A/N: I really need to come up with a better revival spell. Procrastination kills harder than lunatic danmaku.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Nanoha franchise...if I did, Nanoha would've been eating actual potatoes in the eye-catches.
Currently...
Teana Lanster had experience in the ways of the hit-and-run tactics. Even back during the JS incident, she had managed to fend off the presence of a numerical and magical disadvantage through such methods. 'But this...this is just weird...'
The girl who called or rather proclaimed herself "Stern", stood right where she was completely motionless.
At first Teana had suspected that she was waiting for the illusions to run out of magical energy and disappear on their own, but dismissed that thought as soon as it came. 'Judging by her claims of having fought Nanoha and what she's shown to be capable of, she could've easily bombarded the whole area and smoked the two of us out.'
Yet the fact that she didn't had remained. The fact that she cornered them, yet didn't take action, unnerved her.
Looking down she checked on Subaru again. Having taken the full burnt, quite literally, of what looked like three red divine busters shot in rapid succession, it didn't seem likely that the blue haired girl was going to be of any help for a while.
'So long as Subaru's out and the forest is burned down I can't attack or run and hide. I can't do anything but hold up the illusion...' Looking towards Stern, she confirmed that she still wasn't moving even the slightest. 'She doesn't seem intent on doing anything! It'll be risky, but maybe I can wait for Subaru to wakeup...so long as we don't give away our position we should be fine...'
Had Subaru actually been awake, she might have been worried, but Teana felt confident enough alone to at least keep quiet and not give away their position.
"...And so my recollection of events prior comes to an end it seems...I believe one might call this a "monologue" or rather an extensive "flashback arc" so to speak..."
"Are you telling me you've spent the past half hour doing nothing but recapping!?" Teana questioned in awe. 'Wait...WHAT!?'
"Yes?" Stern lifted Luciferion and pointed it at Teana. "I have simply reaffirmed that the events throughout these two days have proven to be facts and I am not simply dreaming of the plot of some deranged fiction written in madness."
Red light began to gather at the tip of the staff as Stern's lips curved upward ever so slightly. "Moreover it has done wonders in providing me with your exact location."
Teana lost all thoughts. Or rather all other thoughts simply escaped her. She had just done the very thing she said she wouldn't do. Her mind was filled with only a single line repeating endlessly 'Curse Hayate's tsukikomi training!'
"So what will you do now?" Stern's question snapped Teana back into reality.
"You know I'm completely cornered and defenseless. Heck I can even say I'm completely at your mercy." Teana felt like being cynical at such a question. "Enlighten me. What can I do in this situation?"
"You could surrender? After all this is but training."
"Wait...surrender's an option?" As if learning a foreign concept, Teana thought back to her actual instructor and when enemies and sparing alike partners attempted such a method. "...So you're NOT going to shoot us for "being boring", admitting defeat, and begging for mercy...right?"
"No" came the flat reply.
"...I surrender then..." was all that came out before Teana Lanster passed out from mental exhaustion.
...
The fight was over before it began.
Or at least that was how Levi made it happen. The blue haired material of power was one of the fastest mages in existence yet physically strong enough to break binds on her own. The way the battle played out was indeed spectacular if not sided.
"W-wait up!" Behind her had been a boy riding on what seemed like a dragon, albeit smaller and tamer than the ones on Eltria. He'd smelled like the same type of magic her original used.
"Um...can we talk?" The girl sitting behind him spoke up. Her hair reminded Levi too much of Stern's original and previous magic color for comfort. She couldn't be trusted.
"Don't wanna~" Levi let out a grin as she increased her speed. It was all but a fact that they couldn't catch her. 'But it's boring when the level gap is this huge...still can't make anymore trouble for Stern...how did this happen again?'
Yesterday...
"Levi...!" Her original had looked like she was in a rush.
"Oh! If it isn't the original? What's up?"
"Levi, listen to me. The world is in danger, my daughter's girlfriend is in danger, and I need to save both!" Fate grabbed Levi by the shoulders and stared at her with pleading eyes. "Please, I beg of you, go with Stern and fill in at our jobs tomorrow!"
"Don't wanna~" It sounded tough so Levi didn't want any part in it.
"...Let me rephrase that..." Fate took out a lollipop. "Go with Stern and I'll give you as many of these as you want."
"Kay~" On second thought, no challenge was too tough for someone as "awesome" as Levi.
Now...
'Oh right so that's what happened...' Levi continued to contemplate her situation. 'Wait so going by the fact that I'm playing a role in saving the world? Then fundamentally I wouldn't be just awesome, but rather epic. Yet the current system of thought doesn't allow both "awesome" and "epic" to exist simultaneously...'
"Stop!" a voice from the pink haired girl. Levi just brushed it off.
'...So what we need is to create a new system...one where "awesome" and "epic" can coexist while maintaining proper balance and distinction. That would need a revision on their core functionalities. Wait! But by finding a common enemy then said revision would be unnecessary...'
"Look out!" the voice of the boy was getting annoying so Levi ignored it.
'Wait what about using "sales tax"? "Sales tax" makes candy more expensive and harder to buy so it isn't awesome or epic! All I'd need to do is come up with a statement that counters "sales tax" while using both "awesome" and "epic". Levi continued flying immersed in thought. "Sales tax is NOT awesomely epic, there for I AM."
Levi thought it through. "Yep! That works! I'm a genius!" Continuing to fly while now rid of problems she began to wonder. 'Wait was that entire line of thought even necessary-'
CRASH!
A massive sound resonated across the area, said sound having been a mark of both the beginning and end of a great battle. That which was the awesomely epic confrontation of Levi's shocked face at sonic speeds, and the TSAB building designed to withstand any and all impacts both inside and out.
Needless to say, the building didn't stand a chance.
Not too far away...
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Kneel before our might!" Dearche continued to look into the mirror as she struck a pose. "Um, our training has indeed been progressing smoothly. We can already feel it...our evil laugh no longer drains as much stamina."
Stretching outward she let out a yawn. "Still this room is indeed fit for planning our progressive takeover of this world." Walking towards the desk, she picked up a pen sitting near the neatly organized documents.
In one fluid motion Dearche struck. Movements so quick yet efficient, it looked almost overdramatized. Taking the pen she stabbed down effortlessly. Writing the words "Lord Dearche" on a piece of paper she had ingeniously stuck, over the nameplate of her original, using magic.
"Um...indeed it is a magnificent space for us." She sat down on the desk chair and began spinning freely. 'Heh, even seeing that little crow get on her knees and beg us for liberation. What more for can we ask?'
The Morning of Yesterday...
Dearche had done only what was normal for all conquerors. She was out buying groceries for tonight's dinner. "Hm...if memory serves us correctly we have just enough leftover to buy Levi some sweets as well...Indeed Stern was correct when she claimed buying ingredients here would be less troublesome than our usual methods...hm?"
Something was falling from the sky at high speeds. Dearche being the truly evil person she was, immediately made sure that there were no civilians in harm's way, and set up a barrier containing only her and the object to prevent collateral damage.
CRASH!
"Man, I really should file a lawsuit against airlines for always being active in Uminari." A figure stepped out from the smoking crater while dusting herself off. "Hm? A barrier?"
"What are you doing you stupid crow?" Dearche looked at her original with a dumbfounded expression.
"Erm I was practicing flying above the cloud cover, while looking for you, when this airplane cut me off and-"
"You fool! Had we not set up that barrier, the unknowingly civilians would've gotten hurt! Massive collateral damage would have been caused! Money to fix the area would have been taken from public budget! Sales tax on food would've increased! Think of those who struggle in this society!"
Hayate looked at her dark counterpart in confusion before the danger of the situation had dawned on her. "...I'm sorry..."
"Don't think that you can simply apologize and expect everything to be fine, that's the pink one's territory." Being the evil overlord that she was, Dearche wasn't about to let go of someone without proper punishment. "Help me carry these groceries and reflect on what you've done."
"Yes ma'am..." Realization once again dawned on Hayate as she took two bags filled with vegetables into her hands. "Oh wait! Dearche! Can you sub in for me at work tomorrow so I can go to Comiket? Oh, and I'll bring Yuri-chan with me and everything!"
"We refuse with all our might." the words of true evil had spoken, there was no changing them.
"But Yuri-chan said she wanted to go!" sadly evil was facing the ultimate mastermind.
"...Yuri...?" True evil wavered.
"Mhm, and all you've gotta do to grant that wish is go into my office tomorrow and sit in my comfy chair. You can even call it me begging you to liberate me from my position of command."
"..."
"So...?"
"Tch it can't be helped...what time?" True evil had changed her mind.
...
'Indeed, seeing her beg was amusing' Dearche had completed one last rotation in her seat before coming to a stop and chuckling in amusement. 'Had it been Stern, that flashback alone would have enough to write a lengthy novel.'
"Okay, now back to practicing my evil laugh. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..."
The people passing by outside the office hallway were surprised at the sudden sound and had wondered what their commander was doing.
"Must've watched that one series again, what was it...Rashi right?"
"Nah man, it's Neko that's all the rage these days!"
"You're both idiots."
"What?" The two mages were in complete unison.
"If it's obvious that she's already watched them, then it can only mean that she's playing the games now."
"I see!" Both were enlightened.
...
Thousands of miles above Mid-childan ocean, a yellow and pink flare flew across the sky. Fate Testerossa Harlown looked down to see a sleeping Nanoha in her arms, chewing an imaginary potato, with a cat-like grin on her face. 'It's strange...looking at Nanoha's cute sleeping face, I don't even feel exhausted after all this flying.'
Unbeknownst to Fate, Nanoha wasn't asleep, and Fate wasn't going to be exhausted anytime soon. If anything she was gaining energy...and speed, as Nanoha continued to slowly add magical power to not only increase Fate's thrust, but ever so slightly curve their trajectory. It would only be a matter of time before they'd be back where they started.
'By then Fate-chan will be exhausted and I'll be free to do as I please with Einheart.' The peaceful dreams that only the white devil of the administration bureau could have were but lost in the winds. 'Mama's coming for you Vivio!'
A/N: And so the three Materials have all had their respective flashbacks! Albeit the contrast is quite...large...and Stern used hers as a distraction...More importantly it's Nanoha's turn to pull off an insane plan! That ought to go well...
If you like it? review If you don't? criticize, I always appreciate any feedback to improve my writing in the future
