– 469th night, non-administrated world #745 –
Life... wasn't simple.
It was difficult...
Fate's POV
I was walking. I knew that much. But was I at least breathing? I didn't know. Was I still alive? I didn't know. I didn't know anything that was happening.
And I couldn't know where I was or why I was walking. I couldn't see; darkness was my surrounding. I couldn't feel my body, I couldn't move it. My legs were simply moving on their own. Walking ahead, walking right, walking left... I didn't know where I was going.
But my mind was... at peace. Why? Did I have forgotten something? Something really important? I didn't know. But it didn't really matters. No bad memories, nor good ones. My mind simply knew that I was walking. And that was all.
Suddenly, my eyes opened. The sudden bright light was making my eyes sore. But I continued to move and slowly my eyes could picture where I was. I was walking in a forest. The path I was following was soft and strangely familiar. But was it my imagination?
Soon, I was just walking without thinking anything. And that's when I found a big bed in the center of the path. The bed was in wood, but looked very comfortable. And I was tired. Why did I know that? It was an instinct. The bed was drawing me to it and I never asked myself why there was a bed in a forest. My mind simply acknowledged it as something normal and harmless. My body and mind was on their own.
I was then lying on the bed. It had a water-mattress and it was very soothing, refreshing. It was swinging me gently, motherly taking me to sleep. Sounds of little waves slowly dragged me into deep sleep with only one last thought that was bugging me in my mind.
Have I forgotten something?
Nanoha's POV
"We're here. It was the last place she reported and also where she last answered us." Signum simply said.
I looked around to see on what sort of planet Fate have lived for a while. It had such a nasty climate to be outside. It was raining so much; the water was filling the ground. A heavy fog was surrounding us, forbidding us to see more than a few feet in front of us. There were so many weeds meddling in puddles that we didn't know where to walk. And the trees... They were so sad; all gloomy, dull and curving on us. And they were so tall that they could almost reach the sky. And a dark one. A dark sky...
A sky where nobody can fly... Fate...
A shiver past through my back. I have a really bad feeling... Somehow, I don't know if this is going to end well...
I then felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned my head to face Signum.
"It will be alright Takamachi. You know she wouldn't give up easily." She tried to comfort me.
I nodded and smiled a little. I don't know that, Signum... I really don't know... I thought I knew her but look where it got us. Yeah right... As if I would say that! "Anyway, we need to get moving! I will go north and you south. Let's go."
I pushed away the thoughts – her – and we began our exploration.
– A few hours after –
I had found a house - or more a hut. [Signum?]
I waited a little. A little longer. A lot longer. I was worried and was about to go back when I heard her voice.
[Takamachi?]
I sighed interiorly. It's not the time to scare yourself like this Nanoha... [I've found a little house. Must be Fate's.]
[... I see. Did you enter it?]
I paused. [No.]
[All right, I am on my way. Coordinates?]
[Oh, right! Here is...]
I waited about... I didn't know. This planet didn't seem to have regular days like on Mid-Childa or on Earth. It was difficult to tell. Anyway, I waited long enough to feel uneasy in front of Fate's hut.
I was playing with fingers, looking around nervously in hope to see someone - anyone. I wanted to see Signum now. I didn't really know why, but the house, the world, no, the whole situation was creeping me out.
My breath was heavy and faster than normal. Something was wrong, it felt like something bad would happen or had already happened.
Fate... I hope... I shook my head. My mind was against me. She's fine Nanoha! Think positively!
A hand touched my shoulder. "Takamachi?" Signum was in front of me. "Are you alright? I can go ahead if you want..." Her somewhat hard expression softened.
I shook again my head. "No it's alright. I'm just nervous. Nyahahah..." My laugh was awkward but truthful. "We should go see inside."
Signum smiled a little and let me walk in first, but I hesitated only for a second before entering the little hut. The door-like cracked and the inside was nothing I was prepared for.
It was small and impersonal. On the right was laying on the floor many books, a few unwashed shirts and some bags of cereals getting eaten by rats. In the back was only taken by a bed of stray. There was also a rock for a chair and a desk made in wood at our left with a lot of documents on it. In the center was a little bed of an animal that wasn't present as it seemed.
What had sought my attention was the desk. My eyes roamed the papers to see a corner of a picture mixed up within them. My curiosity got the better of me and I took it out.
It's... Us...
The picture was of me and her when we were still kids. At our new beginning in life. Me as a new magical girl and her to a new family, kinder one.
She was smiling subtly as for me widely. We were in each other's arms, blushing slightly. We were so young... so... innocent... Back then, we didn't really know how cruel the world could be... but... Maybe Fate knew already...
Tears soon fall down. I smiled at the picture a last time before putting it in my pocket. I will treasure it... Until I find you...
Signum called me. "Takamachi. Come outside."
I pushed the door to see the back of my friend. "What is-" I was stunned by what was in front of me.
"Warf!"
A... A dog...? It appeared to be young because it was so small. "Hello there." I said kneeling.
"Warf!"
"Why is the dog here Signum?" I turned my head to her. "Are dog even a species on this planet?"
Signum seemed pensive for a while as I petted it. The little dog was sitting and waving its tail happily.
"Are you a friend of Fate-chan?" I stupidly asked and I got another affirmative bark. "Oh? Then you must know where she is?" It stood and barked more.
"The dog seems intelligent enough, we should follow it." Signum said.
I nodded and got up. The little dog jumped around me and snuggled around my left hand. My heart warmed and a smile crept to my lips.
"Alright, let's go!"
After what seemed like eternity, we saw a fall. It was breathtaking after having walked, and flied at some points through the woods. It was messy, unsafe and difficult to deal with. We had walked about an hour until the dog stopped running in front of this beautiful scenery.
I turned around to look for clue why we were there. Signum was doing the same. The dog was simply whining at a few feet of the water.
"What's the matter? Where's your master?" I knelt down next to it and it nodded, pointing the other side.
I looked across the water and my eyes widened as I yelled in fears. Signum didn't even have the time to turn to face me that I was fast flying to the other side.
No-no-no-no-no-no... NO! Tears were rapidly falling as I reached my destination. I fall down loudly.
I saw Fate.
Lying in the dirt.
Her clothes scrapped.
Her skin wounded everywhere.
Her hair messy.
I saw red on it.
Signum's POV
I was downed that our researches hadn't gave us anything. We had followed the dog and slowly, my hopes were drained.
Everything that had happened since Fate's departure was wrong. We missed her. We wanted only to see her, to be with her. She hadn't become what we thought. That video call made me sick inside. Fate had changed so much. No... She hadn't change. Her defenses only broke down.
This planet was making her like that. I could feel it. There was something wrong here...
After an hour of turning around, we finally reached a fall. It was great to see a good side on this sick planet. But the dog finally gave up and whined. Nanoha and I started to search the area in case.
"What's the matter? Where's your master?" I heard Nanoha talked to the dog. Oh, please. It won't help us-
My thoughts were interrupted by Nanoha's scream. When I turned around, alerted, I saw her mid way of the large river. On instinct, I took the dog in my arms and I followed suit.
But I wasn't prepared to see what had made scream Nanoha.
I dropped the dog.
I brought my hand to my mouth.
Fate was lying in the sand. And she must have been there for a while.
Her body was yelling pain.
...And so was our mind seeing her like this.
Nanoha's POV
You need to be alive... You have to be alive... Fate... FATE! I tried to find a pulse.
Bu-dum... It was weak, but it was still a heartbeat.
My eyes widened more. "She's alive! SHE'S ALIVE!" I yelled, turning around to see Signum communicating with Shamal.
"Please, make it fast." The pink haired warrior pressed their doctor.
"On the way."
"Signum... she's alive..." I weakly said.
She turned to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Yes, she is."
Time then seemed to slow down. A teleport circle appeared and medical assistants came to help.
I felt heavy. As if a weight on my back disappeared. I looked at everyone doing their work as strain finally got me.
Then, an assistant knelt before me, I saw his mouth move but I couldn't hear anything.
Soon after, I closed my eyes, a smile on my lips.
– 3 months later –
I was happier. Everyone could tell. They had stopped seeing me as a traitor and now as a savior. It was still ironic that I saved my best friend from death when it was I that lead her to that.
I shook my head. No, don't think like that. I was standing before a hospital chamber.
It was Fate's.
Since our rescue, she hadn't woken up nor did any sign of possibilities of waking up.
Shamal took about three days non-stop to stabilize Fate.
Three days of pure agony for everyone.
When she had first come out of the room, she crashed on a chair in the waiting room with us. I pressed her to tell me how was Fate and she only smiled brightly.
It was enough.
And now, three months had passed.
She had healed from all her wounds. Only resided one scar on her forehead that will follow her all her life.
I sighed when I noticed it had been ten minutes and that I was still in front of her room.
I opened the door and exclaimed softly, "Hi Fate-chan! It's me again!"
I walked to her bed and brought a chair in the way. I sat down and only looked at her peaceful face in silence.
I stayed that way for long before tears won over me. "You know, Fate-chan." I waited for an answer but got nothing. "Even if I excuse myself. Even if I act happy and all. Even if I work and live as if nothing ever happened. That won't bring you back."
Silence answered me.
"You look like you're in peace." I tried to smile but couldn't. "For me, I am not." Tears fall more. "I could guess it is what I deserve after making you suffer."
Again, silence.
"You know, I want you back. Not for Hayate, not for your family, not for anyone." I trailed off. "I want you to myself. I want to be selfish yet again and have you to myself once more."
I stopped and took my breath.
"This time, however, I won't let you down. I'll take care of you. I'll baby you. I'll treasure you. I'll spoil you." I smiled truthfully. "I'll let you take care of me like you always wanted. Let you baby me, let you treasure me, let you spoil me. I'll let you do everything." I hiccupped. "I am your everything... Please... just be my everything..."
I cried hard and fall on the bed, clutching the sheets. I let out all my pain and yelled your name all over and over.
"Fate-chan! Fate-chan! Fate-chan! Fate-chan! Fate-chan!" I was desperate and softly said, "I love you."
All I was trying was to reach you.
It was simple.
It was the true.
It was my last wish.
It was my last attempt.
And...
I succeeded.
"N-Nano-ha...?"