Authors' Notes: Well everyone here is the next chapter in this epic adventure.

Now without further ado here is the next chapter.

ZR };-

Mystic Guardians: Hero's From Two Worlds

By

Zona Rose

Chapter Thirteen

Approaching the city gates they could see banners and flags from a distance, the sun cast a warm glow over the top of the city by the time they reached the gate of Eloria. Weary from weeks of travel, and the hard push after Nanoha had been injured. They breathed a collective sigh of relief upon reaching their destination with no further troubles after their encounter with the Elves.

"Never thought I'd be so happy to see civilization again," Arisa said, the others voiced their agreement.

At the gate, they had to state how long they were going to be in the city and what their purpose was in the city. Once they were past the gate the inside streets were bustling with activity. One of the guards gave them instructions on how to get to an inn that was reasonably priced for travelers like them.

Looking around Fate said, "Let's see if we can find the Boars Inn and Tavern." Her voice carried an unmistakable note of concern. Nanoha had been showing signs of getting worse not better the last two days, despite Shamal and Suzuka's best efforts.

The stone-paved streets of Eloria made it easy for them, as they made their way through the city, searching for their destination. Their search brought them to a modest inn with a welcoming atmosphere.

"The guard at the gate recommended your Inn and Tavern, so we would like three rooms for five days to start with," Alicia requested, approaching the innkeeper.

"Of course, miss, that will be five silvers," The innkeeper replied, handing over three sets of keys and gesturing towards a staircase. "Your rooms are just upstairs. I hope you enjoy your stay."

"Thank you," Alicia responded, giving him the money before leading the group up the creaking stairs.

Once inside their shared room, Hayate collapses onto the bed, exhaustion overtaking her. Signum and Shamal took a moment to survey the room, which was small but clean and well-maintained. Reinforce goes to the window to check out the view and Zafira finds good spots to rest nearby.

Alicia, Vita, Suzuka, and Arisa drop their gear off in their room and explore what amenities the inn has. Suzuka and Arisa find the bath house in the back of the building. Alicia and Vita find the stable and sauna. There is also a training ground that is tucked in behind the stable.

"We could use this for training," Alicia said.

"Not a bad idea, we don't want to get rusty while we're here," Vita replied.

"Yes, we don't know how long we're going to be here, so that would be a good idea to keep up our skills," Alicia said.

In the last room, Alph and Rynith checked out the room while Fate carefully tucked Nanoha into the soft bed, her eyes never leaving her friend's face. She couldn't help but think of how vulnerable Nanoha looked, so different from the strong and determined person she knew her to be. Unable to tear herself away, Fate pulled a chair up to the bedside, taking Nanoha's limp hand in hers.

"Please wake up soon, Nanoha," She whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

As the minutes stretched into hours, Fate continued her vigil, refusing to leave Nanoha's side even for a moment. Alph and Rynith are curled up in the corners, keeping watch as the room is silent save for the soft sounds from the street, marking the passage of time as they wait.

Arisa and Suzuka stepped out into the bustling streets of the city, their eyes scanning the crowd for any signs of danger or information. They had been tasked with gathering news about the surrounding area, hoping to uncover anything that might help them in their quest to save Dhara from Jail's armies of darkness.

"Hey, Arisa," Suzuka began, a hint of worry in her voice as she looked around at the busy marketplace. "Do you think we'll find something useful here? It seems like everyone is just going about their daily lives."

Arisa said, "We have to try, Suzuka."

The two girls head out, weaving through the throngs of people as they question merchants, travelers, and city people alike.

"Have you seen any unusual activity recently?" Arisa asked a grizzled old soldier who was regaling a group of children with tales of his past battles.

"Unusual? Ha!" The man laughed bitterly, taking a swig from his flask. "These days, everything's unusual. Towns and villages burned to the ground... We're all living in fear."

Some information they got from one of the merchants was that a territory known as the forsaken lands had become very populous with monsters as of late. No one dared go through that area as it was just too dangerous. It was also rumored that's where the armies were coming from that were slaughtering the towns and villages.

"Damn it," Arisa cursed, kicking a nearby barrel in frustration. "We have to do something!"

Suzuka placed a comforting hand on her lover's shoulder, her eyes filled with empathy. "We will, Arisa." As they made their way back to the inn, their thoughts were consumed by the dire state of the world around them.

Fate stared at the flickering candle on the bedside table, her burgundy eyes heavy with fatigue. The flame cast eerie shadows on the pale face of Nanoha.

"Please, Nanoha," She whispered, her voice trembling with fear and desperation. "Wake up."

The door creaked open, and Suzuka entered, her expression solemn. Her gaze swept over Nanoha's still form before settling on Fate.

"Any change?" She asked quietly, already knowing the answer.

Fate shook her head, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she fought to keep them at bay. She refused to break down when Nanoha needed her strength.

"Listen," Suzuka said, drawing a chair closer to the bed. "You need to get some rest. You're no good to anyone if you're exhausted and burned out."

Suzuka stayed with Nanoha so Fate could take a bath and get some rest as sleep was a luxury to her. Once Fate was done she resumed her vigilance next to Nanoha.

"Thank you, Suzuka," She whispered, watching as her friend slipped out of the room and closed the door behind her.

"All right, let's do some tag team training, and then we'll switch out who our partners are," Says Alicia, who has decided to take it upon herself to keep everybody in top shape.

Alicia and Vita against Suzuka and Arisa. Vita went straight for Suzuka, using a makeshift hammer as her weapon. Arisa went on the attack against Alicia, getting all of her worries out about Nanoha.

After a short break, they switched out, Alicia and Suzuka against Vita and Arisa. To make it more interesting Alicia had them go against their partners. First, it was very difficult for Suzuka and Arisa to fight each other as they didn't want to hurt each other.

However, over time they got to understand why Alicia wanted them to fight against their partner. As she wanted everyone to know how the other fought and how to counteract it if somebody else had that same fighting style.

The next day it was time for the other group to get their training in. Alicia had to force Fate to get out and do some training. Suzuka and Arisa promise they will stay with Nanoha.

Alicia knowing her little sister pushed her hard in the training as she knew Fate needed it. The others in the training ground couldn't believe how hard Alicia was pushing Fate.

"Come on Fate you want to be in shape enough to be able to get your revenge on that assassin. Well if you don't take this seriously, then you'll be the next one she ends up killing. And I don't know about you, but I don't plan on losing my little sister." Alicia goats Fate as they spar.

The only rule Alicia put down was no magic, as she didn't want to destroy the training grounds. That rule went out the window as Alicia put up a barrier so that the two of them could go all out like they used to back home on Mid Childa.

They only stopped when Fate collapsed from pure exhaustion from both lack of sleep and the exertion from the training regiment that Alicia threw at her.

"Hey guys, can you do me a favor," Hayate asked her Knights, "Can you make sure that I never get her mad enough to go all out like that?"

Overhearing this Alicia got an evil grin on her face. "Who says you're not next on my list, Hayate?"

The Knights around Hayate stiffened at that response and surrounded their Master to protect her. Alicia laughed at them, "And what happens to Hayate, if she's by herself without any of you to protect her? She needs to learn how to defend herself without you."

Hayate nodded her head, "She's right, I'm not good with physical attacks and defense. I am more of a long-range mage, not close-range combat."

Alicia had each of the Knights fight their Master so that she could get a feel once more of the training that they had when they first had trained her.

Over the days of training, they had gotten a small crowd gathered around the railing to watch. One among that group was a number that was watching every move they made, so she could report back to her sisters.

A few days passed with agonizing slowness, each hour feeling like an eternity. "Please, don't leave me alone in this world, Nanoha," Fate pleaded silently, her thoughts echoing in the empty room. Fate felt more and more overwhelmed by the weight of her secret – her origins.

"I don't know how much longer I can keep this from you, Nanoha," She confessed, her voice trembling. "But I fear that once you know the truth, you'll never look at me the same way again."

Fate lowered her head, her golden hair spilling over her shoulders and brushing against Nanoha's arm. Her mind raced with worry, agonizing over the possibility of losing Nanoha's trust and love.

"Is it worth it?" She wondered out loud, feeling the crushing weight of her secret threaten to suffocate her. "Or should I continue living this lie, to protect both our hearts?"

The door creaked open slightly, and Arisa poked her head inside, concern etched on her face. "Fate, it's late, and you've barely slept," She said softly. "You need to rest. I can watch over Nanoha for a while."

Fate shook her head, her eyes never leaving Nanoha's peaceful face. "No, I can't leave her," She insisted, her voice resolute. "What if she wakes up and I'm not here?"

Arisa sighed, understanding the depth of Fate's love for Nanoha. She crossed the room and knelt beside her friend, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "She knows you're with her, Fate. And she'll understand if you have to step away for a little while. You can't help her if you're not taking care of yourself."

Fate hesitated, torn between the need for sleep and the fear of missing any sign of Nanoha stirring. But Arisa's words echoed in her mind, and she knew her friend was right. With a heavy sigh, she reluctantly agreed, allowing herself to be led to her bedroll.

"Promise me you'll wake me if anything changes," Fate whispered, her voice thick with emotion, as she finally allowed her tired body to succumb to slumber.

Arisa nodded, "I promise, Fate."

As Fate drifted into an uneasy sleep, plagued by dreams of confessions and heartbreak, she couldn't shake the thought that haunted her the most – would revealing her true nature to Nanoha drive a wedge between them forever?

A soft ray of sunlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the dust motes that danced lazily in the air. Fate stirred in her bedroll, eyelids fluttering open as she was roused from her troubled slumber. Her gaze immediately sought out Nanoha, still lying motionless on the bed.

Suzuka, Arisa, Alicia, and Vita have started to sleep in Nanoha and Fate's room for support and to make sure Fate gets her rest and takes care of herself.

Meanwhile, Nanoha's color and breathing have taken a turn for the worse. She is now a pasty white and her breathing is labored with a rattle. Shamal and Suzuka are at a loss as to why this is happening.

Yuuno appeared suddenly in the window, his tiny form framed by the golden light of the afternoon sun. His sudden appearance startled Fate, making her heart race in her chest.

"By the Goddess, I hope I am not too late," He exclaimed, urgency lacing his voice.

"Yuuno!" Fate breathed, her shock quickly giving way to relief. "What are you doing here? What do you mean, 'not too late'?"

"Please excuse my abruptness," Yuuno replied, hopping down from the windowsill, his deep green eyes filled with determination. "But I sense something is wrong with Nanoha."

"Wrong?" Fate's heart skipped a beat, her grip on Nanoha's hand growing tighter still. "What do you mean?"

Yuuno made his way to the end of Nanoha's bed, extending out his arms. A green light engulfs Nanoha for a few seconds.

"Poison," Yuuno said gravely. "There's some of it within her system, hindering her from waking up."

"Poison?" Fate repeated, disbelief etched across her face. "But how could this happen? Shamal and Suzuka have been healing her."

"Indeed, they've done an exceptional job. I'm sure that is why she's still alive. But this poison is quite subtle and difficult to detect, it is also a slow-working poison," Yuuno explained, his brow furrowing with concern. "I believe I can help remove it, but I must act quickly."

Fate's mind raced, "Please, Yuuno," She pleaded, desperation evident in her voice. "Do whatever you can to save her."

"I'll do everything in my power," Yuuno said.

As the green light began to envelop Nanoha, Fate could see her body shudder ever so slightly. A few drops of liquid slowly seeped out of her pores, and Fate resisted the urge to reach out and comfort her beloved. Instead, Fate took a deep, steadying breath and focused on keeping her emotions in check.

The drops of liquid continued seeping out of Nanoha's pores, pooling together in a malevolent puddle in the air. The dark substance seemed to pulsate with an unnatural energy, sending shivers down Fate's spine.

"Is that... the poison?" Fate asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Yes, once it is all out," Yuuno announced, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation, "I can destroy it." He glanced at Fate, giving her a reassuring nod. She could see the determination burning in his eyes, and it bolstered her resolve.

"I will incinerate it to ensure that it can no longer harm Nanoha," Yuuno continued, his voice steady even as the intensity of his magic increased. "Give her a few days, and she should be awake."

"Thank you, Yuuno," Fate murmured, her eyes never leaving Nanoha's face.

Throughout the process, memories of her adventures with Nanoha flashed through Fate's mind. The laughter they shared, the battles they fought side by side, and the bond they had formed over time - all of it threatened to come crashing down if Nanoha didn't make it through this ordeal.

"Please," Fate thought, "Let her be okay."

As the extraction process came to a slow end, and Yuuno incinerated the poison with a burst of flame, Fate couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"You've got this, Nanoha," Fate whispered under her breath. "I know you do."

"Give her a few days and she should be awake," Yuuno repeat, his voice strained but hopeful.

Fate's heart swelled with emotions - relief, and gratitude. Fate choked out, her voice tight with emotion. "I can't begin to express how grateful I am. Without your help, we might have lost her."

Yuuno said, "I'm just glad I made it in time."

Color has slowly returned and Nanoha's breathing is now normal, all they're waiting for is for her to wake up.

"Everything is going to be alright, Fate," A gentle voice murmured from behind her.

Fate turned to see Suzuka and Arisa standing in the doorway, their eyes filled with empathy and understanding. She offered a small smile, attempting to provide some measure of comfort.

"Thank you, Suzuka," Fate replied, her voice wavering slightly. The exhaustion from her vigilance is slowly catching up to her.

Suzuka said, "Nanoha has always been a fighter, and she won't give up so easily." Arisa nodded her head in agreement.

Shamal walks in after them, "Stay strong, my friend," Shamal encourages her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Nanoha will return to us, I know it."

As night fell, the soft glow of candlelight flickered across the room, casting shadows that danced and swayed with each wavering flame. Fate's exhaustion finally overcame her, her eyelids growing heavy as she leaned forward in her chair, her hand still clutching Nanoha's.

Suddenly, a faint stirring pulled Fate from the edge of slumber. Her heart leaped into her throat as she realized it was Nanoha who had moved, her eyes fluttering open with a mixture of confusion and disorientation.

"Wh... where am I?" Nanoha murmured, her gaze darting around the dimly lit room before finally settling on Fate. A slow, tired smile spread across her face as recognition dawned in her eyes.

"Fate..." She whispered, her voice barely audible.

Tears sprung unbidden to Fate's eyes as relief flooded through her, washing away the tension that had held her captive for so long. She smiled back at Nanoha, her joy shining brightly in her eyes.

"Welcome back, Nanoha," Fate choked out, her words thick with emotion. "We've all been waiting for you."

With a contented sigh, Nanoha fell into a healing sleep with a smile on her face. Fate seeing this sat on the floor next to the bed with her head next to Nanoha's and took her hand to hold. Falling into a restful sleep.

Authors' Notes: Well everyone this takes us to the end of this chapter.

Please leave a review let me know what you think so far, and until next time, enjoy the read.

In Love & Light,

ZR };-