III

Toward the Broken Sky

Nanoha's first thought was that she had pick a terrible spot to fall asleep: It was hard, cold and full of dust. She slowly opened her eyes and look around her, when did she decided to take a nap on the roof? She attempted to sit up but a sudden burst of pain made her stop and bite her lip before she screamed. Her entire body felt numb and something warm seem to be dripping down her forehead.

She reach up to touch it and saw the sleeve of her Barrier Jacket was torn apart, her other hand was holding Raising Heart but when Nanoha directed her gaze notice the device's red core was full of cracks and look like it was about to break. What had happen? Did she…?

The memories returned to her at that moment: The attack, her battle with Ulquiorra, her last attempt to fire a Starlight Breaker and the sudden realization that she wouldn't make it in time… then the resulting explosion in which she barely avoided a direct hit in the last second.

Nanoha greeted her teeth and try to move again. Her body protested and tremble in pure agony but she forced herself up, using her device as a cane and support. Her Barrier Jacket was torn and cut in several places, with red stains from the wounds she sustained.

"Raising Heart… are you al-alright?" Nanoha asked her device, ignoring the pain on her chest when she spoke which signal a broken rib, maybe more than one. Her Barrier Jacket tight around her torso to keep the bones in place in an automatic response.

Raising Heart's frame was full of cracks but still the red jewel in the center responded with a red glow.

"All… Ri… ight… Mas… ter" the voice sounded like it was coming from underwater.

Nanoha nodded, that will have to do even if seem far from the truth at the moment.

"You survived, woman" Ulquiorra's voice was as cold and calm as ever. Nanoha look up to see him appear above her, his wings extending to his side to block her view. "If you had taken a second longer to fire that half charge attack my Cero Oscuras would have kill you, fascinating. But it seems that was all you got, was it not? Such a pity."

Ulquiorra descended and form a new green javelin in his hand. Nanoha wanted to answer but the oppressive aura emanating from the Arrancar was so intense that it took all of her remaining strength just to stand in front of him. Ulquiorra step closer and the energy spear move towards her chest to deliver the final blow. Nanoha could only watch as the tip got closer and closer.

"Protection" a mechanical voice interrupted the silence.

"Raising Heart!" Nanoha recover her voice and a small pink barrier block the advancing spear but it just hold it for a second before it crack, alongside the red jewel in Raising Heart's core. With a faint glow her Barrier Jacket disappear as well and Nanoha fall to her knees when her support fail her, holding the remains of her device.

"… Seems you still had some fight in you" Ulquiorra look at Raising Heart for a second. "So that thing had a mid of its own and was worried about you… how worthless."

He lifted his arm to impale her once more and Nanoha knew this time she wouldn't be able to stop it. The spear descended, almost in slow motion, as her eyes grew blurry from some tears that push against them. She was not sad for herself but for those in the control room, for Hayate who she let down and for her little girl, Vivio, who she wouldn't be able to see again.

Nanoha wanted to move for them, to fight on, but even if her spirit was strong it could not give that strength to her body. She was going to die there, she realize with the green glow getting closer, and there was nothing she could do. Her last thought was for that woman she love above everyone else. 'I'm sorry Fate-chan, I hope I can see you again someday' and then…

"Sonic Move."

A golden light touched Nanoha and she felt her body being lifted out of the way of the green javelin that destroy the floor where just a second ago she was standing. Nanoha press herself against the warm body that had so gently pick her up and she felt her tears getting even stronger, but now out of happiness. Not just a second ago she was sure she would never hug this person again or see her gentle red eyes looking back at her, from the golden halo of light that her magic and hair always created.

"Fate-chan" Nanoha whispered, placing her head against the other woman's chest.

"Sorry Nanoha, we took a bit too long." Fate answer, she was obviously worry but manage to give her a reassuring smile. "You can rest now, we will take care of the rest now."

"We?" Nanoha asked, a bit confuse.

Fate landed and put her down, letting her rest against a wall.

"Yes, we have all arrive now" another voice said.

"Hayate-chan, Shamal-san!" Nanoha smile when she saw the other two appearing but a sudden movement made her ribs protest and she had to bite her tongue to hold the pain. Shamal went right next to her and kneel down, using her healing magic to treat her right away.

"You had a hard fight, Nanoha-chan" Hayate said, holding her golden staff in one hand and the Tome of the Night Sky in the other. "Take it easy, we will deal with this guy."

Above their heads the sky was illuminated by a new green explosion.

Ulquiorra let the spear vanish in his hand and look in the direction where his target had just vanish. 'That other woman was too fast, she even manage to evade my Pesquisa. If she had strike me instead…' the Arrancar thought, showing a slight sign of disgust. 'Typical of humans, putting their companions above securing victory.' He took a step and prepare to follow but another presence appear on top of him.

"Giant Hammer!"

A large hammer head descended upon him, however Ulquiorra lifted his hand to catch it. The impact was strong enough to shake his arm and make a crate under his feet because of the momentum it was carrying but he stop it. Looking at the other end he was surprise to see a small child dress in red staring intently at him.

"You!" she seem to be struggling to keep her calm. "You were the one who injure Nanoha, right?!"

"So what?" Ulquiorra replied, he push the hammer away from him. "If you are going to get angry, then blame your superiors for not sending someone capable in the first place."

The little girl stepped back. A triangle, not unlike the circles Nanoha had use, appear at her feet glowing with red energy and she seem to expel to empty cartridges from her hammer, looking at Ulquiorra with a clear killing intent.

"Graf Eisen! Raketen Form!"

"Explosion!"

The head of the hammer change form, looking more like a missile now and the girl spin around, being pull by the rockets on the hammer itself. The girl attack him, moving surprisingly fast and precise, swinging her weapon at his head. Ulquiorra used the Sonido and step out of the way, appearing behind his opponent.

"Luz de la Luna"

She was able to bring her hammer back and the head clash against the javelin, causing it to explode in a large energy glow that crack the hammer and send the small warrior to the ground where she crashed hard. Ulquiorra consider finishing her off but someone else attack, this time on his right.

"Shiden Issen"

The new attacker was a mage with pink hair, a couple of tones darker than Szayelaporro's as Ulquiorra notice despite himself, swinging a flaming blade. He conjure a new Luz de la Luna and use it as a sword to block the attack. The fire engulf him but his Hierro was able to repel it.

"You appear one after another." He said looking at the swordsman eyes. "It's starting to get annoying."

"Can you keep saying that when you nearly lose an arm?" the woman keep the pressure on her blade but then release it and step back in the air. "You luck strong. I am Lt. Signum, of the Special Duty Six from the TSAB. Mind telling me your name?"

"… Ulquiorra Cifer."

"I am piss off enough that I would not mind a single combat against you" Signum said and then look behind Ulquiorra. "But that won't be possible, right Testarossa?"

"I'm a Enforcer of the Special Duty Six, Fate T. Harlaown" the blonde girl that save Nanoha appear behind him, holding a black device with a yellow energy blade growing on the end. "I suggest you put down your weapon and surrender."

Ulquiorra look back at her but he sense the change in the situation. The presence of the last Hollow vanish and, like they were waiting for it, the rest of the soldiers and the new arrivals converge on his person, surrounding him completely.

"Frigid Dagger" A series or sharp light blue daggers form around the Arrancar and another mage with short brown hair step forward, holding a book and a golden staff. "I am the commander, Hayate Yagami, and you hurt my subordinates enough already. Surrender now or face the consequences."

Ulquiorra took a moment to examine the new development. 'Most are just trash, but those 3 could be a problem' he thought, his eyes darting from Signum to Hayate, to Fate. 'In any case is not my mission to defeat them.' Ulquiorra relaxed his posture and let his Resurreción vanish, returning Murciélago to its blade form and sheathing the blade slowly. The women seem glad but they did not let their guard down.

"Szayelaporro" Ulquiorra call out loud before anyone could say anything.

The other Arrancar appear next to him inside the field of daggers like had been there the entire time. Everyone jump on their places but he ignored them.

"What is the matter, Ulquiorra?" Szayelaporro passed a hand across his hair and put it behind his ear. "I am getting incredible data from all this…"

"You had enough time. Do you have it?"

"Right, the mission… yes, yes, here it is." The pink hair man took something out of his pocket and show it to him. The Hōgyoku shine in his hand for a moment and he put it away again.

"The mission is complete then. We are retreating now." Ulquiorra said.

"You are trying to escape?" Fate casted a spell and several magic volts appear around her. The other mages also aim their spells at the duo. "We won't let you get away."

"Such primitive and crude methods, why fighters are always so simple minded?" Szayelaporro fake to be hurt and then grinned, looking up. "It is time."

Above them, in the clouds, another large Garganta rip the sky open. A series of large figures with white masks emerge from it, howling in a thousand different voices and all the presents could see a large eye looking down behind the figures, like it was directing them. A cascade of golden light fall and form a square barrier around the two Arrancars.

"You won't escape!" Hayate gave the order and everyone attack at once but despite the large explosion they cause the barrier barely register any damage.

"That won't do. The moment this Negación touch us we became unreachable for you." Szayelaporro said, pushing his glasses up and laughing at them. "Don't feel bad, you were all quite rare subjects to observe. So long, at least until we get another chance to see each other again, mages."

Ulquiorra ignored his companion but his eyes look away from Fate and the others, focusing on Nanoha who was still being healed. Despite being so far away she still manage to hear Ulquiorra's voice as he call her out.

"So long, Nanoha Takamachi. I say you turn out to be an interesting person after all."

Nanoha could not answer because at that moment the white hands of the large creatures receive the duo and the Garganta close, like it had never been there.

And so the story comes to its natural end, thank you very much for reading. Any comments of feedback are more than welcome. I hope you enjoy it, I know I had fun writing it, otherwise I wouldn't even bother. As they say: If I entertained you that was my reward, if I offended you I ask for forgiveness.