Hey I'm back! Thanks for the reviews! And a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Whelp, now we're in the endgame for First Year. It's taken me nearly three years to get this far, and while it was one of the first scenes I wrote for this fic, it has gone through a lot of revision plotwise. Spelling...well, I've never been much of a speller. *shrugs*
Also, thanks to Pokemonever1994 for help with the humor in the key scene, and both him and SonicAnime2010 for feedback on my redesigning of Fate's Barrier Jacket.
Anywho, time to- finally- get this show on the road!
As always...
Enjoy!
(TNPS)
The first thing the group of five- two recently transformed- girls noticed as they entered the third floor was the harmonious sounds of the harp, coupled with the loud snores of the Cerberus. Nanoha had to admit, that with her three heads resting on her forepaws- the center head had her tongue hanging out with drool dripping to the floor, the animal looked fairly cute.
"Snape's already been here," Harry said, eyeing the playing harp.
Nanoha shook her head at that, but ignored the jab at her Head of House. Instead, she raised her pink ivory wand, "Sleep Spell first." The others quickly followed suit, saying, "Dormus!"
The five auraed purple bolts, Harry's in red, Ron's in green, and Hermione's in blue, stuck the three headed hound. The beast remained still.
"That should do it for a while," Nanoha said, sheathing her wand, "Are you all prepared?"
"Yeah," Ron said, though the newly turned girl felt odd wearing the Slytherin colors, "Thank Merlin for those drills!"
"I'm just glad I started wearing mine 24/7," Harry said.
"How about you," Hermione asked, eyes raking the redhead. Interestingly enough, Nanoha was wearing her trenchcoat/skirt combo again.
"I am wearing my bodyguard armor under my coat again," Nanoha, said, "I usually wear my armor, the jacket..." She shrugged then looked at Fate.
["Better transform Fate,"] Nanoha said in Japanese.
Fate hesitated, not thinking that was a good idea. ["Nanoha..."]
["I'll feel better if you were protected as much as possible,"] Nanoha interrupted. She gazed into her fostersister/girlfriend's eyes. "Onegai? For me?"
Fate closed her eyes a moment, then nodded. "Bardiche: Set Up."
Everyone but Nanoha blinked as Fate flashed a bright neon yellow. When the light died after a moment she was clothed in a onepiece swimsuit, skirt, two belts, gloves, and elbow and kneepads. Except for the crotch, the jet black swimsuit left little to the imagination- even her navel was outlined, while her small nipples were fully prominent. The hot pink skirt was ridiculously short, more decoration than anything else, and wasn't even long enough to cover the crotch, though the suit did a perfect job of that. The two belts that crossed each other were different colors: one red that went from her right hip to her left with a pink lightning bolt buckle, the other white and going from left to right, and buckled with a yellow star, the buckles added recently. The black fingerless gloves had red knuckleguards and backplates, while the recently added elbow and kneeguards were hot pink metal plates atop white leather, and bore the symbol of a yellow star atop a pink bolt outlined in white.
What especially drew the eye was the black obsidian axe in her hands. The shaft was smooth with a four inch long raised section between the shaft and the head, while the head itself was multifaceted with a large yellow jewel in the center. Two black towers at the top, and a spike pointed towards the shaft at the back of the head completed the weapon.
The three none mages gaped. "What on Earth..."
"My organization armor," Fate explained quickly.
"Doesn't look very safe," Hermione said.
"Aren't you cold in that?" Harry added, causing Nanoha and Fate to snort.
"It's formed by magic using specialized equipment. This isn't as strong as Nanoha's but it'll tank her family's Buster," Fate said, causing the other's to look at each other, gulping.
"Don't scare them Fate," Nanoha chided. She reached a hand into her pocket, hesitated for a moment, then solemnly brought out her katanna from within it's depths, her face solemn. It was three feet long from tip to pommel. The scabbard was a stark white, two pink straps that wrapped in an X shape around the circular, two inch wide gold crossguard preventing the blade from being drawn. Between the straps on the scabbard just below the guard was a pink star. The six inch long handle was wrapped in white leather, and quilted with pink thread, but in the shape of five pointed stars rather than the usual squares. The pommel was a thin, quarter inch wide piece of gold that was topped with a star shaped ruby.
Nanoha wasn't sure whether to be happy or froghtened that it still felt fairly right in her hands, the balance only a little off due to the attached scabbard. Though, she belatedly recalled, balance didn't really matter with strength like hers.
Fate looked at her. "Are you sure about that?"
Nanoha flexed the hand holding the weapon before completing a few practice swings, a thoughtful look on her face. "As sure as I'll ever be," she said stoically, hiding her nervousness as she placed the weapon against her back, the handle sticking over her left shoulder. A slight clink indicated the magic in her vampire-made breastplate locked the sword in place.
Without saying anymore, she went over to the sleeping dog, reducing her limiter by 50%. The paws were no longer on the dilapidated trapdoor, so she grasped the rusted ring and, pulled. With a low creak of rusted metal, the door pulled open. At once, Nanoha's awareness spread underneath. She blinked as the others formed up around her. "There's a plant filling the whole floor area of the tower about thirty-two feet down, with another eight feet of clear space and a door underneath. Can't feel beyond the door either."
"What kind of plant," Hermione asked.
"Doesn't matter," Nanoha said with a shake of her head, pointing her wand into the room beyond. "Incendio!"
Bright orange flames erupted from her wand, and a moment later there came the distinct smell of burning fauna. Nanoha immediately cut the flame off.
Placing her wand back in it's holster she said, "Hold here a moment." before jumping into the flames.
Nanoha had to grin as she heard the others besides Fate scream in fright. The air rushed around her, the flames tickling her bare skin, the pleasant sensation just the thing she needed to get rid of the melancholic feeling she had after touching her sword again. 'I need to get over it,' she thought. 'It happened a long time ago, and no one was really hurt in the end'
'No one else is like them though. And if you do the same to someone who can't regenerate?'
Nanoha shook her head to clear her traitorous thoughts, helped by the force of her landing hard on the now clear stone floor with a solid thud. Her legs spread wide and one hand on the floor dissipated most of the impact, the rest taken care of by her limited strength, healing factor, and small size. The force of her landing was hard enough to crack the ancient stone due to what she wore.
Flicking her right wrist for her wand again, she lit the Pink Ivory shaft as she looked up as the flames dissipated, leaving the smoldering remains of vines and the distinct smell of burning plant.
"Fate," she sent, "this was Devil's Snare."
"What? Why would a first year plant be part of a defense for the Philosopher's Stone?"
"No idea."
Aloud she said, "Clear!"
"YOU'RE ALIVE!" came Ron's shocked response, causing her and Fate to chuckle.
"I am fireproof remember," she said with a chuckle, "And my clothes these clothes were made by the vampires, so they are too. Jump down! I will catch you! "
When the recently turned girl moved to jump she said, "Hold up a moment, I have a better idea."
Pointing her wand at the floor underneath the trap door she said, "Oh Holy Light of the Gods, hear my plea!" Her magenta wizard circle appeared beneath her, a matching one appearing where her wand was pointed as she continued, "Bind my enemies that I may flee." She moved her wand as if drawing a line between the circle on the floor and finished, "Heaven's Chains!" Three thick magenta colored chains erupted from the circle, shooting upwards through the trapdoor to reach the ceiling above them, the three chains in a triangle arrangement.
"Come on," Fate said, jumping down the shaft, forming a three point landing with a thud.
The three Griffyndores looked at each other, shrugged, then each taking a chain in their guantleted hands jumped down, wrapping their legs around the chain as they slid down.
Instead of the ridged feeling of the different links as the three slid downwards, it felt smooth like rope, surprising the three girls. The decent was very controled as Nanoha mentally adjusted the chains to control the speed of their decent.
After the three landed, Nanoha let the chains disappear as the others checked themselves, Harry smoothing her baggy clothes out, while Ron and Hermione doublechecked their armor, which had been placed over their own clothes rather then underneath.
As they checked themselves, Nanoha and Fate looked over the heavy wooden door, which had an old fashioned lever over a handle method rather than a knob.
"Feel anything Nanoha," Fate asked even as she examined the old oak. While she herself could sense magic, Nanoha's Spacial Awareness was more reliable at pinpointing the exact type.
Nanoha shook her head. "Just an Anti-Scrying spell or something. It is a little hard to make out. I cannot sense beyond the door, but there are definitely no hostile spells."
"Think it's safe," Harry asked as she, Ron, and Hermione joined them.
"Should be. I do not sense anything. You should be the one to open it though Fate, just in case there is a physical trap."
Fate nodded, grasping the handle in one hand, she thumbed the latch.
To the mages surprise, the door clicked open. "They didn't even think to lock it," Nanoha asked, incredulous as she felt the spell blocking her go down, "What kind of shody security is this? You can open it Fate. There is nothing behind it."
"First a first year plant, now an unlocked door," the violet eyed mage sent as they filed through emereging into a short stone corridor that was filled with light fluttering noises. A soft white light that was coming from the end of the fifty foot hallway provided ample light to see by as they walked, the three Griffindore girls in the lead."What on Earth is Dumbledore-Sensei playing at?" Nanoha continued mentally.
"A test maybe," Fate sent back, "To train you and Harry to face Voldemorte?"
"I can see that," Nanoha gave a mental nod, "Then either the Stone down here is fake, or the final protection is absolutely impossible to get past."
"What's that noise?"
Ron's voice drew the two mages attention.
"Sounds like birds," Hermione mused.
"They are not birds," Nanoha said as something flew into her SA range, "I am getting something alive and...metal?" She was very confused.
"Then they aren't birds, Harry said as she and the others emerged into a large, tower like room. The room was huge and at nearly a hundred feet in legnth and six hundred in hight, could only have been contructed by magic. In the center of the room, forming a twenty feet wide circle were six Greecian columns. In the center of the circle was a broom, while in the foreground was another door. And above them..."What! They're keys!"
"Think one fits the door," Hermione asked.
Nanoha quickly anylized them, then shook her head. "I wouldn't try it. There are hostile spells on them. It looks like they attack anyone that grabs the that broom."
The three Griffindores nodded. "Well then..." They crossed to the door, pointed their wands at the ancient handle and said, "Alohamora!" The handle glowed briefly. Ron shook the handle, but nothing happened. "What do we do know," she asked ringing her hair in frustration.
Hermione and Harry ignored hee examining the wooden door with some diagnostic spells.
"It's very well put together," Hermione said, "Nothing hostile thank God, but it'll take a lot of force to take it down."
Fate looked at Nanoha, and grinned. "Nanoha?"
Nanoha smirked, gesturing royally at it, "Be my guest."
Lowering Bardiche in her left hand, Fate raised her Black and White Ebony wand in her right. "Oh Holy Light of the Gods who dwell beyond the fair skies!" A dark, almost burnt yellow circle spun beneath runic array appeared beneath her. Consisting of two concentric circles rotating in opposite directions, separated by runes, and encasing a rotating triangle that enclosed more runes in its center, it was a duplicate of the one Nanoha used when doing her Family versions of her MidChildan spells. Oddly enough, Fate was the only one besides Nanoha who could use it, and the blonde clone had been itching to try it out.
At her familiar words, and at the appearance of the light behind them the three looked at each other, gave a very frightened, "EEP!" and scrambled wildly from the door, their eyes wide as they turned to look at the blonde mage. In front of her was the same four foot tall runic circle that had appeared in front Nanoha when she had fought the troll on Halloween.
"Descend upon those that punish the weak!" A sparking ball of the burnt yellow magic appeared within the ring, filling the air with the distinct smell of ozone and crackling electricity. She stabbed the ball with her wand saying, "Divine Buster!"
A roaring burnt yellow lightning laced beam blasted through the door. As soon as the beam reached the door Fate jerked her wand up, cutting off the beam. A perfect, four foot wide circle now took the place of the door, showing a dimly lit room within.
The three Griffindore's eyed the blonde warily. "Why are you two students again," Ron asked.
Nanoha shrugged. "Murder investigation," she deadpanned, causing the three to start. "Harry's and my parents," she clarified at their perplexed look.
"Oh," the three said with a nod. "Later?"
Nanoha and Fate nodded sharply. "Later."
They quickly went through the door. The next room was very open, but barely lit, the dim light casting mere shadows. The floor was marbled cobblestones, and to the left and right were shadowed statues. Up ahead however, stood eight statues of differing sizes.
"What is this place," Harry asked as they walked past two rows of statues, "A graveyard?"
"Not a graveyard," Nanoha and Ron said at the same time as fires lit with a dim roar, "It's a chessboard!"
The 50ftx50 board was blue and white marble, the white pieces in front of them, black behind. The pawns seemed a mix of samurai and midevel armor, arms crossed, hands on their two swordhilts, their bodies kneeling one one knee and hunched over as if to spring. The rook was a 7ft castle tower, with an armored soldier wielding a bow on the battlement. The 8ft knight was a mounted soldier wielding a morning star, his horse rearing mightily. The 8.5ft bishop was in bishops robes, the full face helmet a bishop's hat with a raised cross, a shepherd's crook in one hand, the other raised high, palm forward with two fingers raised as if in blessing. The 9ft queen was in a chainmail dress with a formfitting breastplate, wielding a wicked looking scepter that ended with a ball that had a sharp point on the end. The 10ft king was very regal, in full plate armor with his naked sword stuck point first in the base, his palms resting atop the pommel.
Nanoha analyzed the spells coming from the set as Fate did the same. What they found disturbed even them.
"Nanoha," Fate sent, not liking that they had to play their way across.
"I know Fate," Nanoha replied mentally, "I don't like it either, but we can't afford another Buster. Too much of a giveaway that we're following. Frankly, I'm more worried about if the others are captured. They're more squishy."
"I'd best make sure I'm the only one captured then," Fate concluded, "My Barrier Jacket's active, so it won't be a problem."
Nanoha didn't like that, but knew her favorite blonde was right. Nanoha couldn't afford to get hurt right now, not without her own jacket active, even with her healing factor. If she suffered a broken bone or, worse, a concussion, it would be disastrous. "Hai." Aloud, she said, "We have to play our way across. Ron, you are pretty much our equal in this, so what do you want to do?"
The freckled redhead nodded, eyes gleaming as she looked over the board and her friends. "Harry, you take the king's bishop's place. Hermione, you are the queenside castle. Nanoha, take the queen's place. Fate, you and I'll be the knights."
The five took their positions, Ron getting on top of the knight's horse.
"Now what," Hermione asked.
"Well, white moves first," Ron stated, "Then...we play!" she finished excitedly.
The king's pawn moved forward two spaces with a low rumble.
"Um, Ron, you don't think this'll be like...real wizard's chess do you," Hermione asked nervously.
That brought the girl off her excitement. "D5!" One on their own pawns moved forward, stopping at a square diagonal from the white pawn. With the sound of scraping stone, the white pawn drew twin blades and smashed the back off the black pawn with an explosion of stone. Hermione gasped fearfully as the destroyed pawn was levitated off the board and the white pawn took it's place.
"Yes Hermione," Ron gulped, "I think this is going to be, exactly like wizard's chess."
The game began.
Nanoha and Fate had to admit that Ron was a good player. They weren't kidding when they'd said that Ron was near they're equal: They'd both played him before, and even Nanoha could only beat him 6 times out of 10. Ron was brilliant.
This time was no exception, even after the white queen began brutally clearing their side, the freckled redhead systematically used the others to take just as many white pieces. While Harry, Ron, and Hermione simply asked the piece to leave, Fate and Nanoha took great pleasure in literally smashing them to pieces, Fate with Bardiche and Nanoha with her bare hands.
Eventually though, Ron reached an impasse. Harry and Nanoha were both in a position to checkmate the king, but the white queen blocked them. Only Fate or Ron herself could be used to draw her off. Ron sighed. She could never ask for another to sacrifice for her. She nodded. "Well, that's it then. I have to be taken."
"What! No!" Hermione said, very distraught.
"There has to be another way," Harry agreed.
Ron opened her mouth to reply, but Fate interrupted, "There is; she just doesn't want me to take it."
Ron's eyes widened. "But Fate-"
"No 'buts'," Fate interrupted, "I appreciate the thought, but I am stronger, and better protected. I'll be fine."
Ron then belatedly remembered what Fate had said about that swimsuit of hers. Sighing, she nodded.
Fate gave an answering nod, before moving to her new space.
With a low rumble and scrapping of stone, the white queen advanced to her, coming to a stop just in front of the blonde. The queen came to life, and bopped the blonde on her head with the scepter.
Crack! The ball on the scepter shattered, leaving Fate unharmed. The queen looked down at her weapon, head examining it, the faceless statue somehow looking confused.
Fate shrugged, "Them's the breaks."
Everyone had to snicker at that as Fate stepped off the board.
Still chucking, Nanoha them took her turn, moving to stand in front of the king. Giving her biggest smile at the towering figure, she said, "Checkmate your highness."
With a low groan, the sword the statue was holding came loose, falling at her feet handle first with a crash. Nanoha bent down, and taking the the massive hilt in both her hands, picked it up. She was barely able to wrap her hands around the two foot hilt and the blade was nearly a foot taller and just as wide as she was, but even at fifty percent power she still hefted it easily. "Huh, perfectly balanced." She shrugged, flipping the blade over to rest the edge on her shoulder.
She turned to see the incredulous looks of her friends. "What? It's a good sword." Not to mention ridiculous hard enough to use that I can't kill with it, she thought to herself. Sure I'll have to be careful about how hard I hit, but I always am.
"Never mind," Harry ordered. "Next placed."
The group of five, and one huge sword, hurried through the door. A familiar, near over powering stench like rotten meat and old socks met them, and they were immediately grateful for that thing as Nanoha blocked an errant spell with the huge blade.
"I can't believe this," Nanoha muttered. It was another troll, bigger than the first, and it was fighting..."QUIERILL-SENSEI!" she shouted.
(TNPS)
MUAHAHAHAHA! See ya next time! MUAHAHAHAHA!