Nanoha FanFiction Discussion

[deathcurse]

Spoiler for Fealty:

Fealty

Hayate couldn’t help gasping as she watched Mid-Childa draw away beneath them, the green and blue world sparkling with lights. It was odd to see the sun in the distance while she knew it to be nighttime in Cranagan when they had departed.

“We’ll live there one day, Zafira,” she promised, sinking her hand into his thick ruff. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”

“Yes.” He tilted his head, looking out the window down the sides of the warship. “It’s quite a different ship from the Asura.” Zafira perked his ears, giving Hayate some warning that someone was coming from behind.

“It’s a new model, this Nibiru,” Admiral Leti told them, coming up beside Hayate. The purple-haired woman chuckled. “Lindy told me she was jealous when she came to look, although she does have a nostalgic spot for her Asura.”

“Lots of memories, I imagine,” Hayate smiled.

“Lots,” agreed Leti, when a small polite cough behind them made her wince. “Ah, my apologies for being rude—Hayate, this is your partner for this mission. Gareau?”

A young blonde woman saluted Hayate, snapping her heels together with a click. “Officer Jennifer Gareau, Special Investigations Unit.” Then her green eyes twinkled and she said less formally, “I’m pleased to meet you, Officer Yagami.”

Lowering her hand from her salute, Hayate grinned back. “I’m Officer Hayate Yagami, and this is…” She trailed off, suddenly remembering that she didn’t have Rein with her. It was kind of odd, but Hayate was kind of glad at the same time—it saved her the trouble of having to reluctantly explain that Rein was an Unison Device whenever people looked confused at being only given Rein’s name and nothing else. “Who is your partner?”

Gareau blinked, then her puzzled expression cleared over and she lifted her right hand, displaying the band on her ring finger. “This is Intelligent Device Clarent.”

“Hello, Clarent. Nice to be working with you.”

“Greetings, Comrade.”

Hayate giggled, noting that Gareau had her eyes on Zafira now, waiting for her to introduce him. She nudged Zafira with her knee.

With a sigh, Zafira introduced himself. “Guardian Beast, Zafira.”

“Nice to meet you, Zafira.” Gareau saluted him too, making Hayate beam.

I like her, Zaffy. She’s kind.

Hayate could hear the affection in his voice when he replied, Yes, she’s kind, like you are.

“I’m sorry to cut the introductions short,” Leti said apologetically, indicating all of them to enter the briefing room. “But we’re about to enter dimensional space, and I want to go over the mission details again before we arrive on Alzas.”

**O**

Earlier that morning

“Mission call!”

Hayate groaned, burying her head deeper into her pillow. Vita grumbled and clung to Hayate tighter, also trying to block out Rein’s voice and go back to sleep.

“Mission call!” Rein shouted again, her voice carrying farther than someone so small should be capable of.

“Whose?” Hayate finally slurred out, opening one eye. “Whose call?”

Rein blinked in surprise from where she was sitting on Vita’s head, yanking on the red-head’s braids to try and get her up.

“Why, everyone’s!”

A few minutes later, all the sleepy residents of the house were gathered in the living room, where Shamal activated the holoscreen.

“Good morning Hayate, everyone.” Admiral Leti Lowran nodded at them. “I’m sorry for waking all of you so early, but this is an urgent mission call. Please report in at the TSAB Headquarters in half an hour.”

**O**

“So, Officer Gareau, how many years have you been in the SIU?” Hayate asked her new partner as they waited for Leti to set the holoscreen.

“Just Jennifer is fine, Hayate?” Gareau paused to make sure that her casual address was alright, and continued when Hayate nodded eagerly. “I’ve been in the SIU for two years, but this is my first mission away from Mid-Childa.” The blonde smiled sheepishly, rubbing her ring with a finger. “Clarent used to belong to my father, so I hope that he’ll guide me well.”

“Of course, my lord.”

Hayate smiled and stroked Zafira’s head. “I hope Zafira will do the same for me. He’s much wiser than I am.”

“Not true, Hayate.”

“Of course it’s true.” She barely restrained herself from saying “Zaffy” aloud, not wanting to embarrass or accidentally demean him in front of a new comrade.

“Alright,” Leti said, calling up an image of a three-headed black dog, all of its eyes narrowed into red slits as it snarled at the camera. “This is the Lost Logia we are after, the Hound of Hades. It isn’t normally a class of Lost Logia requiring urgent action, but what pushed our hand was the appearance of these units with sightings of the Hound.”

**O**

“Gadget drones,” Leti said, showing them satellite images of rod-shaped devices on a snowy landscape and on a desert dune. “They contain Anti-Magic Fields, making them a problem for lower mage-ranked local police forces. Combined with a Lost Logia, even one like the Hound, makes them potentially a dimensional threat.”

“How powerful is the Lost Logia?” Signum asked, staring at the image of the black hound.

“Nowhere close to the Book of Darkness, fortunately,” Leti assured them. “However, ever since Nanoha’s accident, we’ve been keeping a wary eye out for these Gadget Drones, and when Intelligence picked up these pictures we wanted to move in with caution. That’s why we’re troubling all of you for this mission.”

“I’ll go,” Vita said fiercely, her hands clenching upon the mention of Nanoha’s name. Hayate put a hand on Vita’s shoulder, rubbing softly.

“Of course all of us will help,” Hayate said, glancing at her Wolkenritter to be sure. “It’s just the one Lost Logia right? And all of us are ranked highly enough to be able to handle the Gadget Drones, if we’re careful.” Even knowing it, the memory of the grievously, nearly fatally injured Nanoha-chan made Hayate shudder.

“The problem,” Leti sighed, changing the screen to a space map, “is that we’re picking up energy readings of the Hound on two very distant planets. One is Administered Planet #6, Alzas, and the other is Un-Administered Planet #70, Hemmon. We need to raid both locations at the same time, to prevent whoever has the Lost Logia from moving it.”

“We’ll have to split up,” Signum finished for her. “I’ll go with Zafira to Hemmon, Vita and Shamal—”

“Actually,” Hayate interrupted, “I’d rather Vita and Shamal went with you, Signum.” She looked at Rein beside her and smiled. “And take Rein too.”

“Mistress!”

“If there’s a fight, I want the three of you to keep each other safe,” Hayate argued. “Shamal can heal you and teleport you out if there’s serious trouble.” She smiled and put a hand on Zafira’s strong back. “And Zaffy’s a Guardian Beast—I’ll be perfectly defended, since all of my spells are attack spells.”

“At least take Rein with you,” Shamal tried.

“Admiral Leti said that it won’t be a powerful Lost Logia, but in case there’s a fight I’d feel better if Rein was with you.”

“If it makes you feel any better,” Leti offered to the Wolkenritter, “I can assign the SIU officer to Hayate’s team. I was going to assign her to the second team, but if it’s the three—sorry Rein, four—of you together, an additional person may disrupt your teamwork. Officer Gareau is an A-rank, and a very good fighter.”

“Good fighter is still nothing on us,” Vita grumbled, crossing her arms and frowning. “Any of us would give our lives to protect Hayate!”

Hayate winced. “Hopefully, this won’t be a mission that will turn to that. And even if it does!—I don’t want any of you to do that anyways.”

**O**

“…this is the cave where we’ve been picking up energy readings.” Leti showed a three-dimensional hologram of a mountainside, indicating a cave in the snow-covered cliffs.

“Officers Hayate, Jennifer and Zafira, your mission is to infiltrate the cave, investigate for signs of the Lost Logia, and seal it if possible. Eliminating as many Gadget Drones as possible is a secondary objective. We don’t want to leave them to trouble the locals, although the native dragon-summoners have shown an ability to defeat the drones themselves.” Leti looked at both of them, as Zafira was slightly out of sight on the floor. “If the situation becomes critical, then I do have authorization to use an Arc-en-Ciel on the Lost Logia.”

Hayate gasped, and her embarrassment at reacting so strongly was overshadowed by her fear. “But there are towns inside the 100 km radius!”

“We’re issuing pre-cautionary evacuation notices to those towns,” Leti told her, but she also looked weary. “Even so, it will definitely cause accidental casualties and devastate the environment. It’s our last resort.”

“We’ll find a way,” Hayate swore, nodding determinedly.

Jennifer brightened, clearly affected by Hayate’s optimism. “Don’t worry Admiral, we’ll do it. Right, Clarent?”

“Yes, my lord!”

**O**

“Be careful, all of you,” Hayate tried to smile encouragingly as she hugged her knights goodbye at the ship port.

“Don’t worry, Mistress,” Signum said assuringly, clasping Laevantein in one armoured fist. “We won’t fail you.”

“I’d rather you failed, and came back safely,” Hayate sniffed, throwing herself into Signum’s arms. She didn’t worry about hurting herself on Signum’s sword, since Hayate knew that Signum would never let her get hurt.

“Watch over Hayate!” Vita instructed Zafira tearfully, and the blue wolf growled his assent.

“We’ll keep each other safe,” Hayate promised, waving goodbye before turning to board the warship Nibiru with Zafira trotting at her side.

**O**

“I hope we’re the ones who find the Hound of Hades,” Jennifer said to Hayate as they ate a quick lunch in the galley. “I’d hate for us to have come all this way only for it to be a false lead. It’s my first Lost Logia case.”

“I hope we find it too,” Hayate replied, setting a dish aside for Zafira. Her knight had chosen to wander off somewhere earlier, and she hoped that he would make it here before they had to depart. “I know that Signum, Vita, Rein and Shamal can take care of themselves, but I’d still hate for them to fight the Hound—you never know, with Lost Logia.”

“I forgot,” Gareau apologized, looking appalled at herself, “that your friends are on the other search team.”

“It’s alright, I understand your excitement…” Hayate sighed, poking her pasta around her plate. “They’re my family. But even if they were my friends, I’d still worry.”

Swallowing, Jennifer leaned in close. “Hayate?”

“Yes?”

Quietly, Jennifer confided quickly, “I, um…I really hope that it’s not us. I mean, I don’t want your friends—sorry, your family—to have to fight, but I’m…well…” She flinched. “Uh, nervous.”

Hayate understood, so she said aloud, “I’m scared. Lost Logias can do a lot of damage, and…” The kindest, sweetest smile lit up her face, and her silver hair fell into her earnest red eyes as Reinforce gazed fondly down on Hayate. “…and sometimes you lose the people you love to them.”

Jennifer paled slightly—her fellow officer wasn’t that much older than Hayate. Then she smiled wanly and raised her water glass. “Well, I’m lucky enough to have a partner who has experience facing Lost Logia!”

“Two partners,” Hayate smiled, and they clinked glasses.

“Admiral Lowran says that it’s time,” Zafira commented from the door, and both of them glanced at him. He was in his human form, already in his Barrier Jacket. And oh, very interesting…Hayate watched a small blush rush over Jennifer’s face with merry interest.

“Who—ah, Zafira?” Jennifer coughed, picking up her glass hastily to take another drink, hiding her face—and incidentally, the sight of the muscular, sleeve-less Zafira. “We’ll be right there.”

“Zafira, eat something,” Hayate said quickly, pushing the plate over to him. She grabbed Jennifer’s wrist and tugged her up, grinning. “The two of us will go on ahead and make sure the teleport’s ready.”

“So, Jennifer-san,” Hayate asked innocently as they walked together down to the teleport bay, “Do you have a boyfriend? Girlfriend?” The blonde looked a bit young to be married, not much older than Hayate at 16 years, but it could still be possible.

Jennifer gave her a half-dirty, half-embarrassed look—she clearly knew what Hayate was fishing for. Hayate just gave her a wide grin in response. “No, no boyfriend…” She coughed fakely, jamming her hands into her pockets. “Um, how about you, Hayate?”

“Nope,” Hayate said cheerfully. Then she waited.

They were all the way at the teleport bay before Jennifer asked casually, “How about Zafira? Or your other knights?”

“None, that I know of,” Hayate answered, hiding her smile. Truthfully, she was shipping Zaffy with Arf, but it was still fun to see what could happen with others.

“Oh, I see,” Jennifer tried for a politely non-chalant response, but her redding ears gave her away, particularly when she turned and nearly ran into Zafira, who had just entered.

“Great, we’re all here!” Rubbing her hands, Hayate called out her Barrier Jacket. She adjusted her hat, watching Jennifer call up a golden and emerald Jacket and twirl Clarent, who had transformed into a long two-handed sword.

“Teleport ready in ten seconds,” Admiral Leti’s voice came over the intercom. As the countdown started, they heard her say softly, “Good luck.”

**O**

“Stardust Fall.”

A barrage of rocks slammed through the gadgets racing up on Hayate’s left, allowing her to fly back and catch her breath. “Thanks,” she gasped at Jennifer, who had just swung Clarent in an arc and cut down two more gadgets.

“No problem…” Jennifer stumbled, jumping awkwardly over the ruins of a gadget that had nearly tripped her. Zafira was immediately there, punching the large drone away, tearing his fist free and leaping for another.

“There’s a barrier around this cave!” Zafira shouted to Hayate as he tore into his opponent.

“I can’t call the Nibiru!” Jennifer yelled in addition.

“We’ll just have to break the barrier, or beat the one creating it! Cover me for a few seconds!” Hayate shouted, then swung her staff up. “Approach from beyond, mistletoe branches, and become spears of the silver moon. Pierce it! Misteltein!”

Silver spears fired into the midst of the gadgets, although only five of her seven light-spears struck something and petrified it. Hayate flew up as another set of drones rushed her, firing into the spot where she had been.

“Maybe a wider range spell?” Jennifer suggested as she rolled to a stop by Hayate. “Clarent!”

“Luftmesser!” With a powerful swing, Jennifer unleashed wind blades at the drones pursuing Hayate, then spun around and launched the rest at the ones targeting her.

“Do you see the Hound?” She yelled up at Hayate, who had the better point of view.

“Nothing!” Hayate flew higher above the fight, keeping an eye on where her allies were. “Frigid Dagger!” She didn’t pause to watch her ice daggers hail down on the enemy, swooping down to snatch Jennifer out of harm’s way when a ring of Gadgets surrounded her.

"Thanks!” Jennifer shouted, pointing with Clarent’s tip at a cluster of drones. “Drop me there!" Hayate hesitated.

“Don’t worry!”

“Alright, here you go!” Hayate yelled, tossing Jennifer at the Gadgets while also chanting, “Panzer Hindernis!”

A white shield covered her partner as the blonde barrelled into the Gadgets, whipping her sword around her. Wires and metal plates rained around her as she cut through the horde, Clarent’s golden blade gleaming with light.

“Are they just a distraction?” Jennifer called, turning to look at Hayate.

Something moved in the shadows behind her.

Instead of wasting her breath, Hayate screamed, “PANZER SCHILD!”

She had been fast enough—her ivory triangle shield rose behind Jennifer, spreading large enough to nearly touch the tips of the hanging stalactites in the black cavern roof. Jennifer spun, her terrified face relaxing when she saw the comforting glow of Hayate’s shield.

A black head punched through the white energy, and all Hayate saw were a flash of red eyes before a dark maw opened and crunched down on Officer Jennifer Gareau, the woman’s scream drowned in the blood that sprayed from her throat and chest. The Hound rammed the rest of its body through Hayate’s shield, its other two heads whipping around to roar at Hayate, saliva dripping from huge black fangs.

“NO!” Hayate barely dodged shots from the Gadgets, diving down towards the snarling Hound. “MISTELTEIN!”

She hoped that she could fire her attack before she was hit—Hayate saw her silver spears shoot past her, but she also saw a row of teeth snapping up to meet her—

A blur of blue knocked her out of the way, sending Hayate smashing into the stone wall. Coughing, Hayate struggled to rise. “Zafira!”

Zafira had changed into his wolf form, conserving mana that he was using to increase the strength of his attacks upon the Hound, driving the Lost Logia back. His back was bloody but so were his teeth, bloody with the enemy’s blood. “Hayate, run!”

To her despair, her spears didn’t look like they had made any impact on the Hound—one of its heads was shaking off a layer of rock as if she’d just put a thin shell on its skin. Hayate readied her staff again, calling up a rune beneath her feet. She was horribly inaccurate with this spell but in this small space she couldn’t miss… “Hræsvelgr!”

One, two, three magic bolts soared towards the Hound—then Hayate screamed as something blasted her out of the air from behind, sending her tumbling to the ground. From the corner of her eye, she watched breathlessly as a row of drones charged their beams up again for a second shot.

“Steel Yoke!”

Two lupine screams filled the cave; the Hound wailed from where Zafira’s attack sliced through his chest, and her knight howled, collapsing on top of Hayate, his fur singed and saturated with blood.

“Zafira!” Hayate cried, feeling the warm drips of his blood falling onto her cheek. “Panzer—ah!”

A huge paw had come down on her legs, dragging her out from underneath Zafira’s body. The Hound of Hades roared, his heads slamming down towards her. Hayate wedged her staff into the left head’s mouth, making it yelp, but cried out when its right head bit into her shoulder. The middle head hovered, then struck.

Zafira bellowed, leaping on the middle head and raking its cheek with his claws; his teeth sunk into the Hound’s throat, biting deep and holding.

Hayate felt herself get flung away as the two other heads changed targets, ripping at her knight. “Zafira!” She scrambled for her staff, working through all the spells she knew to come up with one that would save him.

She heard his strangled cry. “STEEL YOKE!”

White spikes shot out of the ground everywhere, piercing through gadgets and impaling the Hound through the stomach and paws. It howled, all three jaws opening as it writhed in place. A limp bundle of fur hit the stone ground, motionless.

Hayate forgot about spells. She forgot about the Gadgets, the Hound.

“ZAFIRA!”

All the white in his fur was stained poppy red. Everywhere else was matted with drying blood, and crunching shifts under Hayate’s trembling hands showed her where he had broken bones. His head lay cold and still in her lap, his eyes closed but for a thin line of white showing beneath his lids.

He wasn’t moving.

Not a bit. He was as still as a field in the dead of winter, as the limp forms of her knights once upon a time on a rooftop at night.

Zafira, one of her Wolkenritter, her loyal knights. Her family. Dead, his pale tongue hanging limply from his cracked jaw.

Her guardian beast. He died saving her.

Dimly, Hayate heard the Hound tear itself free of the spikes, lumbering towards her with a growing growl. She heard the whirrs of Gadget Drones flying closer, their weapons armed. She didn’t care, but Zafira had died for her.

Hayate lifted one hand, her whisper broken and hoarse. “Diabolic…Emission.”

All she heard was silence as her black energy built into an enormous sphere above her head, then silence as it imploded…then shrieking as the black ring exploded outwards, obliterating everything around them.

**O**

Finish the mission.

Hayate didn’t care about the mission.

It’s your duty.

What did that matter anymore?

Your knights knew their duty.

…And how could she shame them, by refusing hers?

Hayate gently set Zafira’s head on the ground. She picked up her staff, and the Tome of the Night Sky from the blood-trodden ground. The white on her Barrier Jacket was also red-stained. She walked towards the shadows, her boots crunching over the ruins of the drones, their husks snapping under her feet.

The Hound was curled up against the wall, its heads lolling to the ground. Hayate walked right up to it, staring emotionlessly down at the panting beast, its wide red eyes staring upwards into hers.

“Yami no Sho,” the Hound rumbled, the sound coming out like a whimper. “The Book of Darkness.”

She didn’t bother to correct it.

“Wait.” The Lost Logia gasped. Its middle head shifted, and a red tongue flicked out, licking her shoe. “Please. Mercy.”

Hayate raised her staff.

“Please.” The Hound snuffed, its red eyes beseeching in its ink-black faces. “Save me. Like you saved the Book.”

She hesitated.

“Please.”

Reinforce hadn’t been evil. Lost Logia weren’t all evil.

The beast whined, inching forward on its stomach. “Please.”

She had saved Reinforce.

Hayate lowered her eyes, and her gaze fell on Zafira’s body. The Hound surged up, hissing, its jaws opened wide and lunging for her.

“Resound, horn of judgement,” Hayate said, staring into the Hound’s eyes. She felt no fear as time stretched for her, giving her all the time in the world as the Hound’s fangs approached.

“RAGNAROK!”

Three pillars of light burst from the sigil in front of her, exploding through each of the Hound’s heads.

Hayate saw nothing but white.

White and screaming.

Then the light faded away. Hayate turned, but stopped when she felt something clink against her boot. A set of red crystals lay on the ground where one of the Hound’s heads had been. And by it’s other head, another crystal. And another.

She had seen these before.

“Relics,” Hayate whispered, staring. Lost Logias inside a Lost Logia. No wonder the Hound had been far more dangerous than anything they had expected. And because of that…because of that…

She shuffled back and sat down, pulling Zafira’s head back into her lap. And she laid her cheek against his cold one and started crying.

He had been willing to risk everything for her. For her whole life, Zafira had watched out for her, his protective, careful eyes making sure that she was safe. He had carried her around on his back when her legs gave out on her, he had licked the tears off her face when the pain was too much…he loved her. She had been his Master, but he had loved her anyways.

Loved her enough to die for her.

She shouldn’t have come. No defence skills, long, uncontrolled attacks…she would always cause her defenders to die in her place.

“Hayate? Hayate!” Leti’s voice sounded by her ear—the admiral was kneeling next to them, her grey eyes sorrowful. Gently, she said, “Hayate, he’s dead.”

“Admiral! We have three Relics here, all sealed—but there’s no sign of the Hound of Hades.”

“Was it even here?” Someone else mumbled.

“It was here.” Hayate didn’t look up from Zafira’s corpse.

She was his Master.

“Hayate? Zafira’s dead. You have to—”

She was the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.

Leti touched Hayate’s shoulder. “Hayate—”

“Let go!” Hayate shrugged her off and curled around Zafira’s head. The Tome floated upward, glowing white and purple-black. Numbly, her lips moved. “I am the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.”

**O**

It was dark here. She recognized this place.

“Reinforce…help me,” Hayate begged into the blackness as she searched through the Tome, looking for the resurrection spells.

She didn’t know if Reinforce had heard her. She didn’t know if Reinforce was still real, still alive…but she found the spells.

Guardian Program: Zafira

Resurrect.

Mana levels: Low

Guardian Program: Resurrect at Default. All memories from previous incarnation will be erased.

No.

Bring him back the way he was.

The way he was.

Mana levels: Low

Divert mana from shapeshifting ability to memories. Maintain all other abilities. Restore all memories.

By the order of the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.

**O**

Hayate woke to the warm wetness of Zafira tenderly licking her tears away, his throat rumbling in a crooning growl. “Zafira!” Arms wrapped tightly around his neck, Hayate buried her face in his throat, crying into his fur. “I’m so sorry…I had to do it.”

“I’m alive,” he said in her ear, nuzzling her face. “I remember. That’s all I need.”

Hayate got up, still sniffling, and she clung onto Zafira as they watched his dead, bloody corpse crumble and vanish into glowing dust.

The Nibiru’s crew were staring at them, their faces full of disbelief and amazement, and some with nervous fear. Hayate dropped to her knees beside Jennifer Gareau’s body, her eyes tearing up again as she gently picked up the broad ring by the officer’s hand and placed it on the blonde’s chest.

“She fought amazingly,” she said softly to Leti. “Officer Gareau was very brave.”

“Hayate…what happened? We can’t find the Hound of Hades, only the three Relics.”

“The Hound was here. I destroyed it.” Hayate rose and walked over to the Relics, picking one up to the gasps of the support crew who had been gingerly working up to touching the Relic with their long safety devices. “It had these Relics inside it. That’s why it overpowered us. Killed Jennifer-san and Zafira.”

Hayate stared at the Relic in her hand, ignoring the bustle around her as Leti ordered her crew around, cleaning up the scene. She felt Zafira come up underneath her free hand and she thrust her hand into his ruff until she warmed her cold fingers on his neck.

“I won’t let Lost Logia hurt people anymore,” Hayate promised, watching the red light reflecting off the sides of the Relic. It looked so innocent, so pretty—tragedy bound inside a crystal wrapping.

“One day…never again.”

Spoiler for Author's Note-don't read first because of SPOILERS:

In case it wasn’t obvious, this takes place between A’s and StrikerS, with Hayate at 16 and newly made an Officer of the Special Investigations Unit. The Gadgets had already been seen during Nanoha’s accident, so they weren't unheard of.

The inspiration for this fic came when I wanted to write a story where Hayate resurrected one of her Wolkenritter, before they decided to become more human and less like Programs in the third anime season. I wondered what kind of price might that resurrection cause, and how it would affect Hayate .

For fun, I tried to explain here why Zafira was never in his human form in StrikerS, and also if Hayate had a deeper drive for wanting to find Relics/Lost Logias and for establishing Riot Force 6 .

[Alavon]

Originally Posted by Moczo

... ... ... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww.

My words exactly...aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

[vic-vic]

Originally Posted by deathcurse

Spoiler for Fealty:

Fealty

Hayate couldn’t help gasping as she watched Mid-Childa draw away beneath them, the green and blue world sparkling with lights. It was odd to see the sun in the distance while she knew it to be nighttime in Cranagan when they had departed.

“We’ll live there one day, Zafira,” she promised, sinking her hand into his thick ruff. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”

“Yes.” He tilted his head, looking out the window down the sides of the warship. “It’s quite a different ship from the Asura.” Zafira perked his ears, giving Hayate some warning that someone was coming from behind.

“It’s a new model, this Nibiru,” Admiral Leti told them, coming up beside Hayate. The purple-haired woman chuckled. “Lindy told me she was jealous when she came to look, although she does have a nostalgic spot for her Asura.”

“Lots of memories, I imagine,” Hayate smiled.

“Lots,” agreed Leti, when a small polite cough behind them made her wince. “Ah, my apologies for being rude—Hayate, this is your partner for this mission. Gareau?”

A young blonde woman saluted Hayate, snapping her heels together with a click. “Officer Jennifer Gareau, Special Investigations Unit.” Then her green eyes twinkled and she said less formally, “I’m pleased to meet you, Officer Yagami.”

Lowering her hand from her salute, Hayate grinned back. “I’m Officer Hayate Yagami, and this is…” She trailed off, suddenly remembering that she didn’t have Rein with her. It was kind of odd, but Hayate was kind of glad at the same time—it saved her the trouble of having to reluctantly explain that Rein was an Unison Device whenever people looked confused at being only given Rein’s name and nothing else. “Who is your partner?”

Gareau blinked, then her puzzled expression cleared over and she lifted her right hand, displaying the band on her ring finger. “This is Intelligent Device Clarent.”

“Hello, Clarent. Nice to be working with you.”

“Greetings, Comrade.”

Hayate giggled, noting that Gareau had her eyes on Zafira now, waiting for her to introduce him. She nudged Zafira with her knee.

With a sigh, Zafira introduced himself. “Guardian Beast, Zafira.”

“Nice to meet you, Zafira.” Gareau saluted him too, making Hayate beam.

I like her, Zaffy. She’s kind.

Hayate could hear the affection in his voice when he replied, Yes, she’s kind, like you are.

“I’m sorry to cut the introductions short,” Leti said apologetically, indicating all of them to enter the briefing room. “But we’re about to enter dimensional space, and I want to go over the mission details again before we arrive on Alzas.”

**O**

Earlier that morning

“Mission call!”

Hayate groaned, burying her head deeper into her pillow. Vita grumbled and clung to Hayate tighter, also trying to block out Rein’s voice and go back to sleep.

“Mission call!” Rein shouted again, her voice carrying farther than someone so small should be capable of.

“Whose?” Hayate finally slurred out, opening one eye. “Whose call?”

Rein blinked in surprise from where she was sitting on Vita’s head, yanking on the red-head’s braids to try and get her up.

“Why, everyone’s!”

A few minutes later, all the sleepy residents of the house were gathered in the living room, where Shamal activated the holoscreen.

“Good morning Hayate, everyone.” Admiral Leti Lowran nodded at them. “I’m sorry for waking all of you so early, but this is an urgent mission call. Please report in at the TSAB Headquarters in half an hour.”

**O**

“So, Officer Gareau, how many years have you been in the SIU?” Hayate asked her new partner as they waited for Leti to set the holoscreen.

“Just Jennifer is fine, Hayate?” Gareau paused to make sure that her casual address was alright, and continued when Hayate nodded eagerly. “I’ve been in the SIU for two years, but this is my first mission away from Mid-Childa.” The blonde smiled sheepishly, rubbing her ring with a finger. “Clarent used to belong to my father, so I hope that he’ll guide me well.”

“Of course, my lord.”

Hayate smiled and stroked Zafira’s head. “I hope Zafira will do the same for me. He’s much wiser than I am.”

“Not true, Hayate.”

“Of course it’s true.” She barely restrained herself from saying “Zaffy” aloud, not wanting to embarrass or accidentally demean him in front of a new comrade.

“Alright,” Leti said, calling up an image of a three-headed black dog, all of its eyes narrowed into red slits as it snarled at the camera. “This is the Lost Logia we are after, the Hound of Hades. It isn’t normally a class of Lost Logia requiring urgent action, but what pushed our hand was the appearance of these units with sightings of the Hound.”

**O**

“Gadget drones,” Leti said, showing them satellite images of rod-shaped devices on a snowy landscape and on a desert dune. “They contain Anti-Magic Fields, making them a problem for lower mage-ranked local police forces. Combined with a Lost Logia, even one like the Hound, makes them potentially a dimensional threat.”

“How powerful is the Lost Logia?” Signum asked, staring at the image of the black hound.

“Nowhere close to the Book of Darkness, fortunately,” Leti assured them. “However, ever since Nanoha’s accident, we’ve been keeping a wary eye out for these Gadget Drones, and when Intelligence picked up these pictures we wanted to move in with caution. That’s why we’re troubling all of you for this mission.”

“I’ll go,” Vita said fiercely, her hands clenching upon the mention of Nanoha’s name. Hayate put a hand on Vita’s shoulder, rubbing softly.

“Of course all of us will help,” Hayate said, glancing at her Wolkenritter to be sure. “It’s just the one Lost Logia right? And all of us are ranked highly enough to be able to handle the Gadget Drones, if we’re careful.” Even knowing it, the memory of the grievously, nearly fatally injured Nanoha-chan made Hayate shudder.

“The problem,” Leti sighed, changing the screen to a space map, “is that we’re picking up energy readings of the Hound on two very distant planets. One is Administered Planet #6, Alzas, and the other is Un-Administered Planet #70, Hemmon. We need to raid both locations at the same time, to prevent whoever has the Lost Logia from moving it.”

“We’ll have to split up,” Signum finished for her. “I’ll go with Zafira to Hemmon, Vita and Shamal—”

“Actually,” Hayate interrupted, “I’d rather Vita and Shamal went with you, Signum.” She looked at Rein beside her and smiled. “And take Rein too.”

“Mistress!”

“If there’s a fight, I want the three of you to keep each other safe,” Hayate argued. “Shamal can heal you and teleport you out if there’s serious trouble.” She smiled and put a hand on Zafira’s strong back. “And Zaffy’s a Guardian Beast—I’ll be perfectly defended, since all of my spells are attack spells.”

“At least take Rein with you,” Shamal tried.

“Admiral Leti said that it won’t be a powerful Lost Logia, but in case there’s a fight I’d feel better if Rein was with you.”

“If it makes you feel any better,” Leti offered to the Wolkenritter, “I can assign the SIU officer to Hayate’s team. I was going to assign her to the second team, but if it’s the three—sorry Rein, four—of you together, an additional person may disrupt your teamwork. Officer Gareau is an A-rank, and a very good fighter.”

“Good fighter is still nothing on us,” Vita grumbled, crossing her arms and frowning. “Any of us would give our lives to protect Hayate!”

Hayate winced. “Hopefully, this won’t be a mission that will turn to that. And even if it does!—I don’t want any of you to do that anyways.”

**O**

“…this is the cave where we’ve been picking up energy readings.” Leti showed a three-dimensional hologram of a mountainside, indicating a cave in the snow-covered cliffs.

“Officers Hayate, Jennifer and Zafira, your mission is to infiltrate the cave, investigate for signs of the Lost Logia, and seal it if possible. Eliminating as many Gadget Drones as possible is a secondary objective. We don’t want to leave them to trouble the locals, although the native dragon-summoners have shown an ability to defeat the drones themselves.” Leti looked at both of them, as Zafira was slightly out of sight on the floor. “If the situation becomes critical, then I do have authorization to use an Arc-en-Ciel on the Lost Logia.”

Hayate gasped, and her embarrassment at reacting so strongly was overshadowed by her fear. “But there are towns inside the 100 km radius!”

“We’re issuing pre-cautionary evacuation notices to those towns,” Leti told her, but she also looked weary. “Even so, it will definitely cause accidental casualties and devastate the environment. It’s our last resort.”

“We’ll find a way,” Hayate swore, nodding determinedly.

Jennifer brightened, clearly affected by Hayate’s optimism. “Don’t worry Admiral, we’ll do it. Right, Clarent?”

“Yes, my lord!”

**O**

“Be careful, all of you,” Hayate tried to smile encouragingly as she hugged her knights goodbye at the ship port.

“Don’t worry, Mistress,” Signum said assuringly, clasping Laevantein in one armoured fist. “We won’t fail you.”

“I’d rather you failed, and came back safely,” Hayate sniffed, throwing herself into Signum’s arms. She didn’t worry about hurting herself on Signum’s sword, since Hayate knew that Signum would never let her get hurt.

“Watch over Hayate!” Vita instructed Zafira tearfully, and the blue wolf growled his assent.

“We’ll keep each other safe,” Hayate promised, waving goodbye before turning to board the warship Nibiru with Zafira trotting at her side.

**O**

“I hope we’re the ones who find the Hound of Hades,” Jennifer said to Hayate as they ate a quick lunch in the galley. “I’d hate for us to have come all this way only for it to be a false lead. It’s my first Lost Logia case.”

“I hope we find it too,” Hayate replied, setting a dish aside for Zafira. Her knight had chosen to wander off somewhere earlier, and she hoped that he would make it here before they had to depart. “I know that Signum, Vita, Rein and Shamal can take care of themselves, but I’d still hate for them to fight the Hound—you never know, with Lost Logia.”

“I forgot,” Gareau apologized, looking appalled at herself, “that your friends are on the other search team.”

“It’s alright, I understand your excitement…” Hayate sighed, poking her pasta around her plate. “They’re my family. But even if they were my friends, I’d still worry.”

Swallowing, Jennifer leaned in close. “Hayate?”

“Yes?”

Quietly, Jennifer confided quickly, “I, um…I really hope that it’s not us. I mean, I don’t want your friends—sorry, your family—to have to fight, but I’m…well…” She flinched. “Uh, nervous.”

Hayate understood, so she said aloud, “I’m scared. Lost Logias can do a lot of damage, and…” The kindest, sweetest smile lit up her face, and her silver hair fell into her earnest red eyes as Reinforce gazed fondly down on Hayate. “…and sometimes you lose the people you love to them.”

Jennifer paled slightly—her fellow officer wasn’t that much older than Hayate. Then she smiled wanly and raised her water glass. “Well, I’m lucky enough to have a partner who has experience facing Lost Logia!”

“Two partners,” Hayate smiled, and they clinked glasses.

“Admiral Lowran says that it’s time,” Zafira commented from the door, and both of them glanced at him. He was in his human form, already in his Barrier Jacket. And oh, very interesting…Hayate watched a small blush rush over Jennifer’s face with merry interest.

“Who—ah, Zafira?” Jennifer coughed, picking up her glass hastily to take another drink, hiding her face—and incidentally, the sight of the muscular, sleeve-less Zafira. “We’ll be right there.”

“Zafira, eat something,” Hayate said quickly, pushing the plate over to him. She grabbed Jennifer’s wrist and tugged her up, grinning. “The two of us will go on ahead and make sure the teleport’s ready.”

“So, Jennifer-san,” Hayate asked innocently as they walked together down to the teleport bay, “Do you have a boyfriend? Girlfriend?” The blonde looked a bit young to be married, not much older than Hayate at 16 years, but it could still be possible.

Jennifer gave her a half-dirty, half-embarrassed look—she clearly knew what Hayate was fishing for. Hayate just gave her a wide grin in response. “No, no boyfriend…” She coughed fakely, jamming her hands into her pockets. “Um, how about you, Hayate?”

“Nope,” Hayate said cheerfully. Then she waited.

They were all the way at the teleport bay before Jennifer asked casually, “How about Zafira? Or your other knights?”

“None, that I know of,” Hayate answered, hiding her smile. Truthfully, she was shipping Zaffy with Arf, but it was still fun to see what could happen with others.

“Oh, I see,” Jennifer tried for a politely non-chalant response, but her redding ears gave her away, particularly when she turned and nearly ran into Zafira, who had just entered.

“Great, we’re all here!” Rubbing her hands, Hayate called out her Barrier Jacket. She adjusted her hat, watching Jennifer call up a golden and emerald Jacket and twirl Clarent, who had transformed into a long two-handed sword.

“Teleport ready in ten seconds,” Admiral Leti’s voice came over the intercom. As the countdown started, they heard her say softly, “Good luck.”

**O**

“Stardust Fall.”

A barrage of rocks slammed through the gadgets racing up on Hayate’s left, allowing her to fly back and catch her breath. “Thanks,” she gasped at Jennifer, who had just swung Clarent in an arc and cut down two more gadgets.

“No problem…” Jennifer stumbled, jumping awkwardly over the ruins of a gadget that had nearly tripped her. Zafira was immediately there, punching the large drone away, tearing his fist free and leaping for another.

“There’s a barrier around this cave!” Zafira shouted to Hayate as he tore into his opponent.

“I can’t call the Nibiru!” Jennifer yelled in addition.

“We’ll just have to break the barrier, or beat the one creating it! Cover me for a few seconds!” Hayate shouted, then swung her staff up. “Approach from beyond, mistletoe branches, and become spears of the silver moon. Pierce it! Misteltein!”

Silver spears fired into the midst of the gadgets, although only five of her seven light-spears struck something and petrified it. Hayate flew up as another set of drones rushed her, firing into the spot where she had been.

“Maybe a wider range spell?” Jennifer suggested as she rolled to a stop by Hayate. “Clarent!”

“Luftmesser!” With a powerful swing, Jennifer unleashed wind blades at the drones pursuing Hayate, then spun around and launched the rest at the ones targeting her.

“Do you see the Hound?” She yelled up at Hayate, who had the better point of view.

“Nothing!” Hayate flew higher above the fight, keeping an eye on where her allies were. “Frigid Dagger!” She didn’t pause to watch her ice daggers hail down on the enemy, swooping down to snatch Jennifer out of harm’s way when a ring of Gadgets surrounded her.

"Thanks!” Jennifer shouted, pointing with Clarent’s tip at a cluster of drones. “Drop me there!" Hayate hesitated.

“Don’t worry!”

“Alright, here you go!” Hayate yelled, tossing Jennifer at the Gadgets while also chanting, “Panzer Hindernis!”

A white shield covered her partner as the blonde barrelled into the Gadgets, whipping her sword around her. Wires and metal plates rained around her as she cut through the horde, Clarent’s golden blade gleaming with light.

“Are they just a distraction?” Jennifer called, turning to look at Hayate.

Something moved in the shadows behind her.

Instead of wasting her breath, Hayate screamed, “PANZER SCHILD!”

She had been fast enough—her ivory triangle shield rose behind Jennifer, spreading large enough to nearly touch the tips of the hanging stalactites in the black cavern roof. Jennifer spun, her terrified face relaxing when she saw the comforting glow of Hayate’s shield.

A black head punched through the white energy, and all Hayate saw were a flash of red eyes before a dark maw opened and crunched down on Officer Jennifer Gareau, the woman’s scream drowned in the blood that sprayed from her throat and chest. The Hound rammed the rest of its body through Hayate’s shield, its other two heads whipping around to roar at Hayate, saliva dripping from huge black fangs.

“NO!” Hayate barely dodged shots from the Gadgets, diving down towards the snarling Hound. “MISTELTEIN!”

She hoped that she could fire her attack before she was hit—Hayate saw her silver spears shoot past her, but she also saw a row of teeth snapping up to meet her—

A blur of blue knocked her out of the way, sending Hayate smashing into the stone wall. Coughing, Hayate struggled to rise. “Zafira!”

Zafira had changed into his wolf form, conserving mana that he was using to increase the strength of his attacks upon the Hound, driving the Lost Logia back. His back was bloody but so were his teeth, bloody with the enemy’s blood. “Hayate, run!”

To her despair, her spears didn’t look like they had made any impact on the Hound—one of its heads was shaking off a layer of rock as if she’d just put a thin shell on its skin. Hayate readied her staff again, calling up a rune beneath her feet. She was horribly inaccurate with this spell but in this small space she couldn’t miss… “Hræsvelgr!”

One, two, three magic bolts soared towards the Hound—then Hayate screamed as something blasted her out of the air from behind, sending her tumbling to the ground. From the corner of her eye, she watched breathlessly as a row of drones charged their beams up again for a second shot.

“Steel Yoke!”

Two lupine screams filled the cave; the Hound wailed from where Zafira’s attack sliced through his chest, and her knight howled, collapsing on top of Hayate, his fur singed and saturated with blood.

“Zafira!” Hayate cried, feeling the warm drips of his blood falling onto her cheek. “Panzer—ah!”

A huge paw had come down on her legs, dragging her out from underneath Zafira’s body. The Hound of Hades roared, his heads slamming down towards her. Hayate wedged her staff into the left head’s mouth, making it yelp, but cried out when its right head bit into her shoulder. The middle head hovered, then struck.

Zafira bellowed, leaping on the middle head and raking its cheek with his claws; his teeth sunk into the Hound’s throat, biting deep and holding.

Hayate felt herself get flung away as the two other heads changed targets, ripping at her knight. “Zafira!” She scrambled for her staff, working through all the spells she knew to come up with one that would save him.

She heard his strangled cry. “STEEL YOKE!”

White spikes shot out of the ground everywhere, piercing through gadgets and impaling the Hound through the stomach and paws. It howled, all three jaws opening as it writhed in place. A limp bundle of fur hit the stone ground, motionless.

Hayate forgot about spells. She forgot about the Gadgets, the Hound.

“ZAFIRA!”

All the white in his fur was stained poppy red. Everywhere else was matted with drying blood, and crunching shifts under Hayate’s trembling hands showed her where he had broken bones. His head lay cold and still in her lap, his eyes closed but for a thin line of white showing beneath his lids.

He wasn’t moving.

Not a bit. He was as still as a field in the dead of winter, as the limp forms of her knights once upon a time on a rooftop at night.

Zafira, one of her Wolkenritter, her loyal knights. Her family. Dead, his pale tongue hanging limply from his cracked jaw.

Her guardian beast. He died saving her.

Dimly, Hayate heard the Hound tear itself free of the spikes, lumbering towards her with a growing growl. She heard the whirrs of Gadget Drones flying closer, their weapons armed. She didn’t care, but Zafira had died for her.

Hayate lifted one hand, her whisper broken and hoarse. “Diabolic…Emission.”

All she heard was silence as her black energy built into an enormous sphere above her head, then silence as it imploded…then shrieking as the black ring exploded outwards, obliterating everything around them.

**O**

Finish the mission.

Hayate didn’t care about the mission.

It’s your duty.

What did that matter anymore?

Your knights knew their duty.

…And how could she shame them, by refusing hers?

Hayate gently set Zafira’s head on the ground. She picked up her staff, and the Tome of the Night Sky from the blood-trodden ground. The white on her Barrier Jacket was also red-stained. She walked towards the shadows, her boots crunching over the ruins of the drones, their husks snapping under her feet.

The Hound was curled up against the wall, its heads lolling to the ground. Hayate walked right up to it, staring emotionlessly down at the panting beast, its wide red eyes staring upwards into hers.

“Yami no Sho,” the Hound rumbled, the sound coming out like a whimper. “The Book of Darkness.”

She didn’t bother to correct it.

“Wait.” The Lost Logia gasped. Its middle head shifted, and a red tongue flicked out, licking her shoe. “Please. Mercy.”

Hayate raised her staff.

“Please.” The Hound snuffed, its red eyes beseeching in its ink-black faces. “Save me. Like you saved the Book.”

She hesitated.

“Please.”

Reinforce hadn’t been evil. Lost Logia weren’t all evil.

The beast whined, inching forward on its stomach. “Please.”

She had saved Reinforce.

Hayate lowered her eyes, and her gaze fell on Zafira’s body. The Hound surged up, hissing, its jaws opened wide and lunging for her.

“Resound, horn of judgement,” Hayate said, staring into the Hound’s eyes. She felt no fear as time stretched for her, giving her all the time in the world as the Hound’s fangs approached.

“RAGNAROK!”

Three pillars of light burst from the sigil in front of her, exploding through each of the Hound’s heads.

Hayate saw nothing but white.

White and screaming.

Then the light faded away. Hayate turned, but stopped when she felt something clink against her boot. A set of red crystals lay on the ground where one of the Hound’s heads had been. And by it’s other head, another crystal. And another.

She had seen these before.

“Relics,” Hayate whispered, staring. Lost Logias inside a Lost Logia. No wonder the Hound had been far more dangerous than anything they had expected. And because of that…because of that…

She shuffled back and sat down, pulling Zafira’s head back into her lap. And she laid her cheek against his cold one and started crying.

He had been willing to risk everything for her. For her whole life, Zafira had watched out for her, his protective, careful eyes making sure that she was safe. He had carried her around on his back when her legs gave out on her, he had licked the tears off her face when the pain was too much…he loved her. She had been his Master, but he had loved her anyways.

Loved her enough to die for her.

She shouldn’t have come. No defence skills, long, uncontrolled attacks…she would always cause her defenders to die in her place.

“Hayate? Hayate!” Leti’s voice sounded by her ear—the admiral was kneeling next to them, her grey eyes sorrowful. Gently, she said, “Hayate, he’s dead.”

“Admiral! We have three Relics here, all sealed—but there’s no sign of the Hound of Hades.”

“Was it even here?” Someone else mumbled.

“It was here.” Hayate didn’t look up from Zafira’s corpse.

She was his Master.

“Hayate? Zafira’s dead. You have to—”

She was the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.

Leti touched Hayate’s shoulder. “Hayate—”

“Let go!” Hayate shrugged her off and curled around Zafira’s head. The Tome floated upward, glowing white and purple-black. Numbly, her lips moved. “I am the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.”

**O**

It was dark here. She recognized this place.

“Reinforce…help me,” Hayate begged into the blackness as she searched through the Tome, looking for the resurrection spells.

She didn’t know if Reinforce had heard her. She didn’t know if Reinforce was still real, still alive…but she found the spells.

Guardian Program: Zafira

Resurrect.

Mana levels: Low

Guardian Program: Resurrect at Default. All memories from previous incarnation will be erased.

No.

Bring him back the way he was.

The way he was.

Mana levels: Low

Divert mana from shapeshifting ability to memories. Maintain all other abilities. Restore all memories.

By the order of the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.

**O**

Hayate woke to the warm wetness of Zafira tenderly licking her tears away, his throat rumbling in a crooning growl. “Zafira!” Arms wrapped tightly around his neck, Hayate buried her face in his throat, crying into his fur. “I’m so sorry…I had to do it.”

“I’m alive,” he said in her ear, nuzzling her face. “I remember. That’s all I need.”

Hayate got up, still sniffling, and she clung onto Zafira as they watched his dead, bloody corpse crumble and vanish into glowing dust.

The Nibiru’s crew were staring at them, their faces full of disbelief and amazement, and some with nervous fear. Hayate dropped to her knees beside Jennifer Gareau’s body, her eyes tearing up again as she gently picked up the broad ring by the officer’s hand and placed it on the blonde’s chest.

“She fought amazingly,” she said softly to Leti. “Officer Gareau was very brave.”

“Hayate…what happened? We can’t find the Hound of Hades, only the three Relics.”

“The Hound was here. I destroyed it.” Hayate rose and walked over to the Relics, picking one up to the gasps of the support crew who had been gingerly working up to touching the Relic with their long safety devices. “It had these Relics inside it. That’s why it overpowered us. Killed Jennifer-san and Zafira.”

Hayate stared at the Relic in her hand, ignoring the bustle around her as Leti ordered her crew around, cleaning up the scene. She felt Zafira come up underneath her free hand and she thrust her hand into his ruff until she warmed her cold fingers on his neck.

“I won’t let Lost Logia hurt people anymore,” Hayate promised, watching the red light reflecting off the sides of the Relic. It looked so innocent, so pretty—tragedy bound inside a crystal wrapping.

“One day…never again.”

Spoiler for Author's Note-don't read first because of SPOILERS:

In case it wasn’t obvious, this takes place between A’s and StrikerS, with Hayate at 16 and newly made an Officer of the Special Investigations Unit. The Gadgets had already been seen during Nanoha’s accident, so they weren't unheard of.

The inspiration for this fic came when I wanted to write a story where Hayate resurrected one of her Wolkenritter, before they decided to become more human and less like Programs in the third anime season. I wondered what kind of price might that resurrection cause, and how it would affect Hayate .

For fun, I tried to explain here why Zafira was never in his human form in StrikerS, and also if Hayate had a deeper drive for wanting to find Relics/Lost Logias and for establishing Riot Force 6 .

So, not only Nanoha have unpleasant expirience with Gadget Drones prior StrikerS.

[Nanya01]

@dc: that was good, sad, but good.

[RadiantBeam]

Originally Posted by deathcurse

Spoiler for Fealty:

Fealty

Hayate couldn’t help gasping as she watched Mid-Childa draw away beneath them, the green and blue world sparkling with lights. It was odd to see the sun in the distance while she knew it to be nighttime in Cranagan when they had departed.

“We’ll live there one day, Zafira,” she promised, sinking her hand into his thick ruff. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”

“Yes.” He tilted his head, looking out the window down the sides of the warship. “It’s quite a different ship from the Asura.” Zafira perked his ears, giving Hayate some warning that someone was coming from behind.

“It’s a new model, this Nibiru,” Admiral Leti told them, coming up beside Hayate. The purple-haired woman chuckled. “Lindy told me she was jealous when she came to look, although she does have a nostalgic spot for her Asura.”

“Lots of memories, I imagine,” Hayate smiled.

“Lots,” agreed Leti, when a small polite cough behind them made her wince. “Ah, my apologies for being rude—Hayate, this is your partner for this mission. Gareau?”

A young blonde woman saluted Hayate, snapping her heels together with a click. “Officer Jennifer Gareau, Special Investigations Unit.” Then her green eyes twinkled and she said less formally, “I’m pleased to meet you, Officer Yagami.”

Lowering her hand from her salute, Hayate grinned back. “I’m Officer Hayate Yagami, and this is…” She trailed off, suddenly remembering that she didn’t have Rein with her. It was kind of odd, but Hayate was kind of glad at the same time—it saved her the trouble of having to reluctantly explain that Rein was an Unison Device whenever people looked confused at being only given Rein’s name and nothing else. “Who is your partner?”

Gareau blinked, then her puzzled expression cleared over and she lifted her right hand, displaying the band on her ring finger. “This is Intelligent Device Clarent.”

“Hello, Clarent. Nice to be working with you.”

“Greetings, Comrade.”

Hayate giggled, noting that Gareau had her eyes on Zafira now, waiting for her to introduce him. She nudged Zafira with her knee.

With a sigh, Zafira introduced himself. “Guardian Beast, Zafira.”

“Nice to meet you, Zafira.” Gareau saluted him too, making Hayate beam.

I like her, Zaffy. She’s kind.

Hayate could hear the affection in his voice when he replied, Yes, she’s kind, like you are.

“I’m sorry to cut the introductions short,” Leti said apologetically, indicating all of them to enter the briefing room. “But we’re about to enter dimensional space, and I want to go over the mission details again before we arrive on Alzas.”

**O**

Earlier that morning

“Mission call!”

Hayate groaned, burying her head deeper into her pillow. Vita grumbled and clung to Hayate tighter, also trying to block out Rein’s voice and go back to sleep.

“Mission call!” Rein shouted again, her voice carrying farther than someone so small should be capable of.

“Whose?” Hayate finally slurred out, opening one eye. “Whose call?”

Rein blinked in surprise from where she was sitting on Vita’s head, yanking on the red-head’s braids to try and get her up.

“Why, everyone’s!”

A few minutes later, all the sleepy residents of the house were gathered in the living room, where Shamal activated the holoscreen.

“Good morning Hayate, everyone.” Admiral Leti Lowran nodded at them. “I’m sorry for waking all of you so early, but this is an urgent mission call. Please report in at the TSAB Headquarters in half an hour.”

**O**

“So, Officer Gareau, how many years have you been in the SIU?” Hayate asked her new partner as they waited for Leti to set the holoscreen.

“Just Jennifer is fine, Hayate?” Gareau paused to make sure that her casual address was alright, and continued when Hayate nodded eagerly. “I’ve been in the SIU for two years, but this is my first mission away from Mid-Childa.” The blonde smiled sheepishly, rubbing her ring with a finger. “Clarent used to belong to my father, so I hope that he’ll guide me well.”

“Of course, my lord.”

Hayate smiled and stroked Zafira’s head. “I hope Zafira will do the same for me. He’s much wiser than I am.”

“Not true, Hayate.”

“Of course it’s true.” She barely restrained herself from saying “Zaffy” aloud, not wanting to embarrass or accidentally demean him in front of a new comrade.

“Alright,” Leti said, calling up an image of a three-headed black dog, all of its eyes narrowed into red slits as it snarled at the camera. “This is the Lost Logia we are after, the Hound of Hades. It isn’t normally a class of Lost Logia requiring urgent action, but what pushed our hand was the appearance of these units with sightings of the Hound.”

**O**

“Gadget drones,” Leti said, showing them satellite images of rod-shaped devices on a snowy landscape and on a desert dune. “They contain Anti-Magic Fields, making them a problem for lower mage-ranked local police forces. Combined with a Lost Logia, even one like the Hound, makes them potentially a dimensional threat.”

“How powerful is the Lost Logia?” Signum asked, staring at the image of the black hound.

“Nowhere close to the Book of Darkness, fortunately,” Leti assured them. “However, ever since Nanoha’s accident, we’ve been keeping a wary eye out for these Gadget Drones, and when Intelligence picked up these pictures we wanted to move in with caution. That’s why we’re troubling all of you for this mission.”

“I’ll go,” Vita said fiercely, her hands clenching upon the mention of Nanoha’s name. Hayate put a hand on Vita’s shoulder, rubbing softly.

“Of course all of us will help,” Hayate said, glancing at her Wolkenritter to be sure. “It’s just the one Lost Logia right? And all of us are ranked highly enough to be able to handle the Gadget Drones, if we’re careful.” Even knowing it, the memory of the grievously, nearly fatally injured Nanoha-chan made Hayate shudder.

“The problem,” Leti sighed, changing the screen to a space map, “is that we’re picking up energy readings of the Hound on two very distant planets. One is Administered Planet #6, Alzas, and the other is Un-Administered Planet #70, Hemmon. We need to raid both locations at the same time, to prevent whoever has the Lost Logia from moving it.”

“We’ll have to split up,” Signum finished for her. “I’ll go with Zafira to Hemmon, Vita and Shamal—”

“Actually,” Hayate interrupted, “I’d rather Vita and Shamal went with you, Signum.” She looked at Rein beside her and smiled. “And take Rein too.”

“Mistress!”

“If there’s a fight, I want the three of you to keep each other safe,” Hayate argued. “Shamal can heal you and teleport you out if there’s serious trouble.” She smiled and put a hand on Zafira’s strong back. “And Zaffy’s a Guardian Beast—I’ll be perfectly defended, since all of my spells are attack spells.”

“At least take Rein with you,” Shamal tried.

“Admiral Leti said that it won’t be a powerful Lost Logia, but in case there’s a fight I’d feel better if Rein was with you.”

“If it makes you feel any better,” Leti offered to the Wolkenritter, “I can assign the SIU officer to Hayate’s team. I was going to assign her to the second team, but if it’s the three—sorry Rein, four—of you together, an additional person may disrupt your teamwork. Officer Gareau is an A-rank, and a very good fighter.”

“Good fighter is still nothing on us,” Vita grumbled, crossing her arms and frowning. “Any of us would give our lives to protect Hayate!”

Hayate winced. “Hopefully, this won’t be a mission that will turn to that. And even if it does!—I don’t want any of you to do that anyways.”

**O**

“…this is the cave where we’ve been picking up energy readings.” Leti showed a three-dimensional hologram of a mountainside, indicating a cave in the snow-covered cliffs.

“Officers Hayate, Jennifer and Zafira, your mission is to infiltrate the cave, investigate for signs of the Lost Logia, and seal it if possible. Eliminating as many Gadget Drones as possible is a secondary objective. We don’t want to leave them to trouble the locals, although the native dragon-summoners have shown an ability to defeat the drones themselves.” Leti looked at both of them, as Zafira was slightly out of sight on the floor. “If the situation becomes critical, then I do have authorization to use an Arc-en-Ciel on the Lost Logia.”

Hayate gasped, and her embarrassment at reacting so strongly was overshadowed by her fear. “But there are towns inside the 100 km radius!”

“We’re issuing pre-cautionary evacuation notices to those towns,” Leti told her, but she also looked weary. “Even so, it will definitely cause accidental casualties and devastate the environment. It’s our last resort.”

“We’ll find a way,” Hayate swore, nodding determinedly.

Jennifer brightened, clearly affected by Hayate’s optimism. “Don’t worry Admiral, we’ll do it. Right, Clarent?”

“Yes, my lord!”

**O**

“Be careful, all of you,” Hayate tried to smile encouragingly as she hugged her knights goodbye at the ship port.

“Don’t worry, Mistress,” Signum said assuringly, clasping Laevantein in one armoured fist. “We won’t fail you.”

“I’d rather you failed, and came back safely,” Hayate sniffed, throwing herself into Signum’s arms. She didn’t worry about hurting herself on Signum’s sword, since Hayate knew that Signum would never let her get hurt.

“Watch over Hayate!” Vita instructed Zafira tearfully, and the blue wolf growled his assent.

“We’ll keep each other safe,” Hayate promised, waving goodbye before turning to board the warship Nibiru with Zafira trotting at her side.

**O**

“I hope we’re the ones who find the Hound of Hades,” Jennifer said to Hayate as they ate a quick lunch in the galley. “I’d hate for us to have come all this way only for it to be a false lead. It’s my first Lost Logia case.”

“I hope we find it too,” Hayate replied, setting a dish aside for Zafira. Her knight had chosen to wander off somewhere earlier, and she hoped that he would make it here before they had to depart. “I know that Signum, Vita, Rein and Shamal can take care of themselves, but I’d still hate for them to fight the Hound—you never know, with Lost Logia.”

“I forgot,” Gareau apologized, looking appalled at herself, “that your friends are on the other search team.”

“It’s alright, I understand your excitement…” Hayate sighed, poking her pasta around her plate. “They’re my family. But even if they were my friends, I’d still worry.”

Swallowing, Jennifer leaned in close. “Hayate?”

“Yes?”

Quietly, Jennifer confided quickly, “I, um…I really hope that it’s not us. I mean, I don’t want your friends—sorry, your family—to have to fight, but I’m…well…” She flinched. “Uh, nervous.”

Hayate understood, so she said aloud, “I’m scared. Lost Logias can do a lot of damage, and…” The kindest, sweetest smile lit up her face, and her silver hair fell into her earnest red eyes as Reinforce gazed fondly down on Hayate. “…and sometimes you lose the people you love to them.”

Jennifer paled slightly—her fellow officer wasn’t that much older than Hayate. Then she smiled wanly and raised her water glass. “Well, I’m lucky enough to have a partner who has experience facing Lost Logia!”

“Two partners,” Hayate smiled, and they clinked glasses.

“Admiral Lowran says that it’s time,” Zafira commented from the door, and both of them glanced at him. He was in his human form, already in his Barrier Jacket. And oh, very interesting…Hayate watched a small blush rush over Jennifer’s face with merry interest.

“Who—ah, Zafira?” Jennifer coughed, picking up her glass hastily to take another drink, hiding her face—and incidentally, the sight of the muscular, sleeve-less Zafira. “We’ll be right there.”

“Zafira, eat something,” Hayate said quickly, pushing the plate over to him. She grabbed Jennifer’s wrist and tugged her up, grinning. “The two of us will go on ahead and make sure the teleport’s ready.”

“So, Jennifer-san,” Hayate asked innocently as they walked together down to the teleport bay, “Do you have a boyfriend? Girlfriend?” The blonde looked a bit young to be married, not much older than Hayate at 16 years, but it could still be possible.

Jennifer gave her a half-dirty, half-embarrassed look—she clearly knew what Hayate was fishing for. Hayate just gave her a wide grin in response. “No, no boyfriend…” She coughed fakely, jamming her hands into her pockets. “Um, how about you, Hayate?”

“Nope,” Hayate said cheerfully. Then she waited.

They were all the way at the teleport bay before Jennifer asked casually, “How about Zafira? Or your other knights?”

“None, that I know of,” Hayate answered, hiding her smile. Truthfully, she was shipping Zaffy with Arf, but it was still fun to see what could happen with others.

“Oh, I see,” Jennifer tried for a politely non-chalant response, but her redding ears gave her away, particularly when she turned and nearly ran into Zafira, who had just entered.

“Great, we’re all here!” Rubbing her hands, Hayate called out her Barrier Jacket. She adjusted her hat, watching Jennifer call up a golden and emerald Jacket and twirl Clarent, who had transformed into a long two-handed sword.

“Teleport ready in ten seconds,” Admiral Leti’s voice came over the intercom. As the countdown started, they heard her say softly, “Good luck.”

**O**

“Stardust Fall.”

A barrage of rocks slammed through the gadgets racing up on Hayate’s left, allowing her to fly back and catch her breath. “Thanks,” she gasped at Jennifer, who had just swung Clarent in an arc and cut down two more gadgets.

“No problem…” Jennifer stumbled, jumping awkwardly over the ruins of a gadget that had nearly tripped her. Zafira was immediately there, punching the large drone away, tearing his fist free and leaping for another.

“There’s a barrier around this cave!” Zafira shouted to Hayate as he tore into his opponent.

“I can’t call the Nibiru!” Jennifer yelled in addition.

“We’ll just have to break the barrier, or beat the one creating it! Cover me for a few seconds!” Hayate shouted, then swung her staff up. “Approach from beyond, mistletoe branches, and become spears of the silver moon. Pierce it! Misteltein!”

Silver spears fired into the midst of the gadgets, although only five of her seven light-spears struck something and petrified it. Hayate flew up as another set of drones rushed her, firing into the spot where she had been.

“Maybe a wider range spell?” Jennifer suggested as she rolled to a stop by Hayate. “Clarent!”

“Luftmesser!” With a powerful swing, Jennifer unleashed wind blades at the drones pursuing Hayate, then spun around and launched the rest at the ones targeting her.

“Do you see the Hound?” She yelled up at Hayate, who had the better point of view.

“Nothing!” Hayate flew higher above the fight, keeping an eye on where her allies were. “Frigid Dagger!” She didn’t pause to watch her ice daggers hail down on the enemy, swooping down to snatch Jennifer out of harm’s way when a ring of Gadgets surrounded her.

"Thanks!” Jennifer shouted, pointing with Clarent’s tip at a cluster of drones. “Drop me there!" Hayate hesitated.

“Don’t worry!”

“Alright, here you go!” Hayate yelled, tossing Jennifer at the Gadgets while also chanting, “Panzer Hindernis!”

A white shield covered her partner as the blonde barrelled into the Gadgets, whipping her sword around her. Wires and metal plates rained around her as she cut through the horde, Clarent’s golden blade gleaming with light.

“Are they just a distraction?” Jennifer called, turning to look at Hayate.

Something moved in the shadows behind her.

Instead of wasting her breath, Hayate screamed, “PANZER SCHILD!”

She had been fast enough—her ivory triangle shield rose behind Jennifer, spreading large enough to nearly touch the tips of the hanging stalactites in the black cavern roof. Jennifer spun, her terrified face relaxing when she saw the comforting glow of Hayate’s shield.

A black head punched through the white energy, and all Hayate saw were a flash of red eyes before a dark maw opened and crunched down on Officer Jennifer Gareau, the woman’s scream drowned in the blood that sprayed from her throat and chest. The Hound rammed the rest of its body through Hayate’s shield, its other two heads whipping around to roar at Hayate, saliva dripping from huge black fangs.

“NO!” Hayate barely dodged shots from the Gadgets, diving down towards the snarling Hound. “MISTELTEIN!”

She hoped that she could fire her attack before she was hit—Hayate saw her silver spears shoot past her, but she also saw a row of teeth snapping up to meet her—

A blur of blue knocked her out of the way, sending Hayate smashing into the stone wall. Coughing, Hayate struggled to rise. “Zafira!”

Zafira had changed into his wolf form, conserving mana that he was using to increase the strength of his attacks upon the Hound, driving the Lost Logia back. His back was bloody but so were his teeth, bloody with the enemy’s blood. “Hayate, run!”

To her despair, her spears didn’t look like they had made any impact on the Hound—one of its heads was shaking off a layer of rock as if she’d just put a thin shell on its skin. Hayate readied her staff again, calling up a rune beneath her feet. She was horribly inaccurate with this spell but in this small space she couldn’t miss… “Hræsvelgr!”

One, two, three magic bolts soared towards the Hound—then Hayate screamed as something blasted her out of the air from behind, sending her tumbling to the ground. From the corner of her eye, she watched breathlessly as a row of drones charged their beams up again for a second shot.

“Steel Yoke!”

Two lupine screams filled the cave; the Hound wailed from where Zafira’s attack sliced through his chest, and her knight howled, collapsing on top of Hayate, his fur singed and saturated with blood.

“Zafira!” Hayate cried, feeling the warm drips of his blood falling onto her cheek. “Panzer—ah!”

A huge paw had come down on her legs, dragging her out from underneath Zafira’s body. The Hound of Hades roared, his heads slamming down towards her. Hayate wedged her staff into the left head’s mouth, making it yelp, but cried out when its right head bit into her shoulder. The middle head hovered, then struck.

Zafira bellowed, leaping on the middle head and raking its cheek with his claws; his teeth sunk into the Hound’s throat, biting deep and holding.

Hayate felt herself get flung away as the two other heads changed targets, ripping at her knight. “Zafira!” She scrambled for her staff, working through all the spells she knew to come up with one that would save him.

She heard his strangled cry. “STEEL YOKE!”

White spikes shot out of the ground everywhere, piercing through gadgets and impaling the Hound through the stomach and paws. It howled, all three jaws opening as it writhed in place. A limp bundle of fur hit the stone ground, motionless.

Hayate forgot about spells. She forgot about the Gadgets, the Hound.

“ZAFIRA!”

All the white in his fur was stained poppy red. Everywhere else was matted with drying blood, and crunching shifts under Hayate’s trembling hands showed her where he had broken bones. His head lay cold and still in her lap, his eyes closed but for a thin line of white showing beneath his lids.

He wasn’t moving.

Not a bit. He was as still as a field in the dead of winter, as the limp forms of her knights once upon a time on a rooftop at night.

Zafira, one of her Wolkenritter, her loyal knights. Her family. Dead, his pale tongue hanging limply from his cracked jaw.

Her guardian beast. He died saving her.

Dimly, Hayate heard the Hound tear itself free of the spikes, lumbering towards her with a growing growl. She heard the whirrs of Gadget Drones flying closer, their weapons armed. She didn’t care, but Zafira had died for her.

Hayate lifted one hand, her whisper broken and hoarse. “Diabolic…Emission.”

All she heard was silence as her black energy built into an enormous sphere above her head, then silence as it imploded…then shrieking as the black ring exploded outwards, obliterating everything around them.

**O**

Finish the mission.

Hayate didn’t care about the mission.

It’s your duty.

What did that matter anymore?

Your knights knew their duty.

…And how could she shame them, by refusing hers?

Hayate gently set Zafira’s head on the ground. She picked up her staff, and the Tome of the Night Sky from the blood-trodden ground. The white on her Barrier Jacket was also red-stained. She walked towards the shadows, her boots crunching over the ruins of the drones, their husks snapping under her feet.

The Hound was curled up against the wall, its heads lolling to the ground. Hayate walked right up to it, staring emotionlessly down at the panting beast, its wide red eyes staring upwards into hers.

“Yami no Sho,” the Hound rumbled, the sound coming out like a whimper. “The Book of Darkness.”

She didn’t bother to correct it.

“Wait.” The Lost Logia gasped. Its middle head shifted, and a red tongue flicked out, licking her shoe. “Please. Mercy.”

Hayate raised her staff.

“Please.” The Hound snuffed, its red eyes beseeching in its ink-black faces. “Save me. Like you saved the Book.”

She hesitated.

“Please.”

Reinforce hadn’t been evil. Lost Logia weren’t all evil.

The beast whined, inching forward on its stomach. “Please.”

She had saved Reinforce.

Hayate lowered her eyes, and her gaze fell on Zafira’s body. The Hound surged up, hissing, its jaws opened wide and lunging for her.

“Resound, horn of judgement,” Hayate said, staring into the Hound’s eyes. She felt no fear as time stretched for her, giving her all the time in the world as the Hound’s fangs approached.

“RAGNAROK!”

Three pillars of light burst from the sigil in front of her, exploding through each of the Hound’s heads.

Hayate saw nothing but white.

White and screaming.

Then the light faded away. Hayate turned, but stopped when she felt something clink against her boot. A set of red crystals lay on the ground where one of the Hound’s heads had been. And by it’s other head, another crystal. And another.

She had seen these before.

“Relics,” Hayate whispered, staring. Lost Logias inside a Lost Logia. No wonder the Hound had been far more dangerous than anything they had expected. And because of that…because of that…

She shuffled back and sat down, pulling Zafira’s head back into her lap. And she laid her cheek against his cold one and started crying.

He had been willing to risk everything for her. For her whole life, Zafira had watched out for her, his protective, careful eyes making sure that she was safe. He had carried her around on his back when her legs gave out on her, he had licked the tears off her face when the pain was too much…he loved her. She had been his Master, but he had loved her anyways.

Loved her enough to die for her.

She shouldn’t have come. No defence skills, long, uncontrolled attacks…she would always cause her defenders to die in her place.

“Hayate? Hayate!” Leti’s voice sounded by her ear—the admiral was kneeling next to them, her grey eyes sorrowful. Gently, she said, “Hayate, he’s dead.”

“Admiral! We have three Relics here, all sealed—but there’s no sign of the Hound of Hades.”

“Was it even here?” Someone else mumbled.

“It was here.” Hayate didn’t look up from Zafira’s corpse.

She was his Master.

“Hayate? Zafira’s dead. You have to—”

She was the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.

Leti touched Hayate’s shoulder. “Hayate—”

“Let go!” Hayate shrugged her off and curled around Zafira’s head. The Tome floated upward, glowing white and purple-black. Numbly, her lips moved. “I am the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.”

**O**

It was dark here. She recognized this place.

“Reinforce…help me,” Hayate begged into the blackness as she searched through the Tome, looking for the resurrection spells.

She didn’t know if Reinforce had heard her. She didn’t know if Reinforce was still real, still alive…but she found the spells.

Guardian Program: Zafira

Resurrect.

Mana levels: Low

Guardian Program: Resurrect at Default. All memories from previous incarnation will be erased.

No.

Bring him back the way he was.

The way he was.

Mana levels: Low

Divert mana from shapeshifting ability to memories. Maintain all other abilities. Restore all memories.

By the order of the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.

**O**

Hayate woke to the warm wetness of Zafira tenderly licking her tears away, his throat rumbling in a crooning growl. “Zafira!” Arms wrapped tightly around his neck, Hayate buried her face in his throat, crying into his fur. “I’m so sorry…I had to do it.”

“I’m alive,” he said in her ear, nuzzling her face. “I remember. That’s all I need.”

Hayate got up, still sniffling, and she clung onto Zafira as they watched his dead, bloody corpse crumble and vanish into glowing dust.

The Nibiru’s crew were staring at them, their faces full of disbelief and amazement, and some with nervous fear. Hayate dropped to her knees beside Jennifer Gareau’s body, her eyes tearing up again as she gently picked up the broad ring by the officer’s hand and placed it on the blonde’s chest.

“She fought amazingly,” she said softly to Leti. “Officer Gareau was very brave.”

“Hayate…what happened? We can’t find the Hound of Hades, only the three Relics.”

“The Hound was here. I destroyed it.” Hayate rose and walked over to the Relics, picking one up to the gasps of the support crew who had been gingerly working up to touching the Relic with their long safety devices. “It had these Relics inside it. That’s why it overpowered us. Killed Jennifer-san and Zafira.”

Hayate stared at the Relic in her hand, ignoring the bustle around her as Leti ordered her crew around, cleaning up the scene. She felt Zafira come up underneath her free hand and she thrust her hand into his ruff until she warmed her cold fingers on his neck.

“I won’t let Lost Logia hurt people anymore,” Hayate promised, watching the red light reflecting off the sides of the Relic. It looked so innocent, so pretty—tragedy bound inside a crystal wrapping.

“One day…never again.”

Spoiler for Author's Note-don't read first because of SPOILERS:

In case it wasn’t obvious, this takes place between A’s and StrikerS, with Hayate at 16 and newly made an Officer of the Special Investigations Unit. The Gadgets had already been seen during Nanoha’s accident, so they weren't unheard of.

The inspiration for this fic came when I wanted to write a story where Hayate resurrected one of her Wolkenritter, before they decided to become more human and less like Programs in the third anime season. I wondered what kind of price might that resurrection cause, and how it would affect Hayate .

For fun, I tried to explain here why Zafira was never in his human form in StrikerS, and also if Hayate had a deeper drive for wanting to find Relics/Lost Logias and for establishing Riot Force 6 .

Um.... damn. I jolted like all heck when the Hound broke through Hayate's barrier and chomped down, yikes.

Definitely a very good piece, and it offers a good explaination of why we never see Zaffy in his human form in StrikerS, but I prefer to think that he favors his wolf form over his human form instead. Still, if we were ever told anything about what happened between the gap of A's and StrikerS, I could see this happening, or something similar to it.

And now, random short time! Very random. Very short. Yeah.

Spoiler for In A Name:

“Say, Miranda….”

Lutecia didn’t know how to ask this question. For all intents and purposes, the recently turned fifteen-year-old knew she had no reason to be nervous about what she wanted to ask. It wasn’t offensive to her partner (as far as she knew) and she meant no harm by asking.

She was still nervous, though.

“Yeah, Alphine?” Taking a healthy bite out of her burger, Miranda broke every rule of etiquette Lutecia knew by talking with her mouth full. Dangling from a silver chain around her wrist, the black stone sent out sharp, dark gleams of light every time a beam of sun hit it at just the right angle.

Lutecia took a deep breath.

“Um…. You know about the meaning behind your Device’s name, right?”

Blinking, the black-haired woman lowered her burger and lifted a brow before glancing at her wrist, surveying the stone. “Thanatos? Yeah, I know about it. It’s from Earth history. Greek stuff.”

“So, ah…. Did you choose that name?” Somehow, the younger girl couldn’t quite imagine her partner purposely naming her Device after a symbol personifying death, even if Miranda didn’t know the full history behind it.

Even before she thought it, though, Miranda was shaking her head. “No, I didn’t choose the name. My boy was named before I came to pick him up.” She shrugged and picked up a fry, shoving it into Lutecia’s mouth before she could ask. “All I was ever told was that the guy who made him had a love for Greek mythology and a… interesting sense of humor.”

Lutecia lifted a brow and hastily swallowed the fry, flicking small specks of salt off her lips. “You never thought about changing the name?” She didn’t know why this bothered her so much; for some reason, it just sent a small chill down her spine every time she thought about what the name of Miranda’s Device implied.

Miranda shrugged again, leaning back in her chair. “Why change the name when he’s already familiar with it? Besides….”

And here, she smiled.

“Maybe it’s a little twisted of me, but I like to think my boy’s name is a good luck charm of sorts.”

Spoiler for Author's Notes:

1. Those of you who read some of my previous shorts may notice that I changed the name of Miranda's Device; this is mainly because I plan at some point to tackle a short story featuring her, and she ended up getting some recons as a result when I realized some things didn't add up. Hence, Thanatos.

2. Funny story, I was actually inspired to use the name after I heard the musical piece from Neon Genesis Evangelion. I had no clue what it meant until I looked it up and read the history. Bad me!

3. Little bit of ironic humor in the end with Miranda's last line. In gist, she means that having a Device named after a god of death may be a good luck charm against death, but as everyone knows, it doesn't work out that way for her, sadly.

[spawnofthejudge]

So it turned out that some of the scene breaks for Many Masters had died. I finally got around to fixing them, so it should be readable again, in case anyone wanted to read it [again].

You may now go back to your regularly scheduled programming.

[00-Raiser]

Originally Posted by Nanya01

You know, I'm beginning to wonder if I'll EVER get done with this drabble or if it'll turn into a very long one-shot.

Spoiler for More Changes:

Outside, Fate looked at her mother as she came out. "Mother, why does Grandmother never smile at me?"

Seeing her daughter look at her with hurt and confused eyes, Alicia knelt down next to Fate and hugged her. "Shhh... It's not your fault, Fate... Mother's just upset at me."

"Huh?" It was unthinkable, her mother was the nicest person ever!

Alicia smiled when Fate said those words to her, even if it wasn't completely true. "Mother's just upset that you were born and I had to raise you by myself."

Blinking in confusion, Fate hugged her mother tightly. "But, you have Linith helping you."

"I didn't always have Linith, Fate..." Alicia shook her head. "So, mother's just mad that I didn't have a partner to help me."

"Huh?" Fate didn't understand and Alicia giggled softly.

"It's okay, Fate, you'll understand when you get older." When Fate nodded against her, she pulled back and ruffled the hair on her daughter's head. "So, come on, the sooner we get those Jewel Seeds, the sooner mother will get better and the sooner she'll stop being such a cranky pants."

Seeing the silly look on her mother's face had Fate giggling as she nodded. "Alright."

... What Moczo said

Originally Posted by RadiantBeam

but I prefer to think that he favors his wolf form over his human form instead.

That's exactly why he stays in wolf form. He finds it more comfortable. He uses his human form to train with the neighbourhood kids, though.

[Moczo]

Originally Posted by deathcurse

Spoiler for Fealty:

Fealty

Hayate couldn’t help gasping as she watched Mid-Childa draw away beneath them, the green and blue world sparkling with lights. It was odd to see the sun in the distance while she knew it to be nighttime in Cranagan when they had departed.

“We’ll live there one day, Zafira,” she promised, sinking her hand into his thick ruff. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”

“Yes.” He tilted his head, looking out the window down the sides of the warship. “It’s quite a different ship from the Asura.” Zafira perked his ears, giving Hayate some warning that someone was coming from behind.

“It’s a new model, this Nibiru,” Admiral Leti told them, coming up beside Hayate. The purple-haired woman chuckled. “Lindy told me she was jealous when she came to look, although she does have a nostalgic spot for her Asura.”

“Lots of memories, I imagine,” Hayate smiled.

“Lots,” agreed Leti, when a small polite cough behind them made her wince. “Ah, my apologies for being rude—Hayate, this is your partner for this mission. Gareau?”

A young blonde woman saluted Hayate, snapping her heels together with a click. “Officer Jennifer Gareau, Special Investigations Unit.” Then her green eyes twinkled and she said less formally, “I’m pleased to meet you, Officer Yagami.”

Lowering her hand from her salute, Hayate grinned back. “I’m Officer Hayate Yagami, and this is…” She trailed off, suddenly remembering that she didn’t have Rein with her. It was kind of odd, but Hayate was kind of glad at the same time—it saved her the trouble of having to reluctantly explain that Rein was an Unison Device whenever people looked confused at being only given Rein’s name and nothing else. “Who is your partner?”

Gareau blinked, then her puzzled expression cleared over and she lifted her right hand, displaying the band on her ring finger. “This is Intelligent Device Clarent.”

“Hello, Clarent. Nice to be working with you.”

“Greetings, Comrade.”

Hayate giggled, noting that Gareau had her eyes on Zafira now, waiting for her to introduce him. She nudged Zafira with her knee.

With a sigh, Zafira introduced himself. “Guardian Beast, Zafira.”

“Nice to meet you, Zafira.” Gareau saluted him too, making Hayate beam.

I like her, Zaffy. She’s kind.

Hayate could hear the affection in his voice when he replied, Yes, she’s kind, like you are.

“I’m sorry to cut the introductions short,” Leti said apologetically, indicating all of them to enter the briefing room. “But we’re about to enter dimensional space, and I want to go over the mission details again before we arrive on Alzas.”

**O**

Earlier that morning

“Mission call!”

Hayate groaned, burying her head deeper into her pillow. Vita grumbled and clung to Hayate tighter, also trying to block out Rein’s voice and go back to sleep.

“Mission call!” Rein shouted again, her voice carrying farther than someone so small should be capable of.

“Whose?” Hayate finally slurred out, opening one eye. “Whose call?”

Rein blinked in surprise from where she was sitting on Vita’s head, yanking on the red-head’s braids to try and get her up.

“Why, everyone’s!”

A few minutes later, all the sleepy residents of the house were gathered in the living room, where Shamal activated the holoscreen.

“Good morning Hayate, everyone.” Admiral Leti Lowran nodded at them. “I’m sorry for waking all of you so early, but this is an urgent mission call. Please report in at the TSAB Headquarters in half an hour.”

**O**

“So, Officer Gareau, how many years have you been in the SIU?” Hayate asked her new partner as they waited for Leti to set the holoscreen.

“Just Jennifer is fine, Hayate?” Gareau paused to make sure that her casual address was alright, and continued when Hayate nodded eagerly. “I’ve been in the SIU for two years, but this is my first mission away from Mid-Childa.” The blonde smiled sheepishly, rubbing her ring with a finger. “Clarent used to belong to my father, so I hope that he’ll guide me well.”

“Of course, my lord.”

Hayate smiled and stroked Zafira’s head. “I hope Zafira will do the same for me. He’s much wiser than I am.”

“Not true, Hayate.”

“Of course it’s true.” She barely restrained herself from saying “Zaffy” aloud, not wanting to embarrass or accidentally demean him in front of a new comrade.

“Alright,” Leti said, calling up an image of a three-headed black dog, all of its eyes narrowed into red slits as it snarled at the camera. “This is the Lost Logia we are after, the Hound of Hades. It isn’t normally a class of Lost Logia requiring urgent action, but what pushed our hand was the appearance of these units with sightings of the Hound.”

**O**

“Gadget drones,” Leti said, showing them satellite images of rod-shaped devices on a snowy landscape and on a desert dune. “They contain Anti-Magic Fields, making them a problem for lower mage-ranked local police forces. Combined with a Lost Logia, even one like the Hound, makes them potentially a dimensional threat.”

“How powerful is the Lost Logia?” Signum asked, staring at the image of the black hound.

“Nowhere close to the Book of Darkness, fortunately,” Leti assured them. “However, ever since Nanoha’s accident, we’ve been keeping a wary eye out for these Gadget Drones, and when Intelligence picked up these pictures we wanted to move in with caution. That’s why we’re troubling all of you for this mission.”

“I’ll go,” Vita said fiercely, her hands clenching upon the mention of Nanoha’s name. Hayate put a hand on Vita’s shoulder, rubbing softly.

“Of course all of us will help,” Hayate said, glancing at her Wolkenritter to be sure. “It’s just the one Lost Logia right? And all of us are ranked highly enough to be able to handle the Gadget Drones, if we’re careful.” Even knowing it, the memory of the grievously, nearly fatally injured Nanoha-chan made Hayate shudder.

“The problem,” Leti sighed, changing the screen to a space map, “is that we’re picking up energy readings of the Hound on two very distant planets. One is Administered Planet #6, Alzas, and the other is Un-Administered Planet #70, Hemmon. We need to raid both locations at the same time, to prevent whoever has the Lost Logia from moving it.”

“We’ll have to split up,” Signum finished for her. “I’ll go with Zafira to Hemmon, Vita and Shamal—”

“Actually,” Hayate interrupted, “I’d rather Vita and Shamal went with you, Signum.” She looked at Rein beside her and smiled. “And take Rein too.”

“Mistress!”

“If there’s a fight, I want the three of you to keep each other safe,” Hayate argued. “Shamal can heal you and teleport you out if there’s serious trouble.” She smiled and put a hand on Zafira’s strong back. “And Zaffy’s a Guardian Beast—I’ll be perfectly defended, since all of my spells are attack spells.”

“At least take Rein with you,” Shamal tried.

“Admiral Leti said that it won’t be a powerful Lost Logia, but in case there’s a fight I’d feel better if Rein was with you.”

“If it makes you feel any better,” Leti offered to the Wolkenritter, “I can assign the SIU officer to Hayate’s team. I was going to assign her to the second team, but if it’s the three—sorry Rein, four—of you together, an additional person may disrupt your teamwork. Officer Gareau is an A-rank, and a very good fighter.”

“Good fighter is still nothing on us,” Vita grumbled, crossing her arms and frowning. “Any of us would give our lives to protect Hayate!”

Hayate winced. “Hopefully, this won’t be a mission that will turn to that. And even if it does!—I don’t want any of you to do that anyways.”

**O**

“…this is the cave where we’ve been picking up energy readings.” Leti showed a three-dimensional hologram of a mountainside, indicating a cave in the snow-covered cliffs.

“Officers Hayate, Jennifer and Zafira, your mission is to infiltrate the cave, investigate for signs of the Lost Logia, and seal it if possible. Eliminating as many Gadget Drones as possible is a secondary objective. We don’t want to leave them to trouble the locals, although the native dragon-summoners have shown an ability to defeat the drones themselves.” Leti looked at both of them, as Zafira was slightly out of sight on the floor. “If the situation becomes critical, then I do have authorization to use an Arc-en-Ciel on the Lost Logia.”

Hayate gasped, and her embarrassment at reacting so strongly was overshadowed by her fear. “But there are towns inside the 100 km radius!”

“We’re issuing pre-cautionary evacuation notices to those towns,” Leti told her, but she also looked weary. “Even so, it will definitely cause accidental casualties and devastate the environment. It’s our last resort.”

“We’ll find a way,” Hayate swore, nodding determinedly.

Jennifer brightened, clearly affected by Hayate’s optimism. “Don’t worry Admiral, we’ll do it. Right, Clarent?”

“Yes, my lord!”

**O**

“Be careful, all of you,” Hayate tried to smile encouragingly as she hugged her knights goodbye at the ship port.

“Don’t worry, Mistress,” Signum said assuringly, clasping Laevantein in one armoured fist. “We won’t fail you.”

“I’d rather you failed, and came back safely,” Hayate sniffed, throwing herself into Signum’s arms. She didn’t worry about hurting herself on Signum’s sword, since Hayate knew that Signum would never let her get hurt.

“Watch over Hayate!” Vita instructed Zafira tearfully, and the blue wolf growled his assent.

“We’ll keep each other safe,” Hayate promised, waving goodbye before turning to board the warship Nibiru with Zafira trotting at her side.

**O**

“I hope we’re the ones who find the Hound of Hades,” Jennifer said to Hayate as they ate a quick lunch in the galley. “I’d hate for us to have come all this way only for it to be a false lead. It’s my first Lost Logia case.”

“I hope we find it too,” Hayate replied, setting a dish aside for Zafira. Her knight had chosen to wander off somewhere earlier, and she hoped that he would make it here before they had to depart. “I know that Signum, Vita, Rein and Shamal can take care of themselves, but I’d still hate for them to fight the Hound—you never know, with Lost Logia.”

“I forgot,” Gareau apologized, looking appalled at herself, “that your friends are on the other search team.”

“It’s alright, I understand your excitement…” Hayate sighed, poking her pasta around her plate. “They’re my family. But even if they were my friends, I’d still worry.”

Swallowing, Jennifer leaned in close. “Hayate?”

“Yes?”

Quietly, Jennifer confided quickly, “I, um…I really hope that it’s not us. I mean, I don’t want your friends—sorry, your family—to have to fight, but I’m…well…” She flinched. “Uh, nervous.”

Hayate understood, so she said aloud, “I’m scared. Lost Logias can do a lot of damage, and…” The kindest, sweetest smile lit up her face, and her silver hair fell into her earnest red eyes as Reinforce gazed fondly down on Hayate. “…and sometimes you lose the people you love to them.”

Jennifer paled slightly—her fellow officer wasn’t that much older than Hayate. Then she smiled wanly and raised her water glass. “Well, I’m lucky enough to have a partner who has experience facing Lost Logia!”

“Two partners,” Hayate smiled, and they clinked glasses.

“Admiral Lowran says that it’s time,” Zafira commented from the door, and both of them glanced at him. He was in his human form, already in his Barrier Jacket. And oh, very interesting…Hayate watched a small blush rush over Jennifer’s face with merry interest.

“Who—ah, Zafira?” Jennifer coughed, picking up her glass hastily to take another drink, hiding her face—and incidentally, the sight of the muscular, sleeve-less Zafira. “We’ll be right there.”

“Zafira, eat something,” Hayate said quickly, pushing the plate over to him. She grabbed Jennifer’s wrist and tugged her up, grinning. “The two of us will go on ahead and make sure the teleport’s ready.”

“So, Jennifer-san,” Hayate asked innocently as they walked together down to the teleport bay, “Do you have a boyfriend? Girlfriend?” The blonde looked a bit young to be married, not much older than Hayate at 16 years, but it could still be possible.

Jennifer gave her a half-dirty, half-embarrassed look—she clearly knew what Hayate was fishing for. Hayate just gave her a wide grin in response. “No, no boyfriend…” She coughed fakely, jamming her hands into her pockets. “Um, how about you, Hayate?”

“Nope,” Hayate said cheerfully. Then she waited.

They were all the way at the teleport bay before Jennifer asked casually, “How about Zafira? Or your other knights?”

“None, that I know of,” Hayate answered, hiding her smile. Truthfully, she was shipping Zaffy with Arf, but it was still fun to see what could happen with others.

“Oh, I see,” Jennifer tried for a politely non-chalant response, but her redding ears gave her away, particularly when she turned and nearly ran into Zafira, who had just entered.

“Great, we’re all here!” Rubbing her hands, Hayate called out her Barrier Jacket. She adjusted her hat, watching Jennifer call up a golden and emerald Jacket and twirl Clarent, who had transformed into a long two-handed sword.

“Teleport ready in ten seconds,” Admiral Leti’s voice came over the intercom. As the countdown started, they heard her say softly, “Good luck.”

**O**

“Stardust Fall.”

A barrage of rocks slammed through the gadgets racing up on Hayate’s left, allowing her to fly back and catch her breath. “Thanks,” she gasped at Jennifer, who had just swung Clarent in an arc and cut down two more gadgets.

“No problem…” Jennifer stumbled, jumping awkwardly over the ruins of a gadget that had nearly tripped her. Zafira was immediately there, punching the large drone away, tearing his fist free and leaping for another.

“There’s a barrier around this cave!” Zafira shouted to Hayate as he tore into his opponent.

“I can’t call the Nibiru!” Jennifer yelled in addition.

“We’ll just have to break the barrier, or beat the one creating it! Cover me for a few seconds!” Hayate shouted, then swung her staff up. “Approach from beyond, mistletoe branches, and become spears of the silver moon. Pierce it! Misteltein!”

Silver spears fired into the midst of the gadgets, although only five of her seven light-spears struck something and petrified it. Hayate flew up as another set of drones rushed her, firing into the spot where she had been.

“Maybe a wider range spell?” Jennifer suggested as she rolled to a stop by Hayate. “Clarent!”

“Luftmesser!” With a powerful swing, Jennifer unleashed wind blades at the drones pursuing Hayate, then spun around and launched the rest at the ones targeting her.

“Do you see the Hound?” She yelled up at Hayate, who had the better point of view.

“Nothing!” Hayate flew higher above the fight, keeping an eye on where her allies were. “Frigid Dagger!” She didn’t pause to watch her ice daggers hail down on the enemy, swooping down to snatch Jennifer out of harm’s way when a ring of Gadgets surrounded her.

"Thanks!” Jennifer shouted, pointing with Clarent’s tip at a cluster of drones. “Drop me there!" Hayate hesitated.

“Don’t worry!”

“Alright, here you go!” Hayate yelled, tossing Jennifer at the Gadgets while also chanting, “Panzer Hindernis!”

A white shield covered her partner as the blonde barrelled into the Gadgets, whipping her sword around her. Wires and metal plates rained around her as she cut through the horde, Clarent’s golden blade gleaming with light.

“Are they just a distraction?” Jennifer called, turning to look at Hayate.

Something moved in the shadows behind her.

Instead of wasting her breath, Hayate screamed, “PANZER SCHILD!”

She had been fast enough—her ivory triangle shield rose behind Jennifer, spreading large enough to nearly touch the tips of the hanging stalactites in the black cavern roof. Jennifer spun, her terrified face relaxing when she saw the comforting glow of Hayate’s shield.

A black head punched through the white energy, and all Hayate saw were a flash of red eyes before a dark maw opened and crunched down on Officer Jennifer Gareau, the woman’s scream drowned in the blood that sprayed from her throat and chest. The Hound rammed the rest of its body through Hayate’s shield, its other two heads whipping around to roar at Hayate, saliva dripping from huge black fangs.

“NO!” Hayate barely dodged shots from the Gadgets, diving down towards the snarling Hound. “MISTELTEIN!”

She hoped that she could fire her attack before she was hit—Hayate saw her silver spears shoot past her, but she also saw a row of teeth snapping up to meet her—

A blur of blue knocked her out of the way, sending Hayate smashing into the stone wall. Coughing, Hayate struggled to rise. “Zafira!”

Zafira had changed into his wolf form, conserving mana that he was using to increase the strength of his attacks upon the Hound, driving the Lost Logia back. His back was bloody but so were his teeth, bloody with the enemy’s blood. “Hayate, run!”

To her despair, her spears didn’t look like they had made any impact on the Hound—one of its heads was shaking off a layer of rock as if she’d just put a thin shell on its skin. Hayate readied her staff again, calling up a rune beneath her feet. She was horribly inaccurate with this spell but in this small space she couldn’t miss… “Hræsvelgr!”

One, two, three magic bolts soared towards the Hound—then Hayate screamed as something blasted her out of the air from behind, sending her tumbling to the ground. From the corner of her eye, she watched breathlessly as a row of drones charged their beams up again for a second shot.

“Steel Yoke!”

Two lupine screams filled the cave; the Hound wailed from where Zafira’s attack sliced through his chest, and her knight howled, collapsing on top of Hayate, his fur singed and saturated with blood.

“Zafira!” Hayate cried, feeling the warm drips of his blood falling onto her cheek. “Panzer—ah!”

A huge paw had come down on her legs, dragging her out from underneath Zafira’s body. The Hound of Hades roared, his heads slamming down towards her. Hayate wedged her staff into the left head’s mouth, making it yelp, but cried out when its right head bit into her shoulder. The middle head hovered, then struck.

Zafira bellowed, leaping on the middle head and raking its cheek with his claws; his teeth sunk into the Hound’s throat, biting deep and holding.

Hayate felt herself get flung away as the two other heads changed targets, ripping at her knight. “Zafira!” She scrambled for her staff, working through all the spells she knew to come up with one that would save him.

She heard his strangled cry. “STEEL YOKE!”

White spikes shot out of the ground everywhere, piercing through gadgets and impaling the Hound through the stomach and paws. It howled, all three jaws opening as it writhed in place. A limp bundle of fur hit the stone ground, motionless.

Hayate forgot about spells. She forgot about the Gadgets, the Hound.

“ZAFIRA!”

All the white in his fur was stained poppy red. Everywhere else was matted with drying blood, and crunching shifts under Hayate’s trembling hands showed her where he had broken bones. His head lay cold and still in her lap, his eyes closed but for a thin line of white showing beneath his lids.

He wasn’t moving.

Not a bit. He was as still as a field in the dead of winter, as the limp forms of her knights once upon a time on a rooftop at night.

Zafira, one of her Wolkenritter, her loyal knights. Her family. Dead, his pale tongue hanging limply from his cracked jaw.

Her guardian beast. He died saving her.

Dimly, Hayate heard the Hound tear itself free of the spikes, lumbering towards her with a growing growl. She heard the whirrs of Gadget Drones flying closer, their weapons armed. She didn’t care, but Zafira had died for her.

Hayate lifted one hand, her whisper broken and hoarse. “Diabolic…Emission.”

All she heard was silence as her black energy built into an enormous sphere above her head, then silence as it imploded…then shrieking as the black ring exploded outwards, obliterating everything around them.

**O**

Finish the mission.

Hayate didn’t care about the mission.

It’s your duty.

What did that matter anymore?

Your knights knew their duty.

…And how could she shame them, by refusing hers?

Hayate gently set Zafira’s head on the ground. She picked up her staff, and the Tome of the Night Sky from the blood-trodden ground. The white on her Barrier Jacket was also red-stained. She walked towards the shadows, her boots crunching over the ruins of the drones, their husks snapping under her feet.

The Hound was curled up against the wall, its heads lolling to the ground. Hayate walked right up to it, staring emotionlessly down at the panting beast, its wide red eyes staring upwards into hers.

“Yami no Sho,” the Hound rumbled, the sound coming out like a whimper. “The Book of Darkness.”

She didn’t bother to correct it.

“Wait.” The Lost Logia gasped. Its middle head shifted, and a red tongue flicked out, licking her shoe. “Please. Mercy.”

Hayate raised her staff.

“Please.” The Hound snuffed, its red eyes beseeching in its ink-black faces. “Save me. Like you saved the Book.”

She hesitated.

“Please.”

Reinforce hadn’t been evil. Lost Logia weren’t all evil.

The beast whined, inching forward on its stomach. “Please.”

She had saved Reinforce.

Hayate lowered her eyes, and her gaze fell on Zafira’s body. The Hound surged up, hissing, its jaws opened wide and lunging for her.

“Resound, horn of judgement,” Hayate said, staring into the Hound’s eyes. She felt no fear as time stretched for her, giving her all the time in the world as the Hound’s fangs approached.

“RAGNAROK!”

Three pillars of light burst from the sigil in front of her, exploding through each of the Hound’s heads.

Hayate saw nothing but white.

White and screaming.

Then the light faded away. Hayate turned, but stopped when she felt something clink against her boot. A set of red crystals lay on the ground where one of the Hound’s heads had been. And by it’s other head, another crystal. And another.

She had seen these before.

“Relics,” Hayate whispered, staring. Lost Logias inside a Lost Logia. No wonder the Hound had been far more dangerous than anything they had expected. And because of that…because of that…

She shuffled back and sat down, pulling Zafira’s head back into her lap. And she laid her cheek against his cold one and started crying.

He had been willing to risk everything for her. For her whole life, Zafira had watched out for her, his protective, careful eyes making sure that she was safe. He had carried her around on his back when her legs gave out on her, he had licked the tears off her face when the pain was too much…he loved her. She had been his Master, but he had loved her anyways.

Loved her enough to die for her.

She shouldn’t have come. No defence skills, long, uncontrolled attacks…she would always cause her defenders to die in her place.

“Hayate? Hayate!” Leti’s voice sounded by her ear—the admiral was kneeling next to them, her grey eyes sorrowful. Gently, she said, “Hayate, he’s dead.”

“Admiral! We have three Relics here, all sealed—but there’s no sign of the Hound of Hades.”

“Was it even here?” Someone else mumbled.

“It was here.” Hayate didn’t look up from Zafira’s corpse.

She was his Master.

“Hayate? Zafira’s dead. You have to—”

She was the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.

Leti touched Hayate’s shoulder. “Hayate—”

“Let go!” Hayate shrugged her off and curled around Zafira’s head. The Tome floated upward, glowing white and purple-black. Numbly, her lips moved. “I am the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.”

**O**

It was dark here. She recognized this place.

“Reinforce…help me,” Hayate begged into the blackness as she searched through the Tome, looking for the resurrection spells.

She didn’t know if Reinforce had heard her. She didn’t know if Reinforce was still real, still alive…but she found the spells.

Guardian Program: Zafira

Resurrect.

Mana levels: Low

Guardian Program: Resurrect at Default. All memories from previous incarnation will be erased.

No.

Bring him back the way he was.

The way he was.

Mana levels: Low

Divert mana from shapeshifting ability to memories. Maintain all other abilities. Restore all memories.

By the order of the Mistress of the Tome of the Night Sky.

**O**

Hayate woke to the warm wetness of Zafira tenderly licking her tears away, his throat rumbling in a crooning growl. “Zafira!” Arms wrapped tightly around his neck, Hayate buried her face in his throat, crying into his fur. “I’m so sorry…I had to do it.”

“I’m alive,” he said in her ear, nuzzling her face. “I remember. That’s all I need.”

Hayate got up, still sniffling, and she clung onto Zafira as they watched his dead, bloody corpse crumble and vanish into glowing dust.

The Nibiru’s crew were staring at them, their faces full of disbelief and amazement, and some with nervous fear. Hayate dropped to her knees beside Jennifer Gareau’s body, her eyes tearing up again as she gently picked up the broad ring by the officer’s hand and placed it on the blonde’s chest.

“She fought amazingly,” she said softly to Leti. “Officer Gareau was very brave.”

“Hayate…what happened? We can’t find the Hound of Hades, only the three Relics.”

“The Hound was here. I destroyed it.” Hayate rose and walked over to the Relics, picking one up to the gasps of the support crew who had been gingerly working up to touching the Relic with their long safety devices. “It had these Relics inside it. That’s why it overpowered us. Killed Jennifer-san and Zafira.”

Hayate stared at the Relic in her hand, ignoring the bustle around her as Leti ordered her crew around, cleaning up the scene. She felt Zafira come up underneath her free hand and she thrust her hand into his ruff until she warmed her cold fingers on his neck.

“I won’t let Lost Logia hurt people anymore,” Hayate promised, watching the red light reflecting off the sides of the Relic. It looked so innocent, so pretty—tragedy bound inside a crystal wrapping.

“One day…never again.”

Spoiler for Author's Note-don't read first because of SPOILERS:

In case it wasn’t obvious, this takes place between A’s and StrikerS, with Hayate at 16 and newly made an Officer of the Special Investigations Unit. The Gadgets had already been seen during Nanoha’s accident, so they weren't unheard of.

The inspiration for this fic came when I wanted to write a story where Hayate resurrected one of her Wolkenritter, before they decided to become more human and less like Programs in the third anime season. I wondered what kind of price might that resurrection cause, and how it would affect Hayate .

For fun, I tried to explain here why Zafira was never in his human form in StrikerS, and also if Hayate had a deeper drive for wanting to find Relics/Lost Logias and for establishing Riot Force 6 .

Allow me to reiterate what's been said, since I can't think of anything unique: very good. Very exciting. And oh, my, sad...

[RadiantBeam]

Originally Posted by 00-Raiser

That's exactly why he stays in wolf form. He finds it more comfortable. He uses his human form to train with the neighbourhood kids, though.

Yeah, I remember that had been mentioned in one of the Sound Stages or something. Thanks for clearing that up, I couldn't remember where I'd heard it from.

[deathcurse]

Originally Posted by vic-vic

So, not only Nanoha have unpleasant expirience with Gadget Drones prior StrikerS.

It was actually finding out that the Gadgets appeared before StrikerS to attack Nanoha that gave me the idea to use them in Fealty ^^.

Originally Posted by Nanya01

@dc: that was good, sad, but good.

Thanks! I would have liked to continue it a bit further and go more into how Hayate felt about the whole thing, but I decided to cut it short before it got overly dramatic or sentimental .

Originally Posted by RadiantBeam

Um.... damn. I jolted like all heck when the Hound broke through Hayate's barrier and chomped down, yikes.

Definitely a very good piece, and it offers a good explaination of why we never see Zaffy in his human form in StrikerS, but I prefer to think that he favors his wolf form over his human form instead. Still, if we were ever told anything about what happened between the gap of A's and StrikerS, I could see this happening, or something similar to it.

I'm glad you jumped, I deliberately tried to time that moment off expectation .

And yeah, I didn't expect it to follow canon terribly well, but it was still a fun speculation exercise ^^. Hmm, for Zafira to favour his wolf form over his human one could make an interesting character piece..... *ponders idea*

And now, random short time! Very random. Very short. Yeah.

Spoiler for In A Name:

“Say, Miranda….”

Lutecia didn’t know how to ask this question. For all intents and purposes, the recently turned fifteen-year-old knew she had no reason to be nervous about what she wanted to ask. It wasn’t offensive to her partner (as far as she knew) and she meant no harm by asking.

She was still nervous, though.

“Yeah, Alphine?” Taking a healthy bite out of her burger, Miranda broke every rule of etiquette Lutecia knew by talking with her mouth full. Dangling from a silver chain around her wrist, the black stone sent out sharp, dark gleams of light every time a beam of sun hit it at just the right angle.

Lutecia took a deep breath.

“Um…. You know about the meaning behind your Device’s name, right?”

Blinking, the black-haired woman lowered her burger and lifted a brow before glancing at her wrist, surveying the stone. “Thanatos? Yeah, I know about it. It’s from Earth history. Greek stuff.”

“So, ah…. Did you choose that name?” Somehow, the younger girl couldn’t quite imagine her partner purposely naming her Device after a symbol personifying death, even if Miranda didn’t know the full history behind it.

Even before she thought it, though, Miranda was shaking her head. “No, I didn’t choose the name. My boy was named before I came to pick him up.” She shrugged and picked up a fry, shoving it into Lutecia’s mouth before she could ask. “All I was ever told was that the guy who made him had a love for Greek mythology and a… interesting sense of humor.”

Lutecia lifted a brow and hastily swallowed the fry, flicking small specks of salt off her lips. “You never thought about changing the name?” She didn’t know why this bothered her so much; for some reason, it just sent a small chill down her spine every time she thought about what the name of Miranda’s Device implied.

Miranda shrugged again, leaning back in her chair. “Why change the name when he’s already familiar with it? Besides….”

And here, she smiled.

“Maybe it’s a little twisted of me, but I like to think my boy’s name is a good luck charm of sorts.”

Spoiler for Author's Notes:

1. Those of you who read some of my previous shorts may notice that I changed the name of Miranda's Device; this is mainly because I plan at some point to tackle a short story featuring her, and she ended up getting some recons as a result when I realized some things didn't add up. Hence, Thanatos.

2. Funny story, I was actually inspired to use the name after I heard the musical piece from Neon Genesis Evangelion. I had no clue what it meant until I looked it up and read the history. Bad me!

3. Little bit of ironic humor in the end with Miranda's last line. In gist, she means that having a Device named after a god of death may be a good luck charm against death, but as everyone knows, it doesn't work out that way for her, sadly.

[/quote]

Damn, I never picked up the significance of her Device's name before @_@.

I have to say, other than the beginning (which felt like your style and that I liked very much), the rest of the piece doesn't feel to me like one of your better works . I always admire how you paint your characters with a really subtle, deft and original hand, but here it seems very plain and awkward, as if the characters are doing something to obviously show character instead of just simply revealing bits about themselves through subtle means.

The ending didn't quite leave a punch, although I do love the dramatic irony (since we readers know what happens to Miranda....)

Originally Posted by 00-Raiser

That's exactly why he stays in wolf form. He finds it more comfortable. He uses his human form to train with the neighbourhood kids, though.

Originally Posted by RadiantBeam

Yeah, I remember that had been mentioned in one of the Sound Stages or something. Thanks for clearing that up, I couldn't remember where I'd heard it from.

Gah, this isn't the first time the dang Sound Stages derailed one of my fics .....and it probably won't be the last time either .

Originally Posted by Nanya01

You know, I'm beginning to wonder if I'll EVER get done with this drabble or if it'll turn into a very long one-shot.

Spoiler for More Changes:

Outside, Fate looked at her mother as she came out. "Mother, why does Grandmother never smile at me?"

Seeing her daughter look at her with hurt and confused eyes, Alicia knelt down next to Fate and hugged her. "Shhh... It's not your fault, Fate... Mother's just upset at me."

"Huh?" It was unthinkable, her mother was the nicest person ever!

Alicia smiled when Fate said those words to her, even if it wasn't completely true. "Mother's just upset that you were born and I had to raise you by myself."

Blinking in confusion, Fate hugged her mother tightly. "But, you have Linith helping you."

"I didn't always have Linith, Fate..." Alicia shook her head. "So, mother's just mad that I didn't have a partner to help me."

"Huh?" Fate didn't understand and Alicia giggled softly.

"It's okay, Fate, you'll understand when you get older." When Fate nodded against her, she pulled back and ruffled the hair on her daughter's head. "So, come on, the sooner we get those Jewel Seeds, the sooner mother will get better and the sooner she'll stop being such a cranky pants."

Seeing the silly look on her mother's face had Fate giggling as she nodded. "Alright."

It's kind of heartbreaking how Alicia is trying to shield Fate from Precia's hate by directing the blame onto herself...it's such a mother thing to do, try to preserve their child's innocence by convincing them that they're wonderful and that no one could possibly hate them. It's also kind of tragic since Alicia can't stand that Precia is so cruel to Fate, yet Alicia is doing all of this (and had created Fate in the first place) in order to save Precia's life...

Originally Posted by Moczo

Allow me to reiterate what's been said, since I can't think of anything unique: very good. Very exciting. And oh, my, sad...

Thanks! ^^ I'm surprised that the main reaction I got was sad! I guess, in a twisted way, I kind of viewed the ending as positive?

[Moczo]

Originally Posted by deathcurse

Thanks! ^^ I'm surprised that the main reaction I got was sad! I guess, in a twisted way, I kind of viewed the ending as positive?

Spoiler for Fealty Response:

Well... positive in a sad way? Hayate got her family through in one piece, and that was certainly heartwarming. But she was also obviously traumatized by the way the mission went, and Zafira ended up... not exactly maimed, but diminished, certainly. That's probably where the sad comes from.

[Yasanagi]

Posted up new chapter of Material Days on FF.Net. Contains some rewritten portions which should smooth out the overall story flow.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6195756/4/Material_Days

[NorthernFallout]

Spoiler for The Illusion of True Power (A commentary on a certain shafted character):

You had so much potential. You were so much more powerful than you could imagine. Your dedication to serve and protect was stronger than in most.

And now you have reached a position of power few could even set their eyes upon. Under your command stand the best of the best, expecting your brilliant mind to come up with strategies that will earn you honor and glory in the doing.

But was that truly what you sought? Was that really what you wanted back then?

Power can be mischievous, even for those who know how to control it. It brings you authority few can have, but it also brings choices you would have wished you wouldn’t have to take.

You use this power to influence those around you, and to command those beneath you. If they fall in battle, it is your responsibility to bring their contribution into history. It is up to you to tell their tale.

Is that really what you wanted?

In your mind, it was probably something different than this. Yet, you still failed to see what it would bring. You are chained to a chair by the chains of command, forced to give the orders to those beneath you, from those above you. Whether you approve of those orders or not, is not up to you.

You are now merely a tool for a greater power.

Is this how you want to end?

You have a much greater purpose, one that many fail to see. Your power of command is an illusion for the true power lurking inside, that was once set free so many years ago. That power is what will ascend you to a greatness seldom seen in this world, if you are able to fully confide in it and to break the shackles that hold you in place.

Wouldn’t you much rather use this power to stand on the lines with your Knights and your soldiers, fighting the battle together with them, than being an observer? To use the true power of your being, not to serve and to protect, but to command and to protect?

Isn’t that your true purpose, Hayate?

[MeisterBabylon]

The voice of Tzeentch is strong here.

[Comartemis]

Originally Posted by AtomicoX

Spoiler for The Illusion of True Power (A commentary on a certain shafted character):

You had so much potential. You were so much more powerful than you could imagine. Your dedication to serve and protect was stronger than in most.

And now you have reached a position of power few could even set their eyes upon. Under your command stand the best of the best, expecting your brilliant mind to come up with strategies that will earn you honor and glory in the doing.

But was that truly what you sought? Was that really what you wanted back then?

Power can be mischievous, even for those who know how to control it. It brings you authority few can have, but it also brings choices you would have wished you wouldn’t have to take.

You use this power to influence those around you, and to command those beneath you. If they fall in battle, it is your responsibility to bring their contribution into history. It is up to you to tell their tale.

Is that really what you wanted?

In your mind, it was probably something different than this. Yet, you still failed to see what it would bring. You are chained to a chair by the chains of command, forced to give the orders to those beneath you, from those above you. Whether you approve of those orders or not, is not up to you.

You are now merely a tool for a greater power.

Is this how you want to end?

You have a much greater purpose, one that many fail to see. Your power of command is an illusion for the true power lurking inside, that was once set free so many years ago. That power is what will ascend you to a greatness seldom seen in this world, if you are able to fully confide in it and to break the shackles that hold you in place.

Wouldn’t you much rather use this power to stand on the lines with your Knights and your soldiers, fighting the battle together with them, than being an observer? To use the true power of your being, not to serve and to protect, but to conquer and to protect?

Isn’t that your true purpose, Hayate?

FUND IT!

[Thunderbird]

A fic I wrote while intoxicated. Yeah I know thats not a good thing since alcohol never really mixes with anything...but anyway

Spoiler for Whiskey Lullaby:

"Finally" Fate mused to herself "After 2 years, I finally get to go home. I wonder how Nanoha is doing? I hope she hasnt gotten herself into any trouble hehe~"

She stepped out of the taxi that took her home from the starport and paid the driver before looking at the building that she called home. She took a deep breath as if to reminice about all that happened, also to prepare herself to surprise Nanoha. She hadn't seen her lover in so long, it took all her power to keep herself from just busting through the door. She cleared her throat and slowly stepped into the house.

"Odd" the blond thought as she walked in "I wonder why the house is unlocked if there is no one inside" she stepped in and looked around at the all-too-familiar building. She couldnt help but smile at herself when she looked at the pictures of all the fond memories.

She heard a noise coming from upstairs and grinned to herself thinking that it would be the best chance to sneak up on her lover with a surprise attack from the bedroom. She slowly crepped up the stairs and situated herself in front of the door, taking a deep breath before bracing herself and sliding the door open

"...!" Her eyes went wide with disbelief at what she had seen.

Nanoha was on the bed...with Yuuno

"...!" Nanoha gasped in surprise as Fate entered her view. She quickly got off Yuuno and stared back in utter shock

Fate slowly sighed deeply before turning on her heels and walked downstairs and out the door.

"Fate-chan!" Nanoha ran after the blond, but to no avail. By the time she had gotten outside the door, Fate had already taken to the air, despite the 'No flying in city limits' rule and was soon out of sight.

~She put him out like the burnin' end of a midnight cigarette~
~She broke his heart, he spent his whole life tryin' to forget~

"Come on, Tea!" Subaru called out as she dragged her friend "Its a nice bar I found while you were out on your mission! I promise it will be fun! We can even-" the energetic girl stopped when she saw a familiar face

"What is wrong Subaru?" Teana asked and followed the girl's gaze towards the table. There, siting all alone with numerous empty glasses surrounding her, was Fate

The two girls looked at each other

~We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time~

"Fate-san?" Teana walked up to the enforcer who was still in uniform

"..." Fate responded only by gripping her glass harder and tilted her head back far and literally inhaled the tall glass of alcohol that the bartender had given her.

"Fate-san!" Subaru tried to intervene and remove the bottle, but was only pushed back by the tears that fell from the blond's face during the quick struggle.

The blond got up when the music changed and walked over to the dance floor and started dancing herself away.

"Fate-san..." the two girls could do nothing but watch as the enforcer slowly got more and more bold with her techniques, getting her to borderline misconduct.

The bartender, noticing that she was going to cause problems, asked the drunk blond to leave. Fate only retaliated and started arguing. Eventually it got to the point where it took several people to throw her out of the club.

~But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind~
~Until the night~

Teana and Subaru ran up to the older woman and picked her up off the ground. The two took her to a nearby hotel and rented a room. They dragged her onto the bed and stood watch to make sure things were ok

"Fate-san...what happened?" Subaru finally broke the silence and looked down worried.

"Leave..." the blond held her head and forced herelf to sit up

"But-"

"Leave!" she barked out half in anger...half in despair.

"Subaru..." Teana tapped her friend's shoulder "let's go." She turned to the enforcer "We'll come back tomorrow to see how you are doing, Fate-san" she pulled her partner out the door and bowed before closing it lightly.

~He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger~
~And finally drank away her memory~

Fate opened the communicator to the front desk.

"Yes, may I help you?" the receptionist responded

"Get me all the alcohol you have" Fate ordered

"Are you sure? You look like you've had enough alrea-"

"Just do it!" she shouted "I just want a few more."

The receptionist paused a little bit before nodding slowly and sending several bottles to the door.

~Life is short but this time it was bigger~

Fate continued drinking the whole night. The image of what she saw forever haunting her mind. She tried to question herself: Was she lacking? Did she do something wrong? Was she not enough? Why?

"Keh" she spat out the cork of the next bottle before putting it to her lips and throwing her head back.

She tried to get angry at Nanoha. She tried to get angry at Yuuno. She tried to get angry period...but she couldnt bring herself to do it. She knew deep down, that no matter what...she would never be able to hate them.

"Its all my fault..." she told herself and continued pounding away at the alcohol. "Its all my fault..." she kept repeating the whole night.

~Than the strength he had to get up off his knees~

"Fate-chan" Hayate knocked on the hotel door several days later. She had gotten the report from Teana that her friend would be there after what seemed to be a bad night. It would have been ok, but the blond hadn't reported it at all. "Fate-chan?" she repeated when no answer came.

"How may I help you?" The receptionist answered when Hayate pressed the "Service" button

"I am Yagami, Hayate. Commander of Riot Force VI. I would like you to open this door so I can talk to one of my friends."

"One moment please"

The door opened and the short haired girl stepped in. She was stopped by the heavy odor of alcohol. She covered her nose and continued to walk in.

"Fate-chan?" she looked around and almost fell when she stepped on a bottle. The commander looked down and her eyes widened when the floor was literally covered in glass.

Her eyes scanned the room a lot more quickly as she made her way to the bedroom area. What she saw when she entered stunned her

"Fate-chan!!"

~We found him with his face down in the pillow~
~With a note that said I'll love her till I die~

"Nanoha-chan..." Hayate went over to the Takamachi residence just over an hour later. She didnt quite know how to break it to one of her best freinds.

"Hayate-chan?" The instructor welcomed her friend in and brought her to the couch. "What is it?"

The commander took a deep breath and looked her collegue in the eyes "Its about Fate-chan..."
The mention of the name made Nanoha's eyes widen and begin shaking. Yet, she remained silent and let her friend finish what was to be said.

"Nanoha-chan..." Hayate repeated "did something happen between you and Fate-chan?"

"..." she looked down at her lap and fought the tears back for several moments before finally maintaining enough control to speak "We...had a fight. I want to appologize to her today for it."

"Nanoha-chan..." Hayate grit her teeth as she steeled herself to break out the news. "Fate-chan..." she found herself about to cry, it took all her power to maintain herself as the brought herself to say the last two words "...is dead."

"...!" Nanoha's head rose with incredible speed at those words. Her jaw dropped as she stared at Hayate, wishing that the girl in front of her would soon say 'I'm kidding'

"I'm sorry..."

~And when we buried him beneath the willow~
~The angels sang a whiskey lullaby~

~xX*Xx~

~The rumors flew but nobody know how much she blamed herself~

Looking at Takamachi, Nanoha now made someone feel very sad. The girl was never the same since that day, she had lost a part of her that she could never replace...and she got rid of it...with her own two hands.

People began to speculate just exactly what happened. Rumors started to rise saying that she was cheating on Fate, saying that she was unsatisfied with how the enforcer was living her life, saying that Nanoha had just been lonely and offered herself to many others...

~For years and years she tried to hide the whiskey on her breath~
~She finally drank her pain away a little at a time~

"She is getting progressively worse..." Signum stated as she watched her friend and former Ace look around to make sure no one was around her before slipping a shot of alcohol to her lips.

"I didnt think the impact would last this long." Hayate rubbed her head "I tried everything I could, and I thought she was getting better." She spoke through a communication monitor "but I guess she was only fooling me."

"So it would seem, mistress..."

~But she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind~
~Until the night~

Nanoha sat on her bed all alone that night with a bottle in her hand. Her home was the only place that she could drink in solitude without Hayate knowing about it. However the house was a double edged sword. Everything in the house held nothing but memories of the woman she loved with all her heart. Her eyes began to form tears as she reached over next to her bed and carefully propped up a picture that she had placed face down in years...

~She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger~
~And finally drank away his memory~

She walked over to her fridge and grabbed everything in it along with a single glass. Her heart continued to ache and all she could think of to help reduce the pain...was to drown it.

"I'm so sorry, Fate-chan..." she said aloud to the empty room between her tears "I'm so sorry..."

She hugged her knees tightly for several moments before reaching to the table and grabbing a bottle and bringing it to her lips.

~Life is short but this time it was bigger~
~Than the strength she had to get up off her knees~

She looked at the picture in her hand. The picture that had Fate smiling brightly...the picture that Nanoha herself had taken of Fate during their last christmas together. She couldnt hold back anymore. She broke down completely, letting go of the bottle in her other hand.

"Rhaaa!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs and began to throw the bottles around hoping that it would quell her anguish in some way. She didnt care anymore...after several years of trying to fight it...she just had enough.

~We found her with her face down in the pillow~
~Clinging to his picture for dear life~

"Nanoha-chan?" Hayate called from the door the next day. Signum and Shamal accompanied thier master as a precaution. "Nanoha-chan?"

She nodded at Signum, who broke down the door and cleared the way into the Takamachi residence.

"Nanoha-chan?" Shamal called out as the rest of them stepped in. "Klarer Wind" she looked at her rings "Please let me know if anyone is here."

[No living beings detected] it responded [However, there is someone else here]

Hayate's eyes widened "Signum!" she called out

"Understood mistress" the sword knight transformed into her armor and dashed upstairs at full speed.

"Did you find her?!" Hayate called out as the finally caught up.

Signum stood motionless at the doorway for several moments before slowly stepping aside to allow her master to look inside the bedroom.

"Nanoha-chan..."

~We laid her next to him beneath the willow~
~While the angels sang a whiskey lullaby~

"Nanoha-chan...Fate-chan..." Hayate looked at the two gravestones next to each other. "I wish this had never come to be. I wish I was able to prevent this. I'm so sorry." she bowed deeply "I have failed as your commander and as your friend. I dont think you could ever forgive me...but I am truly sorry."

She slowly raised her head and turned around to nod to her Guardian Knights. The Wolkenritter, understanding the meaning, moved away from earshot and stood guard around the area.

"I hope you two finally meet each other again and settle things properly. I miss you both already." She placed the flowers down on both graves.

"Good bye...my dear friends..."

Nanya wanted me to post it. And I figured the mistress wanted a little...something involved >.>

[Nanya01]

Well, you know that I liked it.

[vic-vic]

Originally Posted by Thunderbird

A fic I wrote while intoxicated. Yeah I know thats not a good thing since alcohol never really mixes with anything...but anyway

Spoiler for Whiskey Lullaby:

"Finally" Fate mused to herself "After 2 years, I finally get to go home. I wonder how Nanoha is doing? I hope she hasnt gotten herself into any trouble hehe~"

She stepped out of the taxi that took her home from the starport and paid the driver before looking at the building that she called home. She took a deep breath as if to reminice about all that happened, also to prepare herself to surprise Nanoha. She hadn't seen her lover in so long, it took all her power to keep herself from just busting through the door. She cleared her throat and slowly stepped into the house.

"Odd" the blond thought as she walked in "I wonder why the house is unlocked if there is no one inside" she stepped in and looked around at the all-too-familiar building. She couldnt help but smile at herself when she looked at the pictures of all the fond memories.

She heard a noise coming from upstairs and grinned to herself thinking that it would be the best chance to sneak up on her lover with a surprise attack from the bedroom. She slowly crepped up the stairs and situated herself in front of the door, taking a deep breath before bracing herself and sliding the door open

"...!" Her eyes went wide with disbelief at what she had seen.

Nanoha was on the bed...with Yuuno

"...!" Nanoha gasped in surprise as Fate entered her view. She quickly got off Yuuno and stared back in utter shock

Fate slowly sighed deeply before turning on her heels and walked downstairs and out the door.

"Fate-chan!" Nanoha ran after the blond, but to no avail. By the time she had gotten outside the door, Fate had already taken to the air, despite the 'No flying in city limits' rule and was soon out of sight.

~She put him out like the burnin' end of a midnight cigarette~
~She broke his heart, he spent his whole life tryin' to forget~

"Come on, Tea!" Subaru called out as she dragged her friend "Its a nice bar I found while you were out on your mission! I promise it will be fun! We can even-" the energetic girl stopped when she saw a familiar face

"What is wrong Subaru?" Teana asked and followed the girl's gaze towards the table. There, siting all alone with numerous empty glasses surrounding her, was Fate

The two girls looked at each other

~We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time~

"Fate-san?" Teana walked up to the enforcer who was still in uniform

"..." Fate responded only by gripping her glass harder and tilted her head back far and literally inhaled the tall glass of alcohol that the bartender had given her.

"Fate-san!" Subaru tried to intervene and remove the bottle, but was only pushed back by the tears that fell from the blond's face during the quick struggle.

The blond got up when the music changed and walked over to the dance floor and started dancing herself away.

"Fate-san..." the two girls could do nothing but watch as the enforcer slowly got more and more bold with her techniques, getting her to borderline misconduct.

The bartender, noticing that she was going to cause problems, asked the drunk blond to leave. Fate only retaliated and started arguing. Eventually it got to the point where it took several people to throw her out of the club.

~But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind~
~Until the night~

Teana and Subaru ran up to the older woman and picked her up off the ground. The two took her to a nearby hotel and rented a room. They dragged her onto the bed and stood watch to make sure things were ok

"Fate-san...what happened?" Subaru finally broke the silence and looked down worried.

"Leave..." the blond held her head and forced herelf to sit up

"But-"

"Leave!" she barked out half in anger...half in despair.

"Subaru..." Teana tapped her friend's shoulder "let's go." She turned to the enforcer "We'll come back tomorrow to see how you are doing, Fate-san" she pulled her partner out the door and bowed before closing it lightly.

~He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger~
~And finally drank away her memory~

Fate opened the communicator to the front desk.

"Yes, may I help you?" the receptionist responded

"Get me all the alcohol you have" Fate ordered

"Are you sure? You look like you've had enough alrea-"

"Just do it!" she shouted "I just want a few more."

The receptionist paused a little bit before nodding slowly and sending several bottles to the door.

~Life is short but this time it was bigger~

Fate continued drinking the whole night. The image of what she saw forever haunting her mind. She tried to question herself: Was she lacking? Did she do something wrong? Was she not enough? Why?

"Keh" she spat out the cork of the next bottle before putting it to her lips and throwing her head back.

She tried to get angry at Nanoha. She tried to get angry at Yuuno. She tried to get angry period...but she couldnt bring herself to do it. She knew deep down, that no matter what...she would never be able to hate them.

"Its all my fault..." she told herself and continued pounding away at the alcohol. "Its all my fault..." she kept repeating the whole night.

~Than the strength he had to get up off his knees~

"Fate-chan" Hayate knocked on the hotel door several days later. She had gotten the report from Teana that her friend would be there after what seemed to be a bad night. It would have been ok, but the blond hadn't reported it at all. "Fate-chan?" she repeated when no answer came.

"How may I help you?" The receptionist answered when Hayate pressed the "Service" button

"I am Yagami, Hayate. Commander of Riot Force VI. I would like you to open this door so I can talk to one of my friends."

"One moment please"

The door opened and the short haired girl stepped in. She was stopped by the heavy odor of alcohol. She covered her nose and continued to walk in.

"Fate-chan?" she looked around and almost fell when she stepped on a bottle. The commander looked down and her eyes widened when the floor was literally covered in glass.

Her eyes scanned the room a lot more quickly as she made her way to the bedroom area. What she saw when she entered stunned her

"Fate-chan!!"

~We found him with his face down in the pillow~
~With a note that said I'll love her till I die~

"Nanoha-chan..." Hayate went over to the Takamachi residence just over an hour later. She didnt quite know how to break it to one of her best freinds.

"Hayate-chan?" The instructor welcomed her friend in and brought her to the couch. "What is it?"

The commander took a deep breath and looked her collegue in the eyes "Its about Fate-chan..."
The mention of the name made Nanoha's eyes widen and begin shaking. Yet, she remained silent and let her friend finish what was to be said.

"Nanoha-chan..." Hayate repeated "did something happen between you and Fate-chan?"

"..." she looked down at her lap and fought the tears back for several moments before finally maintaining enough control to speak "We...had a fight. I want to appologize to her today for it."

"Nanoha-chan..." Hayate grit her teeth as she steeled herself to break out the news. "Fate-chan..." she found herself about to cry, it took all her power to maintain herself as the brought herself to say the last two words "...is dead."

"...!" Nanoha's head rose with incredible speed at those words. Her jaw dropped as she stared at Hayate, wishing that the girl in front of her would soon say 'I'm kidding'

"I'm sorry..."

~And when we buried him beneath the willow~
~The angels sang a whiskey lullaby~

~xX*Xx~

~The rumors flew but nobody know how much she blamed herself~

Looking at Takamachi, Nanoha now made someone feel very sad. The girl was never the same since that day, she had lost a part of her that she could never replace...and she got rid of it...with her own two hands.

People began to speculate just exactly what happened. Rumors started to rise saying that she was cheating on Fate, saying that she was unsatisfied with how the enforcer was living her life, saying that Nanoha had just been lonely and offered herself to many others...

~For years and years she tried to hide the whiskey on her breath~
~She finally drank her pain away a little at a time~

"She is getting progressively worse..." Signum stated as she watched her friend and former Ace look around to make sure no one was around her before slipping a shot of alcohol to her lips.

"I didnt think the impact would last this long." Hayate rubbed her head "I tried everything I could, and I thought she was getting better." She spoke through a communication monitor "but I guess she was only fooling me."

"So it would seem, mistress..."

~But she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind~
~Until the night~

Nanoha sat on her bed all alone that night with a bottle in her hand. Her home was the only place that she could drink in solitude without Hayate knowing about it. However the house was a double edged sword. Everything in the house held nothing but memories of the woman she loved with all her heart. Her eyes began to form tears as she reached over next to her bed and carefully propped up a picture that she had placed face down in years...

~She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger~
~And finally drank away his memory~

She walked over to her fridge and grabbed everything in it along with a single glass. Her heart continued to ache and all she could think of to help reduce the pain...was to drown it.

"I'm so sorry, Fate-chan..." she said aloud to the empty room between her tears "I'm so sorry..."

She hugged her knees tightly for several moments before reaching to the table and grabbing a bottle and bringing it to her lips.

~Life is short but this time it was bigger~
~Than the strength she had to get up off her knees~

She looked at the picture in her hand. The picture that had Fate smiling brightly...the picture that Nanoha herself had taken of Fate during their last christmas together. She couldnt hold back anymore. She broke down completely, letting go of the bottle in her other hand.

"Rhaaa!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs and began to throw the bottles around hoping that it would quell her anguish in some way. She didnt care anymore...after several years of trying to fight it...she just had enough.

~We found her with her face down in the pillow~
~Clinging to his picture for dear life~

"Nanoha-chan?" Hayate called from the door the next day. Signum and Shamal accompanied thier master as a precaution. "Nanoha-chan?"

She nodded at Signum, who broke down the door and cleared the way into the Takamachi residence.

"Nanoha-chan?" Shamal called out as the rest of them stepped in. "Klarer Wind" she looked at her rings "Please let me know if anyone is here."

[No living beings detected] it responded [However, there is someone else here]

Hayate's eyes widened "Signum!" she called out

"Understood mistress" the sword knight transformed into her armor and dashed upstairs at full speed.

"Did you find her?!" Hayate called out as the finally caught up.

Signum stood motionless at the doorway for several moments before slowly stepping aside to allow her master to look inside the bedroom.

"Nanoha-chan..."

~We laid her next to him beneath the willow~
~While the angels sang a whiskey lullaby~

"Nanoha-chan...Fate-chan..." Hayate looked at the two gravestones next to each other. "I wish this had never come to be. I wish I was able to prevent this. I'm so sorry." she bowed deeply "I have failed as your commander and as your friend. I dont think you could ever forgive me...but I am truly sorry."

She slowly raised her head and turned around to nod to her Guardian Knights. The Wolkenritter, understanding the meaning, moved away from earshot and stood guard around the area.

"I hope you two finally meet each other again and settle things properly. I miss you both already." She placed the flowers down on both graves.

"Good bye...my dear friends..."

Nanya wanted me to post it. And I figured the mistress wanted a little...something involved >.>

Alcohol - enemy of mankind

But, still a good story (sad, though)

[ninryu]

Nanya-san, I love you fanfic, please keep it!

[RadiantBeam]

Originally Posted by deathcurse

Damn, I never picked up the significance of her Device's name before @_@.

I have to say, other than the beginning (which felt like your style and that I liked very much), the rest of the piece doesn't feel to me like one of your better works . I always admire how you paint your characters with a really subtle, deft and original hand, but here it seems very plain and awkward, as if the characters are doing something to obviously show character instead of just simply revealing bits about themselves through subtle means.

The ending didn't quite leave a punch, although I do love the dramatic irony (since we readers know what happens to Miranda....)

To be fair, the first time around the significance of her Device's name wasn't there because her Device originally had a different name. I only recently changed it.

I hate to say how much I agree with you. XD My writing flow is still a little off because I'm a tad burned out from bio class. It was just a random short I wanted to post so I could avoid the flood of "Thanatos? Why is her Device named Thanatos?" questions I might have gotten when I started the short story I have in mind (sometime this year). Of course, I'll probably end up having to explain it again anyway since I honestly don't like how this short came out, so I won't put it up on "Shadowfire".

EDIT: Pageclaim for Device names!