Author's Note: Thank you rosidekeren, for the kind reminder. :)
Enjoy! :D
TWO DAYS AFTER VIVIO GOT CAPTURED
It happened suddenly, unpredictably. It was a normal day for Section Six. They were in their own training grounds, training for the upcoming 'war'. In the morning, at six am sharp, Yuuno and Nanoha ran three kilometres then did some serious workouts up to eight. They had a short break, and then joined up with the rest of Section Six, battling different types of gadget drones and having mock battles.
The sun was up high and Yuuno reached up to wipe the sweat off his brow before it slid into his eyes. He wiped his hand on his barrier jacket and tightened his grip on Celestial Heart; the cool metal felt good against his warm body.
The hairs on his neck raised and Yuuno spun around, summoning a round shield just in time.
"Round Shield," Celestial Heart said.
"Break through it, Eisen!" a familiar voice cried out.
Vita was above Yuuno, her eyes flashing and her mouth set in a hard line. Her hammer, Eisen had grown bigger until it seemed impossible for such a small girl to use it, let alone lift it; it was around five times her size.
More pressure was put on Yuuno, orange and green sparks flying as force and force came head on. Yuuno inched backwards slightly. His right arm shuddered as the giant hammer lowered an inch successfully.
Yuuno gritted his teeth and said, "Strengthen it, Celestial Heart."
"Yes, my master," Celestial Heart replied.
Streaks of green light flew to the staff, especially near the device, and then with a flash, the cracked shield shone, like a freshly polished shoe. Vita blinked once then pushed harder as she realized the shield was harder to break.
Damn.
Magic circles formed underneath Vita and she jerked back, Eisen growing back to a more convenient size. She somersaulted then back flipped, narrowly missing the binding trap Yuuno set out. Yuuno closed his eyes and then strong, green binds appeared on Vita's wrists and ankles. She swore impressively then scowled, turning away.
"Fine, you win this one. Good job, you're getting better."
"Thanks Vita."
"…Just get me out."
Yuuno chuckled, ignoring the death glare Vita shot him. He waved a hand nonchalantly, the binds shattering as he did so. He turned around and smiled to the rest of Section Six. They had been divided into pairs and were ordered to have a mock battle. Apart from Yuuno and Vita, Nanoha and Teana were taking a drink under a tree.
Nanoha brightened as she spotted Yuuno and waved them over to join. Several plastic bottles were lined up against the trunk of the oak tree. Vita raised an eyebrow, looking at them. Nanoha tossed them small bottled water and smiled. "It's a hot day," she explained, somewhat blushing.
"Yeah. It's a hot day, even for summer. But, for some reason, I have a bad feeling about this, Nanoha," Vita said, frowning as she stared into the cloudless sky.
"Eh?" Nanoha and Yuuno said in unison, turning to Vita at the same time too.
Vita popped opened the small bottle and took huge gulps. She wiped her hand across her face and turned to them.
"I have a bad feeling." She said.
Nanoha laughed nervously. "Well, I hope that it's just the hot weather."
"Yeah, me too," Vita said in the same tone as Nanoha.
There was an awkward silence; the only noises were the battle cries, the sound of metal clashing and magic.
Teana stood up, nervously. "Um, I'll just, uh, go and get some more water. I think everyone will need some."
"Yes. It is a hot day," Nanoha said.
Teana bowed sharply then jogged back into the building.
Yuuno stood up, stretching his back. "I'll go for a walk. My legs are getting stiff."
"Old man," Vita muttered under her breath in which Yuuno happily ignored.
"Ah, I'll come too. Vita?" Nanoha jumped up, grinning.
Vita shook her head. "No thanks."
"Then we'll be back soon," Nanoha said as the pair walked into the light woods. Vita smiled at them, just as a pair of feet paused next to her. Teana dropped the bottles and sat down on the plush green grass.
"Eh? Where are Nanoha-san and Yuuno-sensei?" she asked.
"Gone for a walk." Came the crisp reply.
"Oh."
Meanwhile, Nanoha and Yuuno were enjoying the small breeze, trying to cool down.
"Yuuno-kun?"
Yuuno turned to Nanoha.
"Yes?" he asked the brunette.
"About your past…"she hesitated, looking at Yuuno expectedly. Yuuno stiffened but he made a motion to let Nanoha go on. She cleared her throat and began again.
"Um, about your past, I just want to let you know that, um, that, err, that Section Six will stand by you, Yuuno-kun," she hurried.
Yuuno blinked and Nanoha felt a sinking motion. Was he offended?
Yuuno smiled. "Thanks. I needed to hear that."
Nanoha smiled back. Then the gentle breeze picked up wildly, and they nearly lost their balance. Nanoha put up a hand to hold down her hair, the other searching wildly for Yuuno in the midst of the leaves, bark and sticks.
"Yuuno-kun, Yuuno-kun, where are you?" she shouted.
There was only the sound of the harsh wind. Nanoha closed her eyes, taking deep breaths, trying not to panic. When she seemed calmed enough, she reached mentally for Yuuno.
Yuuno-kun, where are you?
To her relief, there was an answer.
I don't know. And I don't know why the wind turned into a sandstorm. Um, I'll fly into the sky, away from the mess. I'll meet you there?
Good idea!
Several seconds later, she spotted a green ball of light expanding, then finally shattering into a comet as it flew higher into the sky to her right, several hundred metres away. Nanoha chuckled. Trust Yuuno to be the smart one.
She let go of her hair, the side ponytail swinging wildly, blocking her view as she fumbled for Raising Heart. Finally, her fingers clasped around the cool ruby.
"Raising Heart, Set up!"
"All right, my master!" Raising Heart agreed.
There was a ball of pink light surrounding her, the sphere blocking away the noise. Then she felt lighter and lighter. The light disappeared and she was in her barrier jacket. Without wasting any time, she shot off into the sky, clutching Raising Heart for all her life, fearing that she'll lose her favourite battle companion.
Dread and worry struck her. Were the others okay? She closed her eyes again.
Fate, Hayate, Vita, Signum, Shamal, Zafira, Teana, Subaru, Erio, Caro, Arf, everyone, are you alright?
I'm okay. You, Nanoha? Fate asked, worried.
I'm absolutely fine. Nanoha? Hayate asked.
Damn this wind. I can't even see my hands and they're like thirty centimetres in front of my face! Where's everyone by the way? Vita cursed.
I don't know. Hey, everyone let's meet up in the sky, Yuuno-kun is somewhere up there and I'm on my way. Nanoha suggested.
Good idea. Bardiche?
Reinforce?
And there were several calls to their devices as they transformed into their barrier jackets again. Nanoha put her right arm above her eyes trying to see. She willed to fly faster, the wings on her boots growing. She looked around and she could see a yellow streak to her left. Nanoha smiled and changed slightly to the left, flying next to Fate.
Fate paused in surprise then slowed down. She smiled at Nanoha, her mouths forming silent words. Nanoha shook her head and made a shrugging gesture. Fate frowned and switched to telepathy.
Are you okay?
Nanoha smiled. Totally fine. What happened when the wind started?
Fate paused. Well, Signum and I were in the middle of a match; Signum was swinging her sword at me and then the wind came up and we were separated.
Everyone, I think we're trapped. Subaru interrupted them
Eh? Everyone shouted.
Well, I was flying up and then I hit an invisible wall. I tried to get through but it seems to just absorb it. Teana explained.
Like an AMF? Hayate asked, worried.
Probably… Subaru trailed off.
Why would they want to trap us? Vita asked as everyone realised what was happening.
Oh God, that explains everything. Vivio, Jail, Velandor…they don't want us to stop it…the Cradle. Yuuno said weakly, breathing heavily.
I'll contact TSAB! Teana said, sending a transmitter. No! It can't get through. The signal is too weak! She cried out.
Teana, calm down. The last thing we need is panic. The shield thingy must be blocking it. Subaru calmed her down. And it isn't like you to panic anyway…
Fate-san? Erio asked.
Yes?
I have an idea. Commander Hayate, Nanoha-san, and you are our strongest mages. Can you try to cast a spell to stop the wind first?
Good thinking, Erio.
Erio seemed to blush. T-t-thanks. He stammered.
Alright! Nanoha, Hayate, where are you?
Hayate and Nanoha flew beside Fate. Hayate opened her book. The others stepped back and Hayate raised an arm. Just as the SS rank mage was about to cast a spell, Jail Scaglietti appeared in front of the Cradle through a screen.
"I see our guests have come. Welcome, to my new Cradle! Hahaha!" The mad scientist laughed, and the wind around the Cradle ceased.
The Cradle was lifted off the ground once again. Jail Scaglietti laughed in the ship, together with his three numbers and Velanor. Vivio, with a Relic fused in her, sat in the Throne Room, crying for help.
Vice got his Storm Raider in his hands. Rein and Agito performed Unison-In with Hayate and Signum. The numbers joined in too.
When everyone reached the Cradle, the gadget drones attacked the intruders. Nanoha cleared the path with Axel Shooter.
Fate attacked with her Bardiche Zanber when she neared the Cradle, wanting to make an entrance for everyone, but she was repelled from the Cradle when she tried to do so. Even Subaru, in her cyborg mode, could not land an attack on it.
"Those whip marks must have been a spell to stop all of you from intercepting the Cradle," Yuuno reasoned, as he destroyed four units of gadget drones using Holy Shooter.
"Very smart, Mr Scrya; indeed, Velanor casted a spell to prevent those friends of yours who stopped my dream… Needless to say, the other numbers who joined you cannot fight in the Cradle too." Jail Scaglietti said through a screen in front of the Cradle.
"It'll be interesting, to see you fight alone, Yuuno. I'll be waiting for you, for the Jewel Seeds…" Velanor trailed off, and gave a small smile.
"Yuuno, go save Vivio and stop the Cradle. You know what will happen when it reaches orbit, so please. Everyone will maintain the front line defence and destroy the gadget drones." Hayate said.
"I understand. Take care, everyone." As the librarian flew off, Nanoha stopped him.
"Take my cartridges. You need them more than I do; don't worry, I have enough spares." The brunette handed him a dozen magazines. Nodding his thanks, Yuuno took off.
"Exceed Drive!" Yuuno ordered.
"Ignition," Celestial Heart responded, changing to its more advanced mode, giving Yuuno's barrier jacket a bulkier form.
As the Assault Squad went ahead first, Yuuno made a hole in the Cradle and flew in. As he was about to reach the floor, the wings on his shoes grew smaller as the AMF in the Cradle took effect.
Since he could fly even without the wings on his shoes, he cancelled Holy Fin.
The Engine Room and the Throne Room are equally important. If I stopped Vivio first, the Cradle may reach the orbit before I could destroy the engine. After a few moments of thinking, Yuuno headed for the Engine Room first.
"Conducting WAS. This will take some time." Celestial Heart said. Leaving small balls of green light behind him, Yuuno found gadget drones in front of him.
"Strike Flame," Celestial Heart intoned, creating a energy bayonet from the tip of Celestial Heart.
"ACS Driver!" Green wings extended out from Celestial Heart as Yuuno charged through the gadget drones. Soon, the mage reached the Engine Room. The core of the engine was encased in a diamond.
Yuuno used Holy Shooter to destroy the cubes of robots guarding the core, and probed the core with Celestial Heart.
"Reach it!" Yuuno cried, and the tip of the energy bayonet pierced through the hard casing. Charging an Excelion Buster in the casing, Yuuno released the spell in the core and sealed up the hole he made in the diamond casing.
"Celestial Heart, maintain the Excelion Buster in the core until I tell you to shoot it," Yuuno said.
"All right," The device replied.
Yuuno charged back and flew as fast he could to the Throne Room, which was at the other side of the Cradle.
When the librarian reached the Throne Room, Vivio was sitting in the throne, with Velanor, Jail and his four numbers standing beside her.
"Vivio, I've come to save you!" Yuuno said, and glared at Jail and Velanor.
He attacked the criminals, but they disappeared as soon as he hit them; an illusion by Quattro. Vivio shouted in pain and transformed into her Saint Armour.
"Listen, Your Majesty. The man in front of you took away your mamas. Destroy him." Quattro said, in the deepest part of the Cradle with Velanor, Jail Scaglietti, Uno, Tre and Sette.
"When the time is right, I will go up there and take the Jewel Seeds. After that, I can join Al Hazard. Ah, I can't wait!" Velanor hissed.
Meanwhile, Vivio was fighting with Yuuno. Seeing that Vivio punches with magic, Yuuno changed Celestial Heart into its Sword Mode. After battling for half an hour, everyone in the deepest part of the Cradle could not believe it. Especially Quattro, as a green ball of light flew in to meet them.
"Area Search? That's impossible; the Cradle has been redesigned and this is the deepest part of the Cradle…" Quatto exclaimed.
"He won't be able to attack us; this part of the Cradle is laid with the strongest AMF on the whole ship." Uno said.
"Restrict Lock," Celestial Heart produced a bind around Vivio, changing back to Excelion Mode.
"Excelion Buster!" Yuuno began charging up a huge Excelion Buster, and releasing it. The Excelion Buster slammed through the walls of the Cradle and was about to blast through the deepest part of the Cradle when a transparent barrier of AMF blocked the attack.
"Whew, I thought we're going to be defeated again." Quattro heaved a sigh of relief. As the strong AMF was beginning to eat away Yuuno's Excelion Buster, the blonde man gritted his teeth.
Celestial Heart loaded four more cartridges and the Excelion Buster became stronger, eventually getting through the barrier of AMF.
"Full Power!" Yuuno shouted, as the bombardment spell smashed through the barrier and to the deepest part of the Cradle. At the same moment, the core of the Engine Room was also destroyed by the already charged Excelion Buster.
Jail Scaglietti and his numbers laid on the ground, and the whole place was in ruins. Velanor managed to teleport herself out and she was standing behind Yuuno.
"Give me the Jewel Seeds!" She demanded, her voice shaking with anger and impatience. Velanor waved her whip wildly, attacking Yuuno. The blonde man created a barrier around him.
"Meteor Shower," Celestial Heart said, and began charging up a dozen Divine Busters. After using two magazines, Yuuno reloaded another magazine and combined the Divine Busters.
"Shoot!" He yelled, and the bombardment spell was released. Velanor raised her strongest barrier, but the Meteor Shower blasted straight through the barrier and she took a direct hit.
Since when did he become this strong? Velanor thought as she was knocked out.
Panting, Yuuno looked at the woman, now unconscious, lying on the ground. Vivio broke the Restrict Lock around and continued to attack Yuuno. Both of them fired a bombardment spell, and there was a blinding flash of light.
"Vivio, please stop! It's me, Yuuno-sensei!" The librarian said, looking at the girl, who was clutching her head.
"Save me, Yuuno-sensei! I want to go back to Nanoha-mama and Fate-mama!" Vivio cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Yuuno nodded, and casted a Struggle Bind around her. Vivio tried to break out, but with her magic being cancelled away, she was trapped.
Yuuno had begun to charge up a Moonlight Breaker.
"Moonlight Breaker!" The green bombardment spell was released, engulfing Vivio in a green light. The Relic separated from Vivio soon enough.
"Break SHOOT!" The Relic was broken into pieces as Yuuno finished his attack. Panting heavily, when the smoke had cleared from firing Moonlight Breaker, Yuuno went forward to look for Vivio. The girl was in a massive hole in the floor of the Throne Room, caused by Yuuno's Moonlight Breaker.
The blonde man picked the girl up and he contacted Hayate and the others.
"I'll teleport everyone out before the Cradle cancels all magic links." Yuuno said briefly to Hayate.
"Roger. We'll meet you outside." Hayate replied.
A green magic circle appeared under Yuuno's feet, and he raised his device.
"Upward clearance confirmation. A firing lock is cancelled. Buster set." Celestial Heart said.
Firing a Divine Buster, Yuuno made an exit for himself and flew out, teleporting the criminals out.
When Yuuno flew out to meet his friends, he landed on Subaru's Wing Road.
Fate and Nanoha embraced Vivio and thanked the librarian. Yuuno was about to change out of his barrier jacket when Chrono called the group through a transmitter.
"It seems that the dimensional fleet cannot make it in time, everyone. There's a 15 minutes gap, so the Cradle must be shot down from where you are." Chrono informed.
"Let's do our thing, Nanoha, Hayate." Fate said.
"It's no use. My spell still lingers; the only way to dispel it is for me to gain the Jewel Seeds." Velanor smirked. Yuuno called out the twelve Jewel Seeds and let them float around the woman.
A deep purple light surrounded the three aces, the Wolkenritter and the forwards. Yuuno waved his hand and the Jewel Seeds disappeared.
"You! You took control of the Jewel Seeds! How? Impossible!" Velanor shrieked hysterically. She tried to get out of Yuuno's bind, but to no avail. She stood there, defeated, as she looked on.
The three aces began charging their attacks.
"Starlight..."
"Plasma Zanber…"
"Ragnorak…"
"BREAKER!" The three aces said together, firing pink, yellow and white beams towards the Cradle. The attacks bore through the Cradle's shell and made three enormous holes in it, but that was not enough for the Cradle to be shot down.
The numbers attacked next. Cinque used her Inherent Equipment- Stinger, Otto used her IS, Ray Storm, Nove attacked with her Inherent Equipment- Gun Knuckle. Dieci fired her Energy Bullet- Standard, Wendi used her Aerial Cannon. Deed used her Twin Blades and the Cradle was damaged even further.
Teana shot her Phantom Blazer, while Subaru fired a Divine Buster. Fried attacked with Blast Flare, and Erio attacked with Luftmesser.
The Cradle suddenly voiced out with its machinery voice in German, "The reserve engine is being activated. Repairs to heavily damaged areas are in progress. All units, attack any intruders when spotted."
The attacks that everyone made was being repaired instantly; the number one cyborg, Uno, explained, "The Cradle was redesigned; everything was carefully planned. In case something like this happened, I made the Cradle reach the doctor's dream. Unless you have a crazy amount of magical power to shoot down the Cradle in one attack, the ship will automatically repair the damaged areas and eventually reach orbit."
"Everyone, stay back," Yuuno said, and everyone retreated. Flying in front of the Cradle, Yuuno began to shoot down the ship.
"Blaster System Limit One, release!" he said.
"Blaster set." Celestial Heart sounded.
"Excelion Buster! Booster Shoot!" The huge green mass of energy hit the ship, making a hole in it. Before the Cradle could administer repair to the damage, Yuuno attacked again.
"Meteor Shower!" The bombardment spell smashed into the hole Yuuno made previously, damaging the ship even further.
"Moonlight Breaker!" With that, the ship was punched through with an enormous hole in the middle. Yuuno was panting now, and he expected the Cradle to fall down. But, the large ship repaired itself and Yuuno's earlier efforts were wasted.
"Celestial Heart, let's give everything we got!" Yuuno said.
"Yes, my master." The green device replied.
"Blaster Three! Divine Buster!" As soon as the massively overcharged Divine Buster was shot, Yuuno prepared another spell.
"Excelion Buster!"
"Moonlight Breaker!"
By the time he finished Excelion Buster and Moonlight Breaker, his weapon hand was bleeding, and he almost could not stand, panting heavily.
"Jewel Mode!" Yuuno commanded.
"Jewel set," Celestial Heart complied, and Yuuno's barrier jacket was embedded with the twelve Jewel Seeds.
"Full Power! Heaven Asunder, 100%!" Yuuno began charging up an incredibly large bombardment spell, as huge as the whole Cradle in terms of size. Ten magazines were used, and the Jewel Seeds glowed brightly, boosting the spell.
"Heaven Asunder!" The mass of green energy shot towards the Cradle.
"Break SHOOT!" When the blinding green flash of light ceased, Yuuno was panting heavily, and his Holy Fin disappeared. Both of his hands were covered in blood, his legs were bleeding as well as his stomach. Celestial Heart had visible cracks on it, and it looked like it was about to break apart.
The Cradle was shot down; it was smashed into chunks of remains.
The Jewel Seeds flew out of Yuuno's barrier jacket, and they said to Yuuno, "Your Majesty has been hurt badly, commencing deactivating of device and barrier jacket. Starting emergency healing."
The Jewel Seeds formed a circle around the librarian, and Celestial Heart returned to its pearl state, changing Yuuno to his old barrier jacket. As the Jewel Seeds shined brightly, Yuuno was surrounded by a blue aura.
Due to the effects of the Blaster System, Yuuno could barely stand, let alone remain in the air. He was falling from the sky rapidly.
Nanoha took flight immediately, with Hayate, Fate, the Wolkenritter and the forwards following.
"Raising Heart, Holding Net with Active Guard!" She said.
"Active Guard with Holding Net," Raising Heart produced a pink net underneath Yuuno and the blonde man fell into it.
Nanoha, Fate and Hayate kneeled down beside their friend; Vita was shaking Yuuno and Signum had a worried look on her face. Shamal began a healing spell on the severely injured librarian.
"Yuuno, can you hear me?" Vita shouted.
"Shamal, how's he doing?" Hayate asked.
"It's not looking too good; he used Blaster Three for three times, and he used the Blaster System in full power firing that Heaven Asunder. The Jewel Seeds posed no strain or stress on him, but the sheer power of releasing such a huge amount of magic was no easy task."
Nanoha took Yuuno's right hand and held it tightly, afraid that her friend might not pull through.
:D Thanks for reading!