Disclaimer: I don't own anything other than plots and OCs.
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World Divergence: Alpha - Nanohaverse
A's XIII
A/N : cross posted on my blog and FFN.
"Hasta la vista, baby" - normal speech
=I got lost in the road of life= - telepathic speech
[Dimensional Transfer] - device speech / spells
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...
We were ready to depart-
"Hayate!" "Hayate-san!"
-and Hayate-chan fainted.
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0065 - December 23rd, near midnight
TSAB Ship Arthra - Canteen
MC POV
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"The elimination of the Tome of the Night Sky?" Fate's asked.
Chrono and Yuuno stood on one side of the canteen's table, while the rest of use sat down on the other side.
"Why?! Didn't we already destroy its defense program?" Nanoha questioned further.
I kept my mouth shut.
It's currently the finale of second season. I already knew where this would be going, and I had to prepare which direction I would like to go.
Chrono could only give a prepared answer from hand-held device he carried, "The Book of Darkness.. I mean, the Tome of the Night Sky's administration program suggested it."
This time came Arf's response, "You mean the administration program that Will insulted?"
Awkward mood filled the room.
No, not merely insulted. I slapped her butt and bitchslapped her face. I sexually harassed her.
*cough* "Yes," came Yuuno's answer. "The defense program was successfully destroyed., but it looks like the Tome of the Night Sky will quickly recompile its programs"
Nanoha's expression was mix of pity and horror as Yuuno continued his explanation. Both he and Chrono explained to them with heavy heart. The two girls plus one familiar could only gave weak protest. Then their conversation was suddenly interrupted by three of the Wolkenritter; Signum, Shamal, and Zafira.
"We will remain," the pink-haired knight said.
"Signum," Fate rose from her seat.
"It seems that our guardian knight programs will be released from the Tome," the family pet in blue added.
"Reinforce said she had a request for you," Shamal said to Nanoha and Fate.
"A request?"
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0065 - December 24th
Uminari City
MC POV
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Dawn nearly came, and the others, sans Hayate-chan, had disappeared. They had planned to do it in the morning.
And kept Hayate-chan in the dark.
Fortunately for them, I did not oppose the plan. My excuse was 'I am waiting for my share of payment from Lindy-san'. Something along that line, with better wording of course.
Unfortunately for them, I was going to bring forth chaos upon this universe and tear their plan into shreds.
Prepare for Thunderion Special.
I recounted what happened in the anime as I walked toward the direction of Yagami Residence, Hayate-chan's house. It was a modest house for a little queen like herself.
I rang the bell and she appeared a few moments later, nearly crying.
Putting my biggest grin (the psycho one), I said to her.
"Hello, little queen. We have something urgent to discuss."
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0065 - December 24th
Uminari Park
Observer POV
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A female with white hair and red eyes stood in the center of glowing white triangle over snow covered ground. A thick brown book was floating in front of her as she closed her eyes and spread her arms.
Two girls stood on her either side, in the center of pink and yellow glowing circles outside the white triangle. Both circles connected to two of the triangle's sides. The two girls closed their eyes and raised their respective staffs in the white haired female's direction.
Four other observers stood on one of the triangle's points. Two females of pink and blonde hair, one girl with red hair, and one blue canine. They looked at the female in white triangle with somber expression.
[Ready to set.] [Stand by.]
"Yes... I was in your care too, if only for a short while."
[Don't worry.] [Take a good journey.]
"Yes."
A light of transportation magic lit up near them and everyone turned their head toward that particular direction. When the light dimmed down, a figure of someone with wheelchair and another one appeared.
Will had teleported himself with Hayate.
"Reinforce! Everyone!"
Vita was about to get closer to Hayate, but the white-haired female, Reinforce, snapped out at her to stay put.
"Reinforce, stop! You don't have to destroy yourself! I'll suppress it! It'll be fine! you don't have to do this!"
"Mistress Hayate... It's fine."
"No, it's not! It's not fine at all!"
"I've lived for quite a long time, but in the end, I received a beautiful name and heart from you. The knights will also remain by your side. There is nothing to worry about."
"I'm not talking about being worried or anything-"
"So please, I will depart smiling."
Everyone present watched the interaction between the two in sadness.
"I hate girls who wont do what they're told! I'm your mistress! Listen to me! I'll definitely do something about it! I wont let you go out of control! I promised you that, didn't I?!"
"You've already magnificently kept that promise."
"Reinforce!"
"The duty of the Tome is to protect and eliminate dangers to her mistress. Please let me choose the most efficient way of protecting you."
Suddenly Will disappeared in a leap and appeared before Reinforce. Right arm stretched backward-
"Shinra Tensei!"
[Heavenly Bitchslap.]
-and sent her flying backward.
The ritual was broken as the casters' concentration shattered. The absurdity of the scenario was beyond anyone's imagination.
Everyone tensed and prepared their respective weapon-
A wave of bloodlust and malice washed over the vicinity as he unleashed his killing intent at full power.
-and fell to their knees.
Not even Signum nor the recently recovered Reinforce were able to withstand the killing intent. It was as strong as the one he used during the previous battle, but the effect was much more potent due the close proximity.
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0065 - December 24th
Uminari Park
MC POV
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Still emitting my KI, I crouched down to pick the brown book.
Everyone tensed but were unable to do anything. Only the General of Raging Fire who got affected the least, but even she was merely slightly better than the others.
"I am ...tired of listening... to your pathetic excuse," I spoke in low but clear voice.
I knew they were listening, even if they were unable to do anything. There was a way I believed as the solution of their problem, so that they could get a happy ending. The entire theatrics were for emphasizing my point.
And to mess with them.
I heard a gasp from behind me-
Shit! I forgot that Hayate-chan was not prepared for killing intent.
-and stopped my KI. I turned toward the girl in wheelchair and slowly walked toward her, book in hand.
"Yagami Hayate, the current Queen of the Night Sky," I addressed her with authority in my voice.
She collected herself and looked at me in mix of fear and awe. The others were also recovered, but did not dare to move.
"One of your subject, the final knight you've met. She condemned herself to fate of eternal nothingness for your sake. She had chosen her atonement... for pains and sufferings you experienced. Intentionally or not, she is the one caused them upon yourself-"
Okay, I was speaking flowery bullshit here.
"-What is your response, o Little Queen?"
She looked at me with steel in her eyes, "I refuse."
I smirked as I heard gasps from behind me.
"So... You're willing to save her form fate she has chosen for herself?"
She nodded.
"But, Mistress," someone, Rein, spoke from behind me. "There's no other way. The defense program will soon regenerate, and then I'll go berserk again."
I turned toward Rein while unleashing small amount of killing intent.
"Silence, Knight! Your liege and I are speaking!"
She reluctantly complied.
Turned toward Hayate-chan again, killing intent stopped. "If... If there's a way to save her-"
She looked at me with hopeful face.
"-will you take it?"
"Yes."
"Even if it's not free?"
"I am willing to pay the price."
"Mistress!" multiple shouts from behind me.
I silenced them with a glare and small amount of killing intent.
"Even if it's merely a chance, merely a possibility. There's no guarantee whether it will succeed or not."
"A chance is better than none. She is my subject and, most importantly, my family. I love my family, and I will not let her die without a fight."
I smiled and handed her the Book of the Night Sky.
Channeling Kotomine Kirei, I spread my arms and said, "Then rejoice, o Little Queen... For your wish... shall be granted."
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Flashback
Illusionary World of Book of Darkness
MC POV
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"Wait! What do you mean it will not work? The theory is valid, damn it!"
Luna tilted her head, "I did not say the theory is wrong. It was actually quite smart of you to find that loophole. 'As long as something else occupying its place, the defense program would not regenerate. It would give enough time for someone who good at Belkan programming to properly fix the Tome.' Yeah, that sounds reasonable."
"So the plan using dummy program is a good one, yes?"
She hummed in affirmative.
"Then why did you say that it will not work?" I asked in frustration.
"Because you miss-typed this," she pointed at the said part.
I squinted my eyes, "So... This whole debacle is because I made a tiny syntax error?"
She nodded smiling.
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0065 - December 24th
Uminari Park
MC POV
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"Activate the administrative rights and connect to my device," I ordered Hayate-chan.
She nodded and closed her eyes as she ordered her device.
[Administrative rights activated. Initializing connection to device Eyaruu.]
White triangle appeared below her.
I raised my right arm.
[Boss, incoming connection from Tome of Night Sky.]
"Accept it."
[Roger, Boss. Connection accepted.] [Connection established.]
"Eyaruu, send file RN-357-C!"
[Roger, Boss. Sending file RN-357-C.]
She looked at me in confusion.
"Accept and install it."
She nodded and proceeded.
[Incoming file RN-357-C from device Eyaruu. File successfully saved.]
[Validating component... Validation successful.]
[Starting installation...]
Silence permeated the area with occasional whirling sound of wind. The triangle below Hayate-chan pulsed as the program installation progressing.
Ten minutes later, the book gave a ping.
[Installation success. Guardian program updated.]
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0065 - December 24th
Uminari Park
Observer POV
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The avatar of Book of the Night Sky could not believe what happened before her eyes.
The darkness of Book of Darkness was a perpetual regenerating program that she herself could not remove. And so, she concluded that only by destroying herself, the program could be permanently stopped. She had prepared to be destroyed, to ensure her mistress' safety.
For her mistress' safety, there's no price that's too high.
Even if it's her life.
Of course she did not want to do it. Her current mistress was the first one, after countless many, who treated her and the knights as individuals. Not merely tools, but individuals with thoughts and feelings. It was a small amount of happiness after countless years of suffering.
Her mistress gave them love. They, the disposable weapons, killing machines, were loved. For first time, after countless years, they were loved.
But she hurt her. She hurt their mistress. Intentionally or not, she had hurt her.
The corrupted defense program was part of her. It hurt her mistress, therefore she hurt her mistress.
The corrupted defense program was part of her. It's a danger to her mistress, therefore she's a danger to her mistress.
The corrupted defense program was part of her. If she were to be destroyed, the program would not regenerate.
For her mistress' safety, there's no price that's too high.
And so, she had arranged it without her mistress knowing. Prepared for a journey to oblivion, to eternal nothingness. She could not bring herself to say goodbye to her mistress. And she would rather keep it that way.
But then this boy came with her mistress. She argued with her.
For her mistress' safety, there's no price that's too high.
And he destroyed her entire plan in a single sweep. In a way that no one had expected.
The avat-
No. Not merely 'avatar' anymore. Her mistress had bestowed upon her a name. Blessed Wind, Reinforce.
Reinforce Yagami, for the first time in her life, was torn between feeling relieved and not knowing what to do.
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Signum, the General of Raging Fire never felt so weak and useless in her entire life. The same feeling currently shared with her fellow knights.
Their entire lives were exist to serve the master of the Book. Countless years she served as mindless killer or even as pleasure slave for the Book's master. Unending monotones of spilled blood and whatnot.
Then finally, their current mistress bestowed upon them love. Something so foreign, yet not repulsing. She accepted them. Not as mere tools, but as family.
They swore their loyalty to her. Not because of obligation as guardian knights of the Book, but because of their mistress' love and their love to her.
Then they went behind her back.
It might have had started from innocent desire to help and protect their mistress. To cure her illness. To protect her smile. But they went behind their back nonetheless.
Then came the revelation that the book itself that made her ill in the first place. That the corrupted defense program could not be permanently destroyed. That one of them need to sacrifice herself so that the program would not return.
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She was-
No. Not she. They.
They were ready to sacrifice themselves. Not just one, but all of them.
For their mistress' safety, there's no price that's too high.
Even if it's their life.
Then the boy came with their mistress. The same boy who had outmaneuvered her with words alone.
She felt so useless for going behind her back.
The boy knocked Reinforce in a single attack and made them kneel with only killing intent.
She felt so weak.
He offered a solution, for a price of course.
Their mistress accepted.
The solution turned out to be a temporary one. Indefinite temporary, but a solution nonetheless. It was something so simple yet so great.
"That is a dummy program I made to replace the current defense program," the boy said. "As long as something occupying its slot, the defense program will not regenerate. Now we only need to find someone who good at Belkan programming to properly fix the Book. My skill in that field is just barely passable, so a dummy program is my limit."
Dummy program? Why had none of them thought about it?
Once again, she felt so useless.
Then came the heartwarming moments, the touching moments. They realized none of them needed to die. They could stay and serve their beloved mistress.
The boy's sudden words broke the touching moment.
"Well then, Little Queen. Time for the price."
Everyone present tensed as the boy approached the mistress of Night Sky. The Little Queen, he called her. Just what kind of price he would demand from her?
He stood in front of their mistress, and then crouched down a little. He gave her a kiss on her lips. A chaste kiss, but a kiss nonetheless.
Everyone's eyes widen at this absurdity. The little queen not excluded.
"My betrothed, the Little Queen-"
Wait! What!?
"-Our wedding shall be held on your twenty-first birthday."
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A/N: None expected that huh?
Anyway, this is the end of A's arc. I know that the anime stretched it a little further, but I'll use that for the next arc. I will stick to primary continuity, so that means no Battle of Aces arc. And since StrikerS arc is still a bit further in the timeline (10 years), it'll be a long way to go.
It'll be hard, it'll be difficult. I can't just use the timeskip magic and jump directly into the StrikerS timeline to avoid many inconsistencies. And Luna's help just one-time deal. She wont make any more appearance in the future.
I took a peek on Blood That Flows by Nanya. It's a Nanoha x Slayers crossover. The author covered this problem cleverly by making trip to Lina's original world. The resulting developments are enough to fill the 10 years long gap between A's and StrikerS.
When I started to write this, the rough sketch of the MC was someone that causes headache to everyone around him. Sadly, it also gives me, the author, headache. Now, I can only pray that my muse will be able to endure it all.