AN: Hi guys! So, this is the last chapter of this story. I hope you enjoy it. I had a lot of fun writing it. Thank you for reading!

P/s: See the end of chapter for more notes :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Bye.

Far and Away

0ooo0

She hurried behind a big rock and pressed her palms tightly over her ears, awaited the deafening roar of the explosion. They were placing dynamite in a coal mine. Shouts and footsteps were heard hurrying out of the cave's mouth and seconds later, a massive explosion took place inside, spurting out clouds of dust and smoke. Several people, then, slowly emerged from behind rocks and trees, striding toward the cave and began collecting rocks and dumped them on some wooden wheelbarrows.

Fate dropped a heavy rock into a big pile of rubble and took off her cowboy hat to swipe her forehead clean of dripping sweats. She looked around and saw rough men jogging in every direction, hoisting rocks on their shoulders or loading the wheelbarrows onto the dump ground. It was yet another hot day in Ozark Mountain. The sun was blazing in the sky, casting vertical shadows of everything underneath it.

"Come on, boys, find yourself some cover. We got fire in the hole!" yelled the foreman.

Fate, along with other people, hurried themselves behind the wheelbarrows and waited. In the mist of shouts and running, Fate's mind drifted to another dimension, where a certain beautiful red-haired and ocean-eyed goddess awaited her, and suddenly, she was no longer at the dirty mine.

Fate was in a dimly-lit spacious room with a flicking fireplace beside her. The entire room was basked in a soft orange hue and her long shadow mended with another one; they spread lazily on the length of the deep maroon carpet. She was kneeling in front of an armchair, in front of someone and when small fingers brushed against her cheeks, she looked up. Deep blue eyes were staring tenderly at her, thick red wavy hair fanned around, framing her petite body perfectly, accentuated her eyes and her pure white nightgown.

The goddess reached out and took her hands, guiding them to her chest and Fate inhaled softly as her palms felt the loud heartbeats underneath the thin fabric. And she moved again. She led Fate's quiver hands over the tie of her gown and gave them a squeeze as if to beg for something. Fate hesitated at first but the look in her goddess' eyes told her to go on. She slowly tugged at the tie and when it became loose, she pulled apart the front of the gown, exposing bare flesh. There was no camisole or corset, there was only pale skin, rumbling with desire to be touched. She was bare to her. Nanoha was exposed to her hungry red eyes.

No longer resisting the urge, Fate leaned in and brushed her lips over her collarbones, kissing ever so lightly at her flush skin and when a soft moan emerged in the quiet room, Fate looked up. She was burning her with desire. Her lips formed into a perfect 'O' and her eyes fluttered shut. She pulled her flush against her, pressing her face hotly to her breasts and Fate began to kiss up her neck, enjoying the little spasms the girl in her arms was making.

The gown pooled at her hips, her head threw back, her mouth agape, her long dark eyelashes rested against her pink cheeks and Fate gaped hopelessly at her goddess. Fate traced her hands along the swell of her hips, up her small waist and rested her palms at the small of her back. Her skin was like velvet and Fate resisted the urge to cry. She felt fingers lightly touched her lips and she met her stare. Nanoha was smiling but it was a broken smile, a longing smile of someone whose fate was destined to be apart from the one she loved, and Fate reached up to kiss away the crystal drops that were her tears. Though she knew it was just a dream. Though she knew this was a fantasy her mind had created, Fate swore she could taste the saltiness at the tip of her tongue.

The explosion broke Fate out of her trance and she shook her head violently to rid of the images inside. This was the third time of the day her mind had been playing trick on her. As hard as she tried, Fate always found herself replaying the scene of nearly eight months ago, when she'd had her very first kiss. The lingering feeling still etched into her body and soul and she kept having dreams of her and her first love tangling up with each other. Yes, Nanoha was her first love. She loved her, she realized, and it took her a decent amount of time to finally admit the truth.

"Water?" An old man asked Fate. He was carrying a yoke with two barrels on each side.

Fate stopped swinging her hammer and brought a ladle full of water to her mouth.

"Look at that. All them wagons headed for the Oklahoma Territory." said the old man as he and Fate looked over to the dirt road, where hundreds of wagons with loads of luggage, heavily rolling on their big wheels. Men, women and children were riding or walking besides their trailers, all heading to the same direction, Oklahoma. "I'd be going with them if I were as young as you." He said.

"Doesn't interest me." Fate said before going back to her work, striking the nail with her hammer.

0ooo0

"I had a woman once, but she didn't want me 'cause I had no money," grunted a man lying opposite Fate. "I should never have come to this place."

"That's America for you. Unless you're rich, you're nobody." laughed a young man under Fate's bed.

"Forget the women, boys. You got a job of work ahead of you." said their foreman as he turned down the light hanging above their heads.

They had boarded the train and now were ready to settle for the night. In the next two days, they'd be arriving at another mine to continue their work as coolies. Fate stared blankly at the dark ceiling of the train and felt her eyelids heavy with tiredness. Some where far in the deep recesses of her mind, she heard someone singing an old Irish song, the song her mother had sung on her last breath.

Fate was standing on the lawn of her home, overlooking the sea. Her hand trailed lightly over the stone wall that lined the rent land and her humble hut. And suddenly, her eyes spotted a figure in the dense fog. "Ma, is that you?" Fate asked.

Precia turned at the voice and smiled but her smile quickly switched to a concern frown. "Oh, Fate, you look like you're not doing so well, my child." She reached out and pulled her daughter into her arms.

"I missed you, Ma." Fate wound her arms around the older woman and buried her face in her chest, sobbing softly.

"One is nothing without land, they say," Fate heard her mother's soft voice as calm fingers gently combed through her hair. And she closed her eyes, inhaling deeply her scent of burnt grass and salt. "Land is a man's own soul."

And Fate suddenly found herself standing in the middle of a wheat field. It was sprouting. The vast field was bathed in a bright yellow color, spreading to the foot of the mountain. Fate saw herself smiling as she ran her hands through the golden river that was her own crops. "I'll work on my land someday." She murmured.

"If you manage it, by God, your old Ma…will be smiling down on you from heaven above." Precia whispered in her ears. She kissed her forehead before releasing her and slowly walked away.

Fate didn't go after her mother. She stood there, at the stone wall, and watched her disappear into the fog.

A sudden jerk woke Fate from her sleep. She lifted herself on her elbows and looked around. It was already morning, and though it was still pretty early, some orange and pink had dotted here and there in the gray sky.

"Stay where you are, boys. We're just stopping for water." said someone at the upper carriage.

Upon seeing someone talking and pointing out the window, Fate glanced toward the field from her open window and saw a long line of wagons and people continuing their quest for land stretch the grassy rut.

"Look, it's the pioneers," said a man.

"They go to Oklahoma, I think, for the land," said a dark-skinned man, who was sitting up on his bed. "They're just wasting time. There ain't enough land to go around."

"Aye, they're just dreaming. Think they're gonna get some free land."

The train was moving again, shaking its occupants momentarily. Fate had now sat straight up in bed, staring at the line of people. A light tug at her heart caused her to breathe faster. Was this excitement she felt for she thought she had lost it along with her heart eight months ago. And her mind immediately swiveled to the thought of an auburn beauty. Will she be there? She said she'd get there. The prospect of seeing her again gave Fate a brand new motivation. Even if they could not meet, Fate would still participate in the race, for her own good.

Truth to be told, she had been doing not so well lately. She worked herself til exhaustion everyday, slept a few hours on the train with the miners and then morning came and she repeated that cycle again. It had been going on like this for eight months and the though of owning her own land had been pushed back to the deep far end of her mind until today. The smile and the words of her mother jabbed at her not so gently. She had promised her on her dead bed she would get her land someday and her mother had said she would be very proud from the heaven. But at the way things were right now, Fate was afraid her mother could never rest in peace. So, it was the time for her to readjust her life, her goals. I will be doing this for my own.

And Fate jumped down from her bed, grabbed her things, put on her faded cowboy hat and ran to the end of the carriage.

"Hey Irish! Hey, mick, where do you think you're going?" yelled her foreman as Fate hopped off the train.

"I was on the wrong road!" Fate yelled back as she marched toward the procession, waving her hat in salute as some men poked their heads out the windows and gaped.

0ooo0

Fate walked with the people for a day and had learned that they were, mostly, poor farmers from Ireland, who were severely exploited by the landlords. They all, more or less, had the same condition as Fate's: being pushed to the end and finally break out. The people turned out to be very kind. They had shared food and water with Fate and some family had even offered her a place to sleep in their wagons. They were all kind and honest people who were only seeking a mean to raise their children.

"Look!" said a middle-aged woman, who was walking beside Fate. "Those are from the government." She pointed.

Fate looked to her left and saw large procession of men in dark blue uniform, riding on horses; they were all armed with guns and swords. Fate didn't need to be told. The Yankees, she thought. They were galloping ahead, holding America flags at their side and Fate took a blind guess that they were, also, heading for the race.

They walked persistently and only stopped to rest twice a day. And when Fate woke to the first ray of the day, they had finally reached the Oklahoma Territory. Here and there, people began to camp; white tents were scattered everywhere; makeshift shops with bustling sellers, bragging about their goods. Fate walked by a well-suited seller who was heatedly telling people nearby about his company's newest product. Fate peeked through the circle of people and saw a pristine well-driller.

A long line of people standing outside an office caught Fate's attention and she looked up to find a banner hung above the front door. There were letters on it but she couldn't read so she grabbed a man at the end of the line to ask for information. She found out that the wooden-walled office before them was the land office; men and women who wanted to race for land would have to resister here. Fate quickly stepped in line after she had heard from the man. Looking at the line, she sighed. It would be noon til her turn.

"Folks, each quarter section is marked. You run for land, remove the marker and drive in your own stake." said a soldier in uniform. He walked up the line; in his right hand was a white marker with black number on it and in his other hand, there were a yellow marker, which Fate assumed, was for the racers.

"The race begins tomorrow at noon." He said with finality.

As Fate had anticipated, when she got to stand in front of the registration desk, the sun had been high above their heads. An officer, also in blue uniform, asked Fate to sign her name on a parchment. He then gave her the contract and a marker, which was a forest green color.

Fate had quickly asked for a place to get a horse and was directed to a round pen. There were several horse stalls nearby but they were all empty.

"Well, you're a little late, cowboy," said the horse owner as he strode to Fate, leading beside him a gray horse. "Pickings are slim. Here's your horse, he's broke." He petted its head, smiling.

Fate's eyes suddenly spotted the only horse inside the pen; it was running wildly around, its coal-black skin shining in the sunlight. As if sensing Fate's stare, the black horse neighed loudly and began kicking its hindlegs up, in its own way of throwing threatens at the tall blonde.

"Now, that horse there-green broke," said the owner, jerking his head toward the black horse. "Know the difference?"

"Think I can see it." Fate answered without taking her eyes off the horse, who now was kicking at the fence.

"A broke horse is a dependable horse," said the owner, chewing on his tobacco. "A green broke horse, he's faster…"

"That sounds good. The faster, the better." Fate turned her head to the man, grinning.

"No telling what he'll do though. Hell, you could end up in Canada on that green broke son of a bitch. Stand back!"

They quickly got away from the fence when the black horse suddenly came running and kicking at them.

"I think I'll take the dependable horse." Fate said quietly to the owner.

"Wise choice."

After paying for the horse, Fate and her new pet walked around the campsite, watching people pitch their tents and wash their clothes. She passed by several men who were changing their horses' shoes for the race tomorrow. As she walked, something suddenly landed on her left boot, making a soft sound. Fate looked down and caught sight of a worn horseshoe; must be from the men nearby. She bent and took the metal in her hand, examined it. A familiar sensation washed over her, reminding her of the very first time she had met an angel. Then from her peripheral vision, Fate caught a glimse of brightly-burnt red hair. She quickly focus her gaze and, just a few feet away from her, there she was.

Nanoha was carrying a basket of apples. She looked strong and healthy; there was no sight of missing limbs. She walked with confident; her chin high, her nose up in the air and Fate chuckled. There was something that never changed. As if they had their own mind, Fate's feet automatically dragged her to the direction of the redhead. She didn't realize she had followed her a good few yards away from the main campsite until a frustrating voice snapped her out of her trance.

"Mother, the clothes will never come clean if you don't get your hands wet," Nanoha complained as her mother had been twisting a shirt round and round with only two fingers. She pushed her mother aside and grabbed the soap in one hand, the other with a shirt. "Here, take the soap and you plunge and scrub…"

"Plunge and scrub?" Momoko asked in disbelieve.

"Like so."

"Momoko! Momoko!" Shiro's voice called out breathlessly. He and a blond man (Fate growled when she realized who it was) were galloping toward Nanoha's camp. He hopped off his horse and ran to his terrified wife. "I'vebeen shot!"

"Shot?"

"Well, shot at, anyway…by the calvary." Despite the seriousness of the matter, Shiro was smiling ear to ear. "We crossed the starting line and we broke the law." He laughed, still short of breath.

"Shiro Takamachi, I will not have you riding tomorrow in that vulgarity of a race!" Momoko snapped, jabbing repeatedly at her husband's chest.

"The Wildwest suits me, Momoko. There's no telling what I might do." Shiro smiled brightly as he led his wife to their tent and poured themself a cup of tea.

"Nanoha!"

Fate and Nanoha both turned toward the sound to see Yunno Scrya striding to their camp with buoyant smile.

"Nanoha, I found it! Twenty miles straight west of here. It's paradise itself…" said Yunno, who couldn't content his smile. "You'll love it. The earth is dry and dirty here but where we'll live there's a winding stream…and the grass on the gentle hills grows high and rich and green…"

"It's the plot of land you've dreamed of." He added.

Nanoha looked him in the eyes and for a fleeting moment, Fate swore she saw a look of pity on the beauty's face. "Excuse me, Yunno." Nanoha said and walked pass the man without a glance back, leaving him dumbfounded. She dutifully hung a freshly-washed sheet over the hang and smoothed its surface, completely ignored him.

"Are you cross with me, Nanoha?" He asked softly, walking to her.

"Of course I am. We were doing this together, I thought."

"I couldn't take you with me today. It was too dangerous."

"I don't mind a little danger now and then." Nanoha snapped angrily.

Yunno yanked the clothes out of her hand and fixed his stare on her. "Stop this childishness. Are we not here, your parents and I, because you wanted this?"

Fate gritted her teeth painfully, wanting nothing more than to knock the man down and punch him til he saw stars but something in her held her back. She stood watching, heaving like a bull. She heard Yunno now lower his voice into whispers and she had to strain her ears to listen.

"Tomorrow we'll ride as one, together, side by side. We'll claim our land and then we'll marry…and finally settle down," said Yunno. His eyes were shimmering with hope. "You do want to settle down, don't you?"

Nanoha was deathly quiet. She averted her eyes from his gaze, looking torn. And Fate could imagine a battle raging inside that pretty head. Don't say yes. Please don't, Fate pleaded silently.

"Nanoha…"

"Yes, I do. I want to settle down." Nanoha finally said, attempting a smile but it soon faltered. But fortunately, Yunno didn't notice for he was too happy to hear her answer.

"There now. That's better." He said, leaning in and pecked her cheek. "I hate to see you angry. It isn't your nature to be so." And he walked away, toward the horses.

Fate shoulders sagged when she heard Nanoha's words. Maybe after all those months apart, she had finally chosen to erase Fate.

0ooo0

Nanoha continued with her work. She flapped a tablecloth hard and chastised herself for saying yes to Yunno. Yes, she did want to settle down but not with him. To be honest, he was the last person she wanted to be with. It wasn't because he was a bad guy. Yunno was, actually, a gentleman; he treated her like a princess. But he was the type of man that would want his wife to always be obedient and Nanoha truly felt sorry for him because she would never ever be obedient to anybody.

No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't imagine him in her life as her husband. The thought gave her a dreaded feeling everytime. However, whenever she imagined herself standing in front of her ranch, watching her horses, strong arms from behind would encircle her waist; arms of another blonde, who had beautiful red eyes. It took Nanoha three months after the incident to realize her true feelings: she cared for Fate, she loved her. And when the nights came, she yearned for her touch. She lost count of how many times she woke up with a start, replaying her very embarrassing and very inappropriate dreams involving her striking blonde.

Nanoha shook her head. This wasn't the time to think about her. You have better things to take care of!

She was hanging a pillowcase when suddenly she heard her name from behind. It was a familiar voice, soft and warm. Nanoha slowly turned around and she instantly felt weak in the knees at the sight before her. Fate stood there, few feet away, and she looked older, wilder. Her skin reflected a tan color that reminded Nanoha of caramel candy, sweet and shiny; her golden hair was now longer, brushing her shoulders in wavy locks; her wine eyes shined brightly under the shade of the cowboy hat; her trademark crooked grin adorned her perfect sharp jaws so that whenever she cocked her head slightly to the side, Nanoha was always reminded of the face of a Greek Goddess she used to read in her textbook; a thin mask of dust swept across her cheeks, giving her face the harden look that contrast greatly with her personalities. Her clothes were baggy and worn out; her boots were faded and stained with dirt. She was slouching on one of her long legs, a sack over her shoulder. She looked like a real cowboy, a striking one. Nanoha must admit, Fate had never looked so attractive.

"Hello, Fate." She replied. "I wondered if I'd see you here. I suspected that I might."

"That's right." Fate smiled, taking off her hat. She slowly walked to her and stopped at the appropriate distance. The basket was the only thing between them. "You look…well."

"I'm here with my family. We came by train." Nanoha looked away, busied herself with the clothes again.

"I came by train myself."

"You'll be running in the race tomorrow, I presume."

"I always said I'd get my land. I even bought a horse, a fine horse." Fate said proudly.

"Well…Time takes care of everything, doesn't it?"

Fate stared at her for a while before finally darting her gaze away. She fiddled with her hat absent-mindedly, saying, "Everything's worked out as it should have. Don't you agree?"

Nanoha found she had got lost in liquid-red eyes again as their gaze met. There, she saw it, the flicker of longing and sadness and she realized with a start that her reflection in Fate's eyes also resembled the same emotions the blonde was experiencing at the moment. She loved Fate but she couldn't show. What point in telling her of her feelings when their ways had now parted. And would Fate want to know? Would Fate accept her? She realized with dread that she was never certain of the blonde's feelings.

Suddenly remembered that she still hadn't answered Fate, Nanoha cleared her throat and looked down. She nodded slowly.

"Good luck tomorrow, Fate." Nanoha finally said, breaking the silence. She held out her hand for Fate.

"Aye, best of luck to you, Nanoha." Fate shook her hand without hesitation.

They dropped their hands and Fate turned to walk away. Nanoha returned to her work but her mind had already wandered off.

"Nanoha Takamachi!"

Nanoha jerked out of her tumor, looking at the blonde quizzically. And she saw Fate smiled, the kind of toothy smile Fate'd only showed her once, when she had said something venomous.

"You never gave up. You knew what you wanted back in Ireland. And look at you…Here you are…"

Her mouth's tugged upward into a small smile; she clenched the sheet in her hands tightly. Nanoha wanted to say something. She wanted Fate to know.

"You're a corker, Nanoha." She said, grinning at her. "What a corker you are..." And Fate put her hat back on and turned her back to her, walking away with determination.

Nanoha felt her eyes sting and her throat rasp. She watched the figure of her lover blended into the crowd of people and clutched at her chest. How many times had she watched Fate walked away? Why did it hurt everytime? And why did she always let her walk away? Those were the questions she would never had answers for, she concluded.

Nanoha quickly rubbed her eyes and felt wetness. She forcefully took a breath and exhaled slowly in order to calm her mind. Then she turned her back to the dirt road and continued with her work.

0ooo0

Fate walked back to where her horse was tied. She was feeling exceptionally excited. May it be the race tomorrow or the fact that Nanoha, too, would be joining. However, Fate didn't really care. Nanoha was here and that was enough. The hope, which had been pushed back deep inside of her, now resurfaced. Indeed, Fate was hoping that she could win Nanoha back.

"Beautiful country, isn't it?"

Fate looked up immediately and saw her worst nightmare. Yunno Scrya stepped out from a parlor and stood in the front porch with hands on either side of his waist, sneering at her. He walked down the small steps arrogantly.

"I found the perfect piece of land for Nanoha and me. Almost a picture of what she described. The land of her dreams." He smirked.

"Congratulations." Fate muttered quietly, leading her horse pass the blond man.

"Just what the hell are you doing here?" Yunno hissed. He stepped backward, blocking her path. "You bring her to me bleeding, and now you think you can talk to her?" He shoved at her shoulder roughly, pushing Fate back a few steps.

Fate was all ready to charge back at him but she noticed people around them started pointing and talking. The last thing she wanted right now was for the police to arrest them, and she knew too well that no one would touch a hair on Yunno's head because of his money, but she…She was a different story.

"Stay away from her. You hear me? There'll be a lot of confusion in the race tomorrow. Someone could get shot…" He threatened hotly before stomping away.

Fate found herself in a makeshift pub, venting her anger on the drunkards. But fortunately, they were all too drunk to even hear what she had been saying for the last two hours.

"They've got their land all picked out, the pair of them," Fate swung her glass in the air angrily. "The land of her dreams…"

She downed the last gulps of beer and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"All those months…I was trying to forget about her. I was laying down the very track that brought her here-" She suddenly tripped on the wooden bar that framed the pub and fell outside, tearing the fabric of the tent in the process.

Fate shook her head and propped up on her elbows. She quickly stood up and jumped to the side to dodge a running horse, whose owner was firing consecutive in the air, probably already drunk. After hurling curses at him, she walked back in the pub and heard laughters and snickers from the drunkards, all coming at her.

"Well, to hell with everyone!" Fate laughed along with everyone. She bent down and picked her hat up from the ground. "Tomorrow, I ride for me. Me alone…and my horse." She put on her hat and staggered out of the pub.

Fate strode to the railing where the horses were tied and stopped dead in her track. "Sweet Mary and Jesus…" That was all she could muttered at the moment as her new-purchased horse was now lay limp on the ground, very dead; its muzzle was still tied tightly to the railing.

"That was the oldest horse I ever saw in my life." said an old man, who stood not far away from Fate; in his mouth was a very dirty-looking pipe.

0ooo0

The sun was blazing in the sky, looking down smugly at the tiny humans beneath it as they hurriedly lined up their horses and wagons. Women and men rushed back and forth, loading their things onto heaving horses and creaking wagons; kids ran around the camp, helping their parents load up the goods. They were all busy packing, ready for the coming race.

Stood on the high sentry boxes were soldiers in dark blue. They were armed with heavy riffles and big binoculars. Next to them were huge cameras and men in suit, who could only be journalists; the soldiers were chatting casually with the men, some even laughed merrily. But their conversations were interrupted by the laughings from the crowd below and they quickly turned their head to the commotion.

A coal-dark horse was wrecking havoc in the middle of the field. Its rider, who was bouncing up and down on its back, was yelling in fear. She tried to pull the reins, calming the horse but to no avail. The horse suddenly raised on its hindlegs, making Fate slide on its back. She hastily grabbed on to its neck but the skin was too smooth she slipped and fell on her butt with a loud thunk.

"I sold her that horse." Her seller said, pointing at her excitingly. He then joined with the people laughing at her.

Fate quickly stood on her feet and climbed on the horse again. She tightened her hold on the reins and drawed it back roughly. The animal didn't relent; it began kicking its legs, rocking Fate up and down. But as stubborn as itself, the blonde on its back was still there, sticking to the saddle.

"The race is that way, lass."

Fate looked up abruptly at the voice and saw Yunno and Nanoha riding together. Yunno was beaming, watching her with malice but Nanoha was spotting a concern look. Had Fate was not too occupied by her horse, she would give the girl a compliment of how good she looked in that fancy blue dress. Nanoha was really impressive when she was riding a horse.

Yunno strode on his horse toward Fate and deliberately flapped his marker in the animal's vision. Startled, the horse jerked its head violently out of Fate's grasp and rose on its fore legs. Fate fell again and was dragged a few feet away as one of her legs was tangled with the reins.

"Forget your horse, kid…and find yourself a donkey." said Yunno as he laughed along with the men. Then he galloped to the line, leaving behind a very angry Fate.

"Fate." Nanoha called as she passed by. "Take him by the bit." She looked at her for a moment longer before taking off to Yunno's.

Fate grabbed the reins. She looked over to the front line where people were now waiting in anticipation. The air was very still as well as men and horses. They were waiting with baited breath, eyes straining ahead. Fate suddenly heard a gunshot coming from the line of soldiers. She looked about but couldn't see anything.

"Jesus, they shot the man." A man whispered in fear.

"He was running ahead of time. He broke the law." said a woman.

Fate gulped. This race was truly deadly and the soldiers, indeed, didn't joke about shooting people.

The kids at the back suddenly all pointing toward the sentry and Fate looked to their hands' direction. The chief's right arm was up in the air; he was looking down at his pocket watch, waiting. And suddenly, he yelled.

"Fire!"

The canon fired, jerking the horses at the line and after a few seconds stunned, they all charged forward. Men and women were howling in excitement as they kicked at their horses. And very quickly, the field was now dotted with black, white and brown as horses, men and heavy wagons invaded the unclaimed land ahead.

Fate tightened her hands on the reins of her horse, jerking its head down to look her in the eyes. "I have no wish to fight you." She muttered before throwing a hard punch at its head.

The horse whined in pain and finally submitted. Fate hurried on its back and kicked her boots at its sides. The animal let out an impressive neigh and ran headfirst into the open field.

"Woah!" Fate yelped and immediately held on to her horse's neck.

The black monster galloped its way through men and wagons, passing them with ease. The rushing wind slapped at Fate's face, throwing her hat away. Blonde hair was pulled back, shining brightly in the sun. Fate looked around her; a carriage was flipped upside down due to a hidden rock on the ground, its owner hurried to his goods, swearing loudly; here and there, some horses fell on their legs, throwing the people on their backs a few feet ahead. They landed on the ground hard but seemed to be okay as they stood up quickly and claimed the saddles again.

Fate urged her horse to go faster with her boots. She yelled loudly, slapping the reins at the aninmal repeatedly. The unruly horse turned out to be the fastest horse. It passed every other horses on its way and still, showed no sign of fatigue. Fate had started last but now, she was in the top first.

She ran passed the green field where people had claimed their land and now began to settle their things. A gunfire was suddenly heard from behind her and she turned to see men from a distance away shooting at each other for the claim of land. And Fate remembered Yunno's words. People could kill for land. She suddered and looked around, trying desperately to find a red-haired girl. On her path, Fate saw men and women everywhere were now unpacking their supplies, building their own tents on their new-claimed land. But she couldn't stop. She must find her. She must.

And there she was. Rich red hair flowing impressively in the wind; sky-like blue dress fluttered at her sides. She had her horse jumped over a pool of falling barrels and landed graciously on the ground. She was truly magnificent. She was Artemis herself.

Fate watched her and Yunno galloping separately from other people to a different direction. Without hesitation, she wheeled her horse to follow them.

0ooo0

"There it is. Come on!" Yunno called to her.

They were standing on a cliff over looking a stream below. The scenery was beautiful, very impressive with high, thick trees on either sides of the stream. The clear, fresh water made Nanoha wish she had bring a swim suit with her; she could even see fish from high up here.

Yunno urged his horse forward. He slid down the precipice of the cliff, small trees and bush held him back but his horse finally broke through and jumped into the stream.

"Come on, Nanoha!" yelled Yunno as he looked up at her. He then ran up ahead.

Nanoha didn't need to be told twice. She urged her horse, steadying her horse down the steep slope. But on her way down, a branch of a bush had stuck to her dress and as her horse made its final jump in the stream, Nanoha was jerked back. She fell off her horse into the water. "Yunno! Wait!" She yelled before slipping again.

Yunno turned to look at her. Instead of coming to her for help, he just stood there." Get up, Nanoha! Get up!" He roared impatiently. "Grab the reins!"

Nanoha was still struggle with her wet dress. She cursed loudly at the dress as it was now heavy and stuck to her legs, making it difficult to stand. Suddenly, she heard someone coming down from the cliff. Nanoha looked up and couldn't believe in her eyes. It was Fate.

"Are you alright, Nanoha?" asked Fate as she bent down and held out her hand. She pulled her up from her mess; hand held tight to hers.

Nanoha had almost cried the moment she saw the blonde but held back in time. They stood, looking at each other for a while before jerking their heads to the sound of Yunno galloping toward them. He looked murderous. His face was now purple and Nanoha could see the veins on his forehead.

Nanoha grabbed Fate's arm to bring her attention to her. "Go, Fate. Go! Ride! Go get your land." She whispered urgently.

Fate was hesitant at first but Nanoha had slapped at her horse and she finally rode away, heading straight to Yunno. The two of them were riding with fearful speed; eyes glimmered with murder for each other. Nanoha gasped when she saw Yunno pulled out a gun from his jacket and as he galloping to Fate, he aimed at her.

Gunshot filled her ears and she cried out but to her relief, Fate had grabbed the man's wrist and pulled it up in the air. Yunno was now firing in the sky, struggling to break loose from Fate's grasp. They were playing the tug of war, with the prize was the gun.

Finally, Fate yanked the gun away from Yunno's hand and at the same time, threw a punch in his face. She kicked him in the stomach, knocking him off his horse. "You're not in Ireland anymore, you arrogant bastard!" She snapped at him.

Nanoha watched as Fate chanced one last glance in her way before riding off on her horse. Fate had gone. She'd gone to claim her land, her dream. Then what about her? What was her dream? What was the thing that she'd always wanted? I want you. And Nanoha laughed. She touched her face and realized that she had been crying. She wiped the tears away quickly and climbed on her horse.

"Damn it, Nanoha! Do you want your land or do you not?" Nanoha heard Yunno cursing, moving back to his wandering horse. His perfectly-combed hair was now slick and matted with water, sticking to his head like a second skin.

Nanoha didn't wait for Yunno. She ran passed him and followed Fate's track. She got off the stream onto the ground and galloped toward the open green field ahead. She could now see Fate. The blonde jumped of her horse and landed right at the white marker that numbered the piece of land. She plucked it from the ground and threw it away.

"This land is mine! Mine by destiny!" Fate cried, holding her own marker up in the air.

Nanoha slowed her horse and smiled at Fate. Her ears deterred another horse coming but she didn't care. She was happy, for Fate, for herself. Now that she knew what she wanted, she would tell Fate, tell her that she wanted to live with her.

But Fate's smile quickly disappeared and slowly, she dropped her hand to her side, staring sadly at Nanoha.

"What are you doing, Fate? Go ahead. Claim your land!"

"Nanoha!" yelled Yunno angrily. "Claim it!" He stared hard at her but she just shook her head. "If you don't…" Yunno muttered and then wheeled his horse around, charging at Fate.

Nanoha watched in horror as Fate bolted toward a fuming horse. She jumped up and grabbed at the man, pulling him off his horse. Upon having two weights at one side, the horse lost its balance and fell on its side. Yunno was lucky as he fell off on the opposite side of the horse but Fate wasn't. The animal crushed her beneath its weight as it rolled over to stand up. Fate's head hit a hidden rock and Nanoha screamed as she saw red.

"Oh my God! Fate, no!" She rushed to her but Yunno held her back.

"Don't touch her, Nanoha!"

"Get away!"

"Listen-"

And she slapped him hard across the face.

"Leave, Yunno!" Nanoha said before coming to see Fate. She sat next to her lying form, tore off the hem of her dress and dabbed it at the back of her blonde's head. The color was drenched from her face when she saw massive blood on the cloth. "Oh God! Fate, look at me! Please, look at me…"

"Nanoha…" She looked up and saw Yunno standing above. "Don't do this." He shook his head.

She glared at him one last time and turned her attention back to Fate. She'd made her point very clear when she told him to leave.

"You've made your choice." Yunno snarled and then threw the marker at her feet. He got to his horse, climbed up and rode away, leaving the two of them alone.

"Nanoha…" Fate called weakly. Her pupils dilated in fear.

"I'm here, Fate. Look at me…"

"I feel myself dying, Nanoha…"

"No, you stay looking at my eyes. Look at my eyes, Fate. You're not dying Fate. Look! You've got your land!"

"But all the land in the world means nothing to me without you…" Fate shook her head. "I tried to prove myself to you, but I know nothing of books, alphabets…or sun…or moon-"

"All I know is that Fate loves Nanoha. Very much. That's all that matters to me…" she continued in a shaking voice.

Nanoha felt her tears leaking; the drops fell on Fate's shirt. She caressed her face, smoothed her palms over her hair repeatedly. She was suddenly speechless. She was,somehow, had been aware of Fate's feelings for her but pride and fear stopped her from asking. She had been doubting herself if she really wanted Fate that way. And when she watched Fate fell on the floor, in a pool of blood, she had understood. She had known why her heart had constricted painfully when they threw Fate out on the street or how when Fate had kissed her, her heart started beating faster. And all those months, she had tried to forget her, telling herself that it would never worked. But her heart had betrayed her again when she saw Fate at the race.

Fate's soft intake of air brought her back to the reality. She looked down and saw red eyes were dilating again and this time, they were moving much faster. "Fate?"

"I'm so tired, Nanoha. I think I'm going to close my eyes for a bit."

Nanoha instantly panicked. She held her face in her palms, "No, stay with me! Don't fall asleep, Fate."

"Just for a bit…"

"No! You can't sleep! I won't allow-…Fate, please…"

But Fate closed her eyes and stayed like that. Her breathing was now so low that Nanoha could no longer hear it. She shook Fate's shoulders; she called her name; she stroked her cheeks; she pulled at her shirt but Fate kept quiet all the while. Nanoha felt her tears again.

"No! Fate, no! You can't do this to me!" Nanoha burried her face in Fate's chest and sobbed, wetting her front. "Don't leave me…Please, God in heavens, please…"

"This is our dreams. I don't want this without you…I loved you…" She kept crying. "I loved you from the first time I saw you…"

"I often wondered about that."

"Fate!" Nanoha looked up from Fate's chest. "But…but you died. You died."

"You could be sure I won't be dying twice." Fate smiled as she gently stroked her tear-stained face.

Nanoha jumped her, kissing her head, her face and stopped at her lips. She kissed Fate sensually, using her tongue to massage Fate's. She felt her blonde wound her arm around her back and pulled her down. Fate tucked a lock of red hair behind her ear and caressed her cheek and Nanoha lowered her head, whispering, "I love you."

"I love you." Fate whispered back and captured her lips once again.

They only broke their kiss when they heard shouts and howls from afar. Nanoha sat up and saw men riding on horses coming toward them. She turned to look at her lover and saw Fate had already grabbed the marker. She, too, took hold of it and together, they drove the stake to the ground, sealing their fate.

The End

AN: Ahhh, do you like it? I hope you do. Oh, I know what you would be saying. ('What? No smut? Lame.' Something like that, eh?) But I think I'll stop here and let your imagination run wild haha. (But maybe I'll write a smut scene but it will be in the Epilogue, or maybe not hehe)

Anyway, I was thinking of starting a new story featuring NanoFate and of course, continuing YM&V, too. So, hang in there folks. I have things in store for you.

Thank you for your support! Love you guys~

P/s: I didn't check for grammars and typos at all. So sorry!