Harry Potter and the Dragon Storm

Episode XVII

Light

It seemed to take Nanoha a long while till she reached land again. It was a very hot and sunny place, and quite large too, she noted. Her little blue fluffy cloud flew her over a few large towns. She had never heard of so many people living together before. She was all most certain that she would never be able to remember everybody's names.

She had been flying over land for quite some time now and the place seemed to be getting somewhat more barren, and scarce of people. She sighed a little as she gazed at her right hand. At least she discovered her magical claw glove thing compacts it self down into a nice golden bracelet. She had originally thought she was stuck with a golden claw for a hand forever.

She let a smile grace her face. It's lucky for her or she might have hurt herself forgetting and scratched herself. It could have been bloody. She quivered at the thought. At least that wouldn't have been as bad as that whole period thing with the village nurse. Damn, she had thought she was dying, and it was the single most embarrassing conversation she has ever had. Well almost. That bird and the bees one was even more so, but she tends to push those naughty thought to the back of her young mind.

Shaking those thoughts clear Nanoha looked down to where Rei-chan now hung around her neck. She had also seen fit to paint her newest companion a light pink colour, remembering not to paint the screen or buttons or she wouldn't work.

Picking Rei-chan up, she stared at the screen. According to the read out it says she's nearing the location of the next item. She looked down and around to see she is flying over a small valley with load of red rock and the occasional plant or animal. She looked around herself and found herself surprised she had only just noticed the small village a little way behind her.

She smiled as she descended towards the ground as she knew the item she's looking for won't be floating in the sky. As she came within ten feet of the ground she hopped up and off her cloud. The cloud flying up and off into the sky as she landed gracefully on the solid floor. She wiped her brow of sweat with her right sleeve and looked around.

She had landed next to a huge red boulder. Looking at Rei-chan's screen she realised she had to have been only about a mile away from her target. Smiling she took a few steps around the boulder to point herself in the correct position when she startled as she walked into something soft and small.

Looking up from Rei-chan in surprise she came face to face with a short blonde girl. Her brilliant baby-blue eyes widened in shock and she let out a startled cry. Nanoha just frowned and corked her head to one side examining the girl. She is at least a head shorter than Nanoha, but doesn't look much younger, maybe a year since she does have a growing chest area. She wore tight blue denim shorts and a pale white tee shirt with some white trainers.

"Oh, hiya!" Nanoha greeted with her forever cheerfulness. "What's ya doing out here all by ya self?" she asked looking around as if to spot someone with her.

The girl took a couple of frightful steps back. "P-please d-d-don't hurt me!" she begged whimpering fearfully.

Nanoha's eyes widened in surprise, why would she want to hurt this girl? "Um… I'm not going to hurt you," she replied reasonably. "Why would I?" she asked curiously.

"Y-you mean you're n-not with those horrid soldier guys who took my dad away?" she asked hopefully.

"Horrid soldier guys?" Nanoha repeated in confusion. "I don't think I know anybody like that," she replied reasonably.

"R-really?" she asked nervously. Nanoha nodded. "Oh. I'm s-sorry. B-but you are a stranger and we don't get foreigners here often. In fact, you and those guys are the first I've ever seen."

"Huh? What's a foreigner?" Nanoha asked confusedly. She had never heard of that word before.

The blonde haired girls eyes widened in surprise before she answered. "You know, people from other countries. See, your Chinese, so that makes you a foreigner." She nodded reasonably.

Nanoha scratched the back of her neck nervously. "Um… actually I'm Japanese," she corrected with a light blush across her cheeks. She thought that would be obvious.

"Oh," the blonde girl blushed embarrassedly. "S-sorry."

Nanoha shrugged. "It's okay, I'm Nanoha. So what's your name, and what are you doing out here all alone?"

"My names Cassandra, but you can call me Cassy," she answered before hanging her head sadly. "I-I'm looking for my dad. See these mean army guys came to our village several hours ago, and took him. They wore these uniforms with a red wand on it. They called themselves the Red Wand Army.

"They came looking for a guide to help them find something. And my dad knows the land better than mostly everybody around here. And the other villagers are all too scared to stand up to these guys. They had weapons and everything."

Nanoha nodded in thought for a moment before a light seemed to spark to life in her eyes. "Wait a minute did these jerks have big metal things with spinning tops that fly?" she asked suspiciously.

Cassy startled and looked up at the older girl in surprise. "Yeah they did. They must have had about five helicopters. They took my dad in one," she answered. Though she was surprised Nanoha doesn't know what a helicopter is, she let it go without asking in the hope that Nanoha might know something useful.

"I see," she answered with a nod, glad she now has a name to put with the flying thingies. "It must be those jerks from before in Korea." She looked at Cassy to see a look of confusion. "Well, there were these mean guys who threw this out of their thingy," she began showing her Rei-chan. "And well it had a little yellow blink on it, so I followed the yellow blink until I found what they were looking for first, as punishment to being jerks.

"I think they're bad guys, trying to do something evil no doubt," she concluded thoughtfully. "That's why I'm here. I'm trying to get all of the yellow blinks before I continue searching for my Mistress. Then with all of the yellow blinks I'll be able to help her save the world."

Cassy was confused but nodded along anyway. The girl was obviously not all there in the head, but harmless enough she supposed. She figured she should play along with the odd girl's game for now, and maybe she'll lead her to her father. Plus the girl is carrying a device similar to that huge black guy.

"Okay, so which way do we go to find them?" she asked hopefully.

Nanoha grinned as she looked to Rei-chan for the answer, the little yellow blink not too far away. "Okay, this way!" she answered pointing forward she led the way.

They walked in silence for thirty minutes or so when they came to a large rock. And by large it must have been a mile long and a few hundred feet tall. Nanoha started suddenly and grabbed the blonde girl pulling her behind a small boulder.

Cassy squealed in surprise but it was muffled by Nanoha's hand over her mouth. "Shhh!" Nanoha whispered in her ear sending a pleasant shiver down her spin, and a huge blush across her cheeks. "There're people over there."

Cassy nodded in embarrassment, though Nanoha was completely oblivious as she removed her hand from her new friend's lips. They both nervously peered over the boulder to see several men in uniform and a few helicopters near the entrance to an old mine.

In the lead was a large black man holding a white guy hostage with some kind of little wooden stick. The man looked nervously at it, and Nanoha knew he has good reason to be nervous having seen sticks similar to them before.

The man being held hostage has long brown hair neatly combed back and blue eyes almost the same as Cassy's. He wore light blue jeans, and a faded white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the top few buttons left undone. Nanoha realised that he must be Cassy's dad.

Nanoha's right hand snapped out suddenly, taking Cassy's hand in a vice like grip to keep her from running out panicky about her father's fate. Cassy looked down at her hand in surprise. She would have never believed a girl of Nanoha's size could be so effortlessly strong.

She then looked up at Nanoha to see her put a finger to her lips in a gesture for quiet. Cassy reluctantly nodded her agreement and returned her attention to the jerks and her father.

"W-what is it you assholes want anyway?" Cassy's father suddenly demanded angrily.

The huge black guy just smirked while the others glared in outrage. "Just an old relic," he commented offhandedly. "Nothing to concern your self with."

"An old relic?" he asked doubtfully.

"In deed," he agreed nonchalant. "You see our radars say its somewhere around here, but unfortunately they're not very accurate. However, as fortune has it there aren't very many places in the area for it to be hidden. And this old abandoned mine seems to be the most likely place to find it."

"Then what do you want with me?" he demanded heatedly.

The guy smirked. "Just a guide through the mine, nothing more."

"A-and then you'll let me go?"

"Sure. It isn't like you muggles could do anything to stop us!" he chuckled darkly sending a shiver of dread through Cassy's spine as the guy flicked his stick and several orbs of light materialised. "Lead the way, fool!"

Cassy's dad gave the guy one last glare before leading him and his men into the mines entrance and out of sight.

Cassy stared at the spot they left in for several moments before turning to see Nanoha staring at her worriedly. "Are you okay Cassy. You look really freaked out. What's wrong?"

She blinked several times before shaking her head clear. "Err, nothings wrong. Yeah, yeah. I'm just worried about my dad." In truth she was freaked because she's almost one hundred percent certain the little wooden stick is a wand and that the huge black guy is a warlock or something. But if Nanoha isn't going to mention it then she sure as hell isn't going to bring it up and look like a fool.

"Well okay then, let's go after them and rescue your dad," she replied brightening. Cassy grimaced. How does Nanoha expect them to do that? They'll be up against some mean magic guy. He might try to hex them or something.

However, she followed after Nanoha as she walked to the entrance of the mine, looking into its dark depths nervously. "H-how are we going to follow, we don't have a torch."

"Like this silly," Nanoha replied with a roll of her eyes. Cassy watched in confusion as Nanoha raised her right hand palm up. However, she soon realised why Nanoha hadn't commented on the magic as two glowing balls of light popped into existence.

Cassy stared at them with her mouth hanging wide open for a few moments before she regained her speech. "H-how… what the hell… what are you. How did you do that?" The words spewed from her lips before she could stop herself.

"Do what?" Nanoha asked curiously. However, all Cassy could do is gesture towards the two small orbs of light. "Well, magic of course. How else did you think we could follow them?"

Cassy just shook her head clear and gave the girl a nervous smile. "O-of course, how silly of me. Lead the way then."

Nanoha smiled brightly and nodded in agreement leaving Cassy to wonder whether the girl has ever been to school before. Nanoha turned her attention to Rei-chan and began leading the way. The first hurdle was four forks in the road. Cassy could hear voices down one and began to follow but Nanoha stopped her.

"Don't be silly, that isn't the correct way," she said reasonably to the blonde. "It's this way," she added pointing down a different tunnel.

"B-but those guys went this way," she disagreed desperately.

Nanoha just nodded in agreement. "But while they're looking for it that way. If we go this way we can cut them off and get the item first. Then we can kick there butts."

Cassy just nodded slowly as she followed after her new friend still very confused about what is going on. Though now she figured that whatever this relic is. It must be a powerful magical thing. That seemed like the only reason some magical army guys would want it so bad. She figured it must be a weapon of some sort.

She shook her head as clear as she can get it as she followed Nanoha. It has been almost too much to take in, all in one day. Not only has her dad been kidnapped by army guys, but they're magical army guys. Then to top things off she meets a cute magical girl who's going to help rescue him.

Cassy found herself startled at that thought ... 'cute' … why would she use that word to describe Nanoha? Well, sure the girl is cute… but… she sighed. Shaking away those thoughts and trying to gain control over the huge blush spreading a cross her checks she turned her attention to the older girl.

It isn't like Nanoha would think that way about her is it? No, of course not; she probably likes boys anyway. Well thinking about it Cassy realised she had thought she likes boys. Though looking at that adorable clueless expression on Nanoha's face, Cassy found herself wondering whether Nanoha has ever looked at anyone in that way before, let alone a boy.

"Well that's weird," Nanoha commented suddenly bringing her abruptly out of her thoughts.

"Huh?" she replied stupidly as Nanoha turned to her. She must have blushed several different shades of red in embarrassment.

Nanoha giggled in amusement at her friend. "Silly. The last item was guarded by loads of traps and stuff, but this one isn't; see."

Cassy was surprised when Nanoha gestured around them. They were in a huge dark cavern lit by the two orbs of light. However, that wasn't exactly strange. What was strange was at the other end of the cavern is a huge column of bright white light. Inside the light she could just about make out something floating inside it. And though the light should have been blinding she could look directly at it without a problem, and it wasn't even illuminating the cavern.

"Whoa… w-what is this?" she asked Nanoha in awe. "T-that light is beautiful."

"It sure is," agreed Nanoha brightly. Cassy had to hold back from blushing as she thought that Nanoha's smile is brighter and more beautiful than the light.

"In deed the light shines brightly!" Suddenly a voice blew gently to their ears startling them. They spun round in shock to see a beautiful older woman with long flowing blonde hair and green eyes smiling at them from near the light. She wore elegant silk robes of white and silver.

"W-who are you?" asked Nanoha eagerly. "Are you like that guy in Korea?"

The woman chuckled lightly but nodded her head in agreement. "Yes. I passed from this world nearly one thousand years ago."

Cassy stared at the woman in shock, and found she couldn't hold her tongue. "Y-you're a ghost?" she declared fearfully.

The woman shrugged with a gentle smile. "In a way I am. But yet I am not. I am but a shadow of who I once was. I am here to watch over the Bow of Light. Answer my question dear ones. If you should possess the power of my Bow what do you plan to do with it?"

The two girls looked at each other briefly before back to the woman. "Keep it from the bad guys of course," Nanoha spoke reasonably, as if it were obvious. "Then I can find my Mistress, and use it to help her save the world."

The woman smiled but shook her head before turning her gaze towards Cassy. "And you? What would you do with it?" she asked the blonde haired girl curiously.

Cassy was startled as she thought that question over for a moment before she noticed a problem with the question. "B-but I can't use it. I don't have any magical powers like Nanoha does."

"Silly child," the woman answered with a small laugh. "You do not need magic to harness its power. It draws strength from the spirit. And I sense your spirit is strong. Now child what would you do with the bow. Be honest now."

Cassy was once again startled as many far-fetched ideas of what she could do with a magical weapon ran through her mind. However, after a few minutes of pondering an idea stuck strongly.

"I-I would save my dad. You see there're these mean army guys who captured him," she said reasonably.

The woman nodded in response with a smile and was about to reply when Nanoha interrupted. "Oh yeah, thinking about them. How come the tunnel we chose has no traps?" she asked the woman.

She chuckled before answering. "Only those souls pure in their ambitions can see that tunnel. It is void of obstacles to test your strengths." She then turned to Cassy. "Your answer was true just as your friends, my child. However, she can not remove the bow as she already possesses the Griffin Claw. The two magic's would undoubtedly conflict and hurt her. So I leave it to you to collect the bow."

Cassy nervously looked to Nanoha. The older girl smiled brightly and nodded, gesturing for her to go ahead. She blushed as she took a steadying breath and slowly made her way towards their goal. It seemed like it took her hours to reach the light when it only took a few minutes. She looked to the woman to see her smiling and nodding for her to take it.

She could just about make out the shape of the bow in the light and reached up. She startled as her fingers brushed the light. It felt solid, as if she was pushing her fingers through water. She felt a comforting serge tingle through her fingers running down her body and out of her toes. It felt nice and peaceful, and gave her a strength she hadn't realised she had.

Cassy stretched in, her small fingers wrapping around the metallic prize. Then it happened so quickly she almost fell over in surprise. The light just shut down as if it had never been their as she found herself holding a white and aqua bow. However, it has no arrows or even a string, but she could just tell that that does not matter.

She looked back towards the woman and startled to see her slowly fading away with a sad, almost pained look on her face. Cassy first thought that it was because she was in pain, but realised it was more from sadness than anything else.

"Beware the Storm my children!" she whispered as she completely faded from this world. "It draws near, and grows in strength. Be brave and you shall protect this world as I once did."

Cassy stared at the spot she disappeared from for an age, a few loose tears leaking from her eyes as she silently promised to do her best. Even though she isn't sure what the woman meant, she figured it was that whole save the world thing Nanoha was talking about.

However, after a few more moments of standing she was startled as she heard clapping from behind. It actually sounded mocking. She spun around in surprise, her eyes widening in horror to see the army guys had exited another tunnel. Though they looked quite beaten up and their numbers had dropped to just the boss guy and two subordinates. Though she sighed in relief that her father is still relatively in one piece.

She looked to her dad to see him staring at her in both shock and worry. It was the huge black guy clapping his hands mockingly, and he continued for a few more moments before he stopped eyeing her bow eagerly. She gulped and pulled it tighter to her chest.

"C-Cassy what are you doing here?" her father suddenly asked.

"I-I came to rescue you," she replied bravely. Her bow seemed to be giving her more courage that she ever thought she had. "D-dad are you okay?"

He nodded, but it was the leader guy who spoke. "Well isn't this nice. A little family reunion," he said mockingly as he withdrew his wand, aiming it at her dad. "Now if you don't want your daddy dead I suggest you hand over the bow."

Cassy gulped but reluctantly began walking forward when Nanoha's voice made her stop. "No, Cassy-chan you can't just hand it over. It's yours not his. He's just a big bully, and a wimp."

He turned his attention from Cassy and glared at Nanoha, eyeing both the device around her neck and the golden bracelet around her right wrist eagerly. "If you don't want your friend's father to meet an early grave then you'll hand over your bracelet and Relic Radar. It appears yours is a lot more accurate than mine."

She frowned in confusion for a moment before looking down at her device hung around her neck before shaking her head and glaring. "No! I'm not handing Rei-chan over to you or the Griffin Claw, they're mine. If you want them you'll have to take them from me you mean jerk!"

The man chuckled humourlessly as he gestured to his remaining men. "Capture the girl and bring me her radar and relic."

The men nodded with sneers on their faces as they charged at her. The first man reached her in only a few moments and she flipped backwards, her fingertips brushing the floor she flipped herself up, her feet smashing painfully and loudly into his chin sending him hurtling backwards crying out in pain. Blood splattered the ground as he landed unconscious.

Nanoha landed lightly on her feet a smirk lining her lips as she shot forwards her left fist smashing into the other guy sending him sailing back, crashing painfully into the cavern wall. He slowly slid down it with blood dribbling down his chin, and he isn't getting up anytime soon.

She turned her gaze upon their boss and glared angrily. "Your men are weaklings. I guess that means you are too," she said smugly.

"Why you little bitch!" he roared out as he pushed Cassy's father out of the way. He fell to the floor painfully as he watched the army guy throw a green light from his wand, and the girl just step out of the way.

Cassy watched as the magic army guy launched a flurry of magic at her friend, and Nanoha kept dodging and weaving in and out of all of the light at speeds that seemed impossible for a young girl to achieve. However, it was worrisome that Nanoha was given no opportunity to return fire or hit the guy… one wrong move and Nanoha could die.

'NO!' Cassy reprimanded her self fiercely. She isn't going to let her friend die. Nanoha still has lots of things to do in life. Heck, Cassy realised she hasn't ever gotten to do anything fun with her yet.

She looked towards her father. He was watching the fight with wide eyes in fright. She then turned her attention to her bow. Yes. She has to protect her friend and father. She wasn't surprised when she finally notice a shimmer along the inner curve of the bow as she raised it up, pointing the bow at the army guy with her left hand.

Cassy slowly raised her right hand to the bow. Her fingers brushing the shimmer, but that's all. She held that position for a few seconds before she pulled back her right hand, the shimmer of light sticking to her fingers. As she drew it back a bright white arrow shaped light materialised, buzzing with power.

It gave her more confidence as she glared at the remaining army guy. "HEY JERK, LEAVE HER ALONE!" she yelled angrily.

He startled and turned, letting up his attack in a moment of surprise. The last thing he saw was a huge beam of light heading his way as Cassy released her arrow of light.

Cassy stared in shock as the arrow blast forwards, smashing into the army guy. He didn't even scream as he was obliterated into nothing. However, the light carried on till it hit the far side wall of the cavern, exploding into nothing it shook the ground and cracked the rocks. Spiky rocks from the ceiling began to crumble and fall as the shaking continued.

She was so shocked she hadn't noticed the bow fizzle away in a flash of light only leaving a thin white bracelet around her left wrist similar to Nanoha's, and it took a few moments to hear Nanoha calling her over the noise from the cavern caving in around them.

She looked over at her friend to see her wide eyed with fright staring just above her. She looked up, eyes widening impossibly to see a huge rock falling towards her. She squealed out in shock, dropping to her knees and putting her arms up as if they would protect her. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, waiting for her inevitable end.

However, after a few more moments of nothing she dared to open her eyes only to see Nanoha standing over her looking relieved. Her right hand now with a clawed golden metal glove, with the finger tip claws glowing red, though that slowly faded to nothing. She looked around her to see several large chunks of rock that had clearly been sliced into the smaller pieces.

Cassy looked up at Nanoha in gratitude. "Err, thanks," she said weakly.

Nanoha grinned. "Your welcome, Cassy-chan," she replied, relieved her new friend isn't hurt. "Thanks for putting a stop to that jerk."

"GIRLS!" Cassy's dad suddenly called from one of the tunnels leading out. They looked over at his panicked expression. "We have to get out of here before the whole cave network fall on our heads."

They both glanced at each other and nodded. Nanoha quickly helped her to her feet and the pair ran over to her father hand in hand. None of them stopped for pleasantries as they just ran down the first tunnel they came too. Luckily it was the one Nanoha and Cassy used.

It seemed to them as if they had been running for weeks non-stop as they dodged and weaved in and out of falling rocks, and hopped over small forming fissures. However, they soon saw the bright light at the end of the tunnel and picked up speed, jumping clear just as the entrance caved in. they stayed put on the ground for a few minutes, Nanoha and Cassy holding each other tightly as the shaking ground subsided.

Cassy sighed in relief before blushing brightly as she realised how close her face is with Nanoha's, she quickly let go of the older girl.

"W-well I'm glad that's over," she said nervously before looking over to her dad and glomping him in a hug. "Dad, you're alright now aren't you? Nanoha helped me save you."

He chuckled shakily as he regained his breathing and hugged his daughter in return. "Yes. I'm fine, but you scared me there for a minute," he laughed here a little. "I always told you, you were destined for great thing," he told her as she pulled back from their embrace.

"D-dad," she suddenly spoke again, and this time her tone was determined and sad. It pulled at his heart, but he at least understood a little. "I think… no. I know I have to leave with Nanoha. I'm not sure what I can do. But I know I must. The bow chose me, and I think the whole worlds in trouble, and it's not because of those evil army guys. I-I think this is much bigger than those jerks.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as tears leaked from her eyes. "I-I'm not sure what I can do if anything at all. But I just know deep down that I can help save the world." She looked at Nanoha to see a sad smile lining her lips. The kind of smile that doesn't belong to the normally chipper girl. She subconsciously rubbed her bracelet before smiling at her father and wiping the tears away on her arm.

"I-I think I understand," he replied tiredly. "And I won't stop you. But I want you to call at least once a week so I know you're okay understand?" he asked keeping his emotions at bay, as he can see this is something his daughter needs to do. Not only for herself but for the world as a whole, and it would be selfish of him to even try to stop her.

He turned from his daughter to Nanoha and gave a small smile. "You will take care of her won't you?" he asked her.

"Of course I will," she agreed, her bright smile returning ten-fold. "We'll have lots of fun too. Don't you worry one bit Cassy-chan's daddy-san? We'll be fine. Especially after we find our Mistress, we'll definitely save the world."

"H-how will we travel?" Cassy butted in suddenly.

"Like this silly," Nanoha spoke smugly as she stood up. "NIMBUS!" she cried out to the sky.

Cassy and her father were confused for a moment when they both started, jumping with wide eyes as a little blue cloud zipped down from the sky hovering before Nanoha as she looked at them smugly.

"Nimbus will carry us, silly," she giggled. "It's big enough for the both of us if you sit between my legs."

Cassy's eyes widened further as she felt both faint and pleased about the seating arrangement, a huge blush streaking across the blonde girls pale cheeks.

To Be Continued…