A/N: ohh am inspired I guess J gotsa new update! Am now sure if the slow pace is good or not, but I hope its alright. And again, I do not own the series…
*-* *-* thanks to those who read and reviewed the last chapter. And now I'll be thanking my reviewers… ahem!
ZonaRose : I hope you will continue to enjoy mmy fics as much as I enjoyed yours J congrats on your 'skeleton key' really like it!
Sammie-Chan89 : Well, something is indeed up… and I'm not yet telling too much :p but yeah, the guy whom Nanoha protected noticed her ability unlike the others. It was due to shock?
floire : Aww who wouldn't get worried over that cute Vivio J thanks for the review.
rsDragon : more characters? J lets see let see..
Honulicious : haha, not enough beams I guess. But hey, they went pass the 'last-name' basis. And thanks for thinking the battle scene was good. I tried my best ;)
MangamanZX : a bit more indeed, I hope its enough for now though.
EXpERieNCed : only thing I can say to your question is that, here's the answer.. J and yeah, Vivio is cute. I imagined her while writing this fic.
hinagiku13 : In due time it will be revealed. J Nanoha befriending someone is one of her trade mark in MGLN series so I kept it here aswell. Thank you for the review and here's the new chappie.
dark-atrox : I won't say anything about those two yet. J yet, about the 'Hayate antics' I guess it would be on hold for this chapter. A little serious part in this chapter will be shown.
BunnyxGirl : Ohh! New reviewer ;p thanks for reading my fic~! The 'majesties' will be revealed some other time ne?
And now, on with the story,, ~_~
Chapter 6: Flashback 3 years
Backup from the bureau came fast as soon as Nanoha reported the incident at Vivio's school. The backup came together with Shamal, Zafira and Vita, running in a hurry to ensure that there weren't any casualties with any of the students or staffs. With Shamal as lead of the medical team and with Zafira by her side, Vita went to the Takamachi family and her friends.
"Hey there squirt!" Vita greeted Vivio, giving the child's hair some ruffling. A grin etched on her face as Vivio pouted at her actions. "You won't get any 'sorry' from me squirt." Her grin became wider.
Nanoha and Nove chuckled at how Vita was teasing Vivio. It was rather cute for them to see.
"Ein-chan! Vita is teasing me again!" Vivio whined. Her left cheek puffed out to show her frustration and her arms crossed above her chest.
The girl requested for help by the heterochromatic child was also like Vivio. In terms of their eyes that is. Silvery green haired girl carried the same type of eyes as Vivio, though hers are purple on the right and blue on the left. She stayed silent, watching Vivio and Vita go at their teasing.
"Mou Ein-chan!" Vivio whined again when no response came from her friend.
"Tough luck squirt, 'his' majesty just takes this as childish games." Vita said smugly, making Vivio more annoyed. Vivio tried to tackle the red knight but due to their difference ion both strength and age, she was just being held back by Vita's palm on her forehead. "Face it, you're still skies below me." Another grin.
The honey-blond haired child gave up trying to attack her mother's friend. Still pouting, she stomped her way to her heterochromatic friend and glared at her. "You're so unfair Ein-chan! You should've protected me from Vita-chan's teasing.
Einhart, Vivio's sempai and friend, smiled at her and patted her head. "I think it's not my place to interrupt." She said in a shy tone. She has always been a shy girl though she may be a bit terrifying if you piss her off. [nyao~!] Her device purred, snuggling at her neck. Her device, a plush toy of a snow leopard with yellow with black prints, sat on her shoulder as it purred while snuggling its furry head at her neck. She giggled a bit more, feeling ticklish at the device's antics. "T-Teo, no. stop that, it tickles!"
While Teo was keeping its master's company, it seems Vivio's own device wanted to play with them aswell. The floating bunny sat on Vivio's head and motioned some punches. "You want to play with Ein-chan again Kris?" she asked her device. Kris, the nickname of Vivio's device, floated infront of its' master's face and nodded its fluffy head. Vivio smiled happily and turned to look at her mama and trainer. "Mama! Nove! Can I go and spar with Ein-chan?" she asked.
The older ones found it cute how Vivio really liked to spar with Einhart. Not wanting any more wait for the child, both Nanoha and Nove agreed to Vivio's request but reminded them to train at the school gym and to keep it in both 'contact mode'. With the approvals from Nanoha and Nove, Vivio dragged Einhart back to their school, saying to find their other friends aswell to join their sparring match.
With the minors gone, Nanoha suddenly felt her body cave in from the stress that build up from her sparring/battle with Fate, the haste flight to Vivio's school and the release of her attack that finished the rest of the drones. She felt her body collapsing to fatigue but she held it up, not wanting anyone to worry about her anymore.
No matter how the aerial captain kept her pain to herself, Vita can see clearly how her friend is holding everything in. Her expression changed from a playful grin to a serious one and she glared at Nanoha to prove her seriousness. "Nove go and watch Vivio and her friends. We don't want anyone to see their real sparring if they get too excited." She ordered the cyborg, not even giving any glance at her. The redheaded cyborg tilted her head in confusion but complied with what the small knight said.
With Nove out of sight and the backups are busy with their own duties, a gush of cold sweat filled Nanoha's body and she finally gave in to her fatigue. Her vision getting blurry and her body weighing heavier, all she can do now is to let herself fall. Yet, neither ground nor dirt came to her and the scent of the fresh air filled her nostrils. "Thanks…" she mumbled, subduing to the darkness.
"Baka!" Vita clicked her tongue as she slumped to the ground with Nanoha securely wrapped around her arms. she already expected the outcome of Nanoha's recent activity and it was a good thing she decided to go check on her. Tuning her telepathic link to Shamal, she tried to make herself as calm as possible to inform the doctor about Nanoha's situation. {Shamal… can you check up on her before the kids come back?} With the simple call of their family doctor, she cut the link and looked at Nanoha sadly. "Baka… It had only been 3 years since you recovered from that incident. Do you want us to worry again? Do you want your daughter to cry again?" she asked the unconscious captain knowing no response will come to her. Vita closed her eyes and the memories of her dreaded past came to mind.
-flashback, 4 years ago, a week after the J.S incident-
"Ma'am! Jail Scaglietti has been locked and the trial to their crimes will be held tomorrow!" Reported by one of the cadets. The red knight, together with her mistress and Reinforce Zwei floating beside her, gave the cadet an affirming nod and left the command room of Long Arch.
"What is that guy planning?" Hayate mused, her brows knitted together as she thought of the reason intently. She , together with her unison device and her Iron hammer knight walked towards the hangar where the rest of her Belkan knights awaited for her.
There, Shamal, Zafira and Signum waited for them, all wearing civilian clothing. Signum who was standing beside a white van, nodded her head to acknowledge her mistress' arrival and beside her is Shamal, clinging on her waist.
"Well then, I guess we need to check on her?" the mistress of the tome of the night sky suggested with a weak smile. Signum, in a valiant manner, opened the back seat door for her mistress and waited for her to board the vehicle safely. She gladly appreciated the offer and slid inside the vehicle with Zafira in human form following behind her and Vita. The knight of the sword took the driver seat and beside her is the knight of the lake, Shamal.
"My children…" Hayate referred to the knights that gained their attention. "This is no military secrecy but I have to ask all of you to keep it a secret." She pleaded to her knights with a worried look.
Signum looked at the rear mirror for a second to check on her mistress. Seeing the worried expression, she started the vehicle and drove out of the hangar. "As leader of the Wolkenritter and you being our mistress, we have no means of exposing this secrecy. We swore on our devices." She reminded her mistress. "And that girl is like a family to us aswell. We will protect her as we would to you Hayate." Signum also added, driving the vehicle in the direction of Northern Mid-Childa.
The drive was silent but the chibi knight was feeling anxious. Her small hands gripped the handle of the door, wanting to open it and fly towards their specific destination. It took all her will power not to rush and disobey her mistress' orders.
"Vita…" Hayate's voice was calm but a hint of worry can be noticed from it.
Vita looked down to her black shoes, avoiding Hayate's gaze. She knows that once her eyes met Hayate's she will break into tears. "Its not fair…" she said, gaining everyone's attention. "Saint King or not, she should have stayed in Earth!" Vita finally lashed out her frustration.
"Vita-chan…" Rein squeaked, hovering over Vita and patted the red knight's fiery hair.
"This place is not for her…"
-scene jump-
White room, loud beeping sounds and a bed where a woman laid still. The Belkan knights watched over the woman quietly, not wanting her to wake up for a while. Hayate sat beside the bed and held the patient's hand gently. Her tears flow from her eyes as she watched the woman sleep soundly while machines informed her of the stability of the woman's life. "Rest well. When you wake up, we'll be here. All of us will be waiting for you." Hayate said sadly, watching the woman's frail features.
The sound of hydraulics from the door echoed, indicating someone entering the room. They looked at who came inside and saw a child, not more than 6 years old, wearing a seafoam green hospital gown and blue closed slippers. She held in her arm a stuffed toy bunny and her eyes, green and red in color, showed sadness. "Mama…" her voice was raspy, indicating that she may cried for a long time. She padded her small feet towards the hospital bed and climbed on the bed. "Mama wake up. Mama…" she cried, tapping the woman's leg.
All the adults watched the child try to wake the weakened woman on bed. They can feel their hearts clench in sadness as the child cried while waking the woman but failed. The child… her friend's child.
The mistress of the tome of the night sky saw the child's attempt to wake the sleeping woman. She knew the child by face but not by name her friend had gave her. "Hello Vivio." She greeted the child, which the child looked at her sadly.
"H-hello auntie..." The child answered back without looking at Hayate.
The knights kept silent, watching their mistress talk to the child.
"Did you watch your mama today?" Hayate asked again and her question got an affirming nod. "let's leave your mama to rest for today ne Vivio?" she stood up and took the child in her arms and they all left the white room.
-Scene jump, few days after the trial of Jail. Location: Midori-ya, Earth-
"I'm sorry if I have to keep her in the hospital at Mid-Childa." The brunette commander of RF6 bowed her head before the father of her friend.
Shiro Takamachi sighed. He looked at the other ladies in the booth, who gave him a sad and apologizing look. "She knew the consequence. Please take good care of her and i'll inform the guild and my family of her situation." He informed them.
Hayate nodded her head and took a sip of her tea. The place was tranquil but her heart ached of sorrow for her friend. "Thank you Takamachi-san."
"Hayate, you belong to the guild too. Least you can do is call me uncle." Shiro informed him, trying to lighten the mood.
The commander of the force smiled a bit. Taking Shiro's family offer. "I will uncle. And for that, I'll treat her as my cousin." She placed the tea cup on the table. "I'll ask Vivio to visit you sometimes. But ofcourse with my knights' guidance too."
Shiro looked at her wife who heard their conversation. He can tell the woman was giddy upon hearing the child's name. "That would be the best. Atleast that would keep the child from being too sad. Just make sure she'll be alright."
-end flashback-
After that visit on Earth, Vita can remember the cries of pain and agony that her friend let out. Ofcourse her friend didn't know she or rather, all of the Wolkenritter and Hayate heard her cries as they watched her by the shadows. The sight of her friend, forcing herself to move for the sake of everyone's smile and for Vivio not to worry about her. But what pained the chibi knight more is the smile that Nanoha gave them. The smile she forced out to make sure no one would be sad or worry about her.
"No matter how much you hide it, we'll always be worried about you. I'll be worried about you." She hugged her friend's sleeping form and waited for Shamal to come to them.
"I'm telling you sis, mother knew nothing of the drones attack." Said a rather cheery voice from the screen. The screen showed a blond woman, with looks that's the very same as Fate with the difference of hairstyle and ribbon color. The blond on the screen has twin braids being held in place by seafoam green ribbons and her personality showed more energetic than of Fate's shy demeanor. "You do know mother hates that lunatic even if he is a genius." The blond said again.
Fate sighed. It was like looking at a mirror but the fact remains that the person she is talking to is her twin sister. "Nee-san we all know everyone hates him but still, is mother busy? I really need to contact her about Jail's previous attack." Fate asked her twin.
"Yeah. She's at her lab with some other scientists from Vaizen, researching about how to counter AMFs." Her sister explained. Her crimson eyes stared at her nervous twin. "What's wrong sis? You look like the time you told me Caro and Erio almost died from defending your base. Is this something to do with that child you told me about yesterday?"
The driver drove fast towards the Saint church's school. "Yes Alicia. Those Type I drones attacked the school she attends to." Fate explained, driving to the point of breaking the speed limit. "I asked Chrono-nii if that bastard Jail has escaped but he said no. though he reported Quattro escaped."
The woman on the screen knitted her brows. "That crazy woman? Sis this maybe bad." Said Alicia with a warning tone.
"I know. That's why I want to talk to mother about Jail's original plan. I know that 'combat cyborg manufacturing' plan is just a cover up. He did give mother the idea of Project F."
Alicia shook her head. "Remember sis. You will always be a Testarossa-" she halted and smiled at Fate. "Well Testarossa-Harlaown. So never forget that alright my dear little sister?"
"Yes nee-chan."
With the mood becoming lighter, as noticed by the blond from the screen, she grinned widely as if taunting her twin. "So, you are going to see the kid? How about her mother? Word from my sources she's hot!" Alicia teased, giving her twin a wink.
Fate blushed. She wondered who informed her sister about Nanoha. "N-Neechan!" she shouted, face blushing.
Alicia laughed seeing her shy twin blush. "Geez sis you sure show some interest in her mother for blushing like that." She teased again. Oh how she love teasing her sister. "So does this mean I get to have Ginga now?" her grin turned to a devious smile.
Fate only facepalmed herself. The difference between her and her twin sister Alicia is that the other blond can be a flirt. "N-No! I don't have any of those interest with Nanoha! Whatever nee-chan. Tell mother and mom I said hi and I miss them. to Linith and Arf too." She said to her sister. She really miss her family. But being an Enforcer makes her stay either in the Naval ship or at Long Arch for long periods of time.
"Sure, sure. Both mom and mother misses you and Chrono-nii. Oh! I have a day off this weekend. Can we visit you there? An I so want to meet this Vivio and her mother."
"Fine."
"Say hi to Caro and Erio for me. and Linith said you should never skip meals! Ciao sis! Break time's over for this researcher." with that, Alica ended their video call.
The blond enforcer sighed. She maybe the enforcer but her sister can be quite the investigator. Focusing on the road, she can see the school yard of St. Hilde and a frown graced her beautiful face. The sight of broken walls mad her clench her teeth but the sighting of someone in a stretcher made her stomach churn and cold sweatbeads form on her forehead. "Nanoha?"
The brown haired commander sat alone in her office, with two communications screen and a video stream of the recent attack in St. Hilde infront of her. One showed the captain of XV class warship aswell as an Admiral in TSAB, Chrono Harlaown while the other screen showed the head of the Saint Church, knight Carim Garcia. All three of them showed a serious expression as the video screen has been paused on the part where Niove was with the two teenagers.
"You do know what this means Hayate." Said Chrono.
Hayate took a deep breath. She feared this day would come again hence the reason of retaining being a commander of RF6. "Yes. Seems that the prophecy of your Carim is nearing."
Carim nodded her head. "In the land where ancient crystals and infinite greed gather and intertwine, the wings shall revive from the holy land, beneath the dead king. The dead shall dance, and the tower of law in the central lands shall burn to the ground. But, before this, the ship of law that guards the many seas shall be torn apart" She recited, remembering her prophecy that took Hayate's action in forming RF6. "The 'dead king' is no more and we have subdued Jail for his crimes in the combat cyborgs."
With both arms now propped on the table, clasp together as if in a prayer, Hayate leaned her forehead on her clasped knuckles. "There is no more king. She made sure of that."
"But clearly the king's blood still runs and the encounter of the prince of Shutra… the kings will indeed dance once again if we cannot stop whatever that mad man's original plan is." Chrono stated coldly. His face showed anger and voice filled of venom when he spoke of the 'mad man'.
The blond knight agreed with Chrono. She motioned for them to view a new screen which showed the numbers who stayed with them, loyal to their own beliefs in peace. "For now, I'll have Deed, Otto and Sein watch over Olivie and Heidi when at school while Nove, Cinque and Wendi watch over outside the church's walls."
"Alright. For now I'll have my troops to be trained and be prepared." Hayate said, sitting up straight. She then look at Chrono and nod her head, giving a silent message to the admiral.
Knowing what Hayate meant, he shrugged and just sighed heavily. "You drive a hard bargain Hayate. You do know my sister is an Enforcer. A great Enforcer at that." He responded weakly.
"You are an Admiral and we have kept all of this to ourselves and a few people. Keep it that way unless you want me to make Amy 'want' you more out of that ship of yours." Hayate's voice seeped of friendly threat that gave the dark haired admiral a cold shiver.
Carim could only laugh at Chrono's reaction on Hayate's threat. She knows how the admiral feared Hayate's fashion sense. "Well since Hayate made it clear, I would also add that I'll participate with her if all of this leaks out."
Chrono groaned. He knows that when the two women tag-teamed together, no one, even the 'Ace of Aces' herself can stop their drive. "Women and cosplay…" he mumbled before signing out of the call.
A/N: haaizt~ hope that's good enough. now time for an omake!
OMAKE:
Hayate: c'mon Fate-chan! I finally got a new recruit for our ahem(my Harem)ahem Army. *pushes Fate to the girl's changing room*
Fate: Hayate! i don't think looking at girls changing would do good to my blood pressure. Nanoha might... *sudden stop* Hayate? Why is there a white cat with long ears?
Hayate: Oh! that thing can give me new recruits! right girls? *motioned for 4 girls changing to the TSAB uniforms*
Puella Magi Madoka casts: YES COMMANDER~!
Kyubey: "I want you to form a contract with me and become magical girls!"
Hayate: Ain't it cute~! *hugging kyubey*
Fate: bardiche, Riot Zanber form.
-Next scenes contained too many transformations and kyubey bashing until all of the women became Hayate's harem.-
that's it for now,,, Snow-Shuriken out~!