And Space Pirates thought it was bad enough having Samus after them. Now along comes Fate and Teana... ick.
I'm glad to finally see it finished, though! Maybe the translators you dedicated the story to will take heart in it and work a bit harder on translating ViVid.
Page-claim for... uh... Fate fighting Space Pirates!
__________________
"No matter how many times I'm reborn... I'm sure I'll fall in love with you again..." Join ShirLulu Forever!
Ironically after I repped you for that, I checked mined and realized I got derepped for my chrono/Yuuno short T_T
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rising Dragon
And Space Pirates thought it was bad enough having Samus after them. Now along comes Fate and Teana... ick.
I'm glad to finally see it finished, though! Maybe the translators you dedicated the story to will take heart in it and work a bit harder on translating ViVid.
Page-claim for... uh... Fate fighting Space Pirates!
I wonder how Fate would look in the Zero suit........
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nanya01
I liked that chapter, Satashi.
But you might wanna go and put it as "Complete", Satashi.
Location: Some town in Canada you've never heard aboot.
Age: 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by spawnofthejudge
Someone tried to rep you without being here long enough for their repping either way to mean anything
Ah. Well, it doesn't help that they didn't leave a comment, so I can't tell what they thought, as opposed to another neutral rep I got in the image thread. What it was supposed to be was obvious because of the "OH GOD MY EYES IT BURNS" comment. I assume they were refering to my signature, cuz my actual post involved hot girls in china dresses
I awoke with a start, eyes snapping open as I felt an arm snake around my side. There was movement behind me and I almost grabbed the hand moving up my front to break its fingers before I remembered that Fate-chan had fallen asleep in my bed. Although I was content to sleep on the couch, I ended up thinking the bed would be big enough for both of us, and thus I had simply claimed the left side as my own while letting her sleep. Now Fate was behind me and my breath caught in my throat as her hand slipped in between the snap together buttons on my night shirt. I felt her palm touch my stomach and slide upwards, popping the catches loose as it went up. 'Wait!' my mind was functioning but my body wasn't listening. I could feel Fate's other arm slide under my pillow and her breathing against my hair. Her leg slid between mine and bent at the knee, raising upwards until I let out a small squeak at the feeling. 'St...stop, I'm not ready!' My mouth wouldn't open and my heart was thumping hard in my chest, right under the palm that was pressing on me enough to be considered a loose hug. The movement slowed down until it stopped altogether, Fate's gentle snoring now being muffled by my hair. I still couldn't seem to move my body, however, and I stared across my bed with wide eyes and a pounding heart while being embraced from behind. 'I'm... scared to move.'
AlternativeS III
By: Satashi
Nanoha gazed over the pink and white pillow her cheek was resting on and watched the sun rise through the extra large windows that made up most of one wall. Fate was still asleep behind her, breathing peacefully against her hair in a steady rhythm. Just as the sun's rays started to creep onto her bed, the radio on her nightstand cut on to deliver the sounds of a popular song.
Fate groaned at the noise and shifted as she tried to wake up. "Few more minutes..." Her request was mumbled lightly while stretching out. The brown haired girl suddenly found it easier to breathe as the hand went away from her chest. The warm body behind her moved and rolled over onto her back, allowing Nanoha to sit up and look down at the girl. "I was sleeping so well, too..." Red eyes struggled to open as the blonde sat up as well, looking over at Nanoha with a glazed expression.
"Ah, g-good morning." Nanoha manged out, hand going to grip both sides of her nightshirt to close it enough to snap together. "You can go back to sleep, you don't have to get up this early."
Fate looked at the girl blankly before sighing out. "For a moment..." Her sentence trailed, eyes looking away.
"...I'm sorry." Nanoha felt a small pain in her chest. "I... thought you would like to sleep in this bed. I- I was going to sleep on the couch but thought the bed was large enough to..."
Realization dawned on the blonde's face. "I have really bad sleeping habits. I'm sorry, did I make you uncomfortable?"
"N-no!" Nanoha lied frantically, waving her hands. "I didn't even realize it until I woke up! Uhm, I-I'm going to get dressed now, you can go back to sleep."
"Eh? No, I promised I would help you train remember?" Fate moved so she could crawl off the bed and stood up in a long stretch, revealing her tone stomach as the tank top rode upwards. "I don't have spare uniforms to wear so I guess I'll put on the standard 6th Division one Hayate gave me... I don't think it would be wise to walk around in my enforcer outfit when I don't hold the rank displayed."
Nanoha watched the girl move to the closet and open it, taking out both of their clothes. "Um, thank you."
"At the risk of sounding rude, would you like help getting dressed?" The blonde smiled happily, offering the clothes to Nanoha.
"N-No!" Nanoha shook her head, blushing hard. "I can get dressed!"
"Ah, okay." Fate nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry, I'll just go change in the bathroom, okay?" Giving a small wave over her shoulder, Fate turned to go on her way.
The girl on the bed opened her mouth to protest but the memory of Fate's palm on her chest made her stutter out incoherently and allow the blonde to leave. 'Oh wow... I haven't been this embarrassed since...I don't know when.' Turning on the bed, she gripped the bars offered to her by Raising Heart and moved into her chair. 'I've never been held like that before... I don't think I slept more than an hour the entire night.' a light sigh came as she opened a drawer to get a change of underclothes.
Nanoha's hand paused over the garments, a thought running through her mind that made her ears turn a light shade of red. 'I'm still so excited about Fate-chan paying so much attention to me... The way she held me so casually while she slept, is that what its like to fully trust in someone? I wonder...' Before she could change her mind, Nanoha shifted through the drawer and found a bright, neon pink pair to put on. Wheeling herself to her closet, she opened a drawer and shifted through her old skirts, finding one that she wore when she was a little younger and not quite as tall. 'I feel so dirty all of a sudden.' The though made her giggle while changing clothes, getting situated just as Fate came back into the bedroom.
"About ready?" The blonde asked lightly while smoothing out her skirt and double checking her pantyhose.
"Ready, just need to do my hair." Nanoha got a hair band and began to scoop up the mess of hair to pull up before Fate popped her hands lightly, making her let the brown hair drop.
Fate picked up a brush from the nightstand and moved behind Nanoha, making the girl give up control of her hair and quickly started coming it for her. "I swear, you really need to take better care of your hair; you'll get split ends if you don't brush it properly." After being allowed to treat the tangled mess, Fate brought it up and combed the strands back to make a perfectly centered cheerleader-style high ponytail. "There, perfect."
"I feel lopsided," Nanoha complained slightly, looking in the mirror and seeing the hairstyle.
"Because the side of your head weighs so much you have to balance it out with a mop of hair." Fate smiled at her joke and moved to push Nanoha's chair before realizing that there were no handlebars there. "Ready now then?"
"Yes," Nanoha moved her palm over Raising Heart and glided down the ramp leading to the ground floor. "And we still have time to get there before everyone else."
As the two made their way out of the building and to the training field, Fate inhaled the crisp morning air deeply. "One thing that doesn't change is the tranquility of the morning."
"Yeah." Nanoha nodded in agreement.
Fate hummed to herself as they passed the few people that were out so early and wondered why they all looked away from them. "I wonder what's wrong?"
"What?"
"Everyone we pass looks down at you then glances away."
"I have no idea." Nanoha almost sang the words before stopping to turn to face Fate. "What do you think?"
Fate glanced down and almost did a double take. "N-Nanoha!"
"Yes?" She tilted her head to the side lightly.
Fate leaned down to her and whispered to her frantically. "Your skirt is too short, you can see your panties!"
"So?" Nanoha smiled cutely up at her.
"But... but...!" The blonde stammered back in shock, unsure of what she just heard.
"Fate-chan won't let anyone look." Nanoha reached up and touched Fate's nose in an open flirt. "So I can wear this small skirt, right?"
"N...No! No you can't!"
"Why?" Nanoha tilted her head lightly and gave her best innocent eyes. "A little peek never hurt anyone."
"Because!" Fate shook her head. "I don't want... You just... Don't!"
Spoiler for AlternativeS 3-2:
Nanoha smiled brightly, eyes shining with happiness. With that, she turned and began moving again, smiling even more as Fate suddenly began walking in front of her. 'I don't think I will ever get tired of this feeling.' Her palm snapped back on her control orb when Fate stopped walking, forcing her to come to a sharp halt. "Fate-chan, don't stop so suddenly." Moving around her, she looked at what made the blonde hesitate. "Well I'll be. Teana and Subaru are already practicing."
Fate looked at her watch and smiled to herself. "In my world your training session starts as soon as they get to the field, regardless if you are there or not. Those two took it upon themselves to make the most of their time, not because they are supposed to, but because they both desire something."
"What's that?"
Fate began walking again, subconsciously shifting in front of Nanoha again. "Teana has a goal of being recognized. She wants everyone to know what a Lanster is capable of. Subaru..." The girl hesitated her words. "In my world, she idolized you because you showed her how to be strong... however, I don't think you could have been there when that happened..."
"I met Subaru a long time ago," Nanoha revealed as she went to her instructor's podium near the field. "She had her arm broken after being in an airport that was on fire. Poor thing was seriously hurt..." Nanoha looked over at Fate with a questioning glance.
"I know she's a cyborg."
"Ah. Then you'll understand. I heard her crying as I was visiting someone else in the hospital. I felt like I needed to help the small girl, even if I didn't know her. When I went in, she tried to hide, thinking I would consider her a freak if I saw her exposed wires. She was older than I thought she was, but she was crying so hard I felt as if she needed more of a talking to rather than pampering. I stayed and talked with her for a few hours, listening to her story and in turn sharing mine." She patted her legs to imply which story it was. "When it was over, she said she was amazed I didn't give up being in the military. When I told her I would never give up on something that meant a lot to me and my friends, she seemed really awed. I told her if she took that path like her family did, I would personally train her and... well, here she is."
Fate felt a small bit of contentment in her chest at hearing the story. "Good, its nice to know some things still work out okay. Tell you what, I'll head to the field and play with them. Would you mind setting up something for us?"
"Sure," Nanoha brought up her monitors with the help of Raising Heart. "What would you like?"
~**~
Hayate looked up from her desk when a knock at her door came. "Come in," she addressed curiously. When Fate walked into the room she smiled and stood to greet her. "Hello, Fate-chan."
"Hey," Fate saluted the girl. "Nanoha said she had some things to take care of so I thought you might want to get lunch together. Do you have time?"
"Certainly." Hayate reached back to get the purse from her desk. "Where did Nanoha-chan run off to?"
Together, the two made their way to the door. "She said something about needing to shop in town. I offered to go with her but she insisted to go alone."
Hayate glanced over at her new friend as they rode the elevator down to the first floor. "Your tone seems a little...miffed. Did something happen?" When the blonde looked away, Hayate was about to say never mind, but when the small hints of a blush came along with fidgeting, she pressed on. "Seems like an interesting story."
"How do you always know when things are interesting?"
"Sixth sense, get used to it. So tell me, what makes the girl from another dimension upset at my little Nanoha-chan?"
Fate waited until they were outside the building and heading to the parking lot nearby before answering. "It's silly." Her weak attempt at not explaining was deflected almost at once, leaving her no choice but to go on. "It's just that... Nanoha is purposely riling me up today."
Hayate unlocked her car and looked over the top of it. "Nanoha-chan? Purposly upsetting someone? Sounds a little weird to me." The two got in and closed the doors before getting comfortable. "What is she doing?"
"Well... Yesterday I made a comment that my Nanoha is a little...well... she's not exactly shy of her body. She likes to flaunt it, mostly in short skirts and letting people catch little glimpses of her underclothes. Anyway, your Nanoha seemed embarrassed at first but I told her how it always made me so frustrated, trying to make sure nobody saw my wife, you know?" Propping her chin up on her palm, Fate stared out the passenger side window as her friend drove them into town. "Today she wore bright flashy panties and a skirt that is so short its really perverse. You can see her plain as day and she took every opportunity she had to make me stand in front of her."
Hayate took a moment to let this soak in, blinking several times as she tried to absorb this information. "Wait, so Nanoha-chan... Is purposely flashing people?"
"Just to make me get embarrassed," Fate finished the thought for her.
"Because you told her that's what your Nanoha did?"
"...I guess, it makes the most sense. She told me that she knew I wouldn't let anyone see her, so... I mean, I know its none of my business, but she's still Nanoha, even if she's not my Nanoha, you know? I can't just... let someone see her."
"I see..." Hayate sighed out. "She seems to have taken a liking to you."
"...Yeah."
Hayate looked over at the blonde before turning her attention back to the road. "Should I talk with her about it?"
Fate didn't answer for a long time, rolling the question over her head and all the possibilities it could hold. After a while, she finally replied with what she thought was best. "We probably shouldn't worry about it; I won't be here for too much longer, hopefully, so it shouldn't be a problem."
"My boyfriend agreed to help us figure this out-"
"Boyfriend!?" Fate looked at her in shock.
"...Do I not have one in your world?"
"Well, you dance around with Yuuno but-" When Hayate grinned at her, Fate felt a bit of pride in her chest for the girl. "Well I'll be. I wonder how me not being here effected that."
"Not sure, but he's very interested in you. I'm sure we will get you home."
"...Thanks, that means a lot." The two shared a pleased look before turning to gaze back out the window and listen to the soft music playing in the car.
~**~
Nanoha hummed happily to herself as she placed a bag of clothes on her bed. 'I got Fate-chan enough to last her a while, I hope she likes them all.' Taking out the garments, she held up her choices again. A few shirts that were light enough to be worn in the summer but still warm enough to last through the changing seasons they were going through. A few skirts were placed on the bed as well, followed by underclothes that she hoped would fit the girl's ample chest. 'Well she did say she liked black so at least it was easy to match things up.' Her attention turned when a familiar rhythmic tapping came on her door. "Come in, Hayate-chan!"
"Hello, hello!" Hayate waved as she entered the room. "I saw you pull in from my window at the office so I thought I'd see where you ran off to, leaving your little puppy all on her lonesome."
"Vita-chan can handle training just fine until I get there." Nanoha stuck out her tongue. "She's not a puppy."
"Follows you around as much." The two shared a giggle at the inside joke and Hayate sat on the bed. "Oh, doing some shopping?" She held up a shirt and whistled at it. "Wow, nice brand. I really like the design."
"I got it for Fate-chan, she can't afford anything to wear yet."
"I see." Hayate looked down at Nanoha and sighed out lightly. "You know, you really should change skirts."
"Why? I like this one." Nanoha laughed to herself. "Its amusing."
Leaning forward, Hayate propped her elbows onto her knees and thought for a moment. "You know, I didn't really believe it when I heard, but seeing you actually doing it is rather unnerving."
"What do you mean?" The girl turned her chair to face Hayate directly. "What's wrong?"
"Nanoha-chan..." Judging her words, the girl met her friend's eyes. "I think you're getting a little too clingy on Fate-chan"
Nanoha blinked in confusion, then laughed. "What do you mean? She's lonely, she needs someone to be there for her. I'm her wife-"
"You're not her wife, Nanoha-chan." The sudden firmness made Nanoha instantly pay more attention to her. "First you let her carry you around, then you let her stay in your room overnight, and now you're... exploiting her to get attention."
"I'm not exploiting her! What makes you say that!?" Nanoha moved closer to her, eyes and tone of voice clearly stating she was displeased in the word choosing.
"Nanoha-chan," Hayate reached out to take Nanoha's hands. "I know she's lonely and all, but you're the one who's craving the attention. You don't even know her, yet you're doing everything in your power to make sure she's always thinking about you. Don't you think that's a little unfair to Fate-chan?"
"I don't see what you mean."
"For goodness sakes, Naoha-chan!" Hayate raised her voice in an exasperated tone. "You're flaunting your panties like a cheap hooker just because Fate-chan said your other self did it!"
"If I was flaunting them, its none of your business!"
"You're only doing it so Fate-chan will protect you!" Hayate made sure Nanoha's eyes were still on her. "Did you already forget why Fate-chan fought Lexus the other day!? He was treating you like a tramp and she went and fought him just because she wanted to protect your image! And here you go, flashing everyone because it makes you feel special to have someone who will look out for you. That's insulting to Fate-chan's meaning isn't it!?"
"That has nothing to do with this!" Nanoha let go of Hayate's hands angrily. "Could it have crossed your mind that I want people to see them!? I don't exactly have a lover you know. If it gets me attention from someone who already likes me, what's the harm!?"
"If you wanted to attract someone, you would have done it in another way! You're doing this because you know it would give you attention from her! There's a differnce!"
"Even if I was what gives you the right to tell me not to!?"
Hayate stood and threw her arms out. "Nanoha-chan, listen to yourself! you're defending yourself like this has been the way you are for years! You're trying to be someone you're not just so Fate-chan will look at you. don't you see a problem there?"
"NO!" Nanoha shook her head. "I do not! Listen, we're not all lucky enough to have the love of our lives so casually stroll into our lives and click into place like you did. I was given a second chance, Hayate-chan! Somewhere out there, there is a person just like me who has this perfect woman who loves her more than anything and is living a happy life that could be mine!"
"Exactly!" Hayate cut her off harshly. "And that person wants her Fate-chan back! We're all working hard to send her home while you're pawing her up! She loves that Nanoha, and you're trying to become her!"
"...Leave."
"Nanoha-chan, I just-"
"Please leave." Nanoha turned around and went silent, staring at the floor.
"...I'm sorry I yelled." Hayate walked over to her friend and put both hands onto her shoulders. "Please, Nanoha-chan... I just don't want to see you hurt, okay? I love you." Leaning over, she kissed the brown hair in front of her. "I'll tell Vita-chan to cover the entire lesson for you, so please try and-"
"Hayate-chan," Nanoha's words broke. "Just... just please leave."
"...Okay." Hayate gave the shoulders a squeeze and left the room, rubbing the bridge of her nose while trying to wipe away tears before they formed. 'That could have gone a hell of a lot better...'
Nanoha slowly raised her hands, letting her chair shift forms so she could brace enough to move to her bed. Sitting there, she picked up a black and gold bra that she had picked out for herself and looked at it a few moments before tossing it to the foot of her bed. 'I am being myself,' She thought, moving so she was face down onto a pillow. 'I'm not doing anything I don't want to, Hayate-chan just doesn't understand what its like to be alone...' Pressing her face against the pillow harder, she felt a small damp spot appear near her eyes. 'I'm not so desperate for love that I'd change who I am just for one person am I?' Her breathing broke when a sob came from her mouth. 'I didn't put myself on display just for her, I did it because I... I...' Pulling the pillow closer, she used it to muffle her crying as it slowly started to overtake her. 'I'm so pathetic...'
Spoiler for AlternativeS 3-3:
~**~
Nanoha felt a hand on her head and slowly opened her eyes when a petting motion was made. "I assume," Vita's voice came from beside her. "That you didn't just fall asleep after a shopping trip?"
"Mm." Nanoha stayed laying down, face half buried in her pillow.
"You going to start talking or am I going to have to sit here for a while?" Vita scooted so she was sitting right in front of the laying girl and leaned back, propping her hands up behind Nanoha so the girl couldn't roll away from her.
The blue eyed girl sighed out and wrapped an arm around Vita's waist. "Vita-chan, do you think I'm a bad person?"
"Everyone has a moment where they do something bad. Its what we do after it that's important." Her tone was light, casual as she looked up at the ceiling. "What did you do that's so bad?"
"I'm... trying to cheat."
"Cheat what?" This time the smaller girl looked down at Nanoha's face and noticed that she had been crying.
"Fate-chan."
"Ah, I finally got to talk to her today. Seems like an okay person, I guess. How are you cheating her?"
"... I'm... Its hard to explain."
"Then start talking." Vita rolled her eyes. Nanoha smiled lightly and pulled the girl closer. "You know, normally the person doing the hugging is the one trying to comfort."
"I prefer this." Nanoha took a deep breath. "Fate-chan is from another universe or time-line or whatever, right?" She was hummed at. "So, I was talking to her and... Well, she's married to me over there."
"So I've heard."
"I just... kind of latched on to that...I don't know, I was just looking for someone to love me and all of a sudden this girl appears that I'm supposed to be with... I guess I tried to skip the whole 'fall in love' part of relationship and jumped straight into the 'you'll understand everything about me' part."
Vita looked back at the ceiling and kicked her legs lightly off the bed. "You do realize she isn't going to stay here, right?" The arm around her waist pulled her closer. "I see."
"I'm a bad person."
With an annoyed sigh, Vita began patting Nanoha's hair again. "Nanoha, don't be stupid. It is a strange situation and you acted the way you did because you were... I don't know, but you did it. If you feel sorry for it now and know you made a mistake, why dwell on it?"
"Grown ups are complicated."
"I'm older than you." The remark made Nanoha smile again and Vita moved a strand of hair from the closed eyes. "Nanoha, just be yourself. Do what you want because you want to. Just because there is a woman who is telling you strange things doesn't mean that you are a different person. I don't think I'd like a Nanoha who was trying to be something that she's not."
"...Thank you, Vita-chan." Nanoha opened her eyes and curled around the girl. "Why is it you always know what to say to me?"
"If I knew, I'd use that to talk to Signum and Shamal to get them to stop treating me like a kid."
Nanoha smiled knowingly at the remark. "Be happy they care so much."
"Yeah, sure. Now, are you going to help me in tonight's training or what?"
Nanoha sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Yeah, I think I'll be able to. Thank you so much for covering for me."
"Its what I'm here for." Vita hopped off the bed and put a hand on her hip. "But I do want to say something."
"Yes?"
"Don't grab at smoke, you can't hold it."
The words made Nanoha look down a moment before meeting Vita's eyes again. "I want to try anyway, even if I know the results."
The smaller girl groaned and began walking away. "Don't expect me to buy the alcohol that night 'cause I ain't doing it."
Nanoha giggled and reached out to grip Raising Heart's offered bars to get into her chair. "Yes you will." She got a snort and the girl felt her spirits lift considerably. 'Even if I know she is going to leave... I want to experience this for what it really is... without cheating. '
Spoiler for AlternativeS 3-4:
~**~
Fate let out a breath as Nanoha called the mock battle to be over. In front of her, Tea and Subaru almost collapsed in relief, panting hard and almost chocking on the air they were breathing in. "Good job," she praised the two while glancing over her body to find out where she was struck at. After a few moments, she noticed that her camp had a dirt smear on it from Subaru's kick. Granted, it wasn't a hit that would have effected her any, but the exercise was just to touch her, not damage.
"Don't you think..." Subaru fell back onto her butt and placed her hands into her lap. "That this is a little too intense?"
"No, not really." Fate replied back, walking over to them. "But I did overlook one thing?"
A monitor showing Nanoha's image appeared beside them. "What was that, Fate-chan?"
"Tea is still using her old gun, and Subaru doesn't have her roller blades. I'll talk to you later about them." Turning to face the pair again, she addressed them while Nanoha busied herself with checking in on her other students. "You two are working well together, but can still use some improvements. Tea, you need to try and distract your opponent more so Subaru can get in clean hits."
"Its hard when she moves so erratically." The remark made Subaru laugh nervously.
"That's part of having a partner. You have to learn how to read body movements. In time you will be able to tell what Subaru will do before she does it, but the same principle will apply to different people as well. Control over your bullets will mean the difference in your team getting hurt and succeeding. Subaru, your hesitating too much. Have more faith in yourself."
"Yes ma'am."
Tea met Fate's eyes and nervously waved her hand when the blonde tilted her head lightly as to ask what she was going to say. "Ah, its nothing..."
"Go ahead."
The gunslinger scratched her cheek. "Uhm, I was just wondering... Why did you have me transferred here and paired with Subaru? I mean we know each other, but still... That's going a long way for a low ranked mage."
"You're only low ranked because you haven't been trained," Fate answered easily. "Trust me when I say that I know your potential. Nanoha does too, or else she wouldn't have allowed me to train with you two personally this time."
"...I see."
Fate let her barrier jacket dissolve around her. "You two go take a shower and rest up for tomorrow. Be sure to eat enough okay?"
Subaru hopped to her feet. "No problem I'm starving!"
The blonde allowed herself a smile at them before taking to the air. Flying over the trees, she left the training area and landed on the walkway to make it over to the instructor's area. As usual, the woman had several monitors all around her, blue eyes scanning each screen for a few moments before nodding and moving on to the next one. As she made it to the wheelchair, Nanoha opened her mouth to speak before the girl could say anything. "I'm sorry about ditching you earlier, I got distracted by things I had to take care of."
"No problem, I had fun being with Hayate. Vita was here afterwords to keep me company."
Nanoha nodded. "I have some things for you at home, want to come over and join me for dinner while I give them to you?"
"Eh? You didn't have to get me anything!"
"I wanted to." Nanoha turned her chair to face Fate and smiled when red eyes dropped briefly. Moving her hand down between her-now long- skirt, she giggled. "Perv."
"Ah! I wasn't... I mean..."
"If you want to look, then it will be in private." Nanoha looked back at her monitors, hands going to make some notes on her students. "I won't let anyone else see just to rile you up." Fate stayed silent, observing the girl in front of her until Nanoha glanced at her again. "What?"
"Nothing, I'm just.... happy, that's all."
Nanoha blushed. "that I offered to show you? Perv."
"Not that! I...Nanoha!"
"See? I can make you blush too." The words were proud, and the girl who spoke them let the topic drop there. Going back to her notes, she let Fate stand there and wonder just what she meant. "Okay students," She addressed, making all the people on the screens stop and look at her. "I'm calling it here tonight. All of you did well, I'll be working with you in groups tomorrow so get plenty of rest, okay?"
Fate could see each face look as if they had just been told they would be checking if their barriers could withstand divine busters while blindfolded. 'I guess she's just as strict here as she is back home... I wonder how she'll do that while being in a wheelchair?' The students all saluted and Fate turned to walk with Nanoha after the girl finished closing the training field down. "Good day?"
"Very," she answered back contently. "I learned a lot today. I feel much better."
"Oh?"
"Secret." Nanoha teased her. "I hope you like what I got you."
Going with the change in subject, Fate moved her hands behind her back and clasped them together. "I'm sure I'll like anything you got me."
"... I'm glad." The soft words made Fate look down at her but disregarded it when the girl seemed content and happy.
When Nanoha's room was opened, Fate took a moment to pull off her boots and rub her feet. "I prefer heels, as weird as that sounds." Red eyes went to Nanoha's feet and she knelt down. "Shoes?"
"Oh, yes, please." Nanoha allowed the girl to take off her blue and white boots. "That feels so much better."
"Do you get cramps?"
"Yes, its not very fun."
Fate stood back up and followed Nanoha up to the bedroom. "I'll rub your legs for you?"
"I'd like that, very much. Here!" Nanoha picked up the bag that she had stuffed the clothing in earlier and handed it to Fate. "I hope it all fits."
"Aww, Nanoha." Fate began taking the articles out one at a time, inspect each one with a smile. "Thank you, they're just what I would pick out." reaching back in, she pulled out a bra/pantie set that made her blush. "Oh wow, I don't think that will fit."
"Erk... that's... that's mine. sorry." Nanoha took it and felt her cheeks burn. "I guess I was distracted when I put them in the bag."
"Aw, don't be shy, it would look really nice on you."
"Really?" Nanoha looked up hopefully. "Mean it?"
"Of course." Fate answered back simply, as if it were common place for her to say things like that. "Black and pink really works on you, it brings out your eyes." While talking, Fate continued to inspect her new clothing. "I can't thank you enough for this, it was really a problem for me not to have anything and no money."
"I'm just happy to help." Nanoha leaned back in her chair and watched Fate hold a shirt to herself, smiling in the mirror. "You know, you're really cute."
"Thank you," Fate beamed at the compliment, still looking at her new clothes happily.
"Next time, lets go shopping together."
"Sure," Fate answered again, not really paying attention to what she was agreeing too. Her interest was on a skirt that she was considering putting on the next day.
'Even if you are leaving, you're here now... I'll let you go when I have to... until then, I'll be selfish...' Nanoha smiled and moved past the girl. "I'll start cooking, why don't you take a shower and change into something more comfortable. Will the nightie fit you?"
"It sure will." Fate held up the see-through black fabric and smiled at it brightly. "It's so pretty! It matches these boy-shorts perfectly, thank you so much!" Turning, she gave Nanoha a hug. "I really appreciate this, you just don't know."
"Thanks, that felt nice."
"Well, I'll hug you again once I'm clean." Fate patted Nanoha's head twice before going over to the bathroom, new clothes in hand.
Spoiler for AlternativeS 3-5:
~**~
"Yuuno, hey." Fate's greeting made a male glance over to his side, stopping his walk to the main building of section six. "My name is Fate Harlaown."
"Ah, you're the girl." Yuuno offered his hand, which was shaken with a little discomfort from the enforcer. "Hayate has told me about your situation."
"Thank you for helping me." She made a motion with her hand and the two began to walk side by side. "I really appreciate this."
"You're welcome, I am ahead of work at the library so I needed a vacation."
Fate held back a small chuckle. "You and your 'vacations'."
"Oh? Am I like this in your world too?"
With a nod, Fate smiled at the fond memories. "Yes, you would often come pick up Vivio to take with you. Nanoha and I would use that time to have some peace and quiet. Not that she's normally that bad, but... she's really energetic. If she couldn't sit still and read books for hours on end, I'd swear she had ADHD. I guess she stores all her energy up for quick bursts." She got laugh from the male at that statement.
"So who is Vivio?"
"My daughter." Fate nodded at him when he opened the door for her. "I wonder how she's... oh, hello Nanoha." Fate looked down at the woman. "How was morning training?"
"Went just fine. It went a little longer than I had planned but everything is on track. I decided to give them the day off, lord knows they need one. Subaru even asked if she could borrow a bike from Vice to go into town. Seems like Teana knows how to drive one."
"Yes, she has a passion for the things." Fate clasped her hands behind her back. "We often talk a lot on our missions about cars...and...bikes..."
"Harlaown-san?" Yuuno held out his hand to keep the elevator doors from closing. "What is it?"
Fate stood still, thinking as hard as she could. "Wait a second... the recent android attack... Section six not being that old...Day off..." Her red eyes went wide. "Vivio! Nanoha, we have to get to Hayate!" Running into the elevator, she hit the top button and hopped in place as it began to move.
"Fate-chan? What's wrong?"
"Vivio. Erio and Caro found her in the sewers a few months after the base opened up. It was when Tea borrowed Vice's bike and... oh my god, my little girl is all alone..." When the doors opened, Fate ran forward and opened Hayate's door without knocking. "Hayate!"
The girl sitting at her desk jumped lightly at the sudden intrusion and gave Fate a shocked look. When no apology came paired with the frantic running for her desk, Hayate looked at the screen in front of her and smiled apologetically. "I will have to call you back, I have some issues to contend to." Closing down the window, Hayate looked over at the blonde. "I hope this is very important, I just got a call about an illegal lifepod that-"
"That's just it!" Fate interrupted. "That was Vivio, we have to find her before the numbers do!"
"Numbers?" Hayate stood up. "I think you need to fill me in on some things."
"Lets go to the chopper, can you contact Subaru and Tea?"
Nanoha threw out her hand to grab Fate's arm as she walked past. "Whoa! What is going on!?"
Fate took Nanoha's hand and pulled her along so the girl had no choice but to follow. "You come too, this is important." The one in the wheelchair in turn grabbed Yuuno's arm, pulling him along for the ride.
Hayate closed her connection with Vice and nodded at Fate. "He'll meet us on the roof. You told me earlier that you are behind your time period right?"
"Yes, by almost three years." Fate walked faster when the elevator door to the roof was opened. "Space-Time really threw one over on me. Now," Red eyes looked around the helicopter and saw Vice come running out the stairway door. "Good, I'll explain everything once we're inside."
Yuuno sat next to Hayate and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Its not like you to let yourself be dragged around like this."
"I'm skeptical too, but I can tell she's honestly scared. If she knows about this life pod, then it may help us take down Scaglietti... By the way, hi."
Yuuno grinned and shook his head. "Always a fun time with you."
Spoiler for AlternativeS 3-6:
~**~
"So let me get this straight," Hayate stated as she looked at the broken open life pod amidst the wreckage of a traffic incident. "You're telling me that there is a little girl wondering the sewers from here, holding relics with her. Also, this girl is the reincarnation of the ancient belkan leader?"
"A clone," Fate corrected. "She was born from the same genetic material."
"Born? Artificial mages aren't born, they're created." Nanoha moved so she could be between the two girls.
Fate shook her head. "Not her. She and I are the same; artificial mages created by Project F. We are clones of original people but made in a way that makes us different. I am a clone of my sister, Alicia. I have her memories and her body, but I was made using the systems of Project F. My mother was the one who started it."
Nanoha sighed out. "Okay, so, this girl... She's in danger isn't she?"
"We found her first last time, but there are people looking for her. The relics are sealed so we can't trace them... wait... Bardiche?"
"Yes sir?"
"Can you lock on the sealed relic?"
"Tracking... Faint trails of magic are in the vicinity. A trail proceeds."
Yuuno looked impressed. "Your device can track sealed relics?"
Fate nodded. "Barely, but yes. We recently got upgraded for it, but that's not the point. I can track Vivio from here, but the numbers will be on the streets, including Lutecia and... Erio."
Hayate turned her head to look out the end of the tunnel where they were standing. "I'll have Nanoha-chan's students start sweeping the area. Yuuno, could you assist with your area scan magic?"
"Of course."
Turning to look at Nanoha, Hayate nodded at her. "Nanoha-chan, take the chopper with Vice and give covering fire if needed." She got a salute so she turned to Fate. "Fate-chan, I'll let you go after the child. Contact me immediately upon her retrieval. Lets get to it girls!"
Yuuno groaned and followed Hayate. "I'm a guy you know."
"Mostly." Hayate replied back absently, eyes ahead of her. "I'm counting on you, Yuuno."
"I won't let you down."
Fate brought a hand to her eyes and a pair of yellow sunglasses came to her call, wrapping around her head. "HUD activated." Bardiche stated the fact. "Displaying magic trails."
At once, Fate's yellow tinted vision was covered in a swirling mist of purple. " There must have been a fight here, the traces of magic is everywhere...Bardiche, can you limit the display to only the relic?"
"Not without losing the trail."
"Figures..." Fate frowned and turned around in a slow circle, glaring at everything around her. Red eyes shot across the ceiling and the walls before finally stopping near the ground on a grate that was disconnected from the concrete. A short jog allowed her to kneel down and move the grate the rest of the way and look into the small hole. "Bardiche, where does this lead?" A small map came up along her vision and spun until it reached the pipelines. "Perfect, this is where she went."
Standing up, the blonde held out her hand and formed small daggers of energy around herself before launching them into the wall, breaking it open enough for her to crawl into. Once past the bottleneck, she fell into the opening and onto her side. A light grunt escaped her lips as she stood. 'I need to clam down. Rushing myself and doing something stupid won't help me find Vivio any faster...' Her eyes strained to see the light purple mist barely hovering over the ground. "Bardiche, any life signs?"
".....Yes Sir. Can not give a direct distance due to the mass of interference."
Fate nodded and ran forward along the maintenance walk of the large tunnel. Her eyes switched from the ground to in front of her constantly, making her stop and look around at every intersection to find the path her daughter took. After having to backtrack several times to find the path again, she found a ladder leading up to an open manhole cover. A single leap cleared the distance and Fate landed in a back alley, looking everywhere before finally seeing a small child walking away from her, covered in only a tattered shirt and dragging a chain behind herself that seemed to be wrapped around her tiny wrist. "Vivio!?"
The girl froze in her tracks, slowly turning around. Dirty blonde hair moved lightly and heterochromic eyes looked to where the voice was coming from. Upon seeing Fate, Vivio took a step backwards, and then another. Her legs shook in fear and her throat tightened when she tried to swallow. When Fate took a step towards her, Vivio turned and scrambled to get away, falling once and picking herself up only to have an arm loop under her stomach and pull her into the arms of the mage chasing her.
"Vivio! Are you okay!?" The girl in Fate's arms struggled more, crying out desperately while trying to get away. "Vivio! Calm down! Its me! Its Fate-mama!" Her only response was another cry and weakening clawing at her arms. "Vivio, Darling, calm down. I won't hurt you. Please. Vivio. Vivio, calm down." Her words came paired with the girl slowing her attempts to get away, but not for the reason Fate had hoped it to be. Red and green eyes rolled up in the girl's head and she slumped forward, unconscious from struggling too hard. "Vivio..."
Fate gently shifted the girl and undid the chain on her wrist. "She should have had one with her, but her leash is empty..." Her eyes looked at the structure of the chain and how it was looped. "Its almost as if she was carrying three with her..." Ignoring this for the moment, Fate turned back to Vivio and inspected her as best she could. "Thank god, you don't seem hurt too bad..." An urge to follow the path back to find whoever was chasing her daughter was repressed. Instead, she stood up and looked toward the sky, flying up to stand on top of a tall building. "Nanoha! I found Vivio!"
A monitor appeared in front of the blonde, displaying Nanoha's face. "I have a lock on you, we're bringing the chopper to you now."
"Be careful, I don't remember this exactly, but I know the helicopter was attacked in my time." Before Fate could continue, Hayate's image appeared on her own monitor.
"Fate-chan, I need backup! Engaged in combat with three mages!"
"Just three?" Fate shook her head. "What's going on..." The helicopter came into view and she quickly flew to it, landing in the opened door and running a few steps to drop her momentum. "Nanoha, take care of her."
Nanoha watched Fate gently lay the sleeping girl on the seats of the aircraft. "This is her? the artificial mage?"
"Yes, Vivio." Fate turned and looked at Nanoha with a pained expression. "I can't be with her right now, please watch over her..."
"Yes." Nanoha nodded and let Fate run out of the door before pushing the button to close it back. The rustling wind noises stopped and Nanoha moved to look down at Vivio, carefully moving strands of hair from the child's face. "She is too young to have gone through so much..."
"Blood, Sweat, and Tears... Yes, yes, YEEAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
If you don't get the reference, it's from the PS1 game "Thousand Arms" and it was said by a totally axe-crazy boss. Just before he did a butt-load of damage to you and your party.
Nanya, you never did answer my question about what makes those level-boosting devices possible yet either illegal or only with technology recently available?
If they never show up again, that's fine. But if you're planning on making this an ongoing investigation, it's something you really need to think about.
Nanya, you never did answer my question about what makes those level-boosting devices possible yet either illegal or only with technology recently available?
If they never show up again, that's fine. But if you're planning on making this an ongoing investigation, it's something you really need to think about.
Um... Well, I don't have a reasonable explanation yet.
I'll talk to RadiantBeam and see what we can come up with.
If they're allowing people to semi-use magic with a body that isn't designed to handle it, that'd make them very dangerous for ones health. More than enough reason for a ban on their use on many worlds.
I awoke with a start, eyes snapping open as I felt an arm snake around my side. There was movement behind me and I almost grabbed the hand moving up my front to break its fingers before I remembered that Fate-chan had fallen asleep in my bed. Although I was content to sleep on the couch, I ended up thinking the bed would be big enough for both of us, and thus I had simply claimed the left side as my own while letting her sleep. Now Fate was behind me and my breath caught in my throat as her hand slipped in between the snap together buttons on my night shirt. I felt her palm touch my stomach and slide upwards, popping the catches loose as it went up. 'Wait!' my mind was functioning but my body wasn't listening. I could feel Fate's other arm slide under my pillow and her breathing against my hair. Her leg slid between mine and bent at the knee, raising upwards until I let out a small squeak at the feeling. 'St...stop, I'm not ready!' My mouth wouldn't open and my heart was thumping hard in my chest, right under the palm that was pressing on me enough to be considered a loose hug. The movement slowed down until it stopped altogether, Fate's gentle snoring now being muffled by my hair. I still couldn't seem to move my body, however, and I stared across my bed with wide eyes and a pounding heart while being embraced from behind. 'I'm... scared to move.'
AlternativeS III
By: Satashi
Nanoha gazed over the pink and white pillow her cheek was resting on and watched the sun rise through the extra large windows that made up most of one wall. Fate was still asleep behind her, breathing peacefully against her hair in a steady rhythm. Just as the sun's rays started to creep onto her bed, the radio on her nightstand cut on to deliver the sounds of a popular song.
Fate groaned at the noise and shifted as she tried to wake up. "Few more minutes..." Her request was mumbled lightly while stretching out. The brown haired girl suddenly found it easier to breathe as the hand went away from her chest. The warm body behind her moved and rolled over onto her back, allowing Nanoha to sit up and look down at the girl. "I was sleeping so well, too..." Red eyes struggled to open as the blonde sat up as well, looking over at Nanoha with a glazed expression.
"Ah, g-good morning." Nanoha manged out, hand going to grip both sides of her nightshirt to close it enough to snap together. "You can go back to sleep, you don't have to get up this early."
Fate looked at the girl blankly before sighing out. "For a moment..." Her sentence trailed, eyes looking away.
"...I'm sorry." Nanoha felt a small pain in her chest. "I... thought you would like to sleep in this bed. I- I was going to sleep on the couch but thought the bed was large enough to..."
Realization dawned on the blonde's face. "I have really bad sleeping habits. I'm sorry, did I make you uncomfortable?"
"N-no!" Nanoha lied frantically, waving her hands. "I didn't even realize it until I woke up! Uhm, I-I'm going to get dressed now, you can go back to sleep."
"Eh? No, I promised I would help you train remember?" Fate moved so she could crawl off the bed and stood up in a long stretch, revealing her tone stomach as the tank top rode upwards. "I don't have spare uniforms to wear so I guess I'll put on the standard 6th Division one Hayate gave me... I don't think it would be wise to walk around in my enforcer outfit when I don't hold the rank displayed."
Nanoha watched the girl move to the closet and open it, taking out both of their clothes. "Um, thank you."
"At the risk of sounding rude, would you like help getting dressed?" The blonde smiled happily, offering the clothes to Nanoha.
"N-No!" Nanoha shook her head, blushing hard. "I can get dressed!"
"Ah, okay." Fate nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry, I'll just go change in the bathroom, okay?" Giving a small wave over her shoulder, Fate turned to go on her way.
The girl on the bed opened her mouth to protest but the memory of Fate's palm on her chest made her stutter out incoherently and allow the blonde to leave. 'Oh wow... I haven't been this embarrassed since...I don't know when.' Turning on the bed, she gripped the bars offered to her by Raising Heart and moved into her chair. 'I've never been held like that before... I don't think I slept more than an hour the entire night.' a light sigh came as she opened a drawer to get a change of underclothes.
Nanoha's hand paused over the garments, a thought running through her mind that made her ears turn a light shade of red. 'I'm still so excited about Fate-chan paying so much attention to me... The way she held me so casually while she slept, is that what its like to fully trust in someone? I wonder...' Before she could change her mind, Nanoha shifted through the drawer and found a bright, neon pink pair to put on. Wheeling herself to her closet, she opened a drawer and shifted through her old skirts, finding one that she wore when she was a little younger and not quite as tall. 'I feel so dirty all of a sudden.' The though made her giggle while changing clothes, getting situated just as Fate came back into the bedroom.
"About ready?" The blonde asked lightly while smoothing out her skirt and double checking her pantyhose.
"Ready, just need to do my hair." Nanoha got a hair band and began to scoop up the mess of hair to pull up before Fate popped her hands lightly, making her let the brown hair drop.
Fate picked up a brush from the nightstand and moved behind Nanoha, making the girl give up control of her hair and quickly started coming it for her. "I swear, you really need to take better care of your hair; you'll get split ends if you don't brush it properly." After being allowed to treat the tangled mess, Fate brought it up and combed the strands back to make a perfectly centered cheerleader-style high ponytail. "There, perfect."
"I feel lopsided," Nanoha complained slightly, looking in the mirror and seeing the hairstyle.
"Because the side of your head weighs so much you have to balance it out with a mop of hair." Fate smiled at her joke and moved to push Nanoha's chair before realizing that there were no handlebars there. "Ready now then?"
"Yes," Nanoha moved her palm over Raising Heart and glided down the ramp leading to the ground floor. "And we still have time to get there before everyone else."
As the two made their way out of the building and to the training field, Fate inhaled the crisp morning air deeply. "One thing that doesn't change is the tranquility of the morning."
"Yeah." Nanoha nodded in agreement.
Fate hummed to herself as they passed the few people that were out so early and wondered why they all looked away from them. "I wonder what's wrong?"
"What?"
"Everyone we pass looks down at you then glances away."
"I have no idea." Nanoha almost sang the words before stopping to turn to face Fate. "What do you think?"
Fate glanced down and almost did a double take. "N-Nanoha!"
"Yes?" She tilted her head to the side lightly.
Fate leaned down to her and whispered to her frantically. "Your skirt is too short, you can see your panties!"
"So?" Nanoha smiled cutely up at her.
"But... but...!" The blonde stammered back in shock, unsure of what she just heard.
"Fate-chan won't let anyone look." Nanoha reached up and touched Fate's nose in an open flirt. "So I can wear this small skirt, right?"
"N...No! No you can't!"
"Why?" Nanoha tilted her head lightly and gave her best innocent eyes. "A little peek never hurt anyone."
"Because!" Fate shook her head. "I don't want... You just... Don't!"
Spoiler for AlternativeS 3-2:
Nanoha smiled brightly, eyes shining with happiness. With that, she turned and began moving again, smiling even more as Fate suddenly began walking in front of her. 'I don't think I will ever get tired of this feeling.' Her palm snapped back on her control orb when Fate stopped walking, forcing her to come to a sharp halt. "Fate-chan, don't stop so suddenly." Moving around her, she looked at what made the blonde hesitate. "Well I'll be. Teana and Subaru are already practicing."
Fate looked at her watch and smiled to herself. "In my world your training session starts as soon as they get to the field, regardless if you are there or not. Those two took it upon themselves to make the most of their time, not because they are supposed to, but because they both desire something."
"What's that?"
Fate began walking again, subconsciously shifting in front of Nanoha again. "Teana has a goal of being recognized. She wants everyone to know what a Lanster is capable of. Subaru..." The girl hesitated her words. "In my world, she idolized you because you showed her how to be strong... however, I don't think you could have been there when that happened..."
"I met Subaru a long time ago," Nanoha revealed as she went to her instructor's podium near the field. "She had her arm broken after being in an airport that was on fire. Poor thing was seriously hurt..." Nanoha looked over at Fate with a questioning glance.
"I know she's a cyborg."
"Ah. Then you'll understand. I heard her crying as I was visiting someone else in the hospital. I felt like I needed to help the small girl, even if I didn't know her. When I went in, she tried to hide, thinking I would consider her a freak if I saw her exposed wires. She was older than I thought she was, but she was crying so hard I felt as if she needed more of a talking to rather than pampering. I stayed and talked with her for a few hours, listening to her story and in turn sharing mine." She patted her legs to imply which story it was. "When it was over, she said she was amazed I didn't give up being in the military. When I told her I would never give up on something that meant a lot to me and my friends, she seemed really awed. I told her if she took that path like her family did, I would personally train her and... well, here she is."
Fate felt a small bit of contentment in her chest at hearing the story. "Good, its nice to know some things still work out okay. Tell you what, I'll head to the field and play with them. Would you mind setting up something for us?"
"Sure," Nanoha brought up her monitors with the help of Raising Heart. "What would you like?"
~**~
Hayate looked up from her desk when a knock at her door came. "Come in," she addressed curiously. When Fate walked into the room she smiled and stood to greet her. "Hello, Fate-chan."
"Hey," Fate saluted the girl. "Nanoha said she had some things to take care of so I thought you might want to get lunch together. Do you have time?"
"Certainly." Hayate reached back to get the purse from her desk. "Where did Nanoha-chan run off to?"
Together, the two made their way to the door. "She said something about needing to shop in town. I offered to go with her but she insisted to go alone."
Hayate glanced over at her new friend as they rode the elevator down to the first floor. "Your tone seems a little...miffed. Did something happen?" When the blonde looked away, Hayate was about to say never mind, but when the small hints of a blush came along with fidgeting, she pressed on. "Seems like an interesting story."
"How do you always know when things are interesting?"
"Sixth sense, get used to it. So tell me, what makes the girl from another dimension upset at my little Nanoha-chan?"
Fate waited until they were outside the building and heading to the parking lot nearby before answering. "It's silly." Her weak attempt at not explaining was deflected almost at once, leaving her no choice but to go on. "It's just that... Nanoha is purposely riling me up today."
Hayate unlocked her car and looked over the top of it. "Nanoha-chan? Purposly upsetting someone? Sounds a little weird to me." The two got in and closed the doors before getting comfortable. "What is she doing?"
"Well... Yesterday I made a comment that my Nanoha is a little...well... she's not exactly shy of her body. She likes to flaunt it, mostly in short skirts and letting people catch little glimpses of her underclothes. Anyway, your Nanoha seemed embarrassed at first but I told her how it always made me so frustrated, trying to make sure nobody saw my wife, you know?" Propping her chin up on her palm, Fate stared out the passenger side window as her friend drove them into town. "Today she wore bright flashy panties and a skirt that is so short its really perverse. You can see her plain as day and she took every opportunity she had to make me stand in front of her."
Hayate took a moment to let this soak in, blinking several times as she tried to absorb this information. "Wait, so Nanoha-chan... Is purposely flashing people?"
"Just to make me get embarrassed," Fate finished the thought for her.
"Because you told her that's what your Nanoha did?"
"...I guess, it makes the most sense. She told me that she knew I wouldn't let anyone see her, so... I mean, I know its none of my business, but she's still Nanoha, even if she's not my Nanoha, you know? I can't just... let someone see her."
"I see..." Hayate sighed out. "She seems to have taken a liking to you."
"...Yeah."
Hayate looked over at the blonde before turning her attention back to the road. "Should I talk with her about it?"
Fate didn't answer for a long time, rolling the question over her head and all the possibilities it could hold. After a while, she finally replied with what she thought was best. "We probably shouldn't worry about it; I won't be here for too much longer, hopefully, so it shouldn't be a problem."
"My boyfriend agreed to help us figure this out-"
"Boyfriend!?" Fate looked at her in shock.
"...Do I not have one in your world?"
"Well, you dance around with Yuuno but-" When Hayate grinned at her, Fate felt a bit of pride in her chest for the girl. "Well I'll be. I wonder how me not being here effected that."
"Not sure, but he's very interested in you. I'm sure we will get you home."
"...Thanks, that means a lot." The two shared a pleased look before turning to gaze back out the window and listen to the soft music playing in the car.
~**~
Nanoha hummed happily to herself as she placed a bag of clothes on her bed. 'I got Fate-chan enough to last her a while, I hope she likes them all.' Taking out the garments, she held up her choices again. A few shirts that were light enough to be worn in the summer but still warm enough to last through the changing seasons they were going through. A few skirts were placed on the bed as well, followed by underclothes that she hoped would fit the girl's ample chest. 'Well she did say she liked black so at least it was easy to match things up.' Her attention turned when a familiar rhythmic tapping came on her door. "Come in, Hayate-chan!"
"Hello, hello!" Hayate waved as she entered the room. "I saw you pull in from my window at the office so I thought I'd see where you ran off to, leaving your little puppy all on her lonesome."
"Vita-chan can handle training just fine until I get there." Nanoha stuck out her tongue. "She's not a puppy."
"Follows you around as much." The two shared a giggle at the inside joke and Hayate sat on the bed. "Oh, doing some shopping?" She held up a shirt and whistled at it. "Wow, nice brand. I really like the design."
"I got it for Fate-chan, she can't afford anything to wear yet."
"I see." Hayate looked down at Nanoha and sighed out lightly. "You know, you really should change skirts."
"Why? I like this one." Nanoha laughed to herself. "Its amusing."
Leaning forward, Hayate propped her elbows onto her knees and thought for a moment. "You know, I didn't really believe it when I heard, but seeing you actually doing it is rather unnerving."
"What do you mean?" The girl turned her chair to face Hayate directly. "What's wrong?"
"Nanoha-chan..." Judging her words, the girl met her friend's eyes. "I think you're getting a little too clingy on Fate-chan"
Nanoha blinked in confusion, then laughed. "What do you mean? She's lonely, she needs someone to be there for her. I'm her wife-"
"You're not her wife, Nanoha-chan." The sudden firmness made Nanoha instantly pay more attention to her. "First you let her carry you around, then you let her stay in your room overnight, and now you're... exploiting her to get attention."
"I'm not exploiting her! What makes you say that!?" Nanoha moved closer to her, eyes and tone of voice clearly stating she was displeased in the word choosing.
"Nanoha-chan," Hayate reached out to take Nanoha's hands. "I know she's lonely and all, but you're the one who's craving the attention. You don't even know her, yet you're doing everything in your power to make sure she's always thinking about you. Don't you think that's a little unfair to Fate-chan?"
"I don't see what you mean."
"For goodness sakes, Naoha-chan!" Hayate raised her voice in an exasperated tone. "You're flaunting your panties like a cheap hooker just because Fate-chan said your other self did it!"
"If I was flaunting them, its none of your business!"
"You're only doing it so Fate-chan will protect you!" Hayate made sure Nanoha's eyes were still on her. "Did you already forget why Fate-chan fought Lexus the other day!? He was treating you like a tramp and she went and fought him just because she wanted to protect your image! And here you go, flashing everyone because it makes you feel special to have someone who will look out for you. That's insulting to Fate-chan's meaning isn't it!?"
"That has nothing to do with this!" Nanoha let go of Hayate's hands angrily. "Could it have crossed your mind that I want people to see them!? I don't exactly have a lover you know. If it gets me attention from someone who already likes me, what's the harm!?"
"If you wanted to attract someone, you would have done it in another way! You're doing this because you know it would give you attention from her! There's a differnce!"
"Even if I was what gives you the right to tell me not to!?"
Hayate stood and threw her arms out. "Nanoha-chan, listen to yourself! you're defending yourself like this has been the way you are for years! You're trying to be someone you're not just so Fate-chan will look at you. don't you see a problem there?"
"NO!" Nanoha shook her head. "I do not! Listen, we're not all lucky enough to have the love of our lives so casually stroll into our lives and click into place like you did. I was given a second chance, Hayate-chan! Somewhere out there, there is a person just like me who has this perfect woman who loves her more than anything and is living a happy life that could be mine!"
"Exactly!" Hayate cut her off harshly. "And that person wants her Fate-chan back! We're all working hard to send her home while you're pawing her up! She loves that Nanoha, and you're trying to become her!"
"...Leave."
"Nanoha-chan, I just-"
"Please leave." Nanoha turned around and went silent, staring at the floor.
"...I'm sorry I yelled." Hayate walked over to her friend and put both hands onto her shoulders. "Please, Nanoha-chan... I just don't want to see you hurt, okay? I love you." Leaning over, she kissed the brown hair in front of her. "I'll tell Vita-chan to cover the entire lesson for you, so please try and-"
"Hayate-chan," Nanoha's words broke. "Just... just please leave."
"...Okay." Hayate gave the shoulders a squeeze and left the room, rubbing the bridge of her nose while trying to wipe away tears before they formed. 'That could have gone a hell of a lot better...'
Nanoha slowly raised her hands, letting her chair shift forms so she could brace enough to move to her bed. Sitting there, she picked up a black and gold bra that she had picked out for herself and looked at it a few moments before tossing it to the foot of her bed. 'I am being myself,' She thought, moving so she was face down onto a pillow. 'I'm not doing anything I don't want to, Hayate-chan just doesn't understand what its like to be alone...' Pressing her face against the pillow harder, she felt a small damp spot appear near her eyes. 'I'm not so desperate for love that I'd change who I am just for one person am I?' Her breathing broke when a sob came from her mouth. 'I didn't put myself on display just for her, I did it because I... I...' Pulling the pillow closer, she used it to muffle her crying as it slowly started to overtake her. 'I'm so pathetic...'
Spoiler for AlternativeS 3-3:
~**~
Nanoha felt a hand on her head and slowly opened her eyes when a petting motion was made. "I assume," Vita's voice came from beside her. "That you didn't just fall asleep after a shopping trip?"
"Mm." Nanoha stayed laying down, face half buried in her pillow.
"You going to start talking or am I going to have to sit here for a while?" Vita scooted so she was sitting right in front of the laying girl and leaned back, propping her hands up behind Nanoha so the girl couldn't roll away from her.
The blue eyed girl sighed out and wrapped an arm around Vita's waist. "Vita-chan, do you think I'm a bad person?"
"Everyone has a moment where they do something bad. Its what we do after it that's important." Her tone was light, casual as she looked up at the ceiling. "What did you do that's so bad?"
"I'm... trying to cheat."
"Cheat what?" This time the smaller girl looked down at Nanoha's face and noticed that she had been crying.
"Fate-chan."
"Ah, I finally got to talk to her today. Seems like an okay person, I guess. How are you cheating her?"
"... I'm... Its hard to explain."
"Then start talking." Vita rolled her eyes. Nanoha smiled lightly and pulled the girl closer. "You know, normally the person doing the hugging is the one trying to comfort."
"I prefer this." Nanoha took a deep breath. "Fate-chan is from another universe or time-line or whatever, right?" She was hummed at. "So, I was talking to her and... Well, she's married to me over there."
"So I've heard."
"I just... kind of latched on to that...I don't know, I was just looking for someone to love me and all of a sudden this girl appears that I'm supposed to be with... I guess I tried to skip the whole 'fall in love' part of relationship and jumped straight into the 'you'll understand everything about me' part."
Vita looked back at the ceiling and kicked her legs lightly off the bed. "You do realize she isn't going to stay here, right?" The arm around her waist pulled her closer. "I see."
"I'm a bad person."
With an annoyed sigh, Vita began patting Nanoha's hair again. "Nanoha, don't be stupid. It is a strange situation and you acted the way you did because you were... I don't know, but you did it. If you feel sorry for it now and know you made a mistake, why dwell on it?"
"Grown ups are complicated."
"I'm older than you." The remark made Nanoha smile again and Vita moved a strand of hair from the closed eyes. "Nanoha, just be yourself. Do what you want because you want to. Just because there is a woman who is telling you strange things doesn't mean that you are a different person. I don't think I'd like a Nanoha who was trying to be something that she's not."
"...Thank you, Vita-chan." Nanoha opened her eyes and curled around the girl. "Why is it you always know what to say to me?"
"If I knew, I'd use that to talk to Signum and Shamal to get them to stop treating me like a kid."
Nanoha smiled knowingly at the remark. "Be happy they care so much."
"Yeah, sure. Now, are you going to help me in tonight's training or what?"
Nanoha sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Yeah, I think I'll be able to. Thank you so much for covering for me."
"Its what I'm here for." Vita hopped off the bed and put a hand on her hip. "But I do want to say something."
"Yes?"
"Don't grab at smoke, you can't hold it."
The words made Nanoha look down a moment before meeting Vita's eyes again. "I want to try anyway, even if I know the results."
The smaller girl groaned and began walking away. "Don't expect me to buy the alcohol that night 'cause I ain't doing it."
Nanoha giggled and reached out to grip Raising Heart's offered bars to get into her chair. "Yes you will." She got a snort and the girl felt her spirits lift considerably. 'Even if I know she is going to leave... I want to experience this for what it really is... without cheating. '
Spoiler for AlternativeS 3-4:
~**~
Fate let out a breath as Nanoha called the mock battle to be over. In front of her, Tea and Subaru almost collapsed in relief, panting hard and almost chocking on the air they were breathing in. "Good job," she praised the two while glancing over her body to find out where she was struck at. After a few moments, she noticed that her camp had a dirt smear on it from Subaru's kick. Granted, it wasn't a hit that would have effected her any, but the exercise was just to touch her, not damage.
"Don't you think..." Subaru fell back onto her butt and placed her hands into her lap. "That this is a little too intense?"
"No, not really." Fate replied back, walking over to them. "But I did overlook one thing?"
A monitor showing Nanoha's image appeared beside them. "What was that, Fate-chan?"
"Tea is still using her old gun, and Subaru doesn't have her roller blades. I'll talk to you later about them." Turning to face the pair again, she addressed them while Nanoha busied herself with checking in on her other students. "You two are working well together, but can still use some improvements. Tea, you need to try and distract your opponent more so Subaru can get in clean hits."
"Its hard when she moves so erratically." The remark made Subaru laugh nervously.
"That's part of having a partner. You have to learn how to read body movements. In time you will be able to tell what Subaru will do before she does it, but the same principle will apply to different people as well. Control over your bullets will mean the difference in your team getting hurt and succeeding. Subaru, your hesitating too much. Have more faith in yourself."
"Yes ma'am."
Tea met Fate's eyes and nervously waved her hand when the blonde tilted her head lightly as to ask what she was going to say. "Ah, its nothing..."
"Go ahead."
The gunslinger scratched her cheek. "Uhm, I was just wondering... Why did you have me transferred here and paired with Subaru? I mean we know each other, but still... That's going a long way for a low ranked mage."
"You're only low ranked because you haven't been trained," Fate answered easily. "Trust me when I say that I know your potential. Nanoha does too, or else she wouldn't have allowed me to train with you two personally this time."
"...I see."
Fate let her barrier jacket dissolve around her. "You two go take a shower and rest up for tomorrow. Be sure to eat enough okay?"
Subaru hopped to her feet. "No problem I'm starving!"
The blonde allowed herself a smile at them before taking to the air. Flying over the trees, she left the training area and landed on the walkway to make it over to the instructor's area. As usual, the woman had several monitors all around her, blue eyes scanning each screen for a few moments before nodding and moving on to the next one. As she made it to the wheelchair, Nanoha opened her mouth to speak before the girl could say anything. "I'm sorry about ditching you earlier, I got distracted by things I had to take care of."
"No problem, I had fun being with Hayate. Vita was here afterwords to keep me company."
Nanoha nodded. "I have some things for you at home, want to come over and join me for dinner while I give them to you?"
"Eh? You didn't have to get me anything!"
"I wanted to." Nanoha turned her chair to face Fate and smiled when red eyes dropped briefly. Moving her hand down between her-now long- skirt, she giggled. "Perv."
"Ah! I wasn't... I mean..."
"If you want to look, then it will be in private." Nanoha looked back at her monitors, hands going to make some notes on her students. "I won't let anyone else see just to rile you up." Fate stayed silent, observing the girl in front of her until Nanoha glanced at her again. "What?"
"Nothing, I'm just.... happy, that's all."
Nanoha blushed. "that I offered to show you? Perv."
"Not that! I...Nanoha!"
"See? I can make you blush too." The words were proud, and the girl who spoke them let the topic drop there. Going back to her notes, she let Fate stand there and wonder just what she meant. "Okay students," She addressed, making all the people on the screens stop and look at her. "I'm calling it here tonight. All of you did well, I'll be working with you in groups tomorrow so get plenty of rest, okay?"
Fate could see each face look as if they had just been told they would be checking if their barriers could withstand divine busters while blindfolded. 'I guess she's just as strict here as she is back home... I wonder how she'll do that while being in a wheelchair?' The students all saluted and Fate turned to walk with Nanoha after the girl finished closing the training field down. "Good day?"
"Very," she answered back contently. "I learned a lot today. I feel much better."
"Oh?"
"Secret." Nanoha teased her. "I hope you like what I got you."
Going with the change in subject, Fate moved her hands behind her back and clasped them together. "I'm sure I'll like anything you got me."
"... I'm glad." The soft words made Fate look down at her but disregarded it when the girl seemed content and happy.
When Nanoha's room was opened, Fate took a moment to pull off her boots and rub her feet. "I prefer heels, as weird as that sounds." Red eyes went to Nanoha's feet and she knelt down. "Shoes?"
"Oh, yes, please." Nanoha allowed the girl to take off her blue and white boots. "That feels so much better."
"Do you get cramps?"
"Yes, its not very fun."
Fate stood back up and followed Nanoha up to the bedroom. "I'll rub your legs for you?"
"I'd like that, very much. Here!" Nanoha picked up the bag that she had stuffed the clothing in earlier and handed it to Fate. "I hope it all fits."
"Aww, Nanoha." Fate began taking the articles out one at a time, inspect each one with a smile. "Thank you, they're just what I would pick out." reaching back in, she pulled out a bra/pantie set that made her blush. "Oh wow, I don't think that will fit."
"Erk... that's... that's mine. sorry." Nanoha took it and felt her cheeks burn. "I guess I was distracted when I put them in the bag."
"Aw, don't be shy, it would look really nice on you."
"Really?" Nanoha looked up hopefully. "Mean it?"
"Of course." Fate answered back simply, as if it were common place for her to say things like that. "Black and pink really works on you, it brings out your eyes." While talking, Fate continued to inspect her new clothing. "I can't thank you enough for this, it was really a problem for me not to have anything and no money."
"I'm just happy to help." Nanoha leaned back in her chair and watched Fate hold a shirt to herself, smiling in the mirror. "You know, you're really cute."
"Thank you," Fate beamed at the compliment, still looking at her new clothes happily.
"Next time, lets go shopping together."
"Sure," Fate answered again, not really paying attention to what she was agreeing too. Her interest was on a skirt that she was considering putting on the next day.
'Even if you are leaving, you're here now... I'll let you go when I have to... until then, I'll be selfish...' Nanoha smiled and moved past the girl. "I'll start cooking, why don't you take a shower and change into something more comfortable. Will the nightie fit you?"
"It sure will." Fate held up the see-through black fabric and smiled at it brightly. "It's so pretty! It matches these boy-shorts perfectly, thank you so much!" Turning, she gave Nanoha a hug. "I really appreciate this, you just don't know."
"Thanks, that felt nice."
"Well, I'll hug you again once I'm clean." Fate patted Nanoha's head twice before going over to the bathroom, new clothes in hand.
Spoiler for AlternativeS 3-5:
~**~
"Yuuno, hey." Fate's greeting made a male glance over to his side, stopping his walk to the main building of section six. "My name is Fate Harlaown."
"Ah, you're the girl." Yuuno offered his hand, which was shaken with a little discomfort from the enforcer. "Hayate has told me about your situation."
"Thank you for helping me." She made a motion with her hand and the two began to walk side by side. "I really appreciate this."
"You're welcome, I am ahead of work at the library so I needed a vacation."
Fate held back a small chuckle. "You and your 'vacations'."
"Oh? Am I like this in your world too?"
With a nod, Fate smiled at the fond memories. "Yes, you would often come pick up Vivio to take with you. Nanoha and I would use that time to have some peace and quiet. Not that she's normally that bad, but... she's really energetic. If she couldn't sit still and read books for hours on end, I'd swear she had ADHD. I guess she stores all her energy up for quick bursts." She got laugh from the male at that statement.
"So who is Vivio?"
"My daughter." Fate nodded at him when he opened the door for her. "I wonder how she's... oh, hello Nanoha." Fate looked down at the woman. "How was morning training?"
"Went just fine. It went a little longer than I had planned but everything is on track. I decided to give them the day off, lord knows they need one. Subaru even asked if she could borrow a bike from Vice to go into town. Seems like Teana knows how to drive one."
"Yes, she has a passion for the things." Fate clasped her hands behind her back. "We often talk a lot on our missions about cars...and...bikes..."
"Harlaown-san?" Yuuno held out his hand to keep the elevator doors from closing. "What is it?"
Fate stood still, thinking as hard as she could. "Wait a second... the recent android attack... Section six not being that old...Day off..." Her red eyes went wide. "Vivio! Nanoha, we have to get to Hayate!" Running into the elevator, she hit the top button and hopped in place as it began to move.
"Fate-chan? What's wrong?"
"Vivio. Erio and Caro found her in the sewers a few months after the base opened up. It was when Tea borrowed Vice's bike and... oh my god, my little girl is all alone..." When the doors opened, Fate ran forward and opened Hayate's door without knocking. "Hayate!"
The girl sitting at her desk jumped lightly at the sudden intrusion and gave Fate a shocked look. When no apology came paired with the frantic running for her desk, Hayate looked at the screen in front of her and smiled apologetically. "I will have to call you back, I have some issues to contend to." Closing down the window, Hayate looked over at the blonde. "I hope this is very important, I just got a call about an illegal lifepod that-"
"That's just it!" Fate interrupted. "That was Vivio, we have to find her before the numbers do!"
"Numbers?" Hayate stood up. "I think you need to fill me in on some things."
"Lets go to the chopper, can you contact Subaru and Tea?"
Nanoha threw out her hand to grab Fate's arm as she walked past. "Whoa! What is going on!?"
Fate took Nanoha's hand and pulled her along so the girl had no choice but to follow. "You come too, this is important." The one in the wheelchair in turn grabbed Yuuno's arm, pulling him along for the ride.
Hayate closed her connection with Vice and nodded at Fate. "He'll meet us on the roof. You told me earlier that you are behind your time period right?"
"Yes, by almost three years." Fate walked faster when the elevator door to the roof was opened. "Space-Time really threw one over on me. Now," Red eyes looked around the helicopter and saw Vice come running out the stairway door. "Good, I'll explain everything once we're inside."
Yuuno sat next to Hayate and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Its not like you to let yourself be dragged around like this."
"I'm skeptical too, but I can tell she's honestly scared. If she knows about this life pod, then it may help us take down Scaglietti... By the way, hi."
Yuuno grinned and shook his head. "Always a fun time with you."
Spoiler for AlternativeS 3-6:
~**~
"So let me get this straight," Hayate stated as she looked at the broken open life pod amidst the wreckage of a traffic incident. "You're telling me that there is a little girl wondering the sewers from here, holding relics with her. Also, this girl is the reincarnation of the ancient belkan leader?"
"A clone," Fate corrected. "She was born from the same genetic material."
"Born? Artificial mages aren't born, they're created." Nanoha moved so she could be between the two girls.
Fate shook her head. "Not her. She and I are the same; artificial mages created by Project F. We are clones of original people but made in a way that makes us different. I am a clone of my sister, Alicia. I have her memories and her body, but I was made using the systems of Project F. My mother was the one who started it."
Nanoha sighed out. "Okay, so, this girl... She's in danger isn't she?"
"We found her first last time, but there are people looking for her. The relics are sealed so we can't trace them... wait... Bardiche?"
"Yes sir?"
"Can you lock on the sealed relic?"
"Tracking... Faint trails of magic are in the vicinity. A trail proceeds."
Yuuno looked impressed. "Your device can track sealed relics?"
Fate nodded. "Barely, but yes. We recently got upgraded for it, but that's not the point. I can track Vivio from here, but the numbers will be on the streets, including Lutecia and... Erio."
Hayate turned her head to look out the end of the tunnel where they were standing. "I'll have Nanoha-chan's students start sweeping the area. Yuuno, could you assist with your area scan magic?"
"Of course."
Turning to look at Nanoha, Hayate nodded at her. "Nanoha-chan, take the chopper with Vice and give covering fire if needed." She got a salute so she turned to Fate. "Fate-chan, I'll let you go after the child. Contact me immediately upon her retrieval. Lets get to it girls!"
Yuuno groaned and followed Hayate. "I'm a guy you know."
"Mostly." Hayate replied back absently, eyes ahead of her. "I'm counting on you, Yuuno."
"I won't let you down."
Fate brought a hand to her eyes and a pair of yellow sunglasses came to her call, wrapping around her head. "HUD activated." Bardiche stated the fact. "Displaying magic trails."
At once, Fate's yellow tinted vision was covered in a swirling mist of purple. " There must have been a fight here, the traces of magic is everywhere...Bardiche, can you limit the display to only the relic?"
"Not without losing the trail."
"Figures..." Fate frowned and turned around in a slow circle, glaring at everything around her. Red eyes shot across the ceiling and the walls before finally stopping near the ground on a grate that was disconnected from the concrete. A short jog allowed her to kneel down and move the grate the rest of the way and look into the small hole. "Bardiche, where does this lead?" A small map came up along her vision and spun until it reached the pipelines. "Perfect, this is where she went."
Standing up, the blonde held out her hand and formed small daggers of energy around herself before launching them into the wall, breaking it open enough for her to crawl into. Once past the bottleneck, she fell into the opening and onto her side. A light grunt escaped her lips as she stood. 'I need to clam down. Rushing myself and doing something stupid won't help me find Vivio any faster...' Her eyes strained to see the light purple mist barely hovering over the ground. "Bardiche, any life signs?"
".....Yes Sir. Can not give a direct distance due to the mass of interference."
Fate nodded and ran forward along the maintenance walk of the large tunnel. Her eyes switched from the ground to in front of her constantly, making her stop and look around at every intersection to find the path her daughter took. After having to backtrack several times to find the path again, she found a ladder leading up to an open manhole cover. A single leap cleared the distance and Fate landed in a back alley, looking everywhere before finally seeing a small child walking away from her, covered in only a tattered shirt and dragging a chain behind herself that seemed to be wrapped around her tiny wrist. "Vivio!?"
The girl froze in her tracks, slowly turning around. Dirty blonde hair moved lightly and heterochromic eyes looked to where the voice was coming from. Upon seeing Fate, Vivio took a step backwards, and then another. Her legs shook in fear and her throat tightened when she tried to swallow. When Fate took a step towards her, Vivio turned and scrambled to get away, falling once and picking herself up only to have an arm loop under her stomach and pull her into the arms of the mage chasing her.
"Vivio! Are you okay!?" The girl in Fate's arms struggled more, crying out desperately while trying to get away. "Vivio! Calm down! Its me! Its Fate-mama!" Her only response was another cry and weakening clawing at her arms. "Vivio, Darling, calm down. I won't hurt you. Please. Vivio. Vivio, calm down." Her words came paired with the girl slowing her attempts to get away, but not for the reason Fate had hoped it to be. Red and green eyes rolled up in the girl's head and she slumped forward, unconscious from struggling too hard. "Vivio..."
Fate gently shifted the girl and undid the chain on her wrist. "She should have had one with her, but her leash is empty..." Her eyes looked at the structure of the chain and how it was looped. "Its almost as if she was carrying three with her..." Ignoring this for the moment, Fate turned back to Vivio and inspected her as best she could. "Thank god, you don't seem hurt too bad..." An urge to follow the path back to find whoever was chasing her daughter was repressed. Instead, she stood up and looked toward the sky, flying up to stand on top of a tall building. "Nanoha! I found Vivio!"
A monitor appeared in front of the blonde, displaying Nanoha's face. "I have a lock on you, we're bringing the chopper to you now."
"Be careful, I don't remember this exactly, but I know the helicopter was attacked in my time." Before Fate could continue, Hayate's image appeared on her own monitor.
"Fate-chan, I need backup! Engaged in combat with three mages!"
"Just three?" Fate shook her head. "What's going on..." The helicopter came into view and she quickly flew to it, landing in the opened door and running a few steps to drop her momentum. "Nanoha, take care of her."
Nanoha watched Fate gently lay the sleeping girl on the seats of the aircraft. "This is her? the artificial mage?"
"Yes, Vivio." Fate turned and looked at Nanoha with a pained expression. "I can't be with her right now, please watch over her..."
"Yes." Nanoha nodded and let Fate run out of the door before pushing the button to close it back. The rustling wind noises stopped and Nanoha moved to look down at Vivio, carefully moving strands of hair from the child's face. "She is too young to have gone through so much..."
Spoiler for Alternatives 3-7:
~**~
Hayate grimaced as she blocked an attack and countered with one of her own. The blast sent her sailing backwards a few feet and she skidded slightly before stopping. In front of her stood three people with a male who was no older than ten keeping the lead. He wore fire red armor on his body that reflected the light brightly as flames flickered off of the metal. A helmet covered his head and the upper half of his face, angling down just over his eyes. Behind him two young girls stood, one with flowing purple hair and the other with short pink strands. "The trio, huh?" Hayate mused while staying on alert for surprise attacks. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"We just want the relics," the pink haired girl told Hayate lightly. "Please let us take them without a battle."
Hayate smiled at her. "Sorry little girl, I can't allow that."
"Hayate!" Fate landed next to the girl with a small crouch before standing and looking at the people in front of her. "Erio, Caro, Lutecia?" The two girls looked at her curiously while the male smiled. "What are you three doing?"
"We," Erio spoke for the group, "are trying to reclaim the relics that were stolen from us."
Fate walked forward, ignoring the fact that the two summoners went on guard. "Ifrit...You shouldn't have him yet."
Caro looked shocked but Erio just smiled more. "You know a lot about my armor."
"I do," Fate told him softly. "Erio, why are you working for Jail?"
"I'm not," He told her simply. "Jail helped me and my friends in the past. Right now he assist us and we assist him when needed. You could call it a mutual understanding."
Fate looked back at the girls. "Caro, Lutecia, same with you?"
The purple haired one spoke first. "How do you know our names?"
Fate thought about answering honestly but chose not to. "I read reports. My name is Fate."
"Well then, Fate-san," Caro voiced, holding up her left hand. "May I request the relics that were taken from us?"
"I'm sorry, I can't allow-"
Caro nodded, the gem on her hand glowing. "Ifrit, please."
Erio's armor suddenly flared to life with fire, making Fate take a few steps back from them. "Well then," Erio smirked, reading his spear type weapon. "We will be taking what's ours back if you don't mind."
~**~
"Nanoha!" Vice's voice made the woman in the helicopter quickly turn from Vivio to look at the pilot's seat. "We have a magic signal from a rooftop three hundred yards from here!"
"A charge attack!?"
"Think so, can you block it? I'm going to try and lose the lock!" Vice shifted the aircraft to the side harshly.
Nanoha grimaced and slid the belts on the seat--
A part of me is roaring for a good ole smack down on Erio even if he still wins in the end. Just because.
Hmm, wonder how Alts!Nanoha handles the air... afterall, her legs should affect her less when she doesn't have to stand on them, right?
I think FFT should be split into two threads, one for crack/yuri/NSFW/etc and one for... ordinary stories. >.>;
Genre is not a splitting point, but i do agree with CYOA being split since they are dynamic and get mixed up between the stories and the critiques of static stories.
But what about the stories that have those elements?
And now I'm curious, what's 'ordinary'?
Well, nothing is ordinary around here... >.>;
But I'd be interested in having a thread specifically for ongoing serials--long stories with intricate plots that stretch over many chapters--and a separate thread for one-shots, shorts unrelated to an ongoing serial, PWP, porn, yuri, crack, humor and anything of that nature.
Quote:
Originally Posted by itanshi1
Genre is not a splitting point, but i do agree with CYOA being split since they are dynamic and get mixed up between the stories and the critiques of static stories.
Oh yes, this too. The CYOA tend to generate tons of comments and any writer who has the misfortune of posting a chapter during a CYOA will be lucky if anyone reads it.
Um... Well, I don't have a reasonable explanation yet.
I'll talk to RadiantBeam and see what we can come up with.
I have some ideas I don't mind sharing. First of all, you need an explaination of why current level-boosting tech is limited even though it exists (see Durandal)
Spoiler for something like this:
Not only does current the level-boosting technology require a difficult and complicated design process, the hyper-optimzation produced results in a device that can cast only a limited range of spells at the boosted level. For example, Durandal can cast Eternal Coffin at SS-level. You can say it can't even cast an ice-shield or ice-attacks at that level. And don't even think about using it for water or wind spells, let alone fire or electric spells.
Yet, from time to time, mages with money but no talent are willing to comission such devices to "show off."
So, how can we "improve" the situation?
Spoiler for how about this?:
The "squeezer" (my name) technology has existed almost as long as mage devices have been around. The downside of the tech is it causes irrepairable damage to the user's body. The rate of damage increases with the frequency of use. According to historical records, users of this tech last about a hundred boosted spells before dying painfully.
The source of the current boosted devices claims to have overcome this obstacle. Indeed, the criminals who use them feel no worse than using regular devices. This is in fact an illusion. What the device actually does is to tap some of the boosted magical energy to supress the agony the users would normally have felt upon activating the "squeezer." Although the pain is hidden, the damage remains fatally real.
If it wasn't for the potential damage criminal mages could cause with such devices, the Bureau would be content to let them die in agony for their stupidity.
Mission: Find and shut down the source of these devices.
Spoiler for Yet another approach:
Analysis of the level-booster devices show that they incoporate a number of recent advances in devices design and novel components to get around the complicated design and hyper-optimization obstacles. Even more amazing is that the level-booster system can even be added to Storage and Armed type Devices for comparatively little additional cost. This will result in a new generation of devices that will vastly expand the capability of all mages.
Mission: Find the creator of this system. The Bureau would like to have a word with him/her.
Although it looks simple, you can do much depending on the creator's background.
If he is a brilliant but naive fellow manipulated by a criminal mastermind. I can see him becoming the next legendary Device meister.
If he is a criminal mastermind looking to use his creation as a quick route to riches and power, I can see the Bureau locking him away while putting his technology into widespread use, and the only mention of his name will be in the case file.
That's just two ideas. Feel free to use them, but I'm sure you can come up with more. Just answer these questions with them:
Is it easy and cheap to mass-produce? (has to be yes, or they wouldn't be giving them away to lowlife scum.)
Why didn't anyone do this before?
Get a clever answer to the second, and it doesn't even need to be illegal, like I demonstrated.
But I'd be interested in having a thread specifically for ongoing serials--long stories with intricate plots that stretch over many chapters--and a separate thread for one-shots, shorts unrelated to an ongoing serial, PWP, porn, yuri, crack, humor and anything of that nature.
No, it is just that what you are describing is ordinary for FFT. Long serials are kept together by self quoting, we manage fine. The CYOAs are still gray area tho.
2009-11-03, 00:52
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