Hey I'm back! Thanks for the Reviews!
Le gasp! What's this? A new chap in less than six months?
Yep! I really do apologize for the sporadic updates over the years. I basically write as I go, and between RL issues(taking over a business, my wedding, finding my separated at birth identical twin, reconciling with my Mom, and most recently moving a houseboat across two oceans and my twin and I both having triplets) and of course the dreaded Writer's Block- happily blown to dust as of late, it's been pretty sporadic. Fortunately, the Stone Battle was one of the first scenes I actually planned out, and it all comes to a head this chap.
First though, I managed to draw a small amount of flak, mostly in PMs fortunately which is what they're for, for the previous chap for not only Nanoha going down to a sliced artery, but for actually killing her, albeit briefly. To quote Echo0100: "Nanoha seems like a pushover, she's been blown up, shot with giant lasers and all kinds of things, and that's what kills her? Yeah...no, it just doesn't seem believable."
Another mentioned that if Nanoha had defeated 500 Hunters that she should not have gone down so easily, or was Quirrell just that much stronger. As I told Echo and everyone else, ordinarily they would be right, but as I said repeatedly in story, Nanoha is not at 100%. Not only is her core not fully healed yet, hence why she resorted to a physical fight in the first place and not use her wizard, family or Mid-Childan spells, but as it is repeated several times, Nanoha limited herself to Quirrell's level. Heck, Quirrell even pointed it out. Second, Nanoha did not go down easily. True it went back and forth, but that was because they both started the fight in their off hands, as is also mentioned repeatedly in story that Nanoha was using her right hand throughout the year specifically in case something like this happened, and only switched at the last second. Also bear in mind that it took Quirrell switching hands to even gain the upper hand. Just how much difference a 100% capable Nanoha makes will be shown this chap. She literally says only three spells. Small warning though: this chap is a big part of why the fic is rated T. Nanoha is pretty ruthless.
Anyways, in the end, Nanoha did not fall because she was 'a pushover', but because she was overly cautious, and suffered a bought of PTSD, as is mentioned in story when she sees Vita and Signum. She freezes because of it, and THAT'S when Quirrell, rightly so, strikes her down. Nanoha made a mistake, something even the greatest masters can fall to.
As for the fight with the 500 Hunters, which I do not plan on writing out, though I may do a Season 1 and 2 story in this universe someday, it happened indoors, and thus had a lot of Deadly Dodging and Hit and Run tactics. Nanoha did fight several groups where she was heavily outnumbered, but remember that not only did she have the speed and strength of an Ancient, something the Hunters were not expecting, but she was six at the time, and being much smaller was also harder to hit, and in taking up a vampire's sword and surviving when she is a full human had caught the hunters completely off guard So not only did she have surprise on her side, but also she was at 100%. Besides, only the coldest person would even consider hurting a young kid, whether they have a weapon or not.
The second thing I caught flak for was Nanoha's death, people saying that not only was it unecessary, but that there was no way Fate or the TSAB would let her continue because of it.
I'll admit I was hesitant, and there was a draft where Nanoha was merely unconcious, but it led to a dead end(pardon the pun), and did not really make sense for Nanoha to meet Starlight in the Stone. It was only after I changed it to include Nanoha's death did it make sense enough to continue. If you go back and read the chap, you'll notice that Nanoha died holding the Stone, which is what made her go into it the first place, and as Starlight said, talk to her.
As regarding the TSAB not letting Nanoha continue because of her death, think again: the TSAB is part millitary, part police force. Death is part of the job description. While her death would certainly raise arguments, and will certainly have consequences, though exactly what remains to be seen, the fact remains that not only did Nanoha ultimately survive, but became stronger for it, she has every right to continue due to what happened to her father, and also she is one of the only ones able to infiltrate the Wizarding World due to actually being from Earth, the right age, and already having a cover. Also the TSAB knows that even if they forbid her to continue, she would most likely go rogue due to the father issue, and in undercover work it's usually better to let those that have a reason in it go in and help them rather than one that doesn't. It makes the cover more believable. Plus there's the fact that Voldemorte is already gunning for Nanoha. It would make sense to keep her in, with backup, because of that. Plus I'm pretty sure the TSAB would see the humor of a low powered Wizard like Moldy go up against a fully powered Mid-Childan mage of Nanoha's caliber.
Anyways, now that the big explanation is finished, on to the moment you've all been waiting for, the Return of the White Devil. This was actually one the first scenes I wrote for the fic, though like the previous chaps underwent several versions including one where Nanoha did not keep her identity a secret, and a rather amusing one where she accuses Voldemorte of "backseat fighting". But before that happens, we have a bit of a scene with Dumbledore arriving at the potions room and conversing with Fate and the others. Since it's such a momentous occasion I'm switching Chapter breaks. It also mounts the debut of a couple of new additions to Nanoha's repetiore, namely a new mode for Raging Heart, and a new spell. Shout out to Pokemonever1994 for the form idea, which I tweaked after talking to him about a weapon for one of his own stories.
On a side note, I rewrote the ending of the last chapter a little, but it's included here so other than seeing a few fixed typos, no reason to reread the last chap.
That said,
As Always...
Enjoy!
(ROTWD)
As soon as Quirrell disappeared after Harry and Nanoha through the door, Hermione and Ron rounded on Fate.
"Why didn't you tell us you're a bodyguard Fate," Ron demanded hotly, "and a Royal one at that?"
"I am more interested in how you even know about that," Fate retorted after having Bardiche drop his voice. "It is not supposed to be common knowledge."
"Dad works at the Ministry," Ron stated, "He told us the code as a precaution if we ever met a bodyguard so we would know what to do."
Fate sighed. "Nanoha and I are friends with the Vampire Princess Suzuka. Nanoha has been Suzuka's guard since she stopped the Hunters when she was six."
Ron's brown eyes widened. "Nanoha's the White Devil?!" she sqeaked, "The Bane of Hunters?!"
Fate nodded. "They were lucky Nanoha was feeling generous and only hacked off limbs. The only deaths were from friendly fire. I have seen her fight when she is truly pissed, and believe me it is not pretty."
"I'm more interested where your armor came from Fate," Hermione said curiously.
"As am I," Headmaster Dumbledore said as he strode into the room through the purple flames.
Fate turned to look at the Headmaster. "Classified," she said straightfaced, making the Headmaster frown slightly.
Fate held for a few seconds, then grinned, shaking her head. "Apologies Headmaster," she said, " I have always wanted to do that."
Dumbledore waved a hand dismissively. "When one is your age, it is understandable, though I am curious. That is not of Vampire make is it not?"
Glad that she and Nanoha had already discussed with the TSAB on what to say, Fate said, "No it is not. Being a body guard is only one of our jobs. After Nanoha took down the Hunters, she was scouted by a secret organization that investigates supernatural occurences. I joined after we met when she was on assignment.
"We had no idea that the Wizarding World existed until you ran into us at the family shop. I am guessing that you have your own ways of keeping secrecy." Grateful that they had had Suzuka look into it Fate added, "and as we found out during Christmas Vacation that the treaty after Nanoha took down the Hunters lead to the separation of the Vampires, so we did not know through them either."
Dumbledore nodded. "True, but you still have not answered my question," he pointed out.
Fate's pleasant demeanor dropped. "What the armor is actually is classified I am afraid. You will have to open official channels with the STAB for further information after this mess is over.
"What I can tell you," Fate added, "Is that the STAB is not in the habit letting it's operatives go unprotected, and that it is made using standardized equipment. The amount of protection differs depending on the person."
"That will suffice until I can meet with your superiors," Dumbledore conceeded, though obviously unhappy with the relative lack of information. "I do not suppose that Nanoha is currently in her garb?"
Fate shook her head. "I am afraid not. She suffered a heavy physical injury approximately two years ago. That, coupled with damage she accumulated through excessive training caused her core to rupture."
"So it wasn't that big spell that made her collapse on Halloween," Hermione asked.
Fate shook her head. "Partly. It just aggravated her injury and set her recovery back a few months. Being in such a magic charged environment actually speeded her recovery."
"So she cannot use whatever equipment this...STAB gave her,"" Dumbledore asked curiously.
Fate crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Do you really expect me to answer that sensitive question Headmaster," she asked evenly. "I just told you that information concerning STAB equipment is classified."
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed. "I suppose not, but you did enter Hogwarts under false pretenses."
Fate shook her head. "Actually we were not under STAB jurisdiction then. Nanoha was, and is still supposed to be," she added irritably, "on sick leave. Nanoah's injury would have prevented her from going, so we entered before we reported in on meeting you so that we would already have a cover so that we could investigate her father's murder at the same time."
Dumbledore nodded. "Understandable," he conceded, "However I am still concerned for her. She and Harry are fighting Quirrell correct?"
Fate nodded. "Too be honest so am I, hence why she and I made a plan for me to get through the flames just in case. Nanoha actually did not drink the potion, and instead used her own fire immunity, leaving enough potion for me to take if she calls for backup.
"Besides," she assured him, "while she cannot use her equipment right now, she does have her Vampire armor. Not much on Earth can hurt her with that."
Bardiche mental voice immediately interrupted her. "Sir, Master Nanoha went offline."
"Nanoha," Fate thought desperately, "Nanoha? NANOHA ARE YOU THERE?!"
Much to Fate's relief, Nanoha responded, "I'm fine, Fate. Can you tone it down a little? You just gave me a headache."
"You DIED, Nanoha," Fate retorted angrily, "I would hardly call that 'fine'."
"Only for a little bit," Nanoha downplayed, "Besides, that was a good thing. I got sucked into the Philosopher's Stone. Turns out, it's actually a conduit that Starlight the Dragon can use to interact with this world from the Afterlife. To make a long story short, she turned me into a succubus to bring me back. And get this, there's another wand with her heartstring."
"Meaning Alicia..." Fate thought in happiness.
"Will definitely be OK," Nanoha supplied, "I'll heal her myself as soon as we get back."
"Thank you," Fate said happily. "What's the situation?"
"Harry's fighting Quirrell, and is actually giving a good account of herself considering that Quirrell was a Hun..."
"Fate, Code Pink, repeat Code Pink," Nanoha exclaimed, making Fate's eyes widen.
"What is the matter," Dumbledore asked.
Before Fate could reply, a massive magical signature exploded into being, hot pink light shining through the cracks in the door to the next room.
"What in the world is that," Dumbledore asked.
Fate grinned. "That was Nanoha activating her equipment. And believe you me, it is a sight for sore eyes."
(ROTWD)
Addressing her Device friend Nanoha said, "Raging Heart, Onegai?"
"Of course Master," the faithful Device replied, "Renew Contract?"
Nanoha smiled. "Why not? Say it with me like Bardiche did with Fate to conceal my identity. Oh, and start with Dimentional Transfer. It'll seem like I teleported in, that way."
"Afirmative. Preparing Contract Renewal. Reinitializing vocal processor."
After a moment, the Device eagerly said three words, "Standby, Ready."
Quirrell's, Voldemorte's and Harry's eyebrows raised in shock when as if in response to Harry's words...
The world turned pink.
A massive column of waving hot pink light flashed into being around Nanoha's prone form, causing Harry and Quirrell to shield their eyes against the brightness.
"ARGH!" Voldemorte's very displeased voice rang as the light blinded him.
Nanoha and Raging Heart spoke together, "Dimentional Transfer."
Quirrell, Harry and Voldemorte were surprised as in response to the electronic woman's voice the wave settled into a glowing magic circle beneath Nanoha twice as long as she was tall. At first Harry thought it was her Dragon Magic circle, but while it looked similar not only was the color wrong, being neon pink rather than magenta, but the runes were somewhat diferent, and the center had rotating squares instead of triangles. There was a blinding flash of pink and Nanoha's prone form disappeared, replaced by a standing hot pink silhouette about Nanoha's height, two pigtails flowing as if in wind.
Again, the woman's electronic tone filled the air. "Raging Heart, I, who has accepted this mission, by the Ancient Contract, ask you to release my powers.
"By the winds in the sky...
"And the stars in the heavens...
"And by the resolute heart that beats within my chest...
"Send the magic to my hands..."
There was a pause, and then the woman's voice barked, "Raging Heart, Set Up!"
(ROTWD)
Nanoha added mentally, "Paladin Mode Raging Heart."
"Affirmative. Paladin Mode."
Nanoha sighed mentally even as she felt her magic wash over her. Paladin Mode was one step below Blaster. She could not actually believe that she was using Paladin Mode, but enough was enough. The stakes were too high to keep holding back as much as she had been.
Pink flashed, and Nanoha was revealed, though Harry, Quirrell and Voldemorte no longer recognized her.
They saw a small girl wearing thick blue bracers trimmed in gold, ending in a triangle half way down her forearms and sporting a red jewel at the tip of her wrists adorned her forearms, though her hands remained bare. She wore a white shirt underneath a white waistcoat trimmed in blue, a large red bow resting over the gold triangular plate in the center of her chest. Her skirt, again trimmed in blue was still long, ending in triangles that bore blue gems, by her ankles, but he could see hints of two blue panels beneath the white fabric. A white eyepatch with a hot pink five pointed star over a neon yellow lightning bolt covered her left eye and eyebrow. In her hands was a four foot white-and-pink staff with a blue spike at one end, and capped by a red crystal within a heavy dual pronged gold spearhead about six inches in legnth, and three inches at each base. Each prong also contained a three inch long, one inch wide wide rectangle, and what was somewhat worrying was the gold rifle magazine and gold and pink rifle mechanism below the spearheads. Between the prongs was a foot long hot pink energy blade.
The girl swept the spearhead downwards at her side, and the magic circle winked out.
"Who are you," Quirrell asked.
The girl smiled lightly. "I have several names," her electronic voice stated. "In some circles, I am the 'Ace of Aces'; others, the 'Ace of the Sky'." Her smile dropped. "To you however, I am the Ma Ho Shojo, and I will be the Devil that haunts your dreams," she finished harshly.
"What," Quirrell asked confused.
"You fought the students," she stated simply, "Let's see how you fight the master," she growled.
Raising Raging Heart Nanoha and Raging Heart barked out, "Divine Saber!"
The energy blade winked out as Raging Heart shifted in her hand, the shaft shortening to nine inches, and gaining a second rifle magazine and slide. The two magazines formed a new crossguard as the spear prongs shortened until they were barely two inches in length. Between the two prongs was a simple ruby red sphere.
Quirrell smirked at the now rather harmless looking weapon.
"Wait for it ~" Nanoha singsonged. Suddenly, a three foot long, two inch wide kantana blade erupted from the red sphere.
Quirrell was not so confident now. Raising his wand he spat, "Avada Kedavra!"
Nanoha's eyes narrowed as the sickly green curse neared her. "Raging Heart?"
"Barrier Jacket is sufficient to shield My Master."
As the curse neared, Nanoha mentally shook her head. "Let's not lay all our cards on the table. Also, activate your blade's heat fuction."
Raising her hand Nanoha and Raging Heart intoned, "Excelion Shield." A massive pink multifaceted shield spun into being in front of her. Easily as big as she was tall, and six inches in depth, it had a layered well like centre of four circles, a second surrounded by runes all inside one large one. Hovering atop the circle were six rectangles from which sprang six faceted triangles.
Both Quirrell and Voldemort smirked at the shield, only to watch in shock as the Killing Curse, the Unblockable Spell, was simply absorbed with a small ripple of magic. "WHAT?!"
Nanoha simply smirked. "My turn." Sweeping her sword at the possessed professor she barked, "Kamikaze!"
A rippling wave of pink energy shot from the strike, hitting Quirrell with all the force of a jackhammer.
"Gah!" Quirrell screamed in pain as he and Voldemorte were blasted into a pillar.
"Ah!" Now it was Voldemorte's turn to cry out as the back of Quirrell's head smashed against the pillar. For once, Voldemorte was glad he had no nose.
Before either could recover Quirrell's limbs where locked into place by hazy, nearly transparent pink bands that shimmered like a summer haze. Nanoha walked up to him. "I am," she said simpley, "a peaceful soul." She glared into his eyes. "But you have pissed me off."
"This is for Harry," gripping Raging Heart with both hands Nanoha sliced off Quirrel's right ankle, the superheated energy blade insuring there was no blood, and thus not fatal.
Moving the blade to his left side Nanoha sliced upwards, slicing Quirrell's left arm off. "That was for Nanoha," she spat, though it felt odd referring to herself in the third person, "who is still alive by the way," she informed him to Quirrell's obvious relief.
Nanoha's anger softened at that, but still, she lowered Raging Heart, made a fist and said, "And this is for good measure." Taking extreme care to reign in her strength she smashed it into the side of Quirrell's head. Much to her shock and horror, Quirrell immediately turned to dust. "Wah," she squeaked in disbelief as what was left of Quirrell slipped through her fingers. Falling to her knees Nanoha let out a piercing scream of grief. Harry saw a black mist rise from the ashes before fleeing through the wall.
Fearing the worst, Dumbledore, Fate, Hermione and Ron burst into the room just as Nanoha collapsed, detransforming as she hit the floor.
Fate immediately rushed over to Nanoha's collapsed form while Dumbledore, Hermione and Ron went over to Harry. "Are you alright Harry," Hermione asked as Dumbledore checked Harry over.
"Yeah," the scarred girl stated, "Nanoha didn't mean...It was"
"It's fine," Fate stated, taking Nanoha up into her arms. "Headmaster, I need permission to bring some friends into Hogwarts."
Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "I assume this is the reason why Nanoha fainted?"
Fate nodded. "Have you ever heard of the term 'Ace of Aces'?"
Dumbledore nodded. "It is when someone has killed twentyfive people, but what does that have to do with this?"
Fate sighed. "Because, Headmaster, while Nanoha can get brutal, she does not like to kill, and that translated into her work. Our organization recognizes both live capture and death as the same thing. Nanoha is called the 'Ace of Aces' because not only is she the youngest person in STAB history to earn that title at eight years old, but the only one to officially do it without a single death."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "And unofficially?"
"Once," Fate clipped, "in a moment of anger after they almost killed me. They just did not stay dead. She got so worked up afterwards it took nearly a year for her to get over it. Even then she made a vow never to kill, and considering this was most likely an accident..." Fate trailed off.
Dumbledore nodded in understanding. "She'll be needing reassurance. Very well. They may come." His expression turned grave. "We will be needing to talk about your organization however."
Fate nodded. "After Nanoha wakes up."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "Indeed."
The two then carried Harry and Nanoha to the infirmary.
(ROTWD)
Write then. There you have it, the Return of the White Devil. As stated before it went through numerous variations, and I'm not completely happy with it, but this is the one that came out right in the end. plus, a brief glimpse into Nanoha's past history, which I will write out some point and may post either here as an omake or a separate story all together. Or I may just put it in the beginning of the next chap as a nightmare.
Next chap is Nanoha and Harry's meeting with Dumbledore, Nanoha meeting Vita and Signum, and possibly the ending feast. Depends on how long it runs.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter.
See ya next time!