Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha.
Well, here it is, Chapter 7. School started today, which means that future updates will probably be veeeeeeeery slow in coming. If so, please forgive me. The other thing that might stall chapter 8 is the fact that I'm feeling a bit FeiNano deprived, which means that whatever I work on next will probably be a oneshot about that pairing.
Anyways, enjoy.
Standing in front of the mirror, Nanoha slowly washed her face and got ready, contemplating over what was happening lately, and how strange the situation she had found herself in was. 'Heh,' she chuckled to herself for a moment, 'Strange? I should expect this. Last time I was here I was still wondering why Fate was doing everything she was. The answer sure surprised me. Maybe that'll happen again... Probably not.' Quickly finishing up, Nanoha decided to just focus on the upcoming school day for now and worry about what's next later.
At school however, Nanoha really wasn't able to focus on the lesson and her thoughts kept wandering to the current situation and what was going on. Thinking of what was happening back in her time, Nanoha wondered how much of an influence her actions here would have there. Hopefully, none, but if there were effects, then what would they be? Ignoring that for a moment, Nanoha pondered what was going to happen today, when she remembered that Arisa was going to yell at her in the middle of her talk about fish and how green ones seemed cooler. 'Which would be right about now,' Nanoha commented to herself, and she was right, seeing as just as she finished that sentence in her mind, Arisa slapped down on Nanoha's desk. After she had finished scolding Nanoha, Arisa swiftly turned around, telling Suzuka to come with her as she walked away, leaving Nanoha sitting there, still thinking. With one thought mainly circulating in her head.
'I'm sorry, Arisa. There's just too much on my mind right now. If I'm still here after Fate leaves, then I'll try to make it up to you later.'
While Suzuka ran after Arisa to calm her down, Nanoha stood and began to leave, her expression showing that she was still as lost in thought as she was before. Thinking back, Nanoha recalled the time that the three of them had met, before the bell started ringing, signaling that class was about to start again, convincing Nanoha to move back to her seat.
After school ended for real this time, Nanoha said goodbye to Suzuka before beginning to walk home, at a fairly slow pace. Images flashed in her mind once again, still showing the events of when she had met her two friends. Thinking back on the memory, she felt that they had all influenced each other. As she sat on a bench and tried to recall the events of that day, she was unable to, as her thoughts kept wandering to the hooded man, and if Fate and Vivio were all right. Although they could protect themselves, if anything happened she wouldn't be there to help them. Sighing, Nanoha wondered what exactly she was here for. She had already established that the hooded man's plans involved her in some way, but she had no clue how.
'What does he gain by sending me back like this? I haven't done anything really different, I have to do something different or he wouldn't have to do this. Then again-'
Nanoha remembered that strange dream she had had while they were heading towards the hot springs, a fast car seemingly stopping and going from 120 to 0 in a second just in time for her to look at the driver seemed far too coincidental, although it might have just been a dream, and only that.
'Still, if it wasn't a dream, did that thumbs up signify that I was doing what he wanted? That would explain why he wanted me to do the same, but then we go back to why? What does that change?'
Nanoha continued sitting there, wondering just what exactly was going on. The main advantage he had over her was that he knew what he was planning and she didn't. As she checked the time and saw how late it was, Nanoha got up and began walking home, still thinking about that man's ambitions.
'Why do I even see him as an antagonist? As far as I can see, he hasn't done anything this whole time. No. I'm forgetting why I'm here in the first place, he sent me here. No matter why he did that, I just can't stand people who sacrifice others for their own selfish gain! Even if this hasn't been that hard, unless life or death hangs in the balance, nobody should screw up someone else's life so badly! Even then, it's debatable.'
Once she arrived home and headed over to her room, Nanoha began to silently work on her homework as Yuuno tried to get information out of her.
"Come on, Nanoha! Tell me what happened!"
"No, I don't want to..."
Nanoha was still speaking in a slightly depressed tone of voice, which was what Yuuno got the idea that something was wrong from and started asking Nanoha what was going on.
"Aww, please?"
"No, Yuuno."
"Come on, just a little bit?"
"No, Yuuno, it's not that important, okay?"
Finally, snapping, Nanoha yelled at Yuuno, telling him that he should just drop it. As she continued, a thought suddenly occurred to her. If she remembered correctly, there would be a Jewel Seed today, and she didn't want to miss it. Sighing, she apologized to Yuuno quickly before telling him that they should go out and look for Jewel Seeds. Looking around, Nanoha wondered when it would activate when she looked at how late it was, and felt that it was almost time. Still pretending to search, she was waiting for Fate and Alph to activate the Seed purposely, which meant that she really couldn't do anything for now.
Worried, Nanoha took action immediately, thinking that since she hadn't split up yet, things might change a bit.
"Yuuno, can you go make a barrier?"
"Why me? You're better at it!?"
"Just do it, okay!?"
"Fine, fine..."
As the ferret ran off to get set up the barrier Nanoha wanted, the girl in question set up Raising Heart and began to head towards the scene. Seeing that familiar column of blue light, she ran towards it. Setting up Shooting mode and Sealing Mode, Nanoha's beam of light hit the seed just as Fate's did. Hoping that Fate would be able to keep up with her, Nanoha began using her sealing phrase.
"Lyrical Magical! Jewel Seed Serial XIX! Seal!"
When the beams hit at the same time, Nanoha switched Raising Heart to Device Mode, and began heading towards the Jewel Seed, waiting, waiting for Fate to show up. When Yuuno arrived and told Nanoha to capture it. Alph arrived, just on time and jumped towards them, and Yuuno quickly blocked the attack, sending Alph far off. As the shield broke, Nanoha looked up and saw Fate. Thinking about who was left in her time at the same time this Fate was setting up Scythe Form, Nanoha prepared to fight once again.
"Nanoha, correct? You seem to be hiding something from me. You lose to me one time then easily defeat me the next. No matter, I will be taking this Jewel Seed."
As Fate jumped up and prepared to charge at Nanoha, Nanoha whispered to Raising Heart about holding back enough so that Fate would be able to block most attacks and then jumped up towards her. As Fate stood, about to fire, Nanoha saw that it was time and told her to wait.
"Fate. Wait!! Seeing as I know so much about you, I think that you should know something about me! The reason I'm collecting the Jewel Seeds is Yuuno. Well, that was my first reason, but now I'm doing it to keep danger from falling onto this city! That is my reason! So, although I already know, can you tell me yours?"
As Fate opened her mouth to speak, Alph interrupted them, saying how Fate shouldn't answer a spoiled brat like Nanoha. Turning and flying towards the Jewel Seed to claim it, Nanoha flew after her, and as the two Devices hit each other and began to crack while the bright flash of light was about to erupt from it, two thoughts were on Nanoha's mind.
'Well, looks like Chrono and the Arthra are about to receive their signal.'
Aside from that, one more thing was on Nanoha's mind.
'Why, Fate? Why must you be so cold to me? This is hurting me as much as you? Why...'
Yeah, that's the end. Please review.