Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Crisis

Chapter 13: Trials

Xx~~*~~xX

Subaru spared a glance over at the sleeping form of Caro in the tent. Fried was laying next to her, not sleeping but keeping watch. He seemed as worried about her as Subaru was.

She returned her gaze to the fire, letting herself be mesmerized by the flames. She hoped she had done the right thing, letting them put that brand on Caro. Of course, the younger girl had wanted it, but that was why Hayate had insisted on a partner for this outing, wasn't it? To look over the girl? Caro was powerful, but still young.

Subaru's thoughts drifted back a few hours before...

x~~*~~x

"Caro!" Subaru cried as the girl collapsed into her arms.

"It is done," Elder Geott intoned solemnly. "And now I'll ask that you honor your friend's agreement, and take her and leave this tribe, never to return."

The cyborg grit her teeth, glaring angrily at the old man. "If Caro doesn't come out of this okay, I *will* be back. Why are you so eager to have her gone? You're supposed to be her tribe; her family!"

She expected another command to leave, but instead the elder sighed. "I must be getting old. Very well, even though I am under no onus to, I will tell you a bit. Afterward, I will ask that you honor the agreement and leave."

Subaru nodded, carefully placing a bandage over the burn mark, pulling Caro's robe back up, then laying her back down on a blanket.

"Our tribe wasn't always nomadic," Geott told her. "Back in the days of ancient Belka, we used to live in one place, a great city. We used our summons freely to improve our lives, and those of our neighbors. But other neighbors desired our power. Also, there were those among us, those with the greatest power, who sought to rule over their brethren. It was a sad day; many of us were killed and the city was destroyed. We were driven from our lands, hunted.

He paused, gazing into the fire at something only he could see.

"That's what great power does," he continued to explain. "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Even if someone could resist that corruption, they will attract those who desire that power. Strife follows, and people are hurt."

"Of course there are always people like that," Subaru stated, frowning. "And I understand your fears; but to turn your back on one of your own who has done no wrong, just because you are afraid of what *might* happen? I can't agree with that. She's human, she has feelings of her own. You're hurting her, just as surely as those bad people you fear will do."

Geott pointed the brand stick at her. "I do not expect an outsider to understand our ways." He lowered the stick back to the fire. "But understand this: our tribe was nearly wiped out that day. Hundreds of summoners, all gone in an instant. The few who managed to escape, formed the roots of the nomadic tribe we have today. We are always moving, carefully hiding our true power from people. In this way, our way of life and the summoning arts are able to be continued. The arts and the bloodlines are more important than any one person. Everyone here, including myself, would gladly give up our life to protect that."

Subaru glanced down at Caro. She had essentially been sacrificed so that the summoners of the Lu Lusche tribe could continue. While she could understand the old man's reasons, and even empathize a bit, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was wrong.

"We could have killed her," Geott said after a few moments. "But we sent her out into the world to find her own way. Power attracts to power. Anything that came after her would do so without destroying the tribe."

Subaru glared at him again. "You think that absolves your conscience? Not killing her? If you only knew what she had gone through since she left...." She clenched her fist. "I can understand your reasons, but all that you are protecting... it's meaningless. What kind of way of life, that sacrifices young children, can be considered worthy of protecting? You betray what you stand for."

"As I said, you are an outsider," he repeated. "We don't expect you to understand or agree. And now you have your answer. She should be well enough to travel. There is a small clearing and a stream about 1 kilometer south of here. You can camp there for the night."

Subaru slide the packs onto her arms again then knelt to pick up Caro; she knew when the welcome was worn out. "Fine, I'm leaving. And if she is okay, you shouldn't see either of us again." She fixed the old man with a steady glare. "But you have my word, that if she isn't okay, I will be back."

"Fair enough," he replied, nodding, then spoke again as Subaru reached the tent flap. "Perhaps our ways aren't the best, but they've been this way for hundreds of years. Maybe one day they will change. I don't think I'll be around to see it, however. Though, if there are more people out there like you and your friends, then perhaps one day we will rejoin the outside world."

Subaru glanced over her shoulder, gaze softening, and echoed his words. "Fair enough."

x~~*~~x

The cyborg girl glanced back over at Caro, who was beginning to mumble and moan in her sleep. The old man's last instruction was to let her be no matter what happened, and not wake her. He had at least seemed like he was being honest with them, so despite wanting to wake her up, Subaru let her be.

As if reading her thoughts, Fried glanced her way and cooed.

She smiled. "Yeah, I'm with you. I'm not crazy about this, either. But this is what she wanted. I don't like people standing in the way of what I want, either. The best we can do is to just keep watch, and be here for when she needs us."

Fried's black eyes twinkled and glistened in the firelight, as if he understood her, then he returned to his vigil.

Subaru's head came back up. Did she just hear Erio's name?

x~~*~~x

It was actually quite awhile before Caro began to dream, but eventually she became aware that she was dreaming. She had never had a lucid dream before, but realized it must have been because the summoning mark on her back.

"Hello?" she called out the void that surrounded her, but receiving no response.

She wondered what she was supposed to do here. Elder Geott had said this would allow her to contact the dragons, but she was unsure of how to do that now that she was here. Those dreams always came by their own, which meant the dragons always contacted her. Maybe she could do the same in reverse.

She focused her thoughts, trying to remember the shapes and voices, but they were all jumbled together... except for one. One of them in particular had stepped out and spoke with a clear voice. It was light, almost lyrical, somehow musical. Female?

The form faded into view, and the shadows slowly retreated from it, revealing a mid-sized green dragon.

[No,] Caro thought. [Not green, emerald. Shiny emerald scales. Beautiful.]

The dragon stood up and spread her wings, which Caro noted weren't like Fried's wings. She had four instead of two, that more closely resembled those of a dragonfly. Her size was about half of Fried's when in adult mode, and a bit thinner, more limber. She also walked on four legs. Her face and snout were narrower, more similar to a stereotypical dragon, with a small, single horn protruding from her forehead.

The dragon didn't so much as speak, as convey it's thoughts in the form of ideas and basic words that Caro could somehow barely comprehend. "[You call. I come. Hungry.]"

"Hungry?" Caro questioned. "I don't understand. Weren't you trying to contact me to form a summoning pact?"

[Sense you,] the female dragon sent. "[Magic taste. Awake. Hungry.]" She opened her jaws, small razor teeth glistening. "[Eat now.]"

With that, the dragon leapt at Caro, who barely managed to dodge out of the way of the pounce. That only seemed to encourage the hungry dragon, who growled in pleasure and leapt again. Caro tried to dodge out of the way, but the dragon manage to trap her under a scaled claw. Surprisingly, the small summoner girl wasn't crushed given the strength she could feel from the limb.

"No, stop!" Caro cried, tears forming. "Why are you doing this?" [It wasn't like this with Voltaire,] she realized. [He just appeared and formed the pact.] "What do I do? Fried! Voltaire!"

But there was no response, as a large face loomed over her and a hot breath bathed her skin. Caro clenched her eyes shut as Adelinde's maw opened wide and lowered. She had to do something, but din't know what. [I don't want to be eaten!]

"I don't want to be eaten!" she cried aloud as the jaw clamped down... and stopped.

A wave of confusion and wonder emanated from the dragon as she tried to bite, but couldn't.

Caro opened her eyes, seeing a glowing light pink spherical barrier surrounding her body. Those powerful jaws couldn't bite through it, and the shield had even pushed the paw off her. The confused summoner looked down and noticed the large jewels that had appeared on the back of her hands.

[Kerykeion came to help me?] Caro wondered in surprise.

The dragon roared, crashing against the shield with tooth and claw to get at her meal.

[No one else?] she thought in despair. [Think, Caro! There has to be a way out of this!] The barrier began to fracture. [Someone, help me!] Another jolt spread the fractures, and she realized in despair that it would break apart at the next attack.

"ERIO!" she screamed, her summoning square flaring to life under her body.

Confusion emanated the dragon again as a form came flying in. She barely managed to jump back, but not enough to avoid the grazing on her right leg.

"Sorry, Caro, I wasn't here earlier," the spear-wielding boy told the summoner girl behind him, then faced the dragon. "I won't let you hurt her."

"Erio..." the young summoner said softly, staring, then stood just behind him, readying Kerykeion.

The green dragon rose on it's haunches, roaring, then came back down, seeming to smile. [Pass. Come. Time.]

Caro stared in confusion, then understood. She stepped out around Erio.

"Caro..." Erio warned, putting out his arm to block her.

She took his hand and turned to gaze at him. "It's okay. Somehow I just know it's okay now. I think I was being tested, and just passed."

Erio clearly looked uncomfortable with it, but she patted his arm and he reluctantly let her go.

Caro moved to stand directly in front of the dragon, who lowered it's head. Driven, she reached up and touched the horn on it's head, as an Emerald summoning square spun beneath them, encompassing both.

Knowledge filled her, the words spilling from her lips almost against her volition. "By the ancient contract, I, Caro Ru Lushe bind my fate to Adelinde of the Emerald Wind. Let it the pact be formed!" There was a flash of green light, and then the symbol was gone.

The dragon raised it's head a bit, then nodded once, sending out a wave of gratitude and acknowledgment.

"Thank you, Adelinde," Caro told her, then impulsively reached up to kiss the dragon's scaly snout. It slowly started to fade from view and Caro could feel her grip on this dream world loosening. In sudden anxiety, she glanced back at Erio. "Wait, Erio, where are you?"

"I don't know," he replied, his body fading as he reached. "And I'm not sure how I got here. But we'll meet again, believe in that!"

"Erio!" Caro called, her hand passing through his. "I'll find you and save you, I promise!"

Her world went white.

x~~*~~x

Caro awoke to the sight of Subaru looking down at her with concern. Unable to help herself, she sat up and wrapped her arms around the other girl as she began to cry.

x~~*~~x

"Vivio, I'm going out for a bit to pick up ingredients for dinner," Arf called from the bottom of the stairs. "Will you be okay for awhile?"

The young Takamachi girl looked up from her coloring book in her room and went to open her bedroom door. "I'll be fine, Miss Arf!"

"Okay, I'll be back in an hour at most!" Arf replied.

Vivio waited for the front door to open, then close, then waited a bit more to make sure Arf was gone. She closed her door and opened up a floating view screen.

"Connect to Infinity Library database, please," she asked.

Yuuno had managed to get many of the library's books entered into the database, so the information could be pulled up online, and Vivio had swung an access code, ostensibly for help with school work. She discovered that she actually liked looking up information in the library and had become quite good at it. And right now, there was information she needed to know.

As the link was established, she recalled the information she had memorized in the hospital, when Arf had taken her to visit her mama; medical terms for her mother's condition. There were things she didn't understand about linker cores and the hurt that afflicted her mother. She wanted to help somehow, and needed to find a way.

She began to read.

x~~*~~x

Teana hovered in mid-air for a few seconds, then began to fall again. Growling in frustration, she pointed her guns downward and activated the thruster flare shots, regaining height. She set herself into a sort of quasi-flight mode, heading parallel to the ground, but at a low enough height in case she had to crash.

And crash she did. Switching off the flare thrusters from her guns, she concentrated on maintaining the flight. But again, that only lasted a few seconds until gravity took over and pulled her roughly to the ground.

"Argh, why can't I do this!?" she shouted to no one in particular.

"Well, if this isn't deja vu," came a male voice. Vice stepped out from behind a tree. "I seem to recall meeting a similar girl in this very spot awhile ago. She also seemed to be quite driven at the time."

Teana pulled herself to her feet, turning her back to him. "Things are different now. I'm just taking a break from research to work on flight-training. I kept running up against dead ends."

The sniper/pilot leaned against a tree. "I've heard. Attempts to find Jail's hideout to rescue Fate, not goin' so well?"

She fixed him with a look. "I wasn't aware it was that well known. But yes. Chrono even has Insepctor Acous looking into it, but he hasn't turned up anything, either."

"So why the sudden impetus for flight training?" he asked curiously. "I assume you want to make A rank."

Teana nodded. "Solo field Agents need to be a minimum of A rank. And I can't move up from B until I am able to engage in aerial combat."

"Think you're ready to break off from Fate as your teacher already?" Vice inquired.

"She's practically broken off from me," Teana countered in a quiet voice. "I want to learn, to be a part of the team, but that's hard when she excludes me from things. I think she's still used to working alone, and perhaps it's better for both of us if I do so as well."

"That's one way to look at it," he agreed nonchalantly, causing her to turn and look at him. "Have you considered the possibility that she may need you as much as you need her?"

Teana narrowed her eyes in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Partners are there to save our butts," Vice explained. "We can't do everything ourselves, and many times we get in over our heads without realizing it. A good partner will support you when you need it, and pull your ass out of the fire when you jump in headfirst. Fate is probably not thinking straight right now, which means it's now, more than ever, that she needs her partner. When the time comes, you'll have to be strong enough up here," he tapped his head, "to do what needs to be done.

He laughed. "Heh, you should probably talk to Alto sometime. She can probably list out the many complaints she has about trying to keep my own stupid butt in one piece. But what do I know? I'm just a stupid pilot who flies people where they need to go."

Teana froze, eyes widening in realization. "That's it! Vice, you're a genius!"

He scratched his head. "Well, if you say so. You should tell Alto that sometime!"

She smiled and waved as she started to run off. "Maybe I will. I've got to go work something out now!"

Vice watched her go, shaking his head.

x~~*~~x

"I see you're awake now," Nanoha said, smiling, glad that Shamal had allowed her this visit. "And considerably calmer as well."

The man who wore Kyoya's face stared at the girl in the wheelchair next to his bed. "What...? Where am I? Where is she?" He strained against his bonds, but was unable to break them, and Nanoha had to remind herself what Shamal told her; he wasn't really her brother, but a clone. How or why this came about was unknown.

Nanoha sighed, remembering Shamal telling her that the mental programming treatments weren't 100% yet. "Well, calmer than you used to be. Do you remember me?"

He studied her face. "You're the one I fought with before. Why am I still alive? Why didn't you kill me?"

"Why would we do that?" she told him. "You're only trying to protect someone important to you, right?"

He blinked, as if trying to remind himself of something. "Yes... yes, where is she? You still have her!"

"If we show you where she is, and that she's alright, will you remain calm and talk to me for awhile?" Nanoha asked.

At his hesitant nod, Nanoha activated a control, drawing back a curtain that separated his bed and another. The white-haired girl slept peacefully within it. At the sight of her soft breathing, he seemed to calm down.

"I'm afraid you'll have to take our word that she's okay for now, but at least we can let you watch her from here," Nanoha told him. "But in time, you'll both be free to go."

"Why not now?" he told her pointedly. "All I want is her."

"I'll explain, but first, can you tell me your earliest memory?" Nanoha asked, leaning forward a bit.

"My earliest memory?" he questioned, looking very unsure. "I was... that is, I think... I don't really..." He stared at her in shock. "I... think I know you."

Nanoha smiled at him sadly. "From what we can tell, you're a clone of my brother. Implanted with artificial memories and given strong mental programming to protect that girl. We're not sure why."

He stared in shock. "A... clone? I don't think I can believe that, because I remember... my parents?"

"You might have some of his memories," Nanoha told him. "Can you remember your name?"

"K... Kyoya?" he said after a bit.

Nanoha inhaled a bit. [He really seems so much like my brother...] "My name is Nanoha Takamachi. You can call me Nanoha."

"Nanoha Takamachi..." the Kyoya clone repeated. "Takamachi... I know that... that is... my name, too." He looked up in surprise. "Your brother's name..."

She nodded, placing a hand on his. "You may not be my actual brother, but I still would consider you family. When you leave here, I would hope you come back so we can get to know each other."

"I'll... think about it," he told her. He turned his head to look at the sleeping girl again. "What about her?"

"She had some degree of mental programming, too, although she's not exactly related to us," Nanoha explained. "She was a clone that some made a long time ago and put into stasis. More recently, it appears someone else attempted to alter her DNA with that of my sister, but it didn't work very well. We think the man who did it, possibly wanted to confuse me by having me confront my brother and sister."

"How is she?" Kyoya asked, sounding genuinely concerned now.

"Her mental programming entailed a command to discharge her powers upon the sight of the twin moons of Mid-Childa," Nanoha answered, really having a hard time not seeing him as her brother Kyoya. "We're working on removing that so she can leave here with you, if that's what you both want. She also had some mental trauma that should be mostly healed. When she awakes, we should be able to converse normally with her. Do you know her name?"

"Miyuki..." he said. "I think... I'm not sure..."

Nanoha leaned back in her wheelchair and sighed. "That would make sense, if they made it so that you thought you were protecting your sister. Anyway, you two will be free to go in a few days, to make whatever life for yourselves that you want."

She brought up a holographic control panel and reached up, hesitating a bit, then hitting a few buttons on it. The padded clamps that held down the Kyoya-clone opened. He stared at her in surprise, and she simply smiled at him.

"You're trusting me?" he asked in disbelief.

She shrugged, still smiling. "It has to start somewhere. We'd like you to remain her by her side for the next few days to protect her. If you can do that, then you'll both be able to leave in a few days."

He nodded at her, walking over to the sleeping form and kneeling down, placing his hand on her head. "Thank you."

Shamal came into the room, and Nanoha realized her time was up. "I'll be back later to talk more, okay?"

The Kyoya-clone didn't respond, except to nod, as Shamal wheeled Nanoha out of the room. The doctor waited until they were a decent distance down the hall before speaking.

"I noticed you didn't tell him the last part," Shamal commented. "Are you sure about withholding it?"

Nanoha nodded. "Yes, he's had enough for one day. I'll tell them both later, although I'm still hoping you can find a solution."

Shamal sighed; they had been over this. "I wish I could. But they are similar to the type of clone Zest was. Their bodies were artificially aged to this point in a short period of time. They'll continue to age rapidly until they break down. I can't stop that, anymore than I can stop people from dying from old age."

"I know," Nanoha replied softly, bowing her head as a small tear leaked out. "I know."

Xx~~*~~xX

Author's notes:

Cleanup finished, although I'm finding less and less I feel I need to edit as I go further along, so I'm taking it as a good sign. I kinda went nuts giving Adelinde a personality in an earlier draft (she talked a LOT more), but I decided to cut that out as I'd probably have to make her talk a bit later on, and I didn't want to do that. It would make her too different from Fried and Voltaire. Any thoughts are welcome.