Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Crisis
Chapter 16: Birthday
Xx~~*~~xX
Nanoha walked down the street with Fate, holding a large umbrella for the both of them as a shield against the rain. It had been several days since the incident, and Fate was still depressed over the loss of Arf. With Hayate's urging, the TSAB had given all of them time off to mourn the incident, and to help Fate recover. In the times that Nanoha herself couldn't be with her, someone else was.
The point was to make Fate realize that she wasn't alone.
For instance, yesterday Hayate and Teana had spent part of the day at Nanoha's house, while she had gone out with Yuuno. She had wanted to spend some time with him once she got out of the hospital. At first she was going to put it off again because of Fate, but Fate herself told Nanoha to do it.
And Yuuno was surprisingly understanding, as they spent the day walking around town. They were able to discuss and share their own memories of Arf, which helped each deal with the loss. Plus, Yuuno had mentioned he was working on something that might help, but he didn't want to divulge any details. He did however convince Nanoha to go ahead with another surprise for Fate, because he knew for sure it would help.
As Nanoha walked her home, she noted that Fate seemed to be feeling a bit better. Their appointment with Signum did appear to have had a bit of an effect. At first, Nanoha didn't know what the Belkan Knight had planned when she was asked to bring Fate by the facility; she was understandably surprised when Signum attacked Fate. And at first, Fate didn't even fight back or defend herself.
Then Signum insulted her, saying Arf had a pitiful master as a familiar, and that's why she was so weak.
Like a demon, Fate struck back then. The resulting duel lasted several hours, leaving both combatants gasping for breath, barrier jackets half-destroyed.
Nanoha remembered Signum's words then: "This is what Arf gave her life for. She gave it for the Fate who fights, not the Fate who hides. Mourn her passing, but don't betray the meaning of her sacrifice."
The pony-tailed girl glanced at Fate walking to her left. The other girl looked up, and managed a smile in return, which was more than she had been able to do for the past few days.
"I'll be alright," Fate assured her. "It's just... I always took Arf for granted, as someone who would always be there. Even back then, Linith eventually left, and I just had my mother and Arf. My mother, who would never show me any kindness, except in my false memories from Alicia. Arf was there, helping me, even when I was fighting you over the Jewel Seeds."
Nanoha switched the umbrella to her right hand, as she reached her left arm across Fate's shoulders in a hug, smiling. "Yuuno confessed to me yesterday, that he still has occasional nightmares where he sees Arf eating his ferret form, ever since their first meeting when she chased him. He always thought they'd go away eventually, but he still has them from time to time."
Fate couldn't help a short laugh, although her eyes began to leak again. "Arf would never do that. She liked Earth's dog food too much." She wiped her eyes and turned to look at Nanoha again, trying to look brave. "But I'll be fine, really. It will just take some time. How are you doing?"
"That's the strangest thing," Nanoha replied, remembering. "Shamal said I was in perfect health. Even my linker core was back up to full strength, to a state even pre-dating even my first hospitalization. She's still going over the data. But for now, I feel great, physically." She tapped her chest with her fist for emphasis.
"I heard they also let that clone of your brother's and that other girl go," Fate said softly.
"The Bureau wanted to keep them even after the programming was removed, but we persuaded them that captivity would only make their situation worse," Nanoha explained. "Plus, they don't have too long to live, either, so they technically wouldn't be a threat. Shamal said another year, tops, but could be as short as a few months."
She recalled the looks on their faces when she had told them that. They hadn't wanted to believe it, but that was okay. She told them they could come back anytime for checkups if needed. It was also nice to finally talk to the girl, who couldn't remember her own name. So she took the name the Kyoya clone had for her: Miyuki. She was shy and gentle, though, not quite like the personlity of Nanoha's own sister. Although physically, she resembled the real Miyuki a great deal, except for the short white hair.
It did make her think of her own siblings. Somewhere along the line, Jail had gotten DNA samples from them. Were they alright? The records they found in the system didn't say. Even Quattro didn't know.
That was another enigma. The cyborg had taken out Jail and Uno, and given Erio back to Caro. And then worked to save Fate's life. She was now in the same maritime rehabilitation facility that the first batch of cyborgs had occupied, along with Tre and Sette, who had lost all of their inner fire with their last defeat.
Nanoha recalled her conversation with Quattro...
x~~*~~x
"What?" the cyborg asked, turning away from the window to look at her visitor.
"I said, 'Thank you for saving Fate,'" Nanoha repeated. "And I also wanted to ask why you did what you did."
"Heh, sure, whatever," Quattro turned away, gazing out the window again for several long moments. "You once asked me what I wanted. Once upon a time, I thought I knew what that was: I wanted Jail's world, where science reigned supreme. I was a cyborg, in a world of magic. I thought everyone else around me were weak, tools to be used. That's the reasoning I was born with, and what the doctor and my first sisters, Uno and Due, believed."
"So what changed?" Nanoha pressed.
Quattro laughed. "Despite all the planning and scheming, Jail lost. I lost. I thought I would be reviled in a world of magic, but I see my sisters fitting in. I thought they were just weak, and were becoming lap dogs. And then I realized Jail was losing again.
She turned to face Nanoha, confusion and anger on her face. "What is it! What do you have that I don't? I wanted to see you as weak and inferior, but it's obvious that you aren't. I don't understand it! And I hated it!" She laughed bitterly. "And now here I am, totally defeated, spilling my guts to you, without a care in the world what happens next. You might as well put me out of my misery, because I don't think I can live in this stupid world. Doesn't the Bureau have a death penalty?"
Nanoha shook her head, smiling slightly. "I'm afraid not. As bad as the administration can be sometimes, they like to believe that everyone is capable of rehabilitation." She shifted her stance, studying the cyborg. "It's never an easy thing, finding out the world you knew is completely different."
"You speak as if you would know anything about that," Quattro spat out.
"I was an ordinary girl once, not knowing what I would do with my life," the other girl began. "And then I met a talking ferret and discovered magic, and that happened a few minutes before I was attacked by a monster I could never imagine existed. Everything I knew about the world was turned upside-down."
The cyborg returned to the window. "Yes, your world is quite a scientific-minded one. The doctor was thinking of taking it over after he established his bases here." She paused, sighing. "You and your friends have something. Even my sisters that joined you now have something. I don't understand it."
Nanoha smiled. "I think, by saving Erio and Fate, you've taken your first steps towards that."
Quattro looked at the other girl for a moment, then turned away again.
x~~*~~x
"Nanoha?" Fate asked, breaking the other girl out of her thoughts.
"Sorry, my mind just drifted a bit there," she replied. "Thinking back to my conversation with Quattro." Nanoha watched Fate's reaction.
The other girl tightened up a bit, but calmed down afterward. "She killed Jail and Uno, and triggered the reason why... Arf is gone. I should hate her, and yet I just feel tired now. Jail is gone; it's finally over. I heard she also helped discover the locations of the 20 or so relic bombs in the database."
Nanoha nodded, as the sky thundered. "Ginga and the rest of the cyborgs have been busy finding and disarming them over the past couple of days."
The couple walked up to the door of their house, and Nanoha collapsed the umbrella when they got under the roof.
"Nanoha..." Fate began as the other girl opened the door and they stepped in. "I want to thank you for watching over me. I suppose I should thank the others as well. I haven't exactly been the best of company these past few days."
Nanoha removed her shoes and walked down the hall with Fate. "Well, if you feel that way, perhaps you can tell them yourself."
Fate looked confused as Nanoha reached in and turned on the light to the living room.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" came the combined shout.
Fate stared in shock at the filled room, and the large banner above their heads that read: "Happy 21st Birthday, Fate!"
"Are you okay?" Nanoha inquired, smirking.
Tears began to leak out of the birthday girl's eyes. "I... I don't know what to say... You..."
"You don't have to say anything, Fate," Hayate suggested. "We've actually been planning this for awhile, but thought now was a good time for you to be reminded that while all of us here miss Arf, we are also glad you are alive. And I know Arf would feel the same way."
Fate glanced between various faces. "Hayate, Signum, Teana, Caro, Erio..."
"We told you that we'd always be there for you," Erio reminded her. "You saved me from the institute and gave me a home. And then saved me again from the doctor."
"How about it, Testerossa?" Signum asked, Vita mirroring her own smile. "Everyone here seems to think something of you."
Fate couldn't find her voice at first, turning around quickly, but eventually managed a "Thank you."
Outside, the rain stopped, and the first rays of sun began to peek through the clouds.
"Alright, that's enough!" Shamal announced. "Break it up and give the Birthday girl some space. There's snacks and punch, and cake will come later!"
"That's what I'm here for!" Vice announced, which earned a chorus of laughter.
x~~*~~x
Fate continued to look over the faces spread about the room, engaged in various conversations, continually surprised at who was here. Besides Hayate's family and the ones she noticed before, the others in attendance were Vivio, Arisa, Suzuka, Chrono, Lindy, Genya, Subaru, Shari, Verossa, Carim, Schach, Alto, and even Griffith. So many people and friends she had made over the years; a far cry from the lonely girl who was beaten by her mother.
But someone seemed missing, and at first she couldn't figure out who, then the answer finally came to her.. "Nanoha, where's Yuuno?"
Nanoha handed her some punch. "He said he was working on something important, but he promised he'd be here. Don't worry, I'm sure he'll show up."
Hayate walked up to them. "Hey, you two, you need to see something." She ticked her head slightly in a particular direction.
"You mean Vice?" Nanoha asked in a low voice, to which Hayate nodded.
"He's going up to Signum?" Fate wondered aloud.
"I heard about it only recently, but supposedly there was a betting pool that he was going to make a move eventually," Hayate explained, smirking.
"He doesn't seem to be too successful," Nanoha noted, as Signum took the offered punch, appeared bemused, then nodded towards him and walked away. Vice sighed and all three girls turned away before he looked their way.
"Maybe not, but it'll give me good material to tease her about later," Hayate said, then noticed something else. "Excuse me, there is someone else I need to talk to."
Fates eyes drifted around the room, and felt a similar urge. "Yes, I need to speak to someone, too."
Nanoha let the two girls go, while Fate crossed the room to a corner where Teana and Subaru were chatting. They both noted her approach.
"Teana, may I speak to you for a moment?" Fate asked.
The gun mage glanced at the cyborg girl next to her, and then back to Fate. "Sure."
"I can go check out the snack table," Subaru offered, beginning to step away.
"No, you can stay, Subaru," Fate replied, causing the other girl to halt in curiosity.
"First, I want to apologize to you, Teana Lanster," Fate admitted. "And to you, Subaru Nakajima. You both tried to stop me that night, and I didn't listen. If I had, Arf might still be here now."
"You can't say that, Fate!" Teana protested, Subaru nodding in firm agreement. "You were doing what you thought was right! Who knows what Jail would have done to Erio and Caro if you hadn't?"
Fate shook her head. "Maybe, but there was a better way of going about it. I also wanted to apologize for how I've been treating you, Teana. You didn't deserve it. I was letting my emotions cloud my judgment. I had been working alone in the field for so long, that when I become upset, I tend to keep things to myself. I promise I'll be more open to you, if you want to continue are partnership."
Teana looked unsure. "What do you mean...?"
"I read Hayate's report, and I also have some memories from our fight," Fate explained. "She told me that, before, during, and for a bit after your Starlight Breaker, you were floating. You may not have realized it, but I think you've almost figured out how to fly, which means you can take the Rank A test soon."
The gun mage's mouth dropped open, but it was Subaru who spoke. "That's incredible, Teana! You've been working on that forever!"
"If you become A rank, you can file to become a solo field agent, if you desire," Fate continued. "So the choice is up to you. I might not be the easiest person to work with, and you've come a long way. I'd support you if you want to go solo."
The junior agent's head dropped for a moment, but when it came, she was smiling. "Thank you, Agent Harlaown. But I still feel as if I have much to learn. I would like to continue my training under you."
Fate smiled. "I would be honored to have you, not just as an aide or junior agent, but as a full partner."
x~~*~~x
Hayate stepped out onto the back patio, where she had noticed him go earlier. She had an inkling of what may be on his mind, but she wanted to hear it directly from him. So she asked.
"I'm not sure what you mean, Mistress," Zafira replied, his back to her.
"Don't give me that 'Mistress' bit," she ordered. "We're family, not master and servant now. But if you want to play that, then I order you, as your mistress, to tell me what's on your mind."
Zafira chuckled, defeated. "I... find myself missing Arf more than I thought I would," he admitted. "As far as I can remember, I only thought of serving my masters faithfully. That was enough to make me happy. Even now, just being a part of this... family... and going wherever you go, was enough."
Hayate saw where this was going. "You developed feelings for Arf."
He nodded, his back still to her. "I didn't think it proper, as it might detract from my service to you."
She sighed. "Zafira, out of all the family the Book of Darkness gave me, you've been the most stubborn with regards to the changes. Shamal has become a mother to me, and Vita a younger sister. Even Signum has softened her protector role, becoming almost like an older sister. But you remained a servant."
"Perhaps because I was originally a guardian beast, and they were human," he postulated, shrugging. "I was originally created to serve masters."
Hayate embraced him from behind, causing him to stiffen. "You're like an older brother to me, Zafira. Promise me, that if you find someone else that you develop feelings for, that you'll explore it. I want you to consider your own wishes and feelings, too." She smiled. "I'll make it another order if I have to."
Zafira sighed, and turned around, awkwardly trying to hold her back. "I promise."
Hayate held him for awhile, then pulled back. "Good, now let's go back and enjoy the party, okay?"
x~~*~~x
"Yuuno-kun, you came!" Nanoha exclaimed, then noticed his face. "What's wrong?"
"I need to talk to Fate," he said quickly, scanning the room. "It's important. I'll need you, too, and probably want Hayate there as well."
"I think Erio is showing her Strada's version of Zanber form, as a sort of gift, to show her how much he's learned from her," Nanoha said. "Let me contact them telepathically, and tell them to meet us in the entry hall."
In moments, the three girls and Yuuno were away from the action, and he launched into his explanation, by holding up a book. "This is from the Infinity Library. It was something I had discovered earlier in my cataloging activities, but remembered it now. It's basically a how-to instruction book for creating a guardian beast."
"I don't understand," Hayate asked. "What are you saying?"
"Well, Guardian Beasts are the ancient Belka form of familiars, with a few key differences," Yuuno replied, barely containing his excitement. "First off, they were created by many mages as individual beings, not tied to any particular life force, but obedient to the royalty of the era. After the Belka kingdom fell, the Guardian Beast creation process slowly changed into the familiar system we know today. Fate, Nanoha told me you still have those bandages?"
"Y-yes, I do, why?" Fate questioned, looking very much surprised and confused.
Nanoha jumped in. "Yuuno, don't tell you're saying what I think you're saying..."
He nodded. "It may be possible to bring Arf back, using the Guardian Beast system. A familiar is merely magic pulled out and linked to an already living creature, but a Guardian Beast is deliberately shaped, using various components and mental imagery, to essentially create a unique creature. Arf is technically still inside you, Fate. If you believe hard enough, and if enough people chip in magic power, we can pull her back out using the DNA from the blood in the bandages. But I can't promise she'd be exactly the same. It's up to you."
The two other girls turned to Fate as Hayate said, "This is your decision, Fate. I lost Reinforce, but gained Rein Zwei, so I've been in your shoes."
Fate looked wildly back and forth between the two girls and Yuuno, considering the implications. It was definitely a huge decision. All of them knew if it failed, it could really affect Fate's mental state badly.
Her eyes eventually settled on determination. "Let's do it. Arf gave her life for me. The least I can do is try to return it to her. It's worth the risk. I understand it may not work, but I have to at least try."
x~~*~~x
More than one person offered their support. In fact, nearly the entire birthday party stood ready to assist, as Yuuno created the magic symbols on the ground. When he was questioned as to why it was a pentagram, Yuuno said it was kinda complicated, but that it allowed for more specific input into a magic spell. However, due to that it wasn't really suited to quick combat.
The time came, and the bandages with Arf's blood on them were placed in the center along with Fate, while those with magic created a ring outside. The pentagram began to spin and Yuuno told Fate to focus on Arf; her physical makeup, personality, attitude, skills, everything. And just like when she created the familiar the first time, to let her magic flow freely.
Everyone else focused, letting their magic flow into the storm to assist Fate as she thought strongly of Arf. The storm of magical energies formed a whirlwind, glowing golden against the evening sky. The pentagram spun faster and faster, almost resembling a circle. At the crescendo, the golden tornado turned a brilliant orange and collapsed into the center. There was an explosion, and a dust cloud obscured everything.
"Fate-chan!" Nanoha called running into the center at the same time as Yuuno. Both inwardly wondered if it had worked.
The smoke and dust cloud began to clear, from the center first, revealing a golden-haired girl staring in wonder... at the form of a familiar orange canine.
"ARF!" Fate cried, dropping to her knees to wrap her arms around the neck of the beast, eyes tearing up. "Arf... I missed you..."
The canine beast opened her eyes, staring in confusion and wonder. "...Fate?"
Fate leaned back to look her familiar in the eyes. "Yes, it's me! Are you okay?"
Arf blinked. "I... don't know. You are... Fate, right?"
Nanoha and Yuuno looked at each other with concern, while Fate's smile began to fade a bit. The dust cloud had nearly vanished by now, and the onlooker simply stared in wonder.
"Don't you remember me, Arf?" she asked desperately.
Arf thought long and hard for several long moments. "I... you... I remember you used to be shorter at one time..."
Fate nodded fiercely, her smile beginning to return. "My teacher, Linith, helped me create you when I was young. Do you remember anything else?"
The canine cocked her head, noticing Nanoha. "I remember... fighting you...? But... you're a friend now? It's all so confusing."
"Fate, it may take awhile for Arf's memories to return," Yuuno stated. "We should give it time. It's been a particular harrowing experience for her, and you."
Fate nodded, hugging Arf again tightly, who licked Fate's cheek when the girl pulled back. The crowd cheered, but Hayate and Shamal soon ushered them out back into the house, on the promise of cake soon. Soon, all that were left was Fate, Arf, Yuuno, and Nanoha.
"Take as long as you need, Fate," Nanoha said, nodding to Yuuno and turning toward the house.
"Yeah, we'll be just inside when you're ready," the Infinity Librarian added, turning to go, but suddenly found arms restricting him.
Fate spun him around and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Yuuno. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday present, then for you to bring Arf back to me."
Before he could respond, Fate reached up and kissed his cheek, surprising both Yuuno and Nanoha. The former blushed, while the latter looked on in wonder, and a bit of something else.
"Ah, eheh, y-you're welcome," Yuuno replied at last when Fate let him go. "Like I said, come inside for cake when you're ready, okay?"
Fate nodded, turning back to Arf and Yuuno as Nanoha walked back to the house.
x~~*~~x
"Something is on your mind," Fate stated in a matter-of-fact voice from the bedroom doorway. The new Arf was asleep in Vivio's room. She seemed to remember Vivio as well, so there was hope. Even if Arf didn't remember everything, it was enough.
"W-what do you mean?" Nanoha asked, startled, from where she sat on the bed.
"You've been brushing the same side of your hair absentmindedly for the past thirty minutes," the other girl pointed out.
Nanoha froze, lowering the brush into her lap and holding it with both hands. "It's that obvious?"
The golden-haired girl came to sit down beside her partner. "We've been friends for a long time; I can read you." She reached over and placed a hand on top of Nanoha's. "And it must be something serious if you haven't talked to me about it, so it must mean it's something you think might hurt me. Although I know I haven't been myself for the past few days, and I was a prisoner of Jail's for awhile before that..."
Nanoha sighed, wondering how to put her thoughts and feelings into words, recalling Fate's earlier hug and kiss. "How... how do you feel about Yuuno?"
Fate considered it, the light of comprehension dawning. "Oh, I see where this is going. Did he finally say something?"
"No, Agito told me, and while I was unsure if it was true, everything makes so much sense when I think about it now," Nanoha confessed, then her head came up to stare at the other girl, cheeks slightly red. "Wait, you knew!"
"Hayate mentioned it awhile ago," Fate said softly, smiling. "I think the only person who didn't know how he felt about you, was you. But to answer your question, I like him. He's a great guy, and somehow always comes through for us. The three of us go way back, don't we?"
Nanoha's gaze lowered back to the brush in her hands. "Yeah, all the way to the Jewel Seeds."
"How do *you* feel about him?" Fate asked, returning the question.
"I..." she tried to voice her thoughts. "I don't know. Ever since I found out, I've tried to keep myself distracted to avoid thinking about it. I... think I'm afraid."
Fate thought she began to understand, when she thought about what might happen if Nanoha dated Yuuno.
Unspoken between them was the bond the two girls had formed. It was something they never spoke aloud, and just let things stand where they may. On the surface, they were best friends, but there were those feelings lurking down below, things left unsaid. It was an easy sort of coziness, of familiarity; to let things stay in the comfort zone, rather than risk any uncomfortable unknowns. Life was decently good, so why upset it?
"You're afraid if you go into it, that it may... interrupt this," Fate said softly, voicing the unspoken thoughts for the first time between them. "That I'd be pushed out and hurt."
Nanoha's head came back up, staring at Fate with wavering eyes that were beginning to tear up, and she suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around the other girl's lower torso. "Fate-chan... I don't... ever want to hurt you! I don't want you pushed out!"
Fate felt the tears beginning to wet her nighty, as she reached an arm around Nanoha's shoulders. "I know..." She let the other girl cry herself out; even though she partially felt like tearing up herself, she knew she had to be the strong one here right now, despite the emotional wringer she had been through today.
"I-I'm sorry," Nanoha said at last.
"It's alright," Fate replied softly. "We've never really talked about... this. We've talked about everything else, but always avoided it."
Nanoha pulled herself away, shaking a little, but Fate kept her arm around the other girl. "...I didn't want to think too much about it, because it scares me a little... like I'm not normal... It's not normal in my world. I mean, I know by the standards of my world, I'm not normal, because I use magic and fly and travel on spaceships. But there was a small part of me that anchored a me to a few facts of normalcy. One being the relationships between boys and girls."
Fate couldn't help a small smile. "What is normal? I honestly don't know. I don't think I ever did. I started with false memories from Alicia, and then was given the treatment from my mother. Watching your life in school, along with Arisa, Suzuka, and Hayate, gave me a glimpse of what your life was like. You brought me out of a bad situation, and showed a whole new world to me." She touched her free left hand to her chest. "I'm not sure how to describe these feelings, but I want you to be happy. When you're happy, I am. When you're sad or hurt, I hurt here as well."
Nanoha leaned into Fate a little. "So, this isn't wrong?"
"I don't know how these feelings can be wrong," Fate admitted. "I don't know why wanting to spend time with the ones you care about could be considered wrong." She hesitated a moment. "We could stay like this. We don't have to go anywhere."
"There's one way to know," Nanoha stated softly, pulling away a bit and gazing into Fate's eyes. There was nervousness there, but something else as well; an eagerness perhaps.
Before Fate could realize what was going on, Nanoha had reached up and pulled Fate's face down to hers, lips meeting. So many feelings and thoughts assaulted her; that Nanoha's lips were warm, that the warmth was infecting her extremities, and that her own head was starting to feel dizzy.
After a few moments, she pulled away, and Fate could see the nervousness remaining in those blue eyes. And she was waiting.
Fate smiled, her face flushed. "That felt nice... I liked it."
"It wasn't strange at all?" Nanoha asked in a small voice.
"If it was, then maybe we're both strange," Fate replied, leaning her head in to gently press her lips against the other girl's. The feelings returned again, and she could feel the other girl kissing back, but also the wet streaks on Nanoha's cheeks.
They parted again and just held each other in silence for a moment, their relationship having taken a turn into uncharted territory after so many comfortable years. And despite the strange, yet warm feelings she was now experiencing, Fate knew that one other issue remained.
"I like Yuuno, too," Fate admitted softly. She felt the other girl tighten up. "Nanoha? Tell me what you honestly feel. You told me you asked Vivio that once, too."
"He introduced me to magic," the other girl began quietly. "At an age when I was wondering what I'd do with my life, he brought me into this, and now I can't imagine doing anything else. He's always been there to support me. Part of me wants to see, but how can I even attempt to pick him or you?"
"Who says you have to?" Fate stated, causing the other girl to look up her in surprise. "Yuuno has done much for me, too. Without him, I wouldn't have met you. And he just brought Arf back to me. I think I'd wouldn't mind being in a family with him."
"Family..." Nanoha wondered aloud, then laughed. "I wouldn't have thought I'd get into that. The Japanese have a word for it: saishoudoukin. Living with a wife and mistress at the same time."
Fate smiled mischievously. "So, would I be the wife or mistress?"
Nanoha pulled back, waving her hands frantically. "I-I didn't mean it like that!"
Fate laughed. "Well, it's up to him. And you. Promise me that you'll talk to him? Because if you don't, I will. I want you to honestly explore it, not worrying about me for now, because I will always be here to support you."
The other girl sighed, and reluctantly answered, "I promise."
"Good," Fate said, nodding, then standing up. Her emotions had really been around the roller-coaster today. "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. Let's get some sleep." She slid in and over to the far side of the bed.
Nanoha yawned, sliding under the covers as well while Fate turned off the lights. She lay there awhile, then her hand sought out Fate's, grasping under the sheets. After awhile, the two embraced, each needing to feel the presence of the other for the moment.
Smiling, they fell asleep.
Xx~~*~~xX
Author's notes:
Regarding Arf: There's a saying: "No one ever truly dies in sci-fi." Good guys and bad guys, even if they have a very pronounced death, can come back as a clone, or a duplicate from another reality, or somehow their death was staged using elaborate technology. What this Arf is, I'll leave as an exercise to the reader: the real thing returned? Or a new version with some scattered memories that Fate had? To be honest, I'm not even entirely sure; I'll toss more hints as the plot demands, but keeping it in the air for now. I know some people think a character coming back to life after a dramatic death is kind of cheap (and sometimes I do, too), but that's just how sci-fi happens sometimes. And as Hayate noted with Reinforce and Rein Zwei, this has happened before, and Arf may or may not be similar.
Shippings: I don't want to say too much, but I'm always amused at shipping wars in fandoms. I used to be a part of it (different fandom), but now I just like to sit back and enjoy. While Seven Arcs likes to be dodgy, I feel it needed addressing eventually, and the way I wrote it, is kinda what I feel has been going on, mostly. Part of me can also see them as just being best friends, almost sisters in a way, too; both viewpoints are equally valid. And we'll see what happens with Yuuno.
HOWEVER! If you don't want to be surprised and would like to know the pairings by the end, send me a PM, and I'll tell you. Just ask that you keep it to yourself, to avoid spoiling others.
Quattro: I have to confess that my main desire to write this path for her, was the fact that Nanoha blasted her with a powerful Divine Buster back in Episode 25 of Strikers. And everyone that Nanoha shoots, becomes a friend or ally. Therein lies the challenge: write a sequence which has Quattro getting a change in paths. She's probably not totally there yet, but we'll see. Hope it was believable!
So what's next? Stay tuned! It's far from over, and our heroes are in for a shock as the plot gets rolling next chapter.