AN: Yay! chapter 5! This chapter is likely to be quite long. I have a lot of stuff planned for it, some of this stuff may end up carrying on longer than necessary since I like the events in my stories to be very detailed. I also think that having thirty or more major characters to keep track of at once is a contributing factor, but that I brought on myself.
That said it will be very hard to assume how much time has gone by when I bleach your eyes with descriptive detail, rambling conversations, and redundant explanations... In fact, let's just ignore the passage of time entirely, unless a specific length of time has been assigned to the event.
An example would be:
I have been rambling on about this stuff for five minutes now!...Or however long it took you to read to this point.
...
And now I'm just going in circles.
So without further ado, Chapter 5 awaits!
(Beware! Chapter contains plot! Read on at your own risk.)
Chapter 5
Stowaways
"We have a problem."
Signum's voice permeated our group with an immediate sense of dread.
Figures we'd run into another problem, nothing major had gone wrong since Kiseki had blasted another hole in the moon.
And that was only twenty minutes ago.
I still had a few questions to ask her about that, but first things first...
"Why?" I demanded, suddenly very worried. "What's wrong?"
"We've been held up by a rather belligerent individual at TSAB headquarters." Signum reported, just barely keeping to her usual even tone. I could hear a very loud voice ranting on in the background, but it was difficult to make out.
"A mage?" I asked curiously. What kind of mage could be a handful to six of TSAB's top AA ranked mages?
"Not a mage." Signum corrected, as if this fact alone was a great annoyance. "A civilian... A civilian, who REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HERE!" she suddenly roared at someone behind her.
I paused.
A civilian?
What kind of civilian could be a handful to six of TSAB's top AA ranked mages!
"DON'T YOU TELL ME WHERE I SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BE!" A booming female voice shouted back, maxing out the volume on the video monitor. "I DEMAND TO SPEAK TO WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE OF THIS OPERATION! THIS IS AN OUTAGE!" Six out of seven HiME eyes widened at hearing the voice.
"It's outrage, Haruka-chan." Yukino softly corrected on reflex. Clearly not yet realizing what she was saying.
"THAT'S WHAT I SAID!" Haruka bellowed, this also sounded like an automatic response. "I- wait, Yukino?"
"Haruka-chan!" Yukino exclaimed, her eyes immediately lighting up. She sprinted up to my video screen, her depressed mood a thing of the past.
I merely smiled and moved out of the way
"Yukino!" Haruka shouted, shoving Signum aside so she could talk to her friend. I could literally see the vein bulging in Signum's neck. "Thank goodness! I've been looking all over this place for you! This pink haired parrot has been absolutely no help at all... Reminds me of the Bubuzuke." Signum's hand twitched in Levantine's general direction.
'Try not to hurt her.' I mouthed at my pink haired friend, the hand relaxed about a fraction of an inch.
'I will try my best.' she mouthed back, 'But if she headbutts me in the stomach in order to escape my custody again, all bets are off!'
I took a moment to admire the guts Haruka must have to headbutt the pink haired guardian. Signum is easily the most intimidating person I have ever met, and I'm her superior officer!
'What would Shamal say if you intentionally injured a civilian?' I silently asked. Shamal's position as chief medic for the base, wasn't the only reason why I knew this would force Signum to keep her temper in check.
Like me pining after Nanoha, Signum had been secretly pining after Shamal for the better part of fifteen years, and had met with just about the same amount of success.
I will admit I felt a certain satisfaction, watching as Signum's face coloured, while her mouth forced itself into a thin line.
'That's a low blow Tesstarossa!' she hissed, clearly unamused at my attempt at blackmail.
The major difference was that they had known each other for centuries longer. Emotions hadn't come into the equation until the Book Of Darkness incident. Now that they were there, they could be exploited, just like anyone's emotions.
'Fine.' she agreed reluctantly. 'But see if I keep quiet about what you say you want to do to Nanoha the next time you nap at your desk.'
I grimaced.
Touche.
Notes to self: Never attempt blackmail when your victim has just as much dirt on you. Also; no more afternoon naps at the office.
Taking a deep, relaxing breath Signum moved off to the side, so the two could have their talk.
"Haruka-chan!" Yukino choked out, happy tears already in her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Ha! You didn't honestly think that I was going to leave you alone in the hands of these TSAB people, did you?" Haruka guffawed loudly. "What does that even stand for anyway? Totally Suspension And Bad people?" (AN: Hopefully I'll be able to replace this with a better acronym later.)
"It's 'Suspicious' Haruka-chan." Yukino giggled happily.
"Yes, that's what I said." Haruka agreed with a nod.
"Time Space Administration Bureau." Signum growled out through clenched teeth. I had to bite my tongue to keep myself from laughing. I have never seen anyone irritate Signum this much, not in all the years I've known her. Apparently Haruka could try the patience of a stone
"Whatever." Haruka shrugged, waving her hand dismissively. "Point is, I'm not going to let these people lay a finger on you without my consent! They're not mistreating you are they?"
Yukino seemed unable to answer, instead more tears of happiness ran down her face as she just stared at her best friend.
Her best friend, who had traveled light years away from home, just to be with her.
'Best Friend' didn't even seem like the right word to describe that level of loyalty.
"They must be!" Haruka scowled angrily, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the tears. "What are they doing to you! I swear I'll kick every one of their asses into the next quadrilateral!"
"It's quadrant, Haruka-chan." Yukino giggled through her tears. "I'm just so happy to see you again! I missed you so much! And don't worry, they're treating me just fine. "
"You haven't started going through Nanoha's training yet." I muttered dryly under my breath.
"I heard that Fate-chan!" Nanoha snapped, as she was suddenly right behind me. I felt a foreboding shiver run all the way up my spine.
Me and my big mouth.
"So did I!" Haruka barked giving Nanoha a once over. "You run your troops ragged don't you! That's It! Yukino, I'm getting you out of this intergalactic boot-camp!" Signum gave me a look that plainly said:
'Nice going Tesstarossa.'
"I can't leave now Haruka-chan!" Yukino argued. "I need to become stronger, I can't loose you because of my own weakness again."
A low hiss brought my attention back to the other recruits. Kyohime, or at least one of her heads was wrapping itself around Shizuru, giving her something like a hug. I noticed that Shizuru's mask seemed drop, allowing her face to cloud with guilt. What on earth had happened with these girls? Has Shizuru stolen Haruka from Yukino somehow?
Impossible.
Shizuru was as devoted to Natsuki as I was to Nanoha, the chances of her straying seemed incredibly unlikely. I suppose the only other possibility could be if Shizuru had killed Haruka. But then how was she alive now?
I was very confused.
"I train my students hard, it's true." Nanoha admitted calmly. "But as long as they can face that hard training with a fierce determination, their true potential can be unlocked. From what I can see, Yukino has more than enough determination to make it through my training. She'll make you proud."
"Then you may as well let me take her home now." Haruka argued. "I'm already proud of her. I couldn't be more proud of her if I tried."
"Thank you Haruka-chan, but I am seeing this through." Yukino stated firmly, despite the blush that was dusting her cheeks. Haruka seemed to consider this for about a half second.
"Then I'm staying here too!" she announced as if this was no big deal.
"WHAT?" all the HiMEs shouted at once.
"What about university Haruka-chan?" Yukino asked, tears of happiness once again springing to her eyes.
"What's the point in university if I can't even prove that I'm better than the Bubuzuke?" she replied simply. "I can always go back to school after this whole mess is over."
"You flatter me Suzushiro-san." Shizuru chuckled as the mask went back up. She gave Kyohime, or at least the head that had comforted her, one last affectionate pat before the gargantuan serpent dissolved into thin air. The massive crater in the ground was the only evidence that the hydra had ever been there in the first place.
"Civilians are not permitted to live on the base." Signum injected, taking on the role of the voice of reason.
"Then I'll join the military." Haruka said casually and without any hesitation at all. "Where do I enlist?"
"WHAT?" Everyone shouted at once.
"Oh please no." Signum moaned.
"Haruka-chan!" Yukino gasped, looking horrified at the very idea.
Haruka seemed confused as to why we would all object so strongly to this.
"Now, now, let's look at this logically." Nanoha reasoned, still in full 'instructor mode'. "Which branch of the military are you hoping to join?"
"Uhh..." a reply that proved that absolutely no thought had gone into her sudden proclamation.
"Do you have any special skills that would help us find which faction would suit you best?"
"Bullheadedness?" Natsuki proposed dryly.
"An annoying amount of tenacity?" Nao offered at the same time, condescension clear in her voice.
"Obstinacy?" Midori suggested simultaneously. "And I mean that in the nicest possible way."
"Don't those all mean the same thing?" a girl with long red hair from the last group whispered to her long black haired companion. Her eye-patch wearing friend merely nodded then shrugged.
"Hey!" Haruka shouted at the HiMEs. Natsuki and Midori, at least had the courtesy to smile apologetically. Nao, however did not.
"A big chest?" Lucchini added, her eyes glued to the lower half of the video monitor.
Unsurprisingly, this comment went ignored.
"Loyalty." Shizuru advocated suddenly, turning all eyes on her.
"B-Bubuzuke?" Haruka stammered, she was clearly not used to being complimented by her rival.
"It is true is it not?" Shizuru asked. "Suzushiro-san is very loyal."
"Almost to a fault." Mai muttered softly.
"Especially to Kikukawa-san." she went on, ignoring Mai entirely, both Yukino and Haruka went bright red at this. "Is this not a favourable trait to have when in the military?" Nanoha smiled.
"Yes." She agreed with a nod. "Yes, it is."
"She's certainly good at arguing." Mai continued thoughtfully, Haruka glared angrily at her. "I say that, because it's something that TSAB could find useful, when asking for grants and the like."
"True enough." I agreed. "In fact we're gonna need someone who can help us convince the higher ups that multiple Starlight Breaker bunkers would be a really good investment." Nanoha's cheeks coloured a little, before clearing her throat a little too loudly.
"Well in that case." she coughed. "Stuff like that is generally Hayate's area of expertise, although she's not quite firm enough to always get what we need. If you're so dead set on staying here, why don't we get you to 'apprentice' under her for a while?"
"But-" Yukino began, looking rather alarmed at the sudden change in plans.
"Hayate doesn't go into battle very often." I interrupted, knowing exactly what Yukino was worried about. "She's our commanding officer. Even if she has to go into battle, Suzushiro-san would not be joining her. This way, there's no need to enlist." The brunette visibly relaxed. "Now where can she stay?"
"She can bunk with Yuuki-san." Nanoha suggested.
"NOT IN THIS LIFETIME!" Both Nao and Haruka roared at the same time.
"But Yuuki-san is the only one without a roommate." Nanoha pointed out. Although I had a feeling that putting those two in the same room would be akin to throwing a lion into the ring with a gladiator... one would eventually slaughter the other.
"My money's on Suzushiro-san." I just barely heard Eila whisper to Shirley.
Looks like I wasn't alone in my thinking.
"I'll switch rooms." Midori suddenly offered. "I was going to bunk with Yukino-chan, but I think she'd be happier sleeping with Haruka-san."
I don't think any of us missed the double meaning to that sentence... that is except Haruka herself. Yukino's face went beet red. Yukino's feelings for Haruka were crystal clear, and while it was certainly apparent that Haruka cared for Yukino very much, it was not clear if Haruka knew just how much she cared.
"Someone needs to keep an eye on Nao-chin anyway, so it might as well be a teacher." Midori went on, confirming that she was not in fact seventeen.
"Don't call me that!" Nao shouted angrily. "And why should I have to bunk with you?"
"I need to keep Mid-Childa's men safe from you, that's why." came the swift reply.
"But I don't even do that anymore!" Nao protested. "I have a part time job as a nun for crying out loud! What more do you people want from me?!"
"How about for you to practice what you preach." Haruka snapped. In response Nao made a very rude and un-nun like gesture with her hand, which Haruka merely ignored.
"...So! Is everyone clear on the sleeping arrangements?" I blurted, trying to disperse the rather unpleasant atmosphere that was brewing.
I received several nods of acknowledgement.
"Excellent!" I exclaimed enthusiastically, poking my head over Yukino's to get a better look at the video monitor. "Signum, why don't you take Suzushiro-san to meet Hayate, and explain the situation to her." as she walked back into the video frame, Signum looked less than pleased to have to escort Haruka anywhere, let alone to meet her master. However she gave a curt nod of acceptance. "Thank you."
"I will bring her to Hayate as soon as we receive news from Vita and the others, regarding the other three civilians who arrived with Suzushiro-san." Signum said with an irritated sigh. "I have asked Vita, Teana and Erio to contact you as soon as they are found. However, they have thus far avoided all attempts of recapture."
"You don't need to say it like that Signum." I commented, before a more important fact clicked in my head. "Wait! Did you say three other civilians?"
"Yes I did." Signum replied her voice full of annoyance at the whole situation. "They split up when Suzushiro-san used herself as a decoy, and showed me just how hardheaded she actually is." as an afterthought, Signum gingerly rubbed her stomach a few times. "And she is in fact very hardheaded."
"Haruka-chan!" Yukino gasped in shock. "Please tell me you didn't!"
"What?" Haruka asked innocently. "It worked for those Sears scumbags."
"Never mind that!" Mai interrupted. "Who else came with you Haruka-san? Not only that but how on earth did you even get here!"
Come to think of it, that was a very good question.
"I had to be here for Yukino." Haruka admitted with a sheepish shrug. "So I followed the green haired woman who came to Fuuka University to explain where the Bubuzuke had run off to. I knew she was one of you TSAB people. I mean; financial trouble my ass! The Fujino's wouldn't be in financial trouble even if the stock market crashed!"
I had a feeling I knew who the green haired TSAB officer was.
"...That would be a rather feeble excuse." Shizuru agreed hesitantly.
"I would have been more likely to believe some story of illness due to tea withdrawal!" The blond went on. "Anyway, once she was done with her announcement. I made some excuse to get out of class. and followed her to Fuuka high. She made a pit stop at Yukino's class, Kuga's class and then at the infirmary. Apparently, there were two people in Yukino's class who didn't believe whatever excuse was given for multiple long term absences. Either way, they both left their class, and followed the green haired woman along with me. When she came out of the infirmary we were joined by someone else. The four of us had a common goal in mind, so I let them tag along."
I couldn't help but wince, poor Mom. She was going to be in so much trouble for this!
"Wait, wait... you let them?!" Natsuki demanded, looking absolutely flabbergasted. "Who are you, and what have you done with the old head of the Executive Team?"
Haruka growled disapprovingly.
"You used to have such a long stick up your ass that I was surprised that you could even bend over." Nao added, also sounding surprised. "What about the rules?"
"Rules are fine and good when they protect who they are meant to." Haruka huffed angrily. "But when they prevent me from protecting what is important to me, they become mere annoyances."
"Now Suzushiro-san is learning what is truly important in life." Shizuru praised with a surprising amount of pride in her voice.
"Oddly enough I have you to thank for it Bubuzuke." Haruka grudgingly admitted, before continuing with her story. "As soon as she left the infirmary, she made her way to an empty classroom. The four of us were listening at the door, when we heard other voices, so I can only assume she was talking one of these things. Anyway, she asked for transport to the TSAB headquarters for five people. I thought she meant herself and four other TSAB loons."
My eyes widened.
"I think you mean goons, Haruka-chan." Yukino corrected.
She knew!
"Same thing if you ask me." Haruka shrugged dismissively .
Of course she knew, my adoptive mother wasn't a top admiral in TSAB for nothing. It would be an insult to her rank in the military if she couldn't tell that she was being tailed by four untrained civilians. What was surprising, was the fact that she had purposely brought her followers along with her.
To me, it made absolutely no sense. But then my mother had always been an excellent judge of character.
"Next thing I knew, we were all on this giant base in some far off galaxy. We stuck around just long enough for this woman to wish us good luck, and then we were out of there!"
"Looks like the former captain of the Asura has something planned for them." Nanoha whispered to me. I nodded my agreement.
Yes, my mother was a crafty one... either that or she was getting tired of her desk job. One or the other.
"So then... Suzushiro-san-" I began.
"Haruka is fine." She interrupted.
"Alright then, Haruka-san." I continued. "Who were the ones who came with you?" Haruka opened her mouth to reply.
"Incoming call from Vita, Sir." Bardiche cut in. Another video monitor blinked to life, showing a triumphant-faced Vita, who had an unconscious bespectacled girl with short black hair... and a rather large lump on her head, slung over her shoulders. The fact that her burden was at least twice her size made for a rather interesting sight.
"I have captured one of the runaways!" she declared proudly.
"Chie-chan!" Mai exclaimed, before rounding angrily on Vita. "What did you do to her!?" Vita faced her accuser with a calm, patient tone.
"Not a thing." the little redhead stated, hefting her cargo up a little bit. "I found her hiding under Signum's desk of all places."
Signum's face suddenly went stiff... along with the rest of her body.
"She was too distracted taking pictures of the photo of Shamal in a bikini that's tapped under your desk to see me coming." Vita said not batting an eyelash, as Signum started to turn very red. "I surprised her, she jumped and hit her head really hard on the underside of the desk. She knocked herself unconscious."
Silence reigned for a moment or two where we all just stared at Signum, who was currently doing a marvelous imitation of tomato...
Make that a tomato with a sunburn.
"Well." Mai said, breaking the silence. "If Chie-chan is here that can only mean..."
"incoming call from Lady Subaru and Lady Teana, Sir." As if on cue, Bardiche spoke up again. Yet another screen came to life.
Subaru had a cheery looking girl with long, light brown hair bound with magic by the wrists. Subaru seemed to be in an unusually good mood. Teana, on the other hand, seemed to be somewhere between embarrassed and pissed off.
"We caught one of the civilians." Teana deadpanned, a residual glow of red was still visible on her cheeks. Apparently she had been blushing not too long ago.
"Yeah!" Subaru added happily. "She said her name was-"
"Aoi-Chan..." Mai groaned, more or less finishing Subaru's sentence for her.
"Are the binds really necessary?" I asked my second aide. Aoi hardly seemed dangerous, or malicious for that matter.
"It was the only way we could get her to stop touching everything." Teana growled, she was clearly upset about something.
"Mai-Chan!" Aoi greeted enthusiastically. The fact that her wrists were bound didn't seem to dampen her spirit much. "Have you seen this place?! It's so amazing!"
"We never went to the main base." Homura piped up. "We just came straight to Mid."
"You don't know what you're missing!" Aoi went on. "Everything is voice activated! Watch: Windows, open!" It seemed as if Aoi had forgotten that she was on a base floating in the vacuum of space.
"OVERRIDE!" Teana bellowed before the computer could acknowledge. She then turned to Aoi, looking very unamused. "You know, it actually surprises me how many times I've had to ask you NOT to kill us by opening the windows." Teana seemed to ponder this for a moment.
"WHY DOES THIS STATION EVEN HAVE WINDOWS THAT CAN BE OPENED PERIOD!?" she suddenly exploded. "I MEAN, IF SOMEONE WERE TO SAY THE WORDS 'WINDOW' AND 'OPEN' IN THE SAME SENTENCE-"
"Override." Subaru squeaked.
"EVERYONE IN THE ROOM WOULD BE COMPLETELY SCREWED!"
"Tea?" Subaru said shyly, lightly tapping her friend on the shoulder. "If what Senou-san said bothered you that much... we can just forget about it."
Taking one look at the hurt sadness in Subaru's eyes was all it took for the anger to immediately fade from Teana's face, it was replaced with a gentle softness that was reserved just for Subaru.
Meanwhile, Aoi was watching this whole event with stars in her eyes.
"No, I'm sorry Subaru." she apologized, ruffling Subaru's short hair. "It's just been so long since I've seen you, and everyone else, I guess I was just a little on edge. Plus it's been shockingly difficult to keep Senou-san from causing an explosive decompression wherever we go."
Aoi giggled innocently.
"What the heck did you say?" Kyouko asked of the bound brunette. Aoi shrugged.
"I just said that the two of them would make a good couple." she replied. "Chie-chan and I have a good intuition about stuff like this." Teana's face went bright red again, but she did not say otherwise. Subaru's entire demeanor brightened at Teana's lack of protest.
"It is true." Mai agreed hesitantly. "They pegged Akira-kun as being a good match for my brother...and that was before we found out that Akira-kun was actually a girl."
"I would have preferred it if Akira-kun was a boy." Aoi pouted. "But at least they're happy."
"Matchmaking aside." I injected in an attempt to get everyone, (Fate's Note: including the author) back on track. "Signum, could you please bring Haruka-san to the base please? She can meet Hayate later on, but for now I think a reunion is in order." Yukino's face lit up in sheer delight, and even Haruka seemed to be having trouble being nonchalant about it.
"Excellent Idol!" She agreed, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I like the way you think! Alright pink haired parrot, let's get out of here!"
"Idea, Haruka-chan." Yukino corrected with this huge grin on her face.
"Call me a pink haired parrot again, and I will not be responsible for my actions." Signum said acidly.
"Whatever." Haruka dismissed happily. "I'll see you soon, okay Yukino?" with that, the video monitor disappeared, leaving a blissful Yukino in it's wake.
"How long have they been apart again?" Erica whispered to Natsuki.
"Less than twenty four hours." Natsuki replied with an amused chuckle. "With the way they're acting, you'd think it's been years."
"Like you're one to talk Mutt." Nao snorted, producing a file and going to work on her nails. "You do nothing but mope around as soon as you drop Fujino off at University, until the second you pick her up after school! It's quite pathetic really." as an afterthought Nao's green eyes landed momentarily on Homura, who was in the middle of swooning over Madoka, to Sayaka as she swiped the Pokey out of Kyouko's mouth, rather than taking one from the box that the redhead was offering her.
Eila was on cloud nine, as she was supporting the small grey haired girl, whom (based on Shirley's earlier comment) I could only assume was Sanya, as she had apparently fallen asleep standing up. Meanwhile Kiseki was eyeing a female TSAB officer appreciatively, as Shizuru advanced on Natsuki.
"Natsuki is just so hopeless without me!" Shizuru sighed dramatically, draping her arms around Natsuki's neck. "But that just means that I will have to be with Natsuki forever! Such a monstrous burden, but I shall bear it with pride!"
"I am surrounded by lesbians!" Nao shouted to no one in particular. I couldn't help but blush at this.
Guilty as charged.
Nanoha seemed to be fidgeting nervously, as her eyes darted between me and the ground.
"I know! Isn't it great!" Kiseki exclaimed, sneaking up behind Nao to goose her butt. Considering how much older Kiseki seemed to be than most of the others, I assumed that she was just doing that to bug Nao.
"Kya!"
"Jooooiiiin ussssss..." the golden eyed girl chanted, wriggling her fingers at Nao. "Joooooooiiiiiiiiinnnn uuuuuusssssss!"
The redhead rounded on Kiseki, seething with anger.
"Do that again, and I guarantee that you will join the land of the dead." she snarled. "You're just as bad as Fujino."
Natsuki's cheeks coloured. as her eyes narrowed at Nao.
"If you don't stuff it about Shizuru Spider," She warned. "I will shove that nail file of yours so far up your nose that you'll be able to buff your own brain!"
"Oi! Ice Queen, and Miss Attitude!" Vita shouted at the quarreling duo. "Knock it off before Graf Eisen and I come down there and knock it off for you!" Chie groaned, giving both girls a good idea as to what the small redhead may have meant by that.
"Vita, I need you to take Chie-san to Shamal." I ordered as the two fell silent. "Get that lump on her head checked out."
"What happened?" Aoi demanded, her happy mood gone in the blink of an eye. "Is she OK?"
"She knocked herself unconscious." Vita comforted, Chie's helpful groaning doing nothing to make Aoi feel better. "But don't worry she'll be fine. Shamal will fix her up in no time!"
"Once Chie-san is taken care of." I went on. "Please escort her here. Clearly these four are here for a reason, so all that's left is to find out what that reason is."
"Rodger!" Vita acknowledged with a salute, as the video monitor shut off.
"Teana, Subaru. I'll need you to escort Senou-san here as well. Once everyone is here, we'll figure something out."
"Yes Ma'am!" Subaru replied, taking Aoi by the magical chain which made up her bindings.
"And for crying out loud, untie her!" Nanoha blurted suddenly, Teana immediately removed the binds. "Thank you, she's a civilian, not a criminal."
"I wasn't really giving them much of a choice." Aoi admitted, suddenly seeming very subdued. "But I won't keep causing problems."
"So we'll see you when you get down here?" Mai asked, noting the sudden change in her friend. Teana and Subaru turned to leave the room.
"Actually Lanster-san, Nakajima-san... After all the trouble I've caused, I have no right to... but could I ask you a favour?" Aoi questioned softly.
"Sure!" Subaru replied. "We're civil servants, it's our job to help. What's up?"
"Could you take me to the infirmary first?" came the hesitant request. "I'm worried about Chie-chan." Teana's curious gaze turned into a soft smile.
"Looks like the two of you would make a good couple as well." she pointed out. Aoi's cheeks turned scarlet, as she smiled shyly.
"Yeah," she whispered as she turned away from the screen. "I know."
"Alright!" Subaru announced enthusiastically. "We knights shall escort our fair princess to her Prince Charming!" Tea grabbed Subaru by the ear.
"Laying it on a little thick, don't you think?" she scolded. Aoi giggled as Tea dragged a yowling Subaru out of the room. The screen went blank a second later.
"Well!" Nanoha began. "While we wait for news from Caro, and Erio, shall we continue the introductions?"
Kiseki's words about my mother surfaced in my mind.
All troops stood at attention.
"That would be us right?" Eila asked, indicating herself and her group. I watched as their uniforms blew in the breeze, routinely revealing their lack of lower dress. That was certainly an issue that needed tackling, but first...
"In light of earlier events." I said with a shake of my head, as my eyes landed on a certain golden eyed brunette. "I would like to get another intro out of the way first."
"Ah crap." Kiseki sighed heavily. "Well, I suppose we can't put it off forever. Alright Tesstarossa-san, ask away."
"Tesstarossa Harlaown." I corrected stiffly. "It's Tesstarossa Harlaown." Kiseki smiled gently.
"Your Mother would be happy that you found a family that loves you the way you deserved to loved." she said, I had to keep myself from snorting out loud.
"My mother hated me!" I found myself shouting, old wounds that had been healing for the past fifteen years, reopened and immediately started to fester. Nanoha came up behind me, and rested a comforting hand on my shoulder. "She made a point of telling me so multiple times before she and Alicia descended into oblivion!" There were tears in my eyes, but I merely blinked them away. "I spent every moment of my life before she died, trying to make her happy! SO HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD MAKE MY MOTHER HAPPY!?" Nanoha wrapped her arms around me as I broke down. Emotions long since buried were raging through me like wildfire. If it wasn't for Nanoha, I would have been on my knees.
"Because she told me that she hoped that you had found happiness." Kiseki replied, and I could hear the sincerity in her voice. "I told you didn't I? That she made it to Al-Hazard after all?" The golden pendant on the back of her hand glinted in the sunlight.
I took a moment to compose myself before I spoke again.
"Who are you really?" I asked, my voice thick and hoarse. "TSAB calls you the only human Lost Logia. But is that all you are?"
"I am classified as a Lost Logia, yes." Kiseki agreed with a short nod. "Officially, however I am known as the keeper of Al-Hazard."
I couldn't help but feel skeptical that the keeper of the lost world that my mother had given her life to find, was standing no more than three feet in front of me.
"If you truly are the keeper of Al-Hazard," I tested. "then where can I find it?" Kiseki, however didn't miss a beat.
"Right here." she replied, raising her right hand to show me her device.
'Pleased to make your acquaintance,' The device greeted politely.
"This." Kiseki continued, pointing to the golden pendant. "Is Al-Hazard. All the knowledge, all the technology, all that was Al-Hazard rests within this device."
"I don't understand." I said, this being the understatement of the century. "How can Al-Hazard be a device? I thought it was an ancient civilization."
"It was," The golden eyed brunette agreed. "centuries and centuries ago. It was the most advanced civilization of its time, both in terms of magical and scientific advances... If you wish I can tell you the true story of Al-Hazard, shall we all take a seat?"
I nodded, and everyone more or less sat where they stood. Nanoha pulled me onto her lap, perhaps feeling that I would need emotional support for this.
"As you are no doubt aware." Kiseki began, as she took a seat on the grass as well. "Al-Hazard is a legend even in modern times due to it's magical and scientific achievements, that is of course until it was supposedly destroyed by those very same achievements. This is of course only half of the story.
Al-Hazard had many brilliant scientists at their disposal, one of whom was responsible for some of their greatest medical discoveries. She had discovered a cure for just about any conceivable illness, except for the one that infected and eventually killed the woman she loved.
After her lover's death, she became obsessed with trying to discover a new application for magic that could alter the very laws of life and death. I'm sure you are very familiar with what she was trying to achieve."
Yes, I was familiar with it. The very reason I was alive today was because of a 'failed' attempt to replicate that mythical technology.
"The ability to bring back the dead." I whispered.
Kiseki nodded.
Why was it that no matter where I went in life, that desire seemed to follow me like a curse? I suppose being a direct result of that desire didn't help much, but still...
Nanoha took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
'I'm here for you.' is what she was telling me.
"As you know." she went on. "The number and kinds of dimensions are infinite, and out of those limitless dimensions, there is only one where the souls of the dead go to rest. It stood to reason that if one could transcend dimensions, one could reach the land of the dead."
"But didn't that technology already exist at the time?" Nanoha inquired as she absently stoked my hair. "We use it all the time here in Mid."
Long brown hair swayed back and forth as its owner shook her head.
"Transcending the universe; while still an amazing feat, is still a far cry from traveling to different dimensional planes." she explained. "Especially when the dimension you are trying to reach is the land of the dead. The amount of magical energy required was enormous, and the possibility of things going wrong was far higher."
"So did they succeed?" I asked, desperately trying to piece together where all this was going. I felt this overwhelming need to know if my mother had driven herself to insanity for nothing but another 'failed' attempt at rewriting the laws of life.
"They did indeed." Kiseki confirmed, catching everyone by surprise. "My pendant was the result of years of research and experimentation. As long as the user had enough magical power to survive the trip, they could travel to any dimension at will, including the land of the dead.
It was by far Al-Hazard's greatest discovery. The day that the scientist made the first trip to the land of the dead to retrieve the soul of her lover, was the day that Al-Hazard became known as a land of miracles. However the scientist never returned."
"Well then how did they know that she made it there in the first place?" Mami asked, sounding as confused as I felt.
"Because her lover did return." came the sad reply. "As alive as the days before she fell ill. The ability to bring back the dead comes with a price. The dimension where the dead dwell is not a place that is meant to be left. As such; under what I will loosely call 'normal circumstances' the one who travels to the land of the dead, essentially goes to take the place of the chosen deceased. Suffice to say, the device's first success was also it's last for many, many years."
"Why is that?" I asked.
"Fear mostly." Kiseki explained. "There were not too many people who were willing to exchange their own lives for someone who was already dead. But the other reason was that the pendant fused with the woman's body on the return trip."
My eyes darted to the back of Kiseki's right hand. Come to think of it, there didn't seem to be anything holding the pendant on her hand... in fact the golden gem almost seemed to be a part of her skin.
I felt my mouth go dry.
No way.
"By the gods!" Nanoha gasped, coming to the same conclusion I did. "You're-"
Kiseki smiled sadly.
"Correct." she said. "The one that Chiyo gave her life for; was me."
...
AN: Well there you have it, confused yet?
I hope I can adequately write out this vague concept that is in my head in a way that everyone can understand. It's a little difficult when said concept still hasn't completely formed itself yet, but it's certainly gives my writing skills a run for their money...
I have also noticed that I tend to come up with some of my better plot ideas while I'm folding laundry at work.
Go figure.
Holy crap! That got a lot longer than I thought it would. Hopefully you will find the chapter worth the long wait.
I guess I also lied about introducing the Strike Witches, but this was going to be a really long chapter if I included it and the other half of Kiseki's back story, so I decided to put it off a chapter.
I hope you are all still enjoying this story, keep the reviews coming, and see you in Chapter 6!