yeah! One day, I was finishing up my delivery route…
A splash effect brought us to that "one day" last October…
Year 0077 October 19PM 04:46
Somewhere in Uminari City
…where a blue-haired girl in a Midori-ya uniform and roller-skates—no ordinary roller-skates, mind you; that's Subaru's Device, Mach Calibur—had a little less than a minute to make the delivery in a bag she slung behind her back. The moment she reached the address in a piece of paper she memorized, she big-toed the doorbell!
CUSTOMER: Who is this?
SUBARU: Delivery for, um, Akane Kin'izumi of, uh, 4-11-3 Dai-Nijuni Avenue?
CUSTOMER: I'll be right down!
Almost immediately, the customer—a 40-something mother who was busy making dinner and promised her four children creampuffs for dessert—answered the door. She pressed the "Start/Stop" button on her watch's timer button and read…
AKANE: Three seconds left! Perfect timing!
SUBARU: Well, you know what they say: The customer is always right!
…exclaimed Subaru as she handed Akane the heating bag with her creampuffs. Just then, a gray car was recklessly zigzagging on the road with illegal speed; Subaru was quick to react to that.
SUBARU: Uh, sorry, ma'am, but I must be on my way.
She almost forgot to take the 890 yen in Akane's hand.
SUBARU: Pleasure doing business with you!
The customer thanked Subaru for delivering the creampuffs as she went to give chase to that speeding car. She picked up speed with every swing of her arms.
SUBARU: Hurry, Mach Calibur! We can't let that car get away!
MACH CALIBUR: Revolver Knuckle and Gear Second…Get set!
In flashes of light, a black glove with motorized cylinders appeared in her right hand while large blue fins materialized on her skates, giving her extra power and speed. We get a view of an 18-year-old guy attempting to drive away in his ill-gotten gains.
BURGLAR: Ha, ha, ha! That was too easy! The guys at the garage are going to be…What the!?!?!
He noticed a bump coming from the roof of the about-to-be-stolen car. But then, he watched and screamed as a smokescreen engulfed the street, prompting him to stop. Good thing it was made by low-powered Revolver shots from Subaru, who poked her head out the driver's-side window.
SUBARU: Boo!
BURGLAR: Waaah! Don't hurt me!
SUBARU: I hope you weren't planning on going anywhere but the station; because that's exactly where you're headed, pal!
As if on cue, a few police cars surrounded the scene—one of which contained the owner of the stolen car.
Same Day40 Minutes Later
Midori-ya Coffeehouse
Cut to the coffeehouse where it was close to closing time for the day. Teana, at cashier, was finishing the final transaction of the day.
TEANA: Let's see…minus 2000… Your change is 236 yen. Have a nice day, sir.
Just then, an exhausted Subaru came through the entrance holding the door for the customer as he was about to leave.
SUBARU: Nice doing business with you, good man!
TEANA: Well, well! It's about time you got here, Subaru!
SUBARU: Sorry about that, Tea! I had some business to attend to.
TEANA: Well, it's a shame your customer didn't pay. sigh Well, there's a first time for screwing up, I guess.
SUBARU: Oh, really?
Much to Teana's surprise, Subaru slammed down a bunch of coin on the countertop.
SUBARU: After I finished my delivery route, I noticed a stolen car. Stopped it dead in its tracks, though!
Rewind to the recovery of the stolen car. The owner was still freaking out knowing that the car he nearly lost was being towed away.
SUBARU: Well, the car could use some body work; other than that, you'll be OK.
Owner: Well, at least you stopped the guy who took it! Thanks anyway! Here, it's not much, but—here! Take it!
From the owner's hand to Subaru's went five 500-yen coins. Now back to the coffeehouse, where Teana was putting the coins in the register.
TEANA: …Or so I heard. Who died and gave you bragging rights anyway?
In the midst of their conversation, out from the kitchen came the Takamachis, Momoko and Nanoha.
MOMOKO: So…another day of hard work comes to a close. Nice delivery by the way, Subaru!
SUBARU: Hey, thanks, Mother Bird!
Momoko liked the nickname Subaru gave her; she didn't seem to mind.
MOMOKO: Well, I'll leave you two alone to clean up shop. Nanoha, you can help them.
Dejectedly, Nanoha said:
NANOHA: Sure thing, mother.
As soon as her mother left, the coast was clear. It seemed that Nanoha had something planned for them.
NANOHA: All right, squadron. As soon as we're finished cleaning up, I've got an assignment for the two of you.
"Assignment." Her pupils couldn't be sicker or more tired of hearing that word.
SUBARU: What?
TEANA: You've got to be kidding!
NANOHA: Oh, I assure you: this will be more dangerous than you could imagine.
With a smirk on her face, she pulled a key ring from one of the pockets of her pants.
NANOHA: I'm going to teach you how to drive a vehicle!
OK, now they were twice as shocked as ever.
SUBARU: Drive?! As in, drive a car?
NANOHA: That's about it in a nutshell.
SUBARU: No problem! I stopped a car just recently! So handling one is going to be a breeze!
TEANA: Hmph! Who died and gave you bragging rights?
TEANA: Wait, wait, wait!
Remembering how easy Subaru said driving a car would be, Teana interrupted the flashback.
TEANA: Whatever gave you the thought of driving a car?
SUBARU: I was just saying: Driving would be a new experience for me. Why would I need skates when I could go behind a different kind of wheel?
TEANA: Yeah, right.
Teana got off the bench after that sarcasm.
TEANA: Remember when Caro and Ellio invited us to ride Friedrich? Heh, that wasn't easy because of you!
The pig-tailed girl wouldn't want to relive the time the Riot Force went to Caro's wildlife preserve on Planet Supools. Subaru was the last to ride Fried, but when she dug her skates' braking heels into its neck, it went out of control. But she didn't care—she was doing stunts around Fried, much to the dismay of her comrades.
TEANA: What made you think that driving an automobile would be such a walk in the park? No pun intended.
SUBARU: Well…
Back to the flashback… (There's that splash effect again…)
Year 0077 October 19PM 07:34
In a field outside of the city…
The tranquility of the dusty field came to a screeching halt as the mechanical roar of a 200 -horsepower engine can be heard in the distance. Subaru was behind the wheel of a beat-up Volkswagen, driving like the wise-guy she stopped not long ago; Teana was riding shotgun, trying to keep the blue-haired driver under control.
TEANA: Whoa! Left! Make a left!
SUBARU: Oh, now you're the boss? Don't tell me how to drive!
TEANA: Sooner or later, you're going to get us all killed!
SUBARU: Like I care!
Subaru took every turn with complete disregard for speed or safety. After this reckless creation of this makeshift go-kart track, the busted car pulled over in convincing fashion. Both girls exited the car quickly after that wild ride.
TEANA: Let's not do that again…Please?
SUBARU: Aww, come on. If that wasn't driving, you wouldn't know what is.
TEANA: Seriously, Su! If people see you driving the way you did, well, there go our learner's permits!
NANOHA: My sentiments exactly, Teana.
Nanoha appeared, walking up to the beat-up car they were driving. Unfortunately, she didn't seem at all pleased with Subaru's driving.
NANOHA: I'd consider your skills unsatisfactory at best, Subaru; while that sort of performance would be acceptable in the demolition derby, on a public road, you'd be a disaster looking for somewhere to take place!
SUBARU: Sorry, Nanoha. It won't happen again.
NANOHA: I hope not. Alright, Teana, Subaru has had her chance; let's see if you can do better than her.
TEANA: You got it!
So it was Teana's turn at the steering wheel with Nanoha riding shotgun monitoring her progress. Slowly but certainly, the pigtailed girl handled the car with ease. And Subaru? Well, she was just standing in a corner seeing why Teana was becoming a better driver than she was.
SUBARU: Of course…I could have done better if I weren't wearing skates.
She crossed her arms and looked down at her roller-skates.
And now, we splash back to where we were: Subaru and Teana sitting on a park bench.
TEANA: You see, Su? You can learn something by remembrance, especially the error of your ways.
SUBARU: I guess I was wrong about driving; I think I'll stick to rollerblading with Mach Calibur.
By the time they were finished with the flashback, the girls were finished with their cans of juice and it was getting dark. Subaru stretched her arms and was holding her empty can over the trash bin.
SUBARU: Well, we'd better head back to Nanoha's place. It's almost curfew time.
TEANA: Wait! How about we burn off the rest of the daylight with one more target practice session?
Subaru pondered that idea for a second before agreeing.
SUBARU: Sure. Why not?
As we see the silhouettes of the two girls running beside the sunset, we tilt into the evening sky. And before we fade into the final story, we hear the girls' final lines.
SUBARU: I just hope you're not getting rusty on that trigger finger.
TEANA: (dryly:) Su!
『人外心から萎む思い出』 斉藤ジェフリー
Memories Fading from a Rogue Mind Jeffrey Saitoh
Same DayPM 08:42
In the shadiest parts of Mid-Childa…
The wind whipping his leather jacket… The roar of a super-charged engine… Two wheels ripping through the asphalt… Speeding his way through the streets of the Mid-Childa underground, a young man mounted on his motorcycle familiar felt it all.
JEFFREY, narrating: My name is Jeffrey Saitoh, 23 years old. I'm just an outcast on a mission from my master.
JEFFREY: Aquileia, how far are we from our destination?
AQUILEIA: It won't be much longer now. We're down to the last mile.
Our anti-heroes were headed for a tavern somewhere in the dimly-lit Castor City.
JEFFREY, narrating: It's been six years since that unfortunate accident in San Francisco. Ever since I lost my parents, I was given a second chance. But it wasn't what I expected. My familiar companion, Aquileia, sent me to the realm… of an evil spirit.
It was six years ago, the day after he failed to save Kuromi Saitoh, his mother. Aquileia, in its falcon form, had led a young boy to a mysterious chamber surrounded by the spirits of the condemned. And in the middle laid a mahogany coffin with some sort of embalmed corpse preserved for a long time. Aquileia flew over the coffin and called out…
AQUILEIA: My lord! I have brought with me a young lad of incomparable talent. He wishes to live under your watchful eyes!
Its voice traveled as far to the skies as it could. But a demonic-sounding voice could hear it.
VOICE: Is that so? Well then…let me have a look at the boy's face.
There was ominous organ music in the air as, from the near-topless ceiling, three trilons—two for hands and one for the head—descended near the coffin which he claimed to be his. The side of the head trilon with a face turned to the boy and said:
FACED TRILON: So this is the boy who has proven himself? Who might you be?
YOUNG JEFFREY: My name is Jeffrey Saitoh, and I come from America…on Earth.
FACED TRILON: So your name is Jeffrey? Mine is Tobias Testarossa. Welcome to my Ritual Hall. I have heard so much about you.
YOUNG JEFFREY: You…knew…about my parents?
TOBIAS: Please. Let's not let the painful memory of your parents' death linger around you. It's like… It's like…venom…for the mind. Look into my eyes, young Jeffrey. Let me help you; I will help you find the antidote to your "venom…"
Now we cut back to Jeffrey's speeding through the back alleys on Aquileia.
JEFFREY, narrating: Since then, I have found a new life in Japan. I've been working as a graphic artist for a major advertising agency you may not have known about. Little did I know that this was used to conceal…an even darker secret.
Finally, the duo arrived in the New Moon District of Algernon City. There was never a more twisted hive of scum and villainy anywhere else in the world of Mid-Childa. Our anti-hero had arrived at a shady tavern where neon lights were lit outside a window reading "Route 573 Bar." He pulled his bike over and hopped off.
JEFFREY: You stay here, Aquileia. Apparently, they don't allow pets in here. Or familiars for that matter.
AQUILEIA: Fine with me then.
He walked up to the tavern's bouncer to address his business.
JEFFREY: I've come in search of information regarding my master's wishes.
BOUNCER: Oh, really? Your name?
JEFFREY: Jeffrey Saitoh.
The bouncer scanned his clipboard for that name; oddly enough, he found it on the bottom of the third page of the list.
BOUNCER: Running an errand for the boss, eh? Alright, then…
He opened the rope and allowed the man in.
BOUNCER: Make yourself at home, Mr. Saitoh.
As Jeffrey opened the entrance door, he was greeted to the sounds of "Canned Heat" on the jukebox. He saw that the joint was very rowdy at this time of night. A few of the regulars were taking aim at the dart board; a few more were enjoying a game of cutthroat pool; and a few others engaged in drinking games, like arm wrestling.
JEFFREY: Whoa. All of a sudden, I don't know where "home" is anymore.
BARKEEP: Ahoy! Jeffrey!
A shady-looking barkeep with a goatee was waving to him. Jeffrey walked up to him, and, sure enough, there was an open seat with his name on it. So he took it.
BARKEEP: Hey, good to see you, my dog!
JEFFREY: Never felt better.
BARKEEP: What are you in the mood for? Some sake [rice wine?
JEFFREY: No, thanks. Just get me a diet cola, that's all.
BARKEEP: You got one.
The barkeep handed him a silver can of diet cola. As Jeffrey opened the can, he heard,
BARKEEP: So, I hear you're running an errand for the boss man, Tobias, eh? Well, I'd like to help you, pal, but good info doesn't come cheap, you know?
JEFFREY: Well, I'm prepared to pay you with this.
From the pocket of his leather jacket, he pulled out all the money he had. There must be about ten thousand yen in his name on the bar about now.
BARKEEP: This chump change? Oh, no, dog! That Earth money is no good around here; I need something genuine.
JEFFREY: Listen, this is the paycheck I just cashed in today. I'll give you the rest when the deed is done, alright?
The barkeep glared at the pile of coins and yen-bills Jeffrey laid down for a moment.
BARKEEP: Okay, you've got a deal. Here's the only clue I have for you.
The barkeep handed Jeffrey a small piece of crumpled paper. He unfolded the paper and on the folded side there was the insignia of the Time-Space Administrative Bureau, but there was something written on it: "G-37."
JEFFREY: "G-37?"
BARKEEP: Raoul Island. You know, the one with the sinking citadel? I hear there's a pretty big mining operation there.
JEFFREY: I find that hard to believe. I'm sure Tobias will find this most useful.
As he put the piece of paper in his pocket, he caught a glimpse of something—an empty glass bottle was being hurled at him! He and the barkeep avoided the throw, but the force sent dozens of alcoholic beverages on the table tumbling down to the floor like dominoes, which angered the barkeep.
Various ruffians: Hey, aren't you that punk? It's him! He must be with the Cursed One! Get out of our face! You don't belong here, Yankee boy!
Just then, he remembered something…He was in the "unknown place" listening to a few more of the outcasts hiding in the shadows.
Woman's voice: So, about this Jeffrey guy. How come he gathered us into this mess?
Young boy's voice: Yeah, he's got to have some reason for bringing us here!
Young girl's voice: Indeed he does. We exist in a society that does not want us to, just like him. That is why "The Cursed One" wants us to exist under his command.
Woman's voice: Cursed One? You mean that man whose face is in that coffin?
Young girl's voice: Be silent! No one must speak the name of the Cursed One, even to an enemy.
Jeffrey, who was in his Barrier Jacket, could hear that conversation hiding behind a stalagmite.
YOUNG JEFFREY: The Cursed One? Tobias…
Back to reality where Jeffrey was staring down a dozen roughnecks.
Ruffian: Hey, did you hear me? I said, you don't belong here!
This really made Jeffrey mad. He crushed the can of soda he had finished is his right hand.
JEFFREY: Listen, I didn't come here to cause trouble!
He approached the rowdy bar fly and grabbed him by the collar of his skull-and-crossbones T-shirt.
JEFFREY: But, since you're asking for it…how about we take it OUTSIDE!!
With great force, the wise guy was thrown through a table and into the bar window! Jeffrey followed him hoping to show this moron what he loved to do; but the other hooligans brandished their foreign objects and prepared for a brawl, set to a rock cover of "Okuru Kotoba (The Words I Give You)".
His opponent brought out a knife, while Jeffrey decided to use just his fists. Jeffrey evaded thrust after thrust from the ruffian, answering with quick jabs to the chest and then a knee strike. Soon, the other ruffians joined one by one, turning the fight into a free-for-all with hockey sticks, billiard cues, baseball bats, and the like. The single man put on a clinic, dishing out pain left and right. The battle royal lasted for about a few minutes before the barkeep came out and exclaimed…
BARKEEP: Hey, knock it off, all of you! Do you know how hard I work to run this joint? You people should be ashamed of yourselves—you know I cannot tolerate this kind of violent behavior around here! Now, get out of here, everyone, OUT!
The ruffians cleared out of the vicinity, leaving our anti-hero alone.
JEFFREY: That went well…
He walked out on cue of the final riff of the song.
Back at the unknown place, the soldiers in the shadows were being prepared for their next mission.
TOBIAS: I see… So there may be an Oracle Stone somewhere in Area "G-37," yes?
The face in the trilon turned toward the shadowed mages and said…
TOBIAS: My servants! Soon enough, we will strike this Area "G-37" and claim one of what will rightfully be mine!
Young girl: Easier said than done. We know that our enemies are in the midst of a top-secret mining operation. Considering that this is a sinking island, this will be no easy task.
The first to emerge from the shadows was a teenage girl of Middle Eastern origin with dark blue hair, wingblades on her wrists, and Knight Armor resembling a white robe. Her name was Shyama, and as a child, she loved to practice witchcraft.
Young boy: Then leave it to me, mates! I'll hack our way through those cracker-brick walls. I'm pretty good with devices, you know.
Next to emerge was a young boy who looked like he came from Australia. He had short brown hair and a Barrier Jacket that looked like a long unzipped black vest over a blue sleeveless top and shorts and black high-tops. He was a 15-year-old computer specialist named Mikey Cole and the gray kitten he was carrying he named Bow-Bow (pronounced Bau-boh.)
Young woman: Right. And if you guys fail, then I'll be the one who finishes the job!
Finally, there was a 20-year-old girl who is Brazilian in race. A gold Carnival-style mask covered her brown eyes, diamonds adorned her long dark golden hair, and what she called her Barrier Jacket was actually a jeweled brassiere and bikini bottoms with bracelets and sandals to accentuate her style. And what she held in her left hand looked like a giant rose with a chain at the "stem." Her name was Yasuko Cristovao.
TOBIAS: Be patient, young mages. You'll all get your chance. The time will soon be right when our plan will come to fruition. What you and my young apprentice, Jeffrey, will do will signal the dawning of a new age…The Era of the Cursed One!
Everyone joined in their master's laughter as, in the end, we see Jeffrey riding his way back on Aquileia in its motorcycle form ending this episode.
Here is a preview of the next episode, as said by Raising Heart.
One week after awakening from a coma, Nanoha returns to active duty along with her comrades. However, they are unaware of the terror about to be unchained. There is no time to waste! Everyone to arms; this will be your greatest assignment yet!
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha WingS—the next chapter is:
第五話：邀撃！
Chapter Five: Ambush!
Spread your wings and fly!