Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Character Creation and Discussion (second reincarnation) [Archive] - Page 36

FlameSparkZ

2010-04-12, 17:08

So Noland has had his core absorbed by the book somewhere in the past?

Ahh...the time paradoxes :uhoh:
Though, my OCs don't fit this Fragment scenario :heh:

@FlameSparkZ: Welcome back too!:D It's been a while since we saw your fics with your awesome drawings. Fuu-chan is CUTE~ :love:. I like Elly as well. It's not often that you see a slightly unreliable onee-chan figure who also doubles as a comic boke partner. :D *SHOT!*

I'm worried about Maren and Koji, though. Did their contract all those years ago have some sort of long-term bad effect? :upset:

Looking forward to more. :D
All will be explained in due time :3

And I already have Part 1 of WindS-B Chapter 3 ready, yay~
So here it goes :D

[April MC 0089]

It's been three years since Fuuko and Ellyja met.
At first, their teamwork was awkward, but as they got to know each other and working together, they overcame the obtacles in their way.
Along the way, Elly stumbled upon Fuuko's secret, and promissed to keep protect it.
Since then, their relationship and bond of trust grew stronger.
After graduation, Fuuko and Elly transfered to the Disaster Relief Division and quickly rose through the ranks.

They steadily walked towards the day they'll become Enforcers...

[Abandoned Urban Area - Mid-Childa]

[8:57am]

On top of an old building, two girls stood there, clad in their Barrier Jackets, Devices in hand.

With less than 3 minutes left, the girls were preparing for their A Rank Mage exam.
After warming up, Fuuko practiced some swings, while Elly re-checked her Device's condition.

"Uuu...I'm getting nervous."
Fuuko sighed after finishing a swing, "Really? After going through oceans of fire and smoke, you're getting nervous over this?"
Elly looked at Fuuko, who was perfectly calm, "Why aren't you nervous? This we're taking the A rank exam!"
Fuuko shrugs, "It's just another exam you raise our rank...it'll only be slighty more difficult than the last."
"What? Don't you know? This is the exam most TSAB mages fail to pass!" Elly looked at her seriously.
"--and it's the wall that divides the Ground Forces and the Air Forces, yes I know...still no big deal."

"Fuu-chan, you sure are confident of yourself."
"And so should you...I've been looking after you and training you for these last three years, and you still have doubts?" Fuuko sighs with a hint of disappointment.
"I can't help it, after hearing what others said about this exam--" Before Elly could finish, Fuuko cuts her off.
"That's the thing, why did you even do that? Collecting information is important, but it's meaningless if the source isn't reliable."
"Eh?" Elly blinks.
"These exams change every year to promote flexibility, so you've just been learning about the previous exams, which may have nothing to do with this one."
"Ah...is that so?" She said with a surprised expression.

Fuuko sighed, "You haven't changed a bit..."
"Really?" She tilts her head, "Fuu-chan is the one who hasn't changed at all...you haven't grown at all these last three years."
Fuuko popped a vein, "I'm 4cm taller!"
"You are? I can't really tell..."
"That's because you've grown two times more than I did...In more meanings than one..." She glared at her from top to bottom.
Elly sweatdropped, "I-It's not like I wanted to grow this much..."

A horn was heard, indicating 9:00 am. A screen opened in front of them, displaying on the screen was a woman with brown hair reaching her shoulders, wearing a set of hairpins.
She was a familiar face to Fuuko and Elly knew her as well, Yagami Hayate...but why was she onscreen?

"Good Morning." She greeted them. "I see the two examinees for the Mage Test are present."

The girls straightened themselves and replied "Yes." in unison.

Bringing a portable screen into sight, she says, "Let me confirm, then..."
"Private 2nd Class Minawa Fuuko of the Time-Space Administration Bureau Battalion 472..."

"Yes, ma'am!" The golden eyed girl replies.

"and Private 2nd Class Ellyja Halvern of the same."

"Yes, ma'am!" The red haired girl replies.

"Your present Mage Rank is Ground Combat B and today you're taking the test to raise your rank to A and proceed to Aerial Training Course, correct?"

"Yes." Ellyja says.

"That is correct." Fuuko adds.

"I, Yagami Hayate, will be your proctor for today. Nice to meet you." She salutes them with a smile and a wink.

"Nice to meet you ma'am!" They salute her.

"Now then, I shall explain the course." A map of the course appeared on screen.
"This year's exam is divided into two stages. You're going to start from there, head towards point A, destroying the point targets which have been set up all around the course." The screen displayed their current location and the path to take to point A.
"From there, follow the straight road to point B." An arrow extends from point A to B, ending right in front of a large building.

"At point B starts the second stage of the exam: a hostage situation." a 3D blueprint of the building and its several floors are displayed.
"In this case, the criminals have refused to cooperate with negotiators and threatened to eliminate a hostage for each rescue attempt they detect."
"You will have to infiltrate the facility and reach point C, where the hostages are being kept, without being detected." The screen indicated point C's location with a red dot on the top floor.
"In case of being detected, you have 30 seconds to silence the enemy before it emits a signal to the other units, if you fail to do so...a hostage dummy will be destroyed."

"Upon reaching point C, being detected will be irrelevant, your priority will be to protect the hostage dummies from harm and eliminate the hostiles."
"Each hostage dummy is worth 5 points, so keeping them safe until the end of the exam will earn you 5 points each, losing will cost you 5 points."
"The exam's duration is 45 minutes, you'll have to eliminate all threats or protect the hostages until the exam ends."

The displayed course changes to pictures of the "obstacles" that can be found.
"Along the way, the targets you will find the standard Sphere drones, as well as the new Humanoid: Knuckle-type, Gunner-type, Defender-type and Sentinel-type drones and also the leader, which is heavily armored drone."
"These new humanoid drones have a red triangle on their chest, once the triangle turns black, they will deactivate."
"We'll provide you with the bluepints of the building, they'll be sent to you devices soon. That is all. Any questions?" Hayate asked.

The girls looked at each other, then Fuuko raised her hand.
"Yes?" Hayate looked at her.
"I know standard sphere drones can be destroyed but...what about the new humanoid ones?"

"Ah, may I answer this?" An off-screen voice asked Hayate.
"Sure." Hayate replied, moving aside, and Shari came to view.
"Hi~" Shari greeted them nonchalantly. "Shario Finieno, Mecanic and Communication's Officer, also helping the TSAB Rank Exam's Development Department."
"Nice to meet you, Ma'am!" They greeted her.
Fuuko knew Shari ever since she was little, and it was her who made her Device, Selene. But this is a TSAB Exam, so it's best to greet her as meeting her for the first time.

"As for the question, those new drones are still in testing phase and record data about the exam, so I'd like you two not to damage them too much."
"Yes, ma'am!" Elly replied.
Fuuko nodded, "...Okay, I'll try to hold back."
"Fuuko, you're not being very convincing..." Shari sweatdropped. "Well, as long as the head remains in one piece it's fine I guess."

Shari moved away, Hayate appeared, "Any more questions?"
The girls looked at each other, then at the screen, "None, Ma'am."
Hayate nodded, "Very well, do your best and be careful, okay?"
"Yes!"

The screen closed and in its place a new one opened with three white spheres.
As the rightmost sphere turned red and vanished, Fuuko and Elly prepared themselves.
"Ready..." Fuuko said once the second sphere turned red, also vanishing.
The last sphere disappears and START appears on the screen.
"GO!" the two partners dashed off.

Approaching the edge of the building, Fuuko spoke, "I'll take care of the targets inside."
"O-okay." Elly replied, readying a spell card.
Fuuko jumped off the building's roof, swinging her scythe, she unleashes a burst of wind that shatters the windows, creating a safe entrance.

Rolling out upon entering the building, she's welcomed by sphere drones, readying to shoot.
*smirk*
[Luna Fang] Her device announces as green dagger-shaped blades form around Fuuko and shoot at the spheres.
Using the explosion's smoke as camoflage, she swiftly strikes down the remaining spheres and continues.

------------------------------------

Using Anchor Arrow to travel faster, Elly lands on the ground, and is ambushed by spheres.
The spheres shoot simultaneously at Elly, who is unable to react in time...
As the smoke from the blast settle's down, it reveals...nothing?!
The sphere search around, but detect nothing.
One by one, they're shot down, by the real Elly.

"*sigh* I'd be done for if that was me..."
[Don't worry] her device comforts her.
"Thanks, Arbalest." She smiles and presses onward.

------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Fuuko was running in a corridor, relentlessly slicing spheres down.
Until...
"Hee...so this is one of those Humanoid types..." her path was blocked by a Knuckle-type.
Detecting Fuuko, the Hu-K prepares itself, signaling Fuuko to come anytime.
"Hoo~ and it's smart too." She smiked, (Tight corridor and large shaft weapons don't match well, and I don't want the ceiling to drop on me...)
The Hu-K took a step forward.
"Selene, Mode Release."
[Okay] Her scythe returned to pendant form.

"Shari, I hope you put my data into these things, 'cause if you didn't, they'll be torn to pieces!" Fuuko's hands began to glow green, forming claw-shaped an auras around them.
Sensing danger, the Hu-K changed its stance and charged forward.
Fuuko rushed forward as well, arms open, ready to swipe across.
Mimicking Fuuko, the Hu-K did the same.
As the distance between the two shortens, the Hu-K shortens the distance faster by jumping forward.
Its arms, acting like a crab's claw, close in on Fuuko's head. She dodges by lowering herself, using her arms to support her fall, and striking the Hu-K's chest with her feet.
The impact sends the Hu-K flying behind her, hitting the ceiling, then the floor.

Fuuko smirked, "You think I'd rush at you without a plan?"
Hu-K got up, the red triangle on its chest was only half full. It turned to Fuuko and assumed a battle stance.
"I'd love to play with you, but unlike you, I don't have time to waste...besides, you already lost." She pointed at its feet.
Hu-K tilted its head, then looked down, and suddenly a Belka sigil appeared, followed by chains of light, wrapping around it.
A ring-shaped sigil appeared around Fuuko's right wrist, she made a fist and gave the command, "Crush!"
The chains tightened around the Hu-K, until its body frame gave in...reducing it into a pile of junk.
"Told you it'd be torn to pieces." Fuuko moves on.

------------------------------------

Elly was doing well, leaving a trail of defeated spheres and humanoids.
Hiding behind a pillar, she confirms her targets: 3 humanoids and 6 spheres.
(Three humanoids at once...it's a bit tricky.) Elly closed her eyes and relaxed.
Her right hand on Arbalest, she charged magic into it.
(Let's go!) Her eyes opened and came out behind the pillar.
[Bolt Revolver] 5 bullets appear parallel to Arbalest's arch
"Shoot!" Elly commands and the 5 bullets are fired, splitting up and each going it's own path.
The lone bullets pierce through the spheres, and lock on the humanoid drones.
4 of the 5 bullets hit a Hu-K and a Hu-S (Sentinel), temporarily stunning them.

5 bullets more load on Arbalest, but third humanoid, is a Gunner (Hu-G).
It aims at Elly, she quickly deploys a Shield card, making a Mid-Childa sigil appear in front of her.
Timing with the last bullet that hit the Hu-G on its shoulder, Elly rolls out from the safety of the shield, takes aim and fires another round.
One bullet finishes off the Hu-S, making a hole on its chest. Two bullets hit the Hu-G, one on the arm, the other on the neck, making the head fall off.
The final bullet hits the Hu-G on the forehead, knocks it down, the red triangle on the chest is drained.
"Phew..." Elly sighed in relief.

Moving onward, Elly ran past the fallen Hu-G. Ahead was Fuuko, who had just gotten there.
Elly waved at her, "Fuu-chan~"
For some reason, Fuuko charged a green blade...and threw it at Elly!?
Only to graze her and hit the Hu-G behind her, blowing its head off.
"Ahh...I blew the head off, Shari isn't going to like that."
"Eh? What?" Elly blinked.
Fuuko looked at the Hu-G's chest, "It seems its triangle gauge wasn't completely empty...you need to be careful, these things are smart. They can play dead and strike from behind."
"O-okay..." Elly nods.

"Let's go, Point A is right ahead." Fuuko starts running.
"Ah, w-wait for me!" Elly follows her.

Now that the two are together, they blaze through the path to Point B.

------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Hayate and Shari watched.

"Aaah~ my cute babies!" Shari couldn't bear to watch her creations being sliced apart or shot down.
"Now now, calm down." Hayate pats Shari on the shoulder. "They're just doing their job."

------------------------------------

At the exam site, Nanoha watches over the two girls from several screens, "As expected of those girls, it's only been 6 minutes and they're already at Point B."

Fuuko and Elly hid behind a support pillar of a highway road above them.
Peeking from the side, they check out the guards at the front door, there stood two bulky drones each holding a large shield, and an already seen Sentinel-type.
"Two Defense-types and one Sentinel at the door...1,2,5,8 other Sentinels by the windows." Fuuko confirms the targets.

"Uuu~ How do we do this? Once they see us, we only have 30 seconds to beat them."
"Not only that, there are be more inside within detect range." Fuuko could tell them due to her instincts.
"So, through the front door is no good..."
"It it weren't for the hostages, I could blast through with no problem...but this is a delicate situation."
"Then, we go in through somewhere else?" Elly suggests.
"*sigh* Not my style, but I guess we'll have to do that."
"Let's see..." Elly looks around. "Ah! Look a sewer entrace over--" But Fuuko interrupts her.
"Denied."
"Eh? why? This area has been abandoned for years..."

"Selene."
[Yes.] The device understood the order, opening the blueprints of the building.
"That place used to be a fancy hotel, with an art exhibit and theatre in the first basement floors, there's a few more floors below those. If we take that route, it'll take too long."
"Then how do we do this?" Elly asks while looking at the screen.
"Here, an entrace for employees, we then take this route to the elevator, and climb up to the last floor."
"Eeh? Can't we ride the elevator?"
Fuuko glared at her partner.
"J-just kidding..." Elly sweatdrops.

Closing the screen, "Let's go, we've wasted enough time already." Fuuko ran over to the other pillar.
"O-okay!" She follows.

~~~~

Using the pillars for cover, the girls sneak around the building, around the back.
Fuuko stops, signalling Elly to stop as well, "As I thought, also guarded, but not as many as the front."
"Two Sentinels at the fire escape stairs, one at the door, accompanied by two Knuckle..." Elly confirms.
"You deal with the ones at the stairs first, I'll use that as a diversion to take out the ones at the door."
"Roger." Elly nods.

The two get into position, "Ready...GO!"
Elly snipes the Hu-Ss at the stairs, making them fall off and distract the guards.
Taking her cue, Fuuko dashes straight for the guards at door, and with one swing, slices them all in half at once.
After checking they were deactivated, Fuuko signals Elly to come.

"Good job, Fuu-chan."
"They did't even saw it coming." Fuuko kicks a drone out of the way.
Checking the door, unlocked. Opening the door a little, Fuuko peeks inside...an empty dead-end to the left.
"Left, clear." Fuuko opened the door a little more, "!!" Fuuko's eyes opened widely, a large sphere drone at the end of the hallway in front of her.
"Hyaa!" Elly is startled by Fuuko quickly grabbing her hand, and pulling her along to the left hallway.
"Shh." Fuuko peeks over the corner, "Good, it hasn't seen us yet."
"What?" Elly blinks.
"Large sphere drone in this hallway." Fuuko sighs, "Really, if this was a real incident, these would be pretty high level criminals..."
"W-what do we do? Those things have a really strong barrier protecting them..."

Fuuko gave it some thought, "...Do you have any jamming cards?"
Elly goes through her card pockets, "I thought they could come in handy, so I made a few."
"Good. I'll be the bait, and you throw the card to jam the communications."
"Roger." Elly nods preparing the card.
"Slashing attacks won't work agaist that, so...Selene, Spear Form."
[Alright.] The device's scythe blade shrinks while the top blade lengthens.

"3...2...1..." The girls time their attack, "Go!"
Fuuko comes out of hiding and dashes right for the drone, "Ya!" Elly throws the card, stopping mid-air above the drone.
Detecting Fuuko, the drone begins to shoot, but she parries with Selene.

"Strike..." The tip of her spear begins to glow.
The drone raises its shield.
"Stinger!!!" Fuuko thrusts forward, coming in contact with the barrier.
"Haaaa!" Fuuko forces the edge into the barrier, "Selene!"
[Load Cartrige!] the device powers up, making the spear head pierce through.
"Scythe!" Fuuko shouts!
[Scythe Form] The device obey, and a crescent blade suddenly grows out of the drone's inside.
Pulling the scythe towards her, it begins to cut through the drone and one final pull releases the device, shattering the barrier.
"Now, Elly!" Fuuko looks over her shoulder.

"Got it!" Elly nods, already with her device charged, aiming at the drone.
[Falcon Bolt!] Arbalest announces.
A single arrow of light shoots out of the crossbow, passing by Fuuko and into the drone...blowing up.

"...phew." Elly sighs. "Fuu-chan, you okay?"
"*cough* Yeah..." She replies while gets out of the cloud of smoke.
Elly's shoulders drop, "We're still on the first floor and it's already these things around."
"Can't be helped." Fuuko checks the other hallway that was blocked the drone, "The objective is to rescue the hostage, eliminating the hostiles is secondary."
"That's true but..." Elly doesn't finish.
"Hall is clear, let's go before something appears." Fuuko is about to move, when Elly stops her.
"Wait."

"What is it?" Fuuko turns to her.
Searching her pockets, Elly pulls out a handkerchief, and rubbing Fuuko's cheek gently. "You're hurt..."
"S-stop it." Fuuko blushed. "It's just a graze..."
"Okay, all done~"
"Really...it's no big deal..."
"But Fuu-chan is so cute, I can't help it." Elly smiles.
"....L-let's just go already. There's no time to waste." Fuuko quickens her step.
"*giggle* Ye~s!" Elly follows her blushing partner.

Action! And it's about time too :heh::heh:
This is my take on TSAB mage exams and the Rank A exam, hope it doesn't seem too absurd. :heh:

Well, that's it for now...enjoy :3

Tempy

2010-04-12, 18:29

Ahh...the time paradoxes :uhoh:
Though, my OCs don't fit this scenario Fragment scenario :heh:

Not really a time paradox if it happened way in the past. The Book of Darkness has existed for a long time, so it's possible that it had some presence during the time of Olivie.

And wtf those tags

Tempy

2010-04-13, 00:03

Yay double post.

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha: A’s to StrikerS Portable: FragmentS.

Eh. Why not.

WARNING:

Unknown Entity Ahead.

Scanning…

…

Error.

Scan unable to be completed.

Extrapolating available data.

Temporary Threat Classification: S+

Nanoha:
Huh? What’s with this strange reading?

…!

Who is…

Excuse me! Please identify yourself!

???:
Where…? Where am I?

Nanoha:
Can you hear me? Please tell me who you are!

???:
A child? …My name is not important. I must be going.

Nanoha:
Wait! Where are you going?

???:
It does not concern you. Leave me be.

Raising Heart:
Master, a Fragment is detected.

Nanoha:
Then this man is… wait! I can’t let you go any further!

???:
I am in no mood for games, child. Get out of my way.

Nanoha:
I can't let you go! I'll use force if necessary!

???:
I am warning you. If you will not move, then I will remove you, even if you are but a child.

Nanoha:
I’m not a child!; my name is Takamachi Nanoha! And I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go!

???:
So be it. Do not blame me for your injuries. I am Noland Reiniger, Knight of the Saint Kaiser!
Throw away your fears and take me on!

------

[After Battle]

<Version A>

Fragment Noland:
No! I… to be this weak!

Nanoha:
I’m sorry, but I can’t be held back.
(That was a little scary…)

</Version A>

<Version B>

Fragment Noland:
I cannot… I cannot be stopped here!

Nanoha:
Please surrender! I don’t want to fight any more!

<Version C>

Fragment Noland:
Not enough… It still was not enough.

Nanoha:
Haa… Haa… Whew!
(That was too close…!)

</Version C>

------

Fragment Noland:
Why do you continue to stand in my way?! Do you not understand? I must go! She is waiting for
me!

Nanoha:
What are you talking about? Please, just tell me what’s wrong! Maybe I can help you!

Fragment Noland:
Would you understand? Could you? A child, no matter how strong, is still a child.

Nanoha:
Stop calling me a child! I can help you, if you just tell me what is wrong!

Fragment Noland:
What do you know of power? Of madness? Of betrayal?! What blood do you have upon your
hands? None! Virginal child, naïve and foolish! But how blessed you are to not know such grief.

She… She is alone.

Her knights turned their backs on her. The people abandoned her. The world betrayed her.

And I killed her.

Nanoha:
…!

Fragment Noland:
Olivie! Saint Kaiser! Demon King of Belka! Yes… I killed her, did I not? Her blood is what
stains my hands, her death is what corrupts my soul! My mind, shattered and broken, much like
the fallen Belka.

And this…

This land is just as corrupt.

This world is just as filthy.

I must cleanse it. Purify the taint.

Will you stop me, little girl? Can you stop me? When the world loses its mind, can you survive
the lunacy?

Nanoha:
I… I…!

Fragment Noland?:
Cower in terror and scream into the gales! Be torn to pieces by your own fear, and howl in
anguish! Scorched earth! Shattered sky! Let my madness be my strength, so that I may tear the
world asunder…!

Alert!

Magic power levels increasing at exponential rate!

New Temporary Threat Classification: SSS

Nanoha:
Wha…?! What is going on?!

Raising Heart:
Do not be afraid. I am here with you.

Nanoha:
Raising Heart, what should we do? This is much worse than before!

Raising Heart
We should retreat, my master!

Nanoha:
I can’t just run away!

Raising Heart
The enemy is too great. Recommend retreating and regrouping before engaging target.

Nanoha:
This anger… the sorrow, it’s so strong! What happened to him to make him so… so sad?

[Opponent: The Lunatic Knight of Calamity]

[Win Condition: Escape]

On a completely different topic, I had forgotten to post this in here, though it's already up over in FFT:

“Staring at me will not make this go any faster, you understand.”

Water, salt, flour, eggs, butter. Five simple ingredients that in proper ratios result in what Earthlings
call pâte à choux, also called choux pastry. A good number of different pastries could be made
from this base dough, but today’s goal was to produce small golf ball sized treats. A tray of the
pastries was already in the oven, baking into a nice golden brown.

Noland Reiniger, Ancient Belkan Knight but right now a pastry chef, tapped a small device next
to the oven, listening carefully as it chirped out the time remaining.

Five minutes remained. Good. Taking into account cooling and preparation time for the other
components, the dish would be ready very soon.

There was another person here, watching him silently as he mixed and measured. She had come
at his request, though she arrived a little earlier than expected. A minor setback, as it almost
ruined the surprise.

“Are you gonna tell me what you’re making?” Kaon asked as she cradled her head in her hands,
leaning on the kitchen table with one foot kicked up into the air.

However, seeing as how she had no idea what was going on, it was fine.

“No. Now pass me the raspberries,” the knight answered, turning back to the table.

A bowl of the fragrant fruit slid into his hands, to which half were poured into a small saucepan
with water and sugar. This simmered away on the stove, the berries gradually breaking down into
a rich sauce-like consistency as Noland slowly stirred it. The air was sweet, of fruit and of the
pastry baking in the oven, a mix of tart from the raspberry and the choux pastry’s warmth.

Kaon breathed deeply, enjoying the soothing scents. She felt no need to speak, content in just
watching her friend work. Breaks like this were few and far in between, and ones where she
could spend time with others were even more rare. All too often she was buried in work, or
burying herself in it. A cup of hot tea steamed gently in front of her, the greeting Noland extended
upon her arrival.

Ding! The timer’s bell. Noland retrieved the tray of pastries from the oven and set them aside to
cool, four apple-sized balls of golden brown deliciousness. At the same time, the raspberry sauce
was taken off the heat to cool as well. Replacing it was a new saucepan, this one with heavy
cream. Once it was heated, chopped bits of semi-sweet chocolate was stirred in until a smooth
ganache was made. By the time the chocolate was ready, so were the pastries and the raspberry
sauce. Sliced in half the pastries were, and set aside. A healthy bit of cream cheese smoothed out
the sauce’s tartness, as well as thickening and endowing a richer flavor. The other half of the
berries, retained from earlier, were then mixed into the cream. From bowl into piping bag, the
newly made raspberry cream was gently squeezed into the halved puff pastries.

Kaon watched with open fascination, already realizing exactly what her friend was preparing. In
spite of herself, she was getting excited.

“Many years ago,” Noland started, working as he spoke. “When I was a mere infantryman, I
met a strange person in the halls of the Saint’s Cradle. She was a cynical girl, always serious and
rather resentful to my presence. After all, I was just another buffoon with war on the mind that
murdered and followed orders like an obedient dog. After I became a knight, her opinion
remained unchanged. During all of this, I was personally requested by the Saint Kaiser to get
along with her. Oh, how difficult a mission she had given me…”

“Hey! I wasn’t that bad!” Kaon protested, slapping a hand down on the table in indignation as
she fought off a blush. “…Was I?”

“I admit I may be exaggerating a bit, but I do remember having to ‘help’ recategorize the
Imperial Library on my own, whilst you were summoned elsewhere.”

The filled puff pastries were placed neatly on a plate,

“Heh. That took you all night, if I remember correctly.”

“And you did it twice more.”

“Oh come on. It was just a joke.”

“I passed out of exhaustion the morning of the third time,” Noland replied dryly. “I did not wake
up for almost forty-eight hours.”

“Heh. Yeah, Olivie was pretty miffed about that one.”

The chocolate ganache was spooned on top of the assembled pastries.

“When I woke up, you were there, forced to apologize to me. Though reluctant, we finally
managed to speak to each other for an extended time. It was then, I believe, that we actually met.
All other previous moments were just incidences. Coincidentally, it was your birthday, or what
Lady Olivie proclaimed the day to be.”

And lo, the finished product was placed in front of Kaon: four cream puff pastries, filled with a
rich raspberry cream and a decadent chocolate ganache topping, arranged in a neat pyramid.

“Today, many years ago, we met for the first time. Our relationship has been rocky and uncertain,
but it also one I have cherished all this time. Happy birthday, Lady Kaon Jin. I am so honored to
have met you, and I am so glad you are here with me.”

“…”

It was quiet. She stared at the dish.

The knight heard no response, but a scrape of chair against the ground. Soft, light footsteps
walked around the table. There, she stopped, right in front of him. She seemed to stare up at him
for the longest time…

“Rrggh. Bend down! You’re too damn tall!”

Noland, 188 centimeters. Kaon, 140 centimeters.

The moment Noland was within range, he found himself stumbling backwards as Kaon launched
herself into him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck. No words were needed, the two
hugging each other in the silent kitchen. Remnants from a time long past, survivors of a land long
gone.

“You’re two weeks off, by the way,” the inspector muttered into Noland’s shoulder.

“Oh?”

“The sixteenth, dummy. Not the third.”

“Haha, I suppose I was too excited to wait. My apologies.”

“Mmm,” she nodded, nuzzling the knight closer for warmth.

They stayed that way for little while longer, eventually parting with subtle reluctance. Slowly,
Kaon returned to her side of the table and pulled the treat towards her. How long had it been
since she got to have this? Earth had its share of delicacies, but this… a Belkan specialty, from a
certain farm and inn, far far away and from a long time ago.

“Thank you, Noland. Really,” she smiled gratefully, picking up one of the chocolate covered
treats. “But you know…”

“Hmm?”

“This is way too much for me alone to eat. Help me out here?”

The knight chuckled, nodding as he turned back to the stove. “Let me get some more tea going,
and I would love to join you.”

Rising Dragon

2010-04-13, 00:09

Yay double post.

Eh. Why not.

WARNING:

Unknown Entity Ahead.

Scanning…

…

Error.

Scan unable to be completed.

Extrapolating available data.

Temporary Threat Classification: S+

Nanoha:
Huh? What’s with this strange reading?

…!

Who is…

Excuse me! Please identify yourself!

???:
Where…? Where am I?

Nanoha:
Can you hear me? Please tell me who you are!

???:
A child? …My name is not important. I must be going.

Nanoha:
Wait! Where are you going?

???:
It does not concern you. Leave me be.

Raising Heart:
Master, a Fragment is detected.

Nanoha:
Then this man is… wait! I can’t let you go any further!

???:
I am in no mood for games, child. Get out of my way.

Nanoha:
I can't let you go! I'll use force if necessary!

???:
I am warning you. If you will not move, then I will remove you, even if you are but a child.

Nanoha:
I’m not a child!; my name is Takamachi Nanoha! And I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go!

???:
So be it. Do not blame me for your injuries. I am Noland Reiniger, Knight of the Saint Kaiser!
Throw away your fears and take me on!

------

[After Battle]

<Version A>

Fragment Noland:
No! I… to be this weak!

Nanoha:
I’m sorry, but I can’t be held back.
(That was a little scary…)

</Version A>

<Version B>

Fragment Noland:
I cannot… I cannot be stopped here!

Nanoha:
Please surrender! I don’t want to fight any more!

<Version C>

Fragment Noland:
Not enough… It still was not enough.

Nanoha:
Haa… Haa… Whew!
(That was too close…!)

</Version C>

------

Fragment Noland:
Why do you continue to stand in my way?! Do you not understand? I must go! She is waiting for
me!

Nanoha:
What are you talking about? Please, just tell me what’s wrong! Maybe I can help you!

Fragment Noland:
Would you understand? Could you? A child, no matter how strong, is still a child.

Nanoha:
Stop calling me a child! I can help you, if you just tell me what is wrong!

Fragment Noland:
What do you know of power? Of madness? Of betrayal?! What blood do you have upon your
hands? None! Virginal child, naïve and foolish! But how blessed you are to not know such grief.

She… She is alone.

Her knights turned their backs on her. The people abandoned her. The world betrayed her.

And I killed her.

Nanoha:
…!

Fragment Noland:
Olivie! Saint Kaiser! Demon King of Belka! Yes… I killed her, did I not? Her blood is what
stains my hands, her death is what corrupts my soul! My mind, shattered and broken, much like
the fallen Belka.

And this…

This land is just as corrupt.

This world is just as filthy.

I must cleanse it. Purify the taint.

Will you stop me, little girl? Can you stop me? When the world loses its mind, can you survive
the lunacy?

Nanoha:
I… I…!

Fragment Noland?:
Cower in terror and scream into the gales! Be torn to pieces by your own fear, and howl in
anguish! Scorched earth! Shattered sky! Let my madness be my strength, so that I may tear the
world asunder…!

Alert!

Magic power levels increasing at exponential rate!

New Temporary Threat Classification: SSS

Nanoha:
Wha…?! What is going on?!

Raising Heart:
Do not be afraid. I am here with you.

Nanoha:
Raising Heart, what should we do? This is much worse than before!

Raising Heart
We should retreat, my master!

Nanoha:
I can’t just run away!

Raising Heart
The enemy is too great. Recommend retreating and regrouping before engaging target.

Nanoha:
This anger… the sorrow, it’s so strong! What happened to him to make him so… so sad?

[Opponent: The Lunatic Knight of Calamity]

[Win Condition: Escape]

That... that was epic beyond words.

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-13, 00:17

Utter confusion ensues.

A Karl VS Noland face-off would be much more informational that any other characters', if only the whole conversation isn't conducted in Ancient Belkansh. :p

Though a Karl VS Karl Fragment sounds like a time paradox. :eyespin:

Aaron008R

2010-04-13, 10:42

Hardly, she's the direct opposite. Calm and nearly emotionless, while Keroko is pretty much emotion incarnate.

Makes me wonder what a Material Keroko would be like... philosophical, maybe? Perhaps the only one of the four to actually question the heroines as to why they should be destroyed.

Knowing that you know Touhou... Keroko, you made me imagine Material-Keroko as Patchouli. :heh::heh::eyespin::eyespin:

That would make for a nice short. I say give it a shot. :p

And it took a while to cycle through the OC-list after so long but Aaron wouldn't have Saga in mind would he?

That would be Nighty's call. Saga and the Zerstroritters are absolutely free to be included here since he and the gang are around since A's.:D

My guess is that the character he has in mind has a name that starts with "G" =3

Poor Grandis. Shafted in OCT as much as Zafira in Nanocanon.

Hey! I can't help it if Grandis is shown post-StrikerS! :T_T:

Because Hayaurion is favored over HayaGrandis xD

NUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :frustrated: :frustrated: :frustrated:

But THAT aside! Where are the comments for the Nanoha scenario? WHY NO LOVE FOR NANOHA?! :sad:

Ahh...the time paradoxes :uhoh:
Though, my OCs don't fit this scenario Fragment scenario :heh:

Aww. :(

All will be explained in due time :3

:nod:

And I already have Part 1 of WindS-B Chapter 3 ready, yay~
So here it goes :D

*snip*

Action! And it's about time too :heh::heh:
This is my take on TSAB mage exams and the Rank A exam, hope it doesn't seem too absurd. :heh:

Well, that's it for now...enjoy :3

And then we get delicious ACTION!!!:D:D:D

I was surprised by the sudden time skip. But it doesn't matter. This chapter really beats Tea and Subaru's exam in StS episode 1 by far!:D:D:D

It has tactics, cool spells and awesome action!:D The only thing missing left is the fluff-Oh hai rubbing cute partner's cheek with hankerchief. :love:

Great chapter!:D:D:D

Oh. And Poor Shari... :heh::uhoh::eyespin:

And wtf those tags

Those tags refer to an actual pairing being actually worked on. >:3 (Unlike one pairing where rabid legion-like creatures tend to see every time the two characters are together.:mad::heh:)

Eh. Why not.

*snip*

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Good Lord that was EPIC!!! @_______@

Aside from the excellent characterization, delicious StrikerS and beyond foreshadowing and EX BOSS NOLAND, you gave me gameplay variety ideas! You're a bloody genius, Tempy!!!:D:D:D

Now, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to add missions with some additional level of challenge. Kinda like:

Defeat opponent with EX Attack.
Finish match without using .
Fight with % life.
SURVIVE.

Ooh, my mental gears are turning! MWAHAHAHAHA!!!!! >:3

On a completely different topic, I had forgotten to post this in here, though it's already up over in FFT:

*snip*

Delicious fluff~.:love::love::love:

Damn you, Tempest! Now I can't decide whether I prefer Keroko or Kaon for Noland!!!:frustrated::frustrated::eyespin::eyespin :

That aside, not only is Noland the likable ol' chap, he can also cook and BAKE!!!:eek:

The girls would be all over him. XD

~~~~~~~~~

And now, the promised Fragment Nanoha scenario. >:3

Aurion:
Nanoha, huh?

Fragment Nanoha:
[I]*floating aimlessly, grasping on and sobbing on Raising Heart*

Aurion:
Oi, oi…
I haven’t even done anything yet and you’re already crying?
I don’t think I look hideous enough to warrant such a reaction.

Fragment Nanoha:
*sniff*
W-who are you…?

Aurion:
What…?
It’s me.

Fragment Nanoha:
I don’t know you…
Please…[I]*sob* Please leave me alone…

Aurion:
(She doesn’t recognize me…?
But why? She’s already fifteen, she should already know me for four years now…)
…! Don’t tell me…

Fragment Nanoha:
……
Go away…

Aurion:
No.

Fragment Nanoha:
Please…
Let me dream in peace…
Let me at least fly here…

Aurion:
Before I do that…
Can you tell me your name and age, little lady?

Fragment Nanoha:
T-takamachi Nanoha…
Eleven years old…

Aurion:
I see…
Then… why are you here in this dream?

Fragment Nanoha:
I… I…*sniff*
I always flew in the sky with my friends…
We were all happy as we strived to become stronger…

Aurion:
(Now I get it. It’s that time’s memory…)

Fragment Nanoha:
Because of my carelessness…
I can no longer fly… I cannot even stand up…
I don’t want the others to worry about me.
B-but I’m scared!
*sob* I want to fly again…
I don’t want to wake up seeing my friends trying to hide their tears behind their smiles!
Here… in this dream I can walk and fly again… I can feel the wind again…
But nobody is here. Everyone’s gone… Even Raising Heart won’t talk to me…
I don’t… I don’t know where I should be now…

Aurion:
(Then, I might as well…)
Don’t worry, I’ll help you.

Fragment Nanoha:
Ah...
R-really…?

Aurion:
Yes. I… will destroy this dream.
You’ve dwelled for far long enough in this fantasy.
It’s time to wake up and face reality.

Fragment Nanoha:
Ah!?!
No! I don’t want to go back!
Don’t destroy my dream, my sky! This is my only…!

Aurion:
Hmph…
You don't have a choice in the matter.
Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty.

Fragment Nanoha:
No…!
No! No! NO! NO!
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

----

*After Battle*

<Version A>
Fragment Nanoha:
…No way……

Aurion:
As expected, even her skill is gone like this.
</Version A>

<Version B>
Fragment Nanoha:
W-why…

Aurion:
It’s no use trying to fight in that state.
</Version B>

<Version C>
Fragment Nanoha:
………

Aurion:
Argh… Tch!
She’s still a tough opponent even in this condition.
</Version C>

----

Fragment Nanoha:
No…
I… I don’t want to go back…
I don’t…

Aurion:
So you’re saying that living in this monotonous dream is fine?
Snap out of it, Nanoha.

Fragment Nanoha:
*sob*
I can’t fly anymore… *sob* I can’t even walk…
Even the people around me are suffering because of me.

Aurion:
*sigh*
You’re an idiot.

Fragment Nanoha:
……

Aurion:
Sure. Keep on trying to stick to this dream.
But I assure you that you’ll only bring even worse suffering for those around you.
It’s useless trying to wish that they don’t care.

Fragment Nanoha:
*sniff*
But what can I do…? I’m no longer-

Aurion:
You’re no longer persistent, that’s what.
This isn’t like you. What exactly is stopping you from standing up again?
Or rather… are you afraid to do so again?

Fragment Nanoha:
That’s not it! I…
I want to…

Aurion:
You won’t be shot down again if you don’t fly.

Fragment Nanoha:
…!

Aurion:
Sure.
Suit yourself if that’s how you want things to end.

Fragment Nanoha:
No…
I don’t want things to end like this…
I want walk again… I want to fly again…
*sob* B-but I…

Aurion:
Nanoha.
*Reishiki’s core glows lightly, written on the crystal*
Look at your feet.

Fragment Nanoha:
Ah…?
M-my magic should already be gone, but…

<The energy wings on the sides of Nanoha’s feet are seemingly still spread out, shining brightly>

Aurion:
You’re quite annoying, you know?
Cowering away from flight just because you clipped your feathers…
Your wings never left you; you just chose to ignore it!

Fragment Nanoha:
Ah…

Aurion:
If you don’t even have the resolve to grasp something already in front of you, don’t even try dreaming of getting what you want.
I can’t tell exactly when. It may be after you wake up. It may be even weeks from now.
But very soon, you will be taken to your sky again, whether you like it or not.

Fragment Nanoha:
W-what?

Aurion:
Somebody will come. And he will show you the sky that you love so much again.
But the rest is up to you. You decide whether you want to grasp it as your own or just live for the rest of your life as a wingless falcon for the rest of your life.

Fragment Nanoha:
……
How… do you know that?

Aurion:
*lightly grabs Nanoha’s ear and promptly pulls out a cloud-shaped lollipop, giving it to her*
I’m a magician. And I know your future.
In it, you’re flying again, stronger than ever. Your friends are all there and happily with you.
But for that to happen, you must make the first step.
*wipes away one of her tears*
Tell me honestly, from the bottom of your heart.
Do you want to fly again…?

Fragment Nanoha:
*grabs the candy and tastes it, a hint of a smile forming on her lips*
… Yes.

Aurion:
Good girl.
*pats her head*
Now go back and do it.

Fragment Nanoha:
Ah… Hai!
… Will we meet again Magician-san?

Aurion:
Who knows?
Probably when you wake up, I’ll give you some chocolate in the real world.

Fragment Nanoha:
Really?
It’s a promise then!

Aurion:
I’m not promising anything of the sort.
But I can tell you this. We will meet again; sooner than you think.

Fragment Nanoha:
I see… I’m glad.
*starts fading*
Bye-bye, Magician-san!

Aurion:
Yeah.
Spread your wings, kid.

<Fragment Nanoha disappears>

Aurion:
What a troublesome girl. Her appearance as a teenager with a child’s mind only made it sillier.
Haah... Am I a babysitter now? First, that bizarre clingy daughter version of Hayate and then a regressed mental age Nanoha... What should I expect next; little sister Shamal? Nah.
Still, seeing a facet of one’s persona isolated, magnified and given life is as fascinating as ever.
(And I also got evidence that only our appearances remain static here. The state of mind of the fragments can regress to that of an earlier stage…That means even I-!!!)

Almaria:
[Chief?]

Aurion:
*covering his face with his hand, leaving only his shocked eyes visible, irises pulsating sporadically with a dark azure glow*
… Damn… DAMN!!! A blunder like this now of all times!
I got too caught up with studying this place! If a Fragment from my past is indeed here… [I]Damn it!!!

Almaria:
*glows softly*
[Please… calm down.]

Aurion:
Haa… *breaths deeply, eyes turning back to normal*
Alright; enough with this leisurely pace!
Let’s hurry, Almaria. Be vigilant and prepare for the worst.

Almaria:
[Affirmative, Chief.]

Aurion:
(I hope the others are fine…
There’s no need for those kids to get involved with my past!)

I know emo-EMO!Nanoha may be unbelievable at face value, but what goes on inside a crippled person's mind should be quite chaotic. This Fragment of Nanoha is the embodiment of all her pain and fears when she was seriously injured and crippled for a long time when she was 11, as shown in StrikerS.

Next up, a Vita route and then a Fate route scenarios!:D

Keroko

2010-04-13, 11:26

Ergh, the emo, the emo. Understandable, but still a tad hard to take.

Also, lunatic Noland? Yeah, 'survive' already sounds like a hard goal there.

Knowing that you know play Touhou... Keroko, you made me imagine Material-Keroko as Patchouli. :heh::heh::eyespin::eyespin:

Hmm, in a way perhaps.

Comartemis

2010-04-13, 11:49

And now, the promised Fragment Nanoha scenario. >:3

Aurion:
Nanoha, huh?

Fragment Nanoha:
*floating aimlessly, grasping on and sobbing on Raising Heart*

Aurion:
Oi, oi…
I haven’t even done anything yet and you’re already crying?
I don’t think I look hideous enough to warrant such a reaction.

Fragment Nanoha:
*sniff*
W-who are you…?

Aurion:
What…?
It’s me.

Fragment Nanoha:
I don’t know you…
Please…*sob* Please leave me alone…

Aurion:
(She doesn’t recognize me…?
But why? She’s already fifteen, she should already know me for four years now…)
…! Don’t tell me…

Fragment Nanoha:
……
Go away…

Aurion:
No.

Fragment Nanoha:
Please…
Let me dream in peace…
Let me at least fly here…

Aurion:
Before I do that…
Can you tell me your name and age, little lady?

Fragment Nanoha:
T-takamachi Nanoha…
Eleven years old…

Aurion:
I see…
Then… why are you here in this dream?

Fragment Nanoha:
I… I…*sniff*
I always flew in the sky with my friends…
We were all happy as we strived to become stronger…

Aurion:
(Now I get it. It’s that time’s memory…)

Fragment Nanoha:
Because of my carelessness…
I can no longer fly… I cannot even stand up…
I don’t want the others to worry about me.
B-but I’m scared!
*sob* I want to fly again…
I don’t want to wake up seeing my friends trying to hide their tears behind their smiles!
Here… in this dream I can walk and fly again… I can feel the wind again…
But nobody is here. Everyone’s gone… Even Raising heart won’t talk to me…
I don’t… I don’t know where I should be now…

Aurion:
(Then, I might as well…)
Don’t worry, I’ll help you.

Fragment Nanoha:
Ah...
R-really…?

Aurion:
Yes. I… will destroy this dream.
You’ve dwelled for far long enough in this fantasy.
It’s time to wake up and face reality.

Fragment Nanoha:
Ah!?!
No! I don’t want to go back!
Don’t destroy my dream, my sky! This is my only…!

Aurion:
Hmph…
You don't have a choice in the matter.
Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty.

Fragment Nanoha:
No…!
No! No! NO! NO!
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

----

*After Battle*

<Version A>
Fragment Nanoha:
…No way……

Aurion:
As expected, even her skill is gone like this.
</Version A>

<Version B>
Fragment Nanoha:
W-why…

Aurion:
It’s no use trying to fight in that state.
</Version B>

<Version C>
Fragment Nanoha:
………

Aurion:
Argh… Tch!
She’s still a top-class aggressor even in this condition.
</Version C>

----

Fragment Nanoha:
No…
I… I don’t want to go back…
I don’t…

Aurion:
So you’re saying that living in this monotonous dream is fine?
Snap out of it, Nanoha.

Fragment Nanoha:
*sob*
I can’t fly anymore… *sob* I can’t even walk…
Even the people around me are suffering because of me.

Aurion:
*sigh*
You’re an idiot.

Fragment Nanoha:
……

Aurion:
Sure. Keep on trying to stick to this dream.
But I assure you that you’ll only bring even worse suffering for those around you.
It’s useless trying to wish that they don’t care.

Fragment Nanoha:
*sniff*
But what can I do…? I’m no longer-

Aurion:
You’re no longer persistent, that’s what.
This isn’t like you. What exactly is stopping you from standing up again?
Or rather… are you afraid to do so again?

Fragment Nanoha:
That’s not it! I…
I want to…

Aurion:
You won’t be shot down again if you don’t fly.

Fragment Nanoha:
…!

Aurion:
Sure.
Suit yourself if that’s how you want things to end.

Fragment Nanoha:
No…
I don’t want things to end like this…
I want walk again… I want to fly again…
*sob* B-but I…

Aurion:
Nanoha.
*Reishiki’s core glows lightly, written on the crystal*
Look at your feet.

Fragment Nanoha:
Ah…?
M-my magic should already be gone, but…

<The energy wings on the sides of Nanoha’s feet are seemingly still spread out, shining brightly>

Aurion:
You’re quite annoying, you know?
Cowering away from flight just because you clipped your feathers…
Your wings never left you; you just chose to ignore it!

Fragment Nanoha:
Ah…

Aurion:
If you don’t even have the resolve to grasp something already in front of you, don’t even try dreaming of getting what you want.
I can’t tell exactly when. It may be after you wake up. It may be even weeks from now.
But very soon, you will be taken to your sky again, whether you like it or not.

Fragment Nanoha:
W-what?

Aurion:
Somebody will come. And he will show you the sky that you love so much again.
But the rest is up to you. You decide whether you want to grasp it as your own or just live for the rest of your life as a wingless falcon for the rest of your life.

Fragment Nanoha:
……
How… do you know that?

Aurion:
*lightly grabs Nanoha’s ear and promptly pulls out a cloud-shaped lollipop, giving it to her*
I’m a magician. And I know your future.
In it, you’re flying again, stronger than ever. Your friends are all there and happily with you.
But for that to happen, you must make the first step.
*wipes away a tear*
Tell me honestly, from the bottom of your heart.
Do you want to fly again…?

Fragment Nanoha:
*grabs the candy and tastes it, a hint of a smile forming on her lips*
… Yes.

Aurion:
Good girl.
*pats her head*
Now go back and do it.

Fragment Nanoha:
Ah… Hai!
… Will we meet again Magician-san?

Aurion:
Who knows?
Probably when you wake up, I’ll give you some chocolate in the real world.

Fragment Nanoha:
Really?
It’s a promise then!

Aurion:
I’m not promising anything of the sort.
But I can tell you this. We will meet again; sooner than you think.

Fragment Nanoha:
I see… I’m glad.
*starts fading*
Bye-bye, Magician-san!

Aurion:
Yeah.
Spread your wings, kid.

<Fragment Nanoha disappears>

Aurion:
What a troublesome girl. Her appearance as a teenager with a child’s mind only made it sillier.
Haah... Am I a babysitter now? First, that bizarre clingy daughter version of Hayate and then a regressed mental age Nanoha... What should I expect next; little sister Shamal? Nah.
Still, seeing a facet of one’s persona isolated, magnified and given life is as fascinating as ever.
(And I also got evidence that only our appearances remain static here. The state of mind of the fragments can regress to that of an earlier stage…That means even I-!!!)

Almaria:
[Chief?]

Aurion:
*covering his face with his hand, leaving only his shocked eyes visible, irises pulsating sporadically with a dark azure glow*
… Damn… DAMN!!! A blunder like this now of all times!
I got too caught up with studying this place! If a Fragment from my past is indeed here… [I]Damn it!!!

Almaria:
*glows softly*
[Please… calm down.]

Aurion:
Haa… *breaths deeply, eyes turning back to normal*
Alright; enough with this leisurely pace!
Let’s hurry, Almaria. Be vigilant and prepare for the worst. .

Almaria:
[Affirmative, Chief.]

Aurion:
(I hope the others are fine…
There’s no need for those kids to get involved with my past!)

I know emo-EMO!Nanoha may be unbelievable at face value, but what goes on inside a crippled person's mind should be quite chaotic. This Fragment of Nanoha is the embodiment of all her pain and fears when she was seriously injured and crippled for a long time when she was 11, as shown in StrikerS.

Next up, a Vita route and then a Fate route scenarios!:D
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa167/Comartemis/1195423550187356949molumen_red_appr.png

This looks like fun. I think I'll give Fragment Ixpellia a shot...

*COMMENCE BRAINSTORM*

Tempy

2010-04-13, 15:48

There are alternative Victory Conditions in the Lunatic Noland fight:

Easy Mode: Escape!

Normal Mode: Survive 15 seconds with < 50% life

Hard Mode: Survive 60 seconds < 50% life

Lunatic Mode: Hit the knight with EX Attack

EX STAGE (complete story arc without continuing)

Nanoha, Fate, Hayate, and Keroko VS Lunatic Noland

Combo Attacks and Ultra-Breaker (Ragnarok-Starlight-Plasma Zamber-Ion Cannon) galore.

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-13, 20:32

A's to StrikerS PSP

CHOOSE YOUR CHARACTER

>>> Karl E. Testarossa <<<

"Karl Testarossa. Bhalkad. Launching!"

Saint Navy Strike Cruiser "Benevolent Dawn"
Cruising altitude over the Sea of Japan

Captain: Status report, Lieutenant.

Lieutenant: Still no readings on the scanners, Sir.

Captain: That thing still wants to play hardball with us even though we've come all the way to Earth... Inquisitor Karl, do you intend to proceed?

Karl: *radio static then clears* Affirmative, Captain.

Lieutenant: Captain, we remain unable to hail any of the TSAB mages inside the anomaly. Inquisitor Karl will penetrate the anomaly in 30 seconds. Expecting contact loss with the Inquisitor thereafter.

Captain: Inquisitor, you will no longer have our support inside the sphere.

*cut scene outside. A lone knight completely encased in cream armor, magic particles shooting out of his backpack at full thrust, speeds towards a roiling sphere of dark energy hanging over a city*

Karl: Acknowledged. Commencing operation.

Captain: May the Light be with you. Benevolent Dawn out. *mutters* Why are Inquisitors always such a wild bunch...

Karl: I can sense everyone, but just vaguely...

*the knight plunges in fists first*

Karl: I have to be in time. Or there may not even be a planet left.It's all your fault, Aaron008R! :frustrated:

Kyral

2010-04-14, 08:25

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha: A’s to StrikerS Portable: FragmentS.

Awesome idea is awesome.
To bad I have the same problem as FlameSparkZ and non of my OC's could make an appearance. :heh:
Hm, Maybe Rinya could.

Hehe, Hayauri- *bokusatsu'd*

*snip*

Very nice action! And I loved the handkerchief part at the end! :D

Eh. Why not.

[SPOILER="Sorrow"]*snip*

Epic! I know why I love Noland. ^.^

Ah... That reminds me! Oo;;
Sorry Tempest, I had stuff to do and totaly forgott! ;_;

*snip*

Damn cute! *.*

And now, the promised Fragment Nanoha scenario. >:3

*snip*

I know emo-EMO!Nanoha may be unbelievable at face value, but what goes on inside a crippled person's mind should be quite chaotic. This Fragment of Nanoha is the embodiment of all her pain and fears when she was seriously injured and crippled for a long time when she was 11, as shown in StrikerS.

Next up, a Vita route and then a Fate route scenarios!:D

Strange, but somehow it fits. Very nice idea.

Alright. I didn't do much... I can contribute with a drawing of Hel I finaly finished.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4089/heldarkhayate.jpg (http://img132.imageshack.us/i/heldarkhayate.jpg/)

NorthernFallout

2010-04-14, 09:51

Woha, I used a CC. Incredible. Very short this one.

http://i455.photobucket.com/albums/qq275/AtomicoX/Random/randombattle.jpg

I am not afraid to die.

She walked across the barren battlefield that had seen so much death in past years. In the far reaches of the horizon the distant sound of battle could be heard wrecking the silent harmony, explosions flashing across the sky of nights. Stars glimpsed through the thick black clouds hovering in the above.

I will not lose my mind.

Her white dress smothered with red fluttered in the wind as her feet stepped upon the fallen, burnt flesh and the liquid of life itself staining the ground. Bones clattered from the vibrations created by the machines of war, torturing the distant foes with shock and awe.

The wind was cold and harsh, a perfect fit into the scenario playing with an ensemble stronger than thunder. A strand of orange hair fell over her eye, which she swiped away with a stroke of her hand.

"Why must this fighting go on..." she whispered and continued her slow walk. To her right a company of the dead surged ahead, pieces of flesh dragging behind and organs hanging outside their ravaged bodies. The unquestioned loyalty to the King, with only the purpose to fight. To die in battle.

I've seen this so many times before.

Machines of the air roared past her in the darkness of the sky, leaving a trail of sparkling magic particles in their wake that almost as rain slowly descended upon the ground. Their sleek wings cut through the air without resistance, heading towards the battle in the horizon. The powerful weapons they carried would be a force to be reckoned with and the foe would suffer the wrath of destruction.

No more. Why must it go on?

A lone warrior strode up to its King and bowed, its arm nearly falling off from its rotten muscles. It was an abomination of nature, a walking corpse without emotion or soul. Yet, it spoke with a human's voice, one void of the despair so common on the battlefield.

"My King, our forces have proven unstoppable. The time of victory is nigh. We need you, my King. Lead our forces into the final struggle."

The girl sighed and clasped the warrior's cheek with a careful hand. She didn't see them as monsters. These sad beings of the beyond didn't deserve such words. "Why must you do this? Why must the fighting continue?"

"For you, my King. The fight, the conquest. It's all for you."

"But why can't we live in peace? If I am your King, why do you not obey what I say?"

The warrior didn't speak another word and eyed its King with silence. A lone tear rolled down the girl's cheek and she spoke, a slight tremble in her voice betraying her calm.

"If that is how it has to be. Yet I cannot understand it. I really cannot."

The warrior bowed again and strode off to join its brethren, marching off into the horizon. Behind them the King walked ever so slowly, grieving for the lost and for the damned. Without making the softest noise, a dark cloak began to form over her body, a black shadow coming to life. Magic began to intensify the air around her and her hands began to glow ever so slightly.

I cannot understand it.

Black pillars began to form around her, creating a circle of darkness as strikes of lightning bolted out from the void. The flashes enlightened the gruesome landscape of death.

I really cannot.

In a flash she disappeared, leaving only scorch marks on the blood-splattered ground. In the distant horizon only a lone, massive bolt of the shadows spoke of the Dark King Ixpellia's arrival on the battlefield.
This short is a wildcard, and short, but filled with meaning. Since we don't have a lot of info regarding this period, I took the freedom to visualize it as I would like it to be. I'm sure I break some obscure canon deep into a thread somewhere but I really don't care unless it's grafted into stone.

The "flying machines" are similar to jets, but without the "mechanics", so they are operating on a rougher form of magic. Their weapons systems are magical bombs, compressed magical power that is unleashed when they hit the ground. The "machines of war" are simply tanks or light vehicles, firing magic rounds.

The foe is unknown as of yet.

Regarding Ix, I played heavily upon her different titles when it comes to the end. This is what my impression of her is anyway.

Regarding the "Army of the Dead" I went with my imagination. I know of the mariages, but I just can't see them this early so I went with a zombie/skeleton hybrid. An early prototype, one can say.

Inspired by Black Company and PAIN - Not Afraid To Die.

FlameSparkZ

2010-04-14, 14:21

Woha, I used a CC. Incredible. Very short this one.

*snip*
This short is a wildcard, and short, but filled with meaning. Since we don't have a lot of info regarding this period, I took the freedom to visualize it as I would like it to be. I'm sure I break some obscure canon deep into a thread somewhere but I really don't care unless it's grafted into stone.

The "flying machines" are similar to jets, but without the "mechanics", so they are operating on a rougher form of magic. Their weapons systems are magical bombs, compressed magical power that is unleashed when they hit the ground. The "machines of war" are simply tanks or light vehicles, firing magic rounds.

The foe is unknown as of yet.

Regarding Ix, I played heavily upon her different titles when it comes to the end. This is what my impression of her is anyway.

Regarding the "Army of the Dead" I went with my imagination. I know of the mariages, but I just can't see them this early so I went with a zombie/skeleton hybrid. An early prototype, one can say.

Inspired by Black Company and PAIN - Not Afraid To Die.

So, your take on Ixy's past?

I've thought up of one too, the very start of it, but haven't really written much of it :heh:
As for the Mariage, according to SSX, the technology was made by Al-Hazred(sp?), so I think they always looked like humans rather than zombies or skeletons...I also have a feeling Al-Hazredians are they type to show off how awesome their creations are, so they wouldn't give an unfinished project :rolleyes:

Well, that's just my 2 cents...don't mind me :heh::heh:

NorthernFallout

2010-04-14, 14:58

So, your take on Ixy's past?Among other things. I'd love to expand more but meh. With all these fics already going lol

As for the Mariage, according to SSX, the technology was made by Al-Hazred(sp?), so I think they always looked like humans rather than zombies or skeletons...I also have a feeling Al-Hazredians are they type to show off how awesome their creations are, so they wouldn't give an unfinished project :rolleyes:
You got a point, I actually forgot all about Al-Hazred. Of course, there is a wide range of possibilities to explore. In my mind, nothing is absolute in this case as we don't know, which I like since I can actually write something I like with canon stuff.

Aaron008R

2010-04-15, 03:58

Ergh, the emo, the emo. Understandable, but still a tad hard to take.

Deshou? :heh:

Also, lunatic Noland? Yeah, 'survive' already sounds like a hard goal there.

_, ,_ ∩
(　ﾟ∀ﾟ)彡　えーりん！えーりん！
　　⊂彡
_, ,_ ∩
(　ﾟ∀ﾟ)彡　えーりん！えーりん！
　　⊂彡

Hmm, in a way perhaps.

She says, "Mukyu~!" or bust! >:3

*HIT WITH ORBITAL BOMBARDMENT!!!*

:eyespin::eyespin::eyespin:

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa167/Comartemis/1195423550187356949molumen_red_appr.png

This looks like fun. I think I'll give Fragment Ixpellia a shot...

*COMMENCE BRAINSTORM*

Thanks!:D
And yes, do want more Ixy. >:3

There are alternative Victory Conditions in the Lunatic Noland fight:

Easy Mode: Escape!

Normal Mode: Survive 15 seconds with < 50% life

Hard Mode: Survive 60 seconds < 50% life

Lunatic Mode: Hit the knight with EX Attack

Lunatic Noland is insane...:eyespin::eyespin::eyespin:

EX STAGE (complete story arc without continuing)

Nanoha, Fate, Hayate, and Keroko VS Lunatic Noland

Combo Attacks and Ultra-Breaker (Ragnarok-Starlight-Plasma Zamber-Ion Cannon) galore.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

DO WANT!:D:D:D

(Though I tend to imagine this fight as a Star Ocean or Tales-style Real-time RPG battle. @_@ Must set the AI of the others to "STAY THE HELL AWAY" or "Do Nothing" or they'll get taken down in two or three hits from the big and insane chap when they go near. Though Dissidia-style is fine too.\o/)

A's to StrikerS PSP

CHOOSE YOUR CHARACTER

>>> Karl E. Testarossa <<<

"Karl Testarossa. Bhalkad. Launching!"

Saint Navy Strike Cruiser "Benevolent Dawn"
Cruising altitude over the Sea of Japan

Captain: Status report, Lieutenant.

Lieutenant: Still no readings on the scanners, Sir.

Captain: That thing still wants to play hardball with us even though we've come all the way to Earth... Inquisitor Karl, do you intend to proceed?

Karl: *radio static then clears* Affirmative, Captain.

Lieutenant: Captain, we remain unable to hail any of the TSAB mages inside the anomaly. Inquisitor Karl will penetrate the anomaly in 30 seconds. Expecting contact loss with the Inquisitor thereafter.

Captain: Inquisitor, you will no longer have our support inside the sphere.

*cut scene outside. A lone knight completely encased in cream armor, magic particles shooting out of his backpack at full thrust, speeds towards a roiling sphere of dark energy hanging over a city*

Karl: Acknowledged. Commencing operation.

Captain: May the Light be with you. Benevolent Dawn out. *mutters* Why are Inquisitors always such a wild bunch...

Karl: I can sense everyone, but just vaguely...

*the knight plunges in fists first*

Karl: I have to be in time. Or there may not even be a planet left.It's all your fault, Aaron008R! :frustrated:

Kukukukukuku... Welcome back to OCT. >:3

But aside from that, WHY ON EARTH!?!?!? @___@

Awesome idea is awesome.
To bad I have the same problem as FlameSparkZ and non of my OC's could make an appearance. :heh:

:sad:

Hm, Maybe Rinya could.

When does S(avage)-Elric come into the picture, anyway...?:heh:

Hehe, Hayauri- *bokusatsu'd*

*reloads* :3

Strange, but somehow it fits. Very nice idea.

Thanks. :nod:

Alright. I didn't do much... I can contribute with a drawing of Hel I finaly finished.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4089/heldarkhayate.jpg (http://img132.imageshack.us/i/heldarkhayate.jpg/)

:eek: :eek: :eek:
:eek: :eek: :eek:
:eek: :eek: :eek:

She looks awesome but her expression... SCARY!!! :upset::upset::upset:

Now I can more or less get why the other Generals are afraid of her. :upset:

Awesome edit. >:3

Woha, I used a CC. Incredible. Very short this one.

*snip*
*snip*

IXPELLIA MATERIAL!!! :hyper-^v^:

I like this short. It's always nice to see the actual nature of a person behind his/her reputation. Ixy is presented as a sympathetic character for her plight here. =3

~~~~~~~

And now, the promised Vita scenario! What comes after is not Fate's since a sudden brainstorm attacked me, though.:uhoh::heh:

Vita:
Ah.
It’s you.

Fragment Aurion:
Hm?
Vita. What brings you here?

Vita:
Heh. A fake huh?

Fragment Aurion:
What are you mumbling about there?
If you came to get some candy, you can get some from the office receptionist.

Vita:
*veinpop*
Even as a fake, I get really irritated once this bastard opens his mouth.

Fragment Aurion:
Hmph. Well, if you’re going to be mumbling incoherently there, then maybe you can be helpful and assist in testing this-Whoa!

<a large group of cracks in the metal floor is seen a few feet where he is standing, Graf Eisen on it>

Vita:
Heh. Yeah!
I’ll help with your stupid equipment test or whatever. Let’s just start already!
(This one's a fake. That means I can bash him around as much as I want!)

Fragment Aurion:
Hoh…
Unusually enthusiastic are we?

Vita:
Ah, shut up!
Just hearing you pisses me off!!!

----

*After Battle*

<Version A>
Vita:
Che…
What garbage. It’s almost disappointing.

Fragment Aurion:
Gah…! The equipment got wrecked.
How am I supposed to get data like this, eh?

Vita:
Not my problem.
</Version A>

<Version B>
Fragment Aurion:
Damn.
Not as good as I hoped.

Vita:
Hmph! That all you got!?
</Version B>

<Version C>
Fragment Aurion:
Haa…
Well, at least the settings lead to decent results.

Vita:
Ugh…
Bastard… He’s annoying even in battle.
</Version C>

----

Fragment Aurion:
But still, you have to turn down the heat a bit when testing.
Most of the equipment here are not immune to being hammered by tons of force.

Vita:
Yeah, yeah. Whatever.

Fragment Aurion:
Speaking of which, I feel pretty banged up myself.
Vita, be a good girl and call a medic.

Vita:
Just shut up and die.

Fragment Aurion:
Haha.
What cold reaction…

<Fragment Aurion disappears>

Vita:
Hehe!
Getting to finally hammer that jerk’s face makes getting sucked into this Lost Logia worth it.
I wonder if I’ll meet more so I can beat them up.
Did I ever mention that Vita hates Aurion?:p

And then this...

Aurion:
Oh.

Fragment Keroko(?):
……

Aurion:
Yo, Keroko. What are you doing here?

Fragment Keroko(?):
*warped voice*
Keroko…?
I do not know of such a name.

Aurion:
…!

Fragment Keroko(?):
And you…
You’re an eyesore.
Get out of my sight.

Aurion:
(Hmm… This must be Keroko’s own fragment inside of her. The Black Dragon Aspect…)
Before that, there’s something I want to know.
You wouldn’t happen to be Neltharion, would you?

Fragment N(eltharion)-Keroko:
Hmph.
You’re not as ignorant as I thought.
Now that you know, you shall listen to my commands.

Aurion:
Hah.
If that’s the case, I won’t.

Fragment N-Keroko:
Oh? You know whom you face, yet display such insolence?

Aurion:
This is one strange situation, but it's an incredible chance for me.
I’ve always been wondering for a way to study the Dark Dragon’s element without harming Keroko.
I can’t back away while such a compelling opportunity is presented before me.

Fragment N-Keroko:
*eyes glow crimson, causing a wave of black and red energy to blow like wind from around her body*
You cretin…
Do you know who you’re dealing with?

Aurion:
All too well, my friend.
*eyes glow cobalt, some of the energy blowing from Fragment Keroko being dispersed and converted to his own color when they approach him*

Fragment N-Keroko:
*Eyes narrow*
What?

Aurion:
You’re a mere counterfeit fragment of the real fragment inside a mortal body. I doubt the quality of a copy like you could ever compare with the original, but I trust that you can provide me with interesting data as reference.

Fragment N-Keroko:
Such impertinent words…
You dare to think of me as a laboratory specimen?!

Aurion:
Why yes. I’m far too interested with your existence to bother assuaging your pride, dragon whelp.
Since you’re body is also just another fake, no one will mind if I dissect it for study, right?

Fragment N-Keroko:
YOU FOOLISH HUMAN!!!
You could have left with your life had you only known your place…!
Now your existence is forfeit!
*LARGE energy burst*

Aurion:
Oh I know my place.
*raises left arm sideways*

Reishiki:
[Standing By…]
[Complete.]

Almaria:
[System reassignment complete.]
[Ready to receive orders, Chief.]

Aurion:
And it’s currently here, to do some research.
I’m a scientist after all.

Fragment N-Keroko:
THEN I SHALL ALLOW YOU TO STUDY THE WORLD BEYOND YOUR MORTAL LIFE!

<CHALLENGE STAGE: Enemy always on Full Drive>

<Passive Skill Activation: Speed Spell and Spell Force Up>

----

*After Battle*

<Version A>
Fragment N-Keroko:
Why…? WHY?!
My power won’t reach him…

Aurion:
Ahh… How disappointing.
I knew a fake would be an inferior specimen, but this is just depressing.
</Version A>

<Version B>
Fragment N-Keroko:
Curse you, human…!

Aurion:
Hate me all you want.
Who knows? It might be intense enough to kill me.
</Version B>

<Version C>
Fragment N-Keroko:
Grrrh…
Just a little more!

Aurion:
U-urgh… Damn…
Next time something like this happens, I’m leaving to fighting to someone else.
</Version C>

----

Aurion:
It seems like I win.
Don’t worry though, dissection and study of living organisms is outside my area of expertise.
I was just kidding about that part.

Fragment N-Keroko:
You may have survived today human.
But remember, someday your day will-

Aurion:
I don’t want to listen to a bloated head who thinks it’s a dragon lord spouting the obvious.
It will come, naturally.
It’s just that you’re unlikely to be there to see it.

Fragment N-Keroko:
Grrr…!

Aurion:
By the way, I thank you for the data you provided me.
So please don’t think that you did not accomplish anything.
You were an exemplary lab rat.

Fragment N-Keroko:
Damn you…
You may have won this battle, I give you that. But hear this, and hear it well. I have seen you, mage.

<Fragment N-Keroko disappears>

Aurion:
How dramatic...
Ahh, my head is starting to hurt.

Almaria:
[Chief is as reckless as ever.]

Aurion:
I’m not one to pass up a good opportunity.

Almaria:
[I suggest maintaining the System Link from this point onwards.]

Aurion:
Sure. The enemies after this should become tougher.
But anyway, this confirms one of my hypotheses earlier.
We’re been making good progress so far, Almaria.

Almaria:
[Yes, Chief.]

Aurion:
Okay.
I wonder who’s next…

<Passive Skills; Speed Spell and Spell Force Up have become default skills>

(Yes, Aurion only gets his default passive skills starting from this stage, onwards.
His traits as a mage are also taken into consideration in the gameplay; such as his manipulation ability giving him a chance to use spells even when his energy bar is depleted and of course the headaches caused by this ability that results in stalling and small amounts of damage. His energy bar also drains faster compared to other characters.)

I'm rather nervous about my portrayal here...:heh:
A little help here, Keroko? :uhoh::eyespin:

Up next is a Fate scenario. After that is still up in the air, but I may just do a stage where the secret character in the game makes an appearance. >:3

EDIT: Made corrections to the second scenario based on Keroko's specifications.

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-15, 05:15

Kukukukukuku... Welcome back to OCT. >:3

But aside from that, WHY ON EARTH!?!?!? @___@In time, Ojichan. For now, let's say because it fits (both story elements and age group), it explains why the Aces are involved, and it even explains why the Materials reappear as mid-bosses, even after destruction of the Book of Darkness, if I were to tie this together as a retelling on my fic, like how A's Portable was a retelling variant of A's. :3

It'll all make sense once Karl reaches the last boss. :p

Up next is a Fate scenario. After that is still up in the air, but I may just do a stage where the secret character in the game makes an appearance. >:3\o/

*machinations*

NorthernFallout

2010-04-15, 08:01

I like this short. It's always nice to see the actual nature of a person behind his/her reputation. Ixy is presented as a sympathetic character for her plight here. =3
Glad you liked it. My impression of her nature at least. I think I got a pretty accurate picture from SSX and I'll see if I can write more with her as I like her... mysterious past.

Onwards, to the battlefield!

Kyral

2010-04-15, 10:24

When does S(avage)-Elric come into the picture, anyway...?:heh:

The totaly insane and overpowered version, about a year before StrikerS.
The fugitive version who's still able to withstand Carnage's mind control, some time earlier. I still think about exact dates but knowing me it will take some time (Heck, I'm even still undecided when he joins TSAB exactly).

So I take back what I said earlier. Possible stuff is possible.
An Elric and a Fragment of his could be around.

:eek: :eek: :eek:
:eek: :eek: :eek:
:eek: :eek: :eek:

She looks awesome but her expression... SCARY!!! :upset::upset::upset:

Now I can more or less get why the other Generals are afraid of her. :upset:

Awesome edit. >:3

Woah! Reading this gave me ideas for some more stuff! :twitch:

Glad you like it! :3

Woha, I used a CC. Incredible. Very short this one.

*snip*

Ixy! :D
Very nice! She's not used often.

*snip*
Did I ever mention that Vita hates Aurion?:p

That was gold! xD

And then this...

*snip*

I'm rather nervous about my portrayal here...:heh:
A little help here, Keroko? :uhoh::eyespin:

Hm... I would have made him less hot headed and more overbearing. More annoyed about the little insect trying to anger him then outright pissed.

But that's just my interpretation of Neltharion. I admit I never read a WarCraft book, so I don't know that much about his character.

Up next is a Fate scenario. After that is still up in the air, but I may just do a stage where the secret character in the game makes an appearance. >:3

Keep it up! :)

Keroko

2010-04-15, 10:27

She says, "Mukyu~!" or bust! >:3

Bust, then.

Aurion:
Oh.

Fragment Keroko(?):
……

Aurion:
Yo, Keroko. What are you doing here?

Fragment Keroko(?):
*warped voice*
Keroko…?
I don’t know of such a name.

Aurion:
…!

Fragment Keroko(?):
And you…
You’re an eyesore.
Get out of my sight.

Aurion:
(Hmm… This must be Keroko’s own fragment inside of her. The Black Dragon Aspect…)
Before that, there’s something I want to know.
You wouldn’t happen to be Neltharion, would you?

Fragment N(eltharion)-Keroko:
Hmph.
You’re not as ignorant as I thought.
Now that you know, you shall listen to my commands.

Aurion:
Hah.
If that’s the case, I can’t.

Fragment N-Keroko:
Oh? You know whom you face, yet display such insolence?

Aurion:
This is one strange situation, but it works for me.
I’ve always been wondering for a way to study the Dark Dragon’s element without harming Keroko.
I can’t back away while such a great opportunity is presented before me.

Fragment N-Keroko:
*eyes glow crimson, causing a wave of black and red energy to blow like wind from around her body*
You cretin…
Do you know who you’re dealing with?

Aurion:
All too well, my friend.
*eyes glow cobalt, some of the energy blowing from Fragment Keroko being dispersed and converted to his own color when they approach him*

Fragment N-Keroko:
*Eyes narrow* What?

Aurion:
You’re a mere counterfeit fragment of the real fragment inside a mortal body. I doubt the quality of a copy like you could ever compare with the original, but I trust that you can provide me with interesting data as reference.

Fragment N-Keroko:
Such impertinent words…
You dare to think of me as a laboratory specimen?!

Aurion:
Why yes. I’m far too interested with your existence to bother assuaging your pride, dragon whelp.
Since you’re body is also just another fake, no one will mind if I dissect it for study, right?

Fragment N-Keroko:
YOU FOOLISH MORTAL!!!
You could have left with your life had you only known your place…!
Now your existence is forfeit!
*LARGE energy burst*

Aurion:
Oh I know my place.
*raises left arm sideways*

Reishiki:
[Standing By…]
[Complete.]

Almaria:
[System reassignment complete.]
[Ready to receive orders, Chief.]

Aurion:
And it’s currently here, to do some research.
I’m a scientist after all.

Fragment N-Keroko:
THEN I SHALL ALLOW YOU TO STUDY THE WORLD BEYOND YOUR MORTAL LIFE!

<CHALLENGE STAGE: Enemy always on Full Drive>

<Passive Skill Activation: Speed Spell and Spell Force Up>

----

*After Battle*

<Version A>
Fragment N-Keroko:
Why…? WHY?!
My power won’t reach him…

Aurion:
Ahh… How disappointing.
I knew a fake would be an inferior specimen, but this is just depressing.
</Version A>

<Version B>
Fragment N-Keroko:
Curse you, mortal…!

Aurion:
Hate me all you want.
Who knows? It might be intense enough to kill me.
</Version B>

<Version C>
Fragment N-Keroko:
Grrrh…
Just a little more!

Aurion:
U-urgh… Damn…
Next time something like this happens, I’m leaving to fighting to someone else.
</Version C>

----

Aurion:
It seems like I win.
Don’t worry though, dissection and study of living organisms is outside my area of expertise.
I was just kidding about that part.

Fragment N-Keroko:
You may have survived today human.
But remember, someday your day will-

Aurion:
I don’t want to listen to a bloated head who thinks it’s a dragon lord spouting the obvious.
It will come, naturally.
It’s just that you’re unlikely to be there to see it.

Fragment N-Keroko:
Grrr…!

Aurion:
By the way, I thank you for the data you provided me.
So please don’t think that you did not accomplish anything.
You were an exemplary lab rat.

Fragment N-Keroko:
Damn you…
You may have won this battle, I give you that. But hear this, and hear it well. I have seen you, mage.

<Fragment N-Keroko disappears>

Aurion:
So noisy…
Ahh, my head is starting to hurt too.

Almaria:
[Chief is as reckless as ever.]

Aurion:
I’m not one to pass up a good opportunity, Almaria.

Almaria:
[I suggest maintaining the System Link from this point onwards.]

Aurion:
Sure. The enemies after this should become tougher.
But anyway, this confirms one of my hypotheses earlier.
We’re been making good progress so far, Almaria.

Almaria:
[Yes, Chief.]

Aurion:
Okay.
I wonder who’s next…

<Passive Skills; Speed Spell and Spell Force Up have become default skills>

(Yes, Aurion only gets his default passive skills starting from this stage, onwards.
His traits as a mage are also taken into consideration in the gameplay; such as his manipulation ability giving him a chance to use spells even when his energy bar is depleted and of course the headaches caused by this ability that results in stalling and small amounts of damage. His energy bar also drains faster compared to other characters.)

I'm rather nervous about my portrayal here...:heh:
A little help here, Keroko? :uhoh::eyespin:

Up next is a Fate scenario. After that is still up in the air, but I may just do a stage where the secret character in the game makes an appearance. >:3

First off, Vita VS Aurion was awesome. Second, corrections made.

Comartemis

2010-04-15, 12:01

*Stage open, “Midnight in Uminari City”*

Raising Heart:
Master! Evasive action!

*Massive explosion sfx*

Nanoha:
W-wow, nice save Raising Heart. That would’ve hurt a lot…

???:
Stupid…

Nanoha:
Who’s there?! Show yourself!

???:
…

Nanoha:
…!

Raising Heart:
Match confirmed! The target is a Fragment!

Nanoha:
A Fragment of… me?

White Devil:
Stupid. Why couldn’t you let me hit you?

Nanoha:
Well it would’ve hurt a lot…

White Devil:
That’s the idea, dummy!

Nanoha:
Eh?! But why… wait… why are you crying?

White Devil:
…

Nanoha:
Please, tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can—

White Devil:
Shut up! You can’t do anything to help me!

Nanoha:
Not if you don’t tell me what’s wrong, I can’t!

White Devil:
What good would telling you do?! Words don’t solve anything! Words can’t communicate what you really feel…! I can tell you how much it hurts all I like, it still won’t make you understand it!

Nanoha:
…if that’s the way you feel… then please tell me, how can I help you?

White Devil:
Feel…

Nanoha:
Eh?

White Devil:
…feel my pain. All of it. Drown in it! Suffer and die and then suffer some more!

----

[After Battle]

<Version A>
White Devil:
Dammit… I’m… not done yet!

Nanoha:
I’m sorry… but you can’t win like this.
</Version A>

<Version B>
White Devil:
No… you still don’t… understand…!

Nanoha:
Please, that’s enough!
</Version B>

<Version C>
White Devil:
Do you… do you get it now?

Nanoha:
…
</Version C>

----

*BGM: Namae wo Yonde (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9aDEx5gaN0&feature=related)*

White Devil:
…

Nanoha:
I’m sorry, but I still have things to do. I can’t die yet.

White Devil:
So… this is it? I just… disappear…?
No… no…! I… I don’t want to disappear!
Mama! Papa! Please…! I… I don’t want to be left alone again!

*SFX: Raising Heart clatters to the ground*

Nanoha:
You’re not.
You’re not alone.
I’m right here. And I understand.

White Devil:
*sobbing*

Nanoha:
Go to sleep now, Nanoha. I’ll be right here when you wake up again.

White Devil:
*sobbing slows, then ceases*
…thank you.
*disintegration*

*SFX: Gust of wind*

Nanoha:
*long, pensive silence*

…loneliness… really is the most painful feeling…

The aspect of Nanoha that this Fragment represents is the pain of loneliness, the part of her that makes her want to help people.

A while ago a few friends and I got into a discussion over what Nanoha's Shadow would be if she had a Persona and I suggested that her shadow would be sadism. Nanoha is always trying to understand other peoples' pain, but I had the thought that maybe somewhere deep in the darkest shadows of her heart she enjoys hurting the people she wants to make friends with because she's subconsciously trying to communicate her pain to them.

When I started this little exercise I thought I'd turn this fight into something like Nanoha confronting her shadow, with White Devil giving her a Hannibal Lecture and Nanoha being really shaken up when the fight was over, but then the source of Nanoha's pain -- her family's temporary "abandonment" of her when Shiro was in the hospital -- came into play and Devil wound up being an intensely lonely girl lashing out at people to try to make them hurt as badly as she does.

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-15, 12:36

Garh so late... I'll review the stuff when I come back in the morning. Looks like I over-enjoyed my temporal liberty from surveillance. :heh:

Kyral

2010-04-17, 07:51

To requote Aaron:
Now I can more or less get why the other Generals are afraid of her. :upset:

Really? You have NO idea!

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/9062/darkgeneralsforcedcospl.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/darkgeneralsforcedcospl.jpg/)

Keroko

2010-04-19, 16:56

"Only" the school uniform? I am as curious as I am frightened.

Gao~!

Tempy

2010-04-19, 18:36

Makes me kinda relieved Noland isn't involved in these shenanigans.

Later in the Day EDIT:

So, yeah. Ancient Belka funsies, with cameos. Alistina too.

“What a fine mess we’re in,” a woman with long red hair murmured with a grin, her azure eyes
gazing into the shifting horizon. They were coming, a great number of the enemy, thirsty for blood
and hunting for heads. And here she was, the only field officer available to lead. The enemy had
managed to strike a critical blow to her troops, successfully assassinating several non-commissioned
officers and nearly every officer in a flash before counter-snipers struck back. Those few officers
that did survive lacked the confidence or the experience to lead. As a result, the responsibility fell
to her, the Lady Alistina Carter, to show these men to victory.

Battle was moments away, and with the last few sergeants and lieutenants gathered around her,
the Lady prepared. They had little more than a map and a large rock for a table, but it would do.

A single soldier, clad in a dusty greatcoat and scratched armor, sprinted his way through the
trenches. With each step his gear rattled, his weapon swinging with the sway of his arms. Deep in
a tunnel was the makeshift headquarters, lit by several electric lamps. Stepping through the
threshold, the soldier saluted.

“My lady and sirs, recon report at least two battalion sized groups incoming. It could very well
be regiment or brigade strength,” he reported without preamble, his voice distorted slightly by the
gasmask he wore. “Forward groups are light infantry, their flanks cavalry, and heavy materials in
the rear. Sergeant Lan believes there are solid artillery in addition to bombardment mages.
Estimated forty percent mage force.”

A worried look passed through the gathered command group, though Carter remained unfazed.

“Well then. Are we prepared, Lieutenant?” she asked of a man in mage’s robes.

“Aye. As good as any of us will be,” he looked over gathered battlegroup. No more than three
hundred infantry soldiers, veterans and recruits alike, crouched in trenches and ducked behind
crumbling walls. They were outnumbered at least four to one, armed with only infantry-level
weapons and a handful of magic-capable Knights; certainly a difficult position, but not impossible.
“Lady Carter, what do you think our chances are?”

The red-haired beauty allowed her gaze to travel across her men, the battlefield, and the
approaching horde. “We need only hold for a little longer, until evening if we have to. By sunset,
reinforcements will arrive. Have all men double check their weapons and devices… and make
sure they are ready for close combat.”

With a salute, they scattered, leaving the noble and the scout alone within the cave. Turning to
the soldier, Alistina decided to entertain her curiosity.

“What is your name and designation, scout?”

“Ma’am!” he brought a hand up to salute. “Corporal Noland Reiniger, 2nd Heavy Assault
Battalion, 82nd Special Infantry Division.”

“A shocktrooper.”

“Aye, my lady.”

“Hardly the job you were meant for.”

She was mostly right. A scout was usually lightly armored and given specialized equipment to
improve his or her performance. In comparison, the corporal’s status as a shocktrooper granted
him heavier armor and weapons, not exactly the prime set up for reconnaissance work. Indeed,
Noland wore a dark grey greatcoat with molded armor plates on his shoulders, chest, and back.
Additional armor plates were on his shins and thighs, under the coat, with an armored helmet to
complete the set. His rucksack doubled as an energy source for his weapon, a pulse rifle
calibrated for higher-powered shots than the standard issue. Most unique of his outfit was his
mask, an older-style gasmask with a tube leading into his pack and a faceplate painted bone white.
Its eye lenses had a unearthly red tint to it that seemed to glow in the lamplight, completing a rather
disturbing skull-like motif. Seeing a line of these shocktroopers must have been quite a terrifying
thing to see…

“We do what we must, my lady. We lack pathfinders and true reconnaissance teams, so my
squad had to take the job.”

“Is your weapon functional?”

He brought the rifle up to inspect it quickly. “Eighty-five percent combat load, my lady.”

“Are you ready to die?”

“I would prefer not to, ma’am.”

“Hmm. I like that answer,” the woman smiled in amusement. “I suppose the rest of your squad
remains in hiding?”

“Yes, my lady. May I report back to them?”

“No, remain here. You are now part of my honor guard. Communicate to me their observations.”

Behind red-tinted goggles, the shocktrooper blinked. This sort of position was akin to a
battlefield promotion, something only the most hardened of veterans or the most skilled of soldiers
are chosen to take up. Yet, he was a conscript, called to duty by the Kaiser and deployed a
scant three months ago. Not a veteran, but not green either. This was a rare opportunity; despite
this, Noland was hesitant to accept.

The knight was quick to pick up on the indecision. “Do you not wish to be by my side?”

“Begging your pardon, my lady, but I’m not all that comfortable with leaving my comrades out
like that. We’ve been through this entire campaign together, and many of our friends have fallen in
battle. To suddenly be taken away from them…” he trailed off.

“Your loyalty is commendable, and I appreciate your frankness. If I was in your position, I too
would wish to remain with my brothers,” the knight-turned-general nodded. “However, the
situation calls for service above and beyond what is be expected of you. Your performance by
my side and the information you pass on to me may save the lives of many. You have a choice,
corporal, but to refuse is to let your brothers down.”

Noland was quick to salute back, “Yes, my lady. I apologize for my rudeness.”

“I ask not for apologies, but service.”

“You shall have it.”

He stiffened suddenly, a blurb of information passing through his short range radio. Rattling off a
string of mil-com chatter, the corporal shook his head as he returned his attention to Alistina.

“My lady, the enemy is moving faster than previously thought. They will be within artillery range
soon.”

“How soon?”

“Ten minutes, max. Likely faster, given their abnormal speed.”

“I see. Thank you, Corporal. I should make one last overview of our forces. Come with me.”

They walked through the flimsy, dug-in lines, their gazes met with the tired eyes of the men and
women anxious of the upcoming battle. Here, they had a terrain advantage, a maze of trenches
dug in to allow rapid troop movement and protection from artillery. It was an old-fashioned
method of warfare, but it was the best they could do with what was available. Even so, the
soldiers all knew a bad position when they saw it.

Six minutes passed.

“Enemy forces are within range, my lady. It will not be long until they enter range of our infantry.”

Alistina Carter stood, her sword gleaming in the afternoon sun and armor defiantly adamant. She
faced her comrades and allies, thrusting the blade into the sky. “We stand on desperate ground,
ground we cannot give up! The success of this campaign now rests upon each of your shoulders,
a honor that no one will ever deny or denounce! You men and women standing under the flag of
the Saint Kaiser, fear not and fight! May all of you find glory this day!”

A salvo of rockets soared overhead, the beams of enemy fire piercing the sky. It was time.

She turned, pointing her blade unerringly at the horde.

“FEUER FREI!”

Two hundred and sixteen seven pulse rifles spat intense fire, the deep thumps of support fire
thundering along with the sharp cracks of scouts’ solid-slug autorifles. Mortars rained death from
above and sharpshooters took careful aim, all over the chaotic din of shouted commands. The
enemy forces responded in kind, a terrifying salvo of searing hot energy and solid slugs. Distant
thumps preceded whistling crescendos and harmonic whispers as artillery fire and magical
bombardment shattered the skies.

For Noland, it was one of the most awesome and terrifying displays of firepower he had ever
experienced. The very air trembled as the earth below shook with every explosion and impact.
Dust and dirt were thrown into the air, as pulsed energy beams burned through the sky. Were it
not an act of war, this entire event could have passed for an amazing celebration, a wondrous
festival to celebrate life and living! Instead, no, they were here, torn apart by blinding shrapnel
and merciless spells of power.

“Long range plasma artillery incoming! They look like it’s coming to you, Corporal!” Noland’s
connection with his team came to life, causing him to immediately whirl around and wave down
his allies.

“Artillery burst! Scatter!” he screamed, though it was probably too late. Overhead, a brilliant
flash of light signaled the arched shot of superhot plasma; the single large blob suddenly split into
a number of smaller flares, each just as deadly.

Some ran. Some remained. Those who saw their death coming prepared to meet their ancestors.

Screeching metal! The scrape of wood and steel. The soldiers that cringed now found themselves
safe and whole, the sky above them darkened with dozens of magnificent shields. Upon the lip of
the trench stood the knight Alistina Carter, her hand outstretched in defiance.

“How rude,” she tossed her hair mockingly. “That gift is hardly befitting the atmosphere. Stand
brave, men! I am with you!”

Beside her, Noland was only able to shake his head, “Bloody hell, what a woman.”

All around them, the battle raged on. On every front, men and women fought and died. Screams,
cries, orders being yelled for every little bit of gain and loss they made. The armies clashed by
sword and by rifle, though the valiant knights would find that their lower, more typical brothers
would prove more efficient at repelling the enemy. Despite the danger of being exposed, Alistina
fought alongside her fellow soldiers, her magical blades flashing in the setting sun. Beside her, the
Corporal Noland Reiniger offered his own with his firearm.

“Infantry reinforcements confirmed! Get ready!”

“Noland! You’ve got aerial strikers inbound bearing one-one-niner-four!” a message from the
recon group, one that he immediately relayed to the commander. What came next, however,
made his heart drop in fear. “We’ll try to intercept them before they get within range!”

“Sergeant?! Wait, you don’t have anti-air!”

“Your sector is the most heavily hit, probably because of that commander of yours, and flyers are
just going to make things worse.”

The Corporal almost sputtered his answer, “You’d expose yourselves! We’re supposed to be
recon!”

“Don’t forget; we are also shocktroopers. It’ll take more than some pansy-ass air mages to take
us down!”

The transmission ended, and though Noland brought his hand up to toggle the radio once more,
a gauntleted hand came down onto his shoulder.

“Have faith in your brothers,” she chided gently, as if scolding a child. Through his mask, Noland
gave the woman a dumbfounded look, but understood her words. Right. They all had their duties,
and taking on mages with rifles was the thing shocktroopers did. Rarely were the odds in their
favor, but with speed and precision, they would prevail. Nodding, the soldier rejoined the firefight.

His weapon never seemed to stop firing, an endless barrage of death in brilliant blue. The feel of
recoil and the staccato beat of fire was barely acknowledged through the cacophonic haze of
combat, Noland’s focus solely on defeating his enemy. So focused, in fact, he failed to watch the
building heat. The weapon shrilled, beeping rapidly as the power feed abruptly ejected from the
weapon. The failsafe worked as it was meant to, though the bright blue energy venting from the
rifle and power feed made him a very large target.

“Damn it! Overheat!” he spat as he scrambled for the ejected cable, ducking behind a rock as he
fumbled to get the feed back into his weapon. Grabbing the connector, he could feel the heat
immediately bleed through his gloves and hear the sizzle of leather on hot surface. With a hiss and
clank, Noland’s weapon was finally active once more. In this brief respite, however, the soldier
was all too aware of the torrent of radio chatter buzzing in his ear.

“Incoming airborne infantry! Where is our anti-air?!”

“Phyis is down! We lost a shield mage!”

“Artillery burst approved and inbound! Brace for impact!”

“Oh god. Her-her head is gone!”

“This is Bravo squad! We’re down four men and no grenades!”

“Get out of here! The buster beam is—GYAAAGH!”

“GAS! GAS! GAS!”

“Ahhh damn it! Our guns are overheating! We can’t keep this pressure up!”

“MG ammo is low! We need a resupply ASAP!”

“Stand your ground! Let the enemy not gain another fo—”

“Oh gods! Oh gods! Medic! MEDIC! The sergeant is down!”

“My leg! My leg! Momma help me!”

By the Throne, we’re getting torn apart…!

“Corporal. Report,” Alistina’s voice was clear and precise, unlike the chaos all around him. She
stood tall, her body casting a long shadow over the still crouched shocktrooper. “How are our
troops?”

Noland swallowed, his lips a thin line. “Dire, my lady. Casualties and fatalities all around. The
enemy is merciless.”

“Then we must even more so,” the knight replied grimly. “Our lines?”

“We were the hardest hit, but that does not mean the other squads are fairing any better. They
are beaten, but they are holding, barely.”

Noland stiffened again, receiving another radio call, “My lady, Olney squad is down to two men.
They are holding our left flank, and if they fall, our lines will face an attack on two fronts.”

“Then we will be their aid. With me, now!” Alistina leapt up from her cover, boldly standing high
amongst the trenches. “Kasir squad, follow!”

“My lady, that is dangerous! You are completely exposed!” Noland's outcry came with reason.
The trenches were dug as a network, after all.

“We have little time! A leader cannot lead if she stands behind her troops; she guides her soldiers,
showing them the path to victory. It is up to them to follow!”

Heedless of the danger, she moved onward, followed by Kasir squad. With another shake of his
head, Noland too joined them.

Their arrival at the flank came moments too late; Olney was destroyed to the man. Fortunately,
Sergeant Kasir and his men, along with the Commander and the Corporal, were able to plug the
hole up before the enemy could take advantage of it. There was no time to mourn for the fallen;
that could be done after they won.

“Reiniger! Tell the Commander that the survivors of Olney got captured! They’re being dragged
towards the rear of that column as we speak!”

“Who are the survivors?”

“The platoon leader, Krinen, and his sergeant, Zeo.”

When Noland relayed this information to Alistina, her face darkened and marred with a grimace.

“Those men know too much of our formations and positions. We cannot let them be interrogated;
we must get them back.”

“We can’t afford to send men in,” Noland shook his head. “Our lines are strained as it is.”

“Then I will get them back,” already she was moving out of cover.

“Wait!” To the surprise of the gathered, as well as himself, Noland’s hand grabbed the knight-
commander’s arm to stop her. Immediately her head snapped around to glare at the soldier, a
deep frown etched deeply into her face.

“You dare stop me? Know your place, Corporal.”

Noland bowed his head, but his grip remained firm. “Words cannot describe my shame, but I
cannot in good conscience let you go into that hell. We cannot afford to lose you either!”

“You underestimate me.”

“I only know that there are hundreds more of them than there are of you. Even if you are the
superior knight, they have the numerical superiority. You will be overwhelmed! Rescuing two
men then returning with both of them safely, that is too much!”

“I expected more of you, Corporal. You would so freely give up your brothers-in-arms?”

“I loathe abandoning them, but we can’t give you up either!”

There was a moment of silence, with each party looking at the other. Suddenly, Alistina tore her
arm out of Noland’s grip.

“Corporal Noland Reiniger. You are no longer needed as part of my honor guard,” she stared at
him neutrally. “Stay here and assist the Sergeant. I will return with those men shortly.”

She dashed off, leaving the Corporal to slump against his cover. There was little time to reflect
on his failure, however, as the Sergeant clapped him on his shoulder pauldron.

“You heard her. Get shooting, shocktrooper. And don’t worry, I would’ve said the same. But
you know how knights are, especially noble ones.”

His words did little to comfort Noland, but he still had to fight. With a nod, Noland returned to
the fray.

But how long had he been shooting? How much of a charge did he have left in his weapon? It felt
like hours had past, while his chronometer stated barely ten minutes. Thirty-seven percent charge
remaining in his power pack. He would probably run out before the battle was over, unless he
was killed first. And despite utilizing all the skill and training he had accrued since his conscription,
Noland found his self unable to fully dedicate himself to the battle; the weight of the lady’s
rejection weighed heavily on his conscience, and more than once he found himself regretting
having said anything at all. It was foolish and distracting, the guilt liable to get him killed from
negligence, but it was something he could not just bury.

Another ten minutes. Twenty percent charge. How much longer until sunset? Until relief arrives?
They could be all dead then…

“What the hell? The Commander’s coming up the center path! She’s got two men with her!”

Noland stopped, his head whipping around to see that indeed, Lady Alistina Carter was returning,
triumphant with two men unconsciously slung under her arms. Her armor was bruised, burnt and
marred, while her auto-protection barrier seemed to constantly flicker as it deflected all fire that
came at her. The knight moved with incredible speed, a red comet soaring through the enemy lines
with her long hair fluttering about her like a grand halo. Closer and closer she came to friendly
lines, inciting a sigh of relief as she crossed into no-man’s-land.

Not much further now…!

A glimmer. A distant reflection. An infantryman’s enemy, and a danger to all those around him.

“Sniper!”

The warning came too far away, too low, too late. Time seemed to slow as a thin beam of light
pierced the dusty air, striking Alistina’s auto-protection barrier and punching right through. The
bolt struck her clean in the back, the force knocking her clean off her feet. Landing messily, the
knight collapsed into an unmoving lump, her precious cargo scattering around her. Too late did
the response come, a devastating barrage of magic and metal onto the sniper’s last location.

No more than a hundred meters away in no-man’s-land she lay. The enemy had been shaken up
into fervor, their infantry screaming as they leapt from their cover and charged towards the lines.
Their goal was obvious: capture or kill the knight commander at all costs.

Noland was frozen, shocked to see that his fears had become reality. That great leader, seemingly
invincible and unstoppable, the noble Lady Alistina Carter, felled by a mage-killer round. He had
to move, he had to help her. He had to redeem his name—no, he just had to help. That was his
duty, his responsibility. Yet, his feet refused to move, fear rooting him to the ground.

Stop.

Now was not the time to be afraid.

No. It was fine to be afraid. But he would not cower. This person before him, a noble and a
knight, was more than just a leader. She was a friend to all the soldiers here, an inspiration and
a living part of their morale. Even more, she came to trust him, a mere shocktrooper conscript in
a grand army, and his hesitation damaged that trust. More than his desire to redeem himself,
Noland knew that regardless of rank or position, she and the ones she saved needed help.
And she would get it.

“Commander is down! I repeat, the Commander is down!” the shockrooper roared into his
radio, already leaping over his barrier and making a beeline towards the fallen woman. “I need
covering fire over the commander’s last position! Artillery, fire mission at Zulu-Lima-Kilo-five-
five-oh-seven! Suppress those jackals and let not a single one of them near her!”

“Volley! Volley!” the response, a distant thunder marking their fire.

“Get a medic-- get Mae over here now! Ax, Aaron squads, move up to push them back!”

“Who the hell made you leader?!” the reply came over the radio, Sergeant Ax, followed by a
grim chuckle. It was echoed by Sergeant Aaron, rifleman, “Don’t die being a hero, Corporal.”

Running and gunning. Basic training frowned on the maneuver. A waste of ammunition and a
perfect target for an enemy sharpshooter, they said. It was impossible to aim well, and all the
wild shots attracted unwanted attention. Right now, it did not really matter. He could hear the
bullets zipping by his head, feel the heat of a grazing beam. He had to move. Be it luck, adrenaline,
or whatever else, Noland managed to get to his fallen leader and comrades first, but the furious
return fire aimed his way kept him from moving at all.

This was it. He would die here, but he would die fighting. His weapon came up and spat fire. All
he had to do was hold the line until the other squads could close up and grab the fallen.
Something struck him in the shoulder, jarring his aim. Did it pierce? Was he bleeding? No, his
armor stopped it. No sooner did he take aim once more did his head suddenly be knocked
aside, a dizzying ringing sound clouding his hearing momentarily. His helmet was struck? Well, he
was not dead yet. He could fight still. Suddenly, his radio spoke.

“Shit. You got knights incoming.”

---

Alistina Carter, Knight and Noble, was far from death. No, the bullet’s power had been mostly
absorbed by her defender’s armor, but its mage-killer properties stunned her and sapped her
strength. Dimly, she could hear the chaos of war all around her, but it seemed so far away.

Hah. That was foolish of me. To be struck by a sniper’s bullet… Have I become so weak?

Her eyes cracked open, expecting to see an entire army descending upon her. Instead, she saw
the backside of a shocktrooper, his weapon up and blazing. He was huddled behind a makeshift
cover, a rock that was barely large enough to cover his back. Yet, there he was, doing his best
to fight. Overhead, the bright trails of fire support arched towards the enemy, while friendly tracer
fire danced through the sky.

“Watch your flank, Corporal!”

“Suppressing right flank!” a great iridescent orange buster beam shot to the shocktrooper’s right,
sweeping over a charging group.

This… this is strength? Or was it desperation? There was fear in his eyes, the grip on his rifle
betraying the terror coursing through him. He could have ran, or sent an entire squad in his place.
Yet, he alone held the line. Perhaps she had been hasty in her reappraisal, but it was too late to
take back her words. All she could do was watch as the world around her changed.

He flinched back, his shoulder moving as if struck. The Corporal paid it little heed as he merely
brought his weapon back up. Another bullet struck his helmet, but he barely even flinched.

It seemed he had the devil’s own luck, surviving those two hits.

“—knights incoming!”

Oh no.

She could feel them coming. Enemy knights, warrior mages just like she. Such misfortune! The
Corporal would not be able to weather an assault from one knight, let alone a group of them.
Closer and closer they came, upon wings of light and fire.

"Concentrate fire forward! Cut those knights down!"

Relief surged through her as she saw one fall, the victim to her army’s own snipers. Out of sight,
Alistina felt another perish. One. One remaining. Could he survive?

“You’re on your own, Corporal! Hope that last knight is a polite fellow!”

The enemy was so close now, just as Noland's rifle's power cable ejected, empty and lifeless.
There, he came, swathed in shining mail and an ornate spear in his hands, leaping over the
battered rock. The spearpoint struck the ground where the Corporal once stood, Noland having
dove to the side and discarding his now useless weapon. With nothing more but his sidearm and
a long rifle bayonet, Noland seemed unwilling to back down. The knight merely laughed,
mockingly saluting the trooper before dashing forward with blurring speed. Diving to the side was
all Noland could do, just barely escaping the spear meant for his heart. A long gash now
decorated his shoulder armor, yet he stood undeterred. Noland charged, a reckless and wild
move, and to Alistina's horror he seemed to be battered about for his foolishness.

Yet, he kept standing. Bloody, battered, and his armor in tatters, the little Corporal seemed
uncaring that his body was being torn apart by his opponent. His pistol's shots were easily
deflected by the knight's armor, and his flimsy bayonet didn't even scratch the spear. With a
single, wanton swing, Noland's bayonet was broken in half.

"You test my patience, mutt! But I do commend your resilience. Come, fight for your master!"

With a wordless bellow of unbridled rage, Noland ran at his enemy with his broken bayonet.

A spearbutt to his stomach stopped his charge. It smashed his chin, disorientating him terribly.
Lastly, a powerful blow to the side of his head knocked both his helmet off and his consciousness
out. Somehow, Noland managed to awaken trapped in a one-handed choke, held a solid half
meter off the ground.

"How pathetic. This is the difference between knight and peasant, cur! Your strength is nothing!
Your conviction, worthless! Now watch as your precious commander is crushed under my
mighty boot."

"Ffarggah! Hffgh!" Noland bit back, unable to speak around the iron-like grip around his throat.

"What was that? Still you growl at me? Heh. I will entertain your last words."

"Fiffggh nngth hgnn."

"What's the matter with you? Speak up! I will make sure they are remembered as the last words
of the defeated!" the knight brought the trooper closer.

"Fire in the hole."

Noland's hand slammed into the knight's chest, slapping a primed shaped charge onto the armor.
At the same time, his other hand came up with a short dagger, stabbing deeply into the forearm
that held him so tightly. The knight screamed in pain, his grip loosening and letting Noland escape.
But rather than worry of his escaping pray, the enemy knight now panicked at the sight of an anti-
armor explosive pasted directly to his Knight Armor defense. And what little time to panic, as the
explosive merely beeped four times before letting out one long, solitary tone. Suddenly, he was
consumed in a earth-shaking explosion, upon which no remnants of the knight could be found.
Noland, barely a sprint away, was caught in the concussion wave and sent sprawling to the
ground, his ears ringing.

The Lady Carter thought him injured, seeing as he did not move afterwards, but her worry
became relief as his hands clenched into fists and pushed himself up. There was only a crater
where the enemy warrior once stood, still smoking from the detonation.

"The weakest dog has the loudest bark," the shocktrooper spat. "See how you have fallen to the
lowly peasant, for the strongest among you may not wear a crown."

"Is that so?"

His eyes widening, Noland whirled around in time to have a spear pierce him through his belly,
cutting through ceramic plate and tough leather as if it were paper. Blood welling up in his mouth,
the soldier could only cough up a gout of red as he glared at his enemy.

"I would have your name, but it seems it is too late. Farewell, mongel. Perish in the filth with the
rest of the garbage."

The spear left his body with a wet squick, leaving Noland to stand there, staring at the wound
with astonished eyes. Paying no more heed to the defeated man, the knight turned towards the
fallen commander, a strange grin spreading on his face as he came closer and closer. A hand
came, outstretched, reaching for her head... and suddenly he was knocked aside, tackled by a
berserk Noland. Somehow, someway, the shocktrooper found the strength to make one final
stand, striking his enemy with all his might.

Fists, nail, tooth, rock, anything; the Corporal was no longer a man, but a beast of fury, the
shattered remnants of his bayonet once again glimmering in the evening sun. The knight struggled
to remove the pest, but he found the "bothersome scratches" becoming deadly wounds. The final
blow, the broken blade, sank into his chest. Again. Again. Noland roared a bestial cry as he
stabbed the corpse again and again.

No mercy. No remorse. Kill. Kill! KILL!

Thrusting the blade into the chest one final time, Noland jumped to his feet and screamed to the
sky.

At last Alistina could see Noland in his entirety, a terrifying and amazing sight. His front was
splattered with the blood of his enemy and his own; his coat and armor ruined from the
explosion and spear; and his hands were still shaking from the adrenaline. Breath heaved from
his lungs, and the look in his eyes was wild and full of fury, daring any and all to cross him.
Picking him his shattered helmet, Noland’s voice echoed across all communication channels,
both friendly and foe. From the smallest soldier to the enemy commanders, they all heard him.

“Come, you heathens! Come with all your might! I have killed your brothers, and I have defeated
your knights! I am 82nd Shocktroopers, and We are the Army of the Holy Kaiser! This is as far
as you bastards go!”

And somehow, from all around her, she could hear a thunderous roar of approval. More had
joined the corporal, pushing back the tide of infantry. Were the tides of war turning? …No, this
push would not last.

Gloved hands picked her up roughly, dragging her away from that little bloodied space. The last
she saw of the Corporal was him falling to his knees, just as his allies got to him. Soon, she was
surrounded by medics, an oxygen mask placed over her mouth and nose. They manage to grab
the men she had rescued as well, but they were far from her mind. How was the Corporal, still
wounded and bloodied? Was he dying? Was he alive?

“The lady is secure! Regroup and reform the lines!” she heard dimly, but it was interrupted by
another heavy explosion. At first, Alistina thought it an artillery shell landing off target, but then
the realization hit her: the round had come from behind them!

Another roar, a golden ray of light splitting the sky.

“It’s the Saint Kaiser!" someone screamed. "Our support is here!”

At last...

---

No sooner did ten minutes pass that Alistina had recovered, sitting up from a gurney just as a
certain someone entered the room.

"Your Majesty, you have arrived with impeccable timing," Alistina greeted, but bowed only half
way. "Forgive me for not fully saluting. My body is still sore."

The Saint Kaiser of Belka gave a melancholic smile in return. "I only hope that I came soon
enough. How are you?"

"Battered, but living. My health is not important, however. Where is that shocktrooper?"

The Kaiser Olivie blinked. "Pardon?"

"The Corporal. Noland Reiniger. He was gravely wounded by the enemy, and I worry about his
condition."

"It is rare for you to care for a single infantryman out of all of them, Alistina," Olivie tilted her
head to the side in curiosity. "Why is he so important?"

The knight noble looked to the side, out over the remnants of the battlefield. The enemy was
routed, and the injured picked up. She could only hope that he did not rest among the dead. "He
is one that served under me. Had it not been for him, I may not be standing here. Our army may
not have survived."

"Truly? Then I am curious as well. We shall find him together, then."

All moved out of their way as they passed, Kaiser and Knight. Casualties were painfully high,
and no matter who they asked they could not get a definite answer. There were just so many
wounded, and not everyone could keep tabs on who was where and why. Perhaps he really
could be dead...

"Lady Carter, Your Majesty?" a voice behind them. They turned, seeing a shocktrooper
corporal salute them. "I hear you are looking for Corporal Noland Reiniger?"

The knight commander was first to answer. "Yes. Do you know where he is?"

"Trench ops, by the northern sector. We couldn't move him to a medicae tent, not without
hurting him further. A surgeon is working on him now by the front lines. Once they stabilize him,
maybe then he can move."

"I see, Sergeant...?" Alistina looked at the shocktrooper, noting a similar style of fashion. It was
just like his...

"Lowe, ma'am. Reiniger's one of us, the 82nd. If you don't mind me saying, we're damn proud
of him."

"You've all done well," Olivie praised him with a smile. "Go rest. I will need your service in the
future."

"Ma'am!" he saluted and marched off.

Destination known, it did not take long before the Kaiser and Knight found the man they were
looking for, lifelessly slumped over a makeshift gurney with a crowd of medics surrounding him.
Blood stained the ground, the bed, and the medics' clothing. Was this all the Corporal's?

"Medicae, how is he?" Alistina asked.

At first, the doctor only spared them a glance, but realizing who they were, he and his assistants
jumped to attention.

"Ma'am, Your Majesty," he saluted them both.

"Do not shirk your duty just to honor us, medicae. Keep working," the Kaiser scolded, much to
the doctor's embarassment.

"Y-yes, of course! I apologize; I was surprised, that's all," he stammered a response and
returned to working.

Alistina stepped up to the gurney, glancing over the stormtrooper's unmoving body. Out of his
armor, he seemed so pale and gaunt, nothing like the beast earlier; and the wound looked
absolutely wretched. The corporal had sacrificed much this day.

"His condition?" she asked.

"The conscript has lost a lot of blood, and his wound is grave. I am uncertain of his chances. To
treat him here is to invite death, yet he needs immediate care. We're moving him to the rear
echelon now."

"A conscript, you say?" Kaiser Olivie spoke up.

"Aye. His tags place him from the eastern lands, a peasant working in the fields, from which he
was conscripted for duty."

The Saint Kaiser made a quiet noise, visibly entertaining a thought as she studied the man in
front of her. A mere infantryman, not even an officer, had fought for a victory that even a knight
could not grasp. For this, he paid in blood, though he was only expected to fight and die.
Indeed, a lucky one, or perhaps, one with potential.

"Do not take him to the rear echelons. Instead, move him to the seventh column's medical group.
Get to them quickly, as we'll be moving very soon."

The medicae saluted, "As you wish, Your Majesty. I need but only a few moments more to
bring his vitals to safety."

As the medics redoubled their efforts, Alistina turned to look at her friend with astonished eyes.
"You're taking him into your personal medical group?"

The Saint Kaiser winked at her friend and bodyguard, "He has seemed to garnered your
attention, one way or another. That interests me. Who knows, perhaps he will serve
admirably under me as well. But first, he must be cared for. We'll visit when he awakens."

NorthernFallout

2010-04-20, 01:39

Makes me kinda relieved Noland isn't involved in these shenanigans.

Later in the Day EDIT:

So, yeah. Ancient Belka funsies, with cameos. Alistina too.

snip

hah, awesome. I'm so getting Band of Brothers + Magical Girl vibes from this one.

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-20, 02:04

Tempy, if you were also tempting me with hints of lasguns set in Old Belka without alerting the others, you did very well. :D

Keroko

2010-04-20, 03:06

hah, awesome. I'm so getting Band of Brothers + Magical Girl vibes from this one.

Couldn't have said it better.

Wild Goose

2010-04-20, 07:29

Makes me kinda relieved Noland isn't involved in these shenanigans.

Later in the Day EDIT:

So, yeah. Ancient Belka funsies, with cameos. Alistina too.

Much win. For Great Win.

@Aaron: Yo, Jii-san. Good to see you're back - I've missed you. And I approve of the Hayaurion path shown by Fragment Hayate~ :cool::D Becoming a fragment allows herself to express her true feelings, especially since WolkenBlack is a fazakon~

...garh, now I feel like doing one with my OCs. <.<

Sheba

2010-04-20, 07:49

Later in the Day EDIT:

So, yeah. Ancient Belka funsies, with cameos. Alistina too.

A single soldier, clad in a dusty greatcoat and scratched armor, sprinted his way through the
trenches. With each step his gear rattled, his weapon swinging with the sway of his arms. Deep in
a tunnel was the makeshift headquarters, lit by several electric lamps. Stepping through the
threshold, the soldier saluted.

She was mostly right. A scout was usually lightly armored and given specialized equipment to
improve his or her performance. In comparison, the corporal’s status as a shocktrooper granted
him heavier armor and weapons, not exactly the prime set up for reconnaissance work. Indeed,
Noland wore a dark grey greatcoat with molded armor plates on his shoulders, chest, and back.
Additional armor plates were on his shins and thighs, under the coat, with an armored helmet to
complete the set. His rucksack doubled as an energy source for his weapon, a pulse rifle
calibrated for higher-powered shots than the standard issue. Most unique of his outfit was his
mask, an older-style gasmask with a tube leading into his pack and a faceplate painted bone white.
Its eye lenses had a unearthly red tint to it that seemed to glow in the lamplight, completing a rather
disturbing skull-like motif. Seeing a line of these shocktroopers must have been quite a terrifying
thing to see…

“

First thing to come in mind.

http://www.mutantpedia.com/Immagini,%20Avatar%20e%20Video/Immagini%20Mutant%20Chronicles/Bonner/kr-grabenkaempfer.jpg

LoweGear

2010-04-20, 08:14

hah, awesome. I'm so getting Band of Brothers + Warhammer 40K vibes from this one.

Fixed :uhoh:

*RUUUUUUUUUN- is exterminated*

Seriously though, hard not to hear the troops with the voices of the Imperial Guard there. :heh: And as always, the best Noland is a Berserk Noland, even more when spouting trashtalk on Wars for Belka LIVE :uhoh:

Wait, I take that back. Best Noland is harem Nolan-

*is PURGED*

PhoenixFlare

2010-04-20, 08:32

Back for some quickie:

@itanshi1 (about two pages back on OC with epilepsy): If you haven't already decided on making the OC, it is possible actually to have the character viable as part of the TSAB operative. I assume that the epilepsy you have in mind is photosensitive epilepsy (seizures when exposed to sharp, flashing lights). To get around this, just have a pair of special light-minimizing glasses handy (or even better, make it part of the Barrier Jacket or something). This can reduce the amount of "trigger" your OC experience or completely nullify the trigger by making the flashes a tolerable monochrome of his or her favorite color (photosensitive epilepsy very often happens because of violent multicolor flashes, monochromes should be safe). Of course, the worst thing to happen is someone breaking those glasses, in which your character will just go berserk. :P

@Aaron: I'd love to play the mini with Leona (though admittedly, she's not around by A's to StrikerS), but I don't really have much time in writing these days! :(

@Thread: Sorry for being amiss for so long, but university life has just claimed me for the better part of most days and writing is not a luxury I have these days, so GuardianS will enter a temporary hiatus (though I still write whenever I can eke out the time) until otherwise mentioned (unless Aaron wants to take over co-authoring, of which I may pass him the mantle :p).

Kyral

2010-04-20, 08:44

Makes me kinda relieved Noland isn't involved in these shenanigans.

Later in the Day EDIT:

So, yeah. Ancient Belka funsies, with cameos. Alistina too.

*snip*

Awesome stuff!

Actually it gave me some slight 40k vibes too. :heh:

Sergeant Lowe? Is that our Lowe(Gear)? xD

Ah! And I finally found time to draw him! :D
Took the designs from the artworks Tempest gave me, simplified it a bit and made a quick coloration.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1953/nolandreiniger.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/nolandreiniger.jpg/)
@Phoenix
Hello there! :D
Don't mind it, university can be pretty demanding.

LoweGear

2010-04-20, 09:06

Awesome stuff!

Actually it gave me some slight 40k vibes too. :heh:

Sergeant Lowe? Is that our Lowe(Gear)? xD

No, the true Lowe is far more awesome-

*is beheaded AWESOMELY*

There's also an Aaron I spotted in the fic there :heh:

Ah! And I finally found time to draw him! :D
Took the designs from the artworks Tempest gave me, simplified it a bit and made a quick coloration.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1953/nolandreiniger.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/nolandreiniger.jpg/)
@Phoenix
Hello there! :D
Don't mind it, university can be pretty demanding.

Damn, Noland looks pimp :nod: Now get Hayate to sic a bunny outfit on him-

*is SHOT!!!!!*

Or, maybe get Noland to resemble

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100209231116/warhammer40k/images/3/31/The_Emperor_of_mankind_by_Noldofinve.jpg

*IS FINISHED*

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-20, 09:41

Actually it gave me some slight 40k vibes too. :heh:Must be the pious cry in the Empress' glory. :uhoh:

Sergeant Lowe? Is that our Lowe(Gear)? xDGiven the large number of cameos, I think the nameless dood #4 who was creamed by Noland is the masked man, Meister Babylon. :heh:

Ah! And I finally found time to draw him! :D
Took the designs from the artworks Tempest gave me, simplified it a bit and made a quick coloration.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1953/nolandreiniger.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/nolandreiniger.jpg/)LANCELOT--

*is speared*

Or, maybe get Noland to resemble

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100209231116/warhammer40k/images/3/31/The_Emperor_of_mankind_by_Noldofinve.jpg

*IS SUMMARILY EXECUTED**holsters laspistol*

The sergeant was a good man. Too bad he ultimately fell to the Dark Gods. :mad:

Wild Goose

2010-04-20, 13:07

Oh god I've succombed to Aaron's plans.

*cough*

Franz path.

Amy:
Searching for any additional Bureau Forces... Chrono, I've found an additional Bureau mage in the vicinity.
Routing him to you for support.

Chrono:
Roger that. Patch me to him.

Amy:
It's done.

Chrono:
Bureau Mage, this is Enforcer Chrono Harlaown, Athra detachment. Identify, over.

Franz:
Lieutenant Franz Jaeger, Order of Freelance Mages, attached to SOPCC.
Callsign Bravo 2-4.
Present on NAW 97 for... personal business.:heh:

Chrono:
Personal? :eyebrow:

Franz:
...Gekiranger and Shinkenger special Edition DVDs came out. <.<
And Tetsuo Kurata's Unforgivable Specia Edition T-shirt. <.<

Chrono:
...right. I want you to recon this sector and report back.
Do not engage unless left with no choice.

Franz:
Copy. Interrogative: projected opposition?

Chrono:
We're dealing with fragments from the Book of Darkness. The fragments are manifesting as copies of mages.

Franz:
If the Fragments are from the Book of Darkness, then we're looking at copies of the Wolkenritter, Takamachi Nanoha, Fate Testarossa Harlaown and Yagami Hayate.

Chrono:
You're a pretty sharp guy.

Franz:
I try. ROE?

Chrono:
Recon only. Do not engage unless left with no alternative.

Franz:
Acknowledged. Recon only, do not engage.
(With my luck they'll start shooting at me the moment they pick me up. :uhoh:)

Stage 1: Fragment Shamal

Franz:
Tango sighted. Copy of Shamal.
(... can't risk the shot. I'll expose myself.)
(I'll just watch here and stay hidden. How hard can it be?)

Fragment Shamal:
I know you're here. You can't hide from Klarer Wind!"

Franz:
Oh Cock.

Fragment Shamal:
Prepare yourself. Klarer Wind!

Franz:
That's not gone well at all. :eek:
Right then. Bravo 2-4, engaging! :mad:

* * * * *

*After Battle*

<Version A>
Fragment Shamal:
So...fast...
I couldn't keep up...

Franz:
Definately not as powerful as the original.
Thank God for that. :heh:
</Version A>

<Version B>
Fragment Shamal:
Haa...
I can't end it like this...

Franz:
Should've been more serious from the get go.
Well, at least I'm not too badly hurt.
</Version B>

<Version C>
Fragment Shamal:
Signum... at least I gave a good account...
You can't mock me for that...

Franz:
Got too overconfident from my promotion.
Bloody hell, this Fragment's no pushover. :twitch:
</Version C>

* * * * *

Fragment Shamal:
I won't let it end like this!
I am the Knight of the Lake!

Franz:
Sorry, you're just a fragment of someone else.
But you put up a good fight, so that's something.

Fragment Shamal:
I don't care for your words. I'll defeat you and rejoin my comrades! :frustrated:

Franz:
Funny, I feel the same way. I guess we're not so different.

Fragment Shamal:
Klar- Ughk! :twitch:
Wha-

Franz:
*lowers Cobra & works bolt*
I didn't expect a standard .308 rifle round to work.
Afterall, it's not like you're alive.
Must be your power destabilising.

Fragment Shamal:
No... Signum...

<Fragment Shamal disappears>

Franz:
...somehow I feel sorry for her.
Agnus dei, qui tollis pecata mundis.
Dona eis requiem.

<Communications Window pops up>

Amy:
Bravo 2-4, report status.

Franz:
Engaged Fragment copy of Shamal Yagami. Sector clear.

Amy:
Copy, proceed to next sector for sweep. Try to be discrete.

Franz:
Acknowledged. Oscar mike.
With my luck, I'll meet the Book of Darkness' Tame Fragment.
Some say she can't communicate naturally and uses her beamspam as a language...
...and that she can fire 60 Divine Busters per minute.
All we know is, she's called the White Devil.

Franz:
I'm gonna need more cartridges. :rolleyes:

Yes, I have been watching a certain british television show lately.

Comartemis

2010-04-20, 19:06

Wow guys, thanks so much for all the commentary. It's so nice to know that I'm not being completely ignored and that you lot appreciate what little I can motivate myself to write.

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-20, 20:48

*high above a lush green valley with a small settlement*

Karl: This is... a village?

Armor: [TSC 0029 mark 8674 mark 4747. Local name: Konoha, Japan.]

Karl: I am currently within a dimensional dislocation. Why are there valid coordinates?

Armor: [Uplink with central navigation beacon active and broadcasting.]

Karl: Local time.

Armor: [0730 hours. Date is 0060 dot 04 dot 02.]

Karl: That's almost 10 years ago!

Armor: [CNB broadcast date verified at source.]

Karl: Looks like this lost logia can feed false information to the sensors. Better blend in and investigate.

*screen wipe, street level. Karl is in normal clothes.*

Karl: I have a bad feeling about this... That girl? Georashi-san?!

*footfalls*

Karl: Georashi-san!

Keroko: ...who are you, onii-chan?

Karl: Georashi-san, it's me, Karl! Why are you so small?

Keroko: Weird onii-chan is weird. :p

*she runs off*

Karl: No that is not Georashi-san. But why is there a version of her here...?

???: Fascinating.

*a new character in black plated bikini and small reptilian wings appears*

Karl: Identify!

???: Are Belka Knights always so quick with the sword-waving?

Karl: I asked a question.

???: That certainly didn't sound like one. ;)

Karl: ...

???: Come, let's linger for a while. It's about to happen.

Karl: What is...?

*quake*

GAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOO!!

Karl: What in Kaiser's name...!

???: Neltharion arrives, just as scheduled. I better start collecting data...

Karl: You are going no where until I get some answers.

*explosion, screams*

Karl: ...that's where Georashi-san went!

???: Don't bother, that's a mere imitation anyway.

Karl: Why are you doing this?

???: Why, I am studying this memory fragment of course. It presents a mystery with clues embedded. A very intriguing one, far more captivating than anything I've encountered...

Karl: Why do you have her memory fragment? Where is the real Georashi-san?

???: Ever heard of the Holy Grail, boy?

Karl: Lies. The Holy Grail is a myth of ancient times!

???: But you are here, aren't you? Watching a memory unfurl as it surrenders to the chalice of arcane knowledge.

Karl: Hand her fragment over, witch, and I may choose to spare you kindly!

???: I can't possibly agree to such a one-sided exchange can I? Then again, I could get some additional data from this...

???: The fragment is inside the most important manifest in a memory. *twisted face* So defeat Neltharion, boy. If you can that is. Kihahaha...

*dissolves with cackles*

Karl: Come back here! She's gone... Looks like I have no choice.

*screen wipe, Karl is standing over a Belka sigil, arms spread-eagled*

Karl: Mana in my right... Telesma in my left...

*slams both fists together*

Karl: KANKA! HEN! SHIN!!

*screen turns white*

===WARNING!===

Memory Fragment Neltharion

As expected of a dragon, Neltharion is massive, and only his head receives damage. Karl is also a Belka Knight, so no point trying to out-shoot the Black Dragon's breath. Chain-combos in between breaths, then dodge. Look out for his cleave and tail swipes. Use Limiter Break: Transcension when down to 25% HP because Neltharion enrages and does four times more damage. In Transcension, Karl moves at normal speed, does more damage per hit while everything around him slows down, so if you combo right, you should get Neltharion down within one Limiter Break on Medium difficulty.

Other than that, this is a simple introductory fight with a semi-stationary target that you can practice using Karl's repertoire of Device Traces and Belka Movement Techniques.

*After Battle*

<Version A>
Karl: Too easy. The fragment only had a mere impression of Neltharion.
</Version A>

<Version B>
Karl: Predictable. A limit in the copying perhaps?
</Version B>

<Version C>
Karl: Impressive. Even though a mere fragment, it is still a worthy opponent.
</Version C>

*the world shatters into blackness, leaving a floating image of little Keroko projected from a small red gem*

Karl: So this is a memory fragment. There may be more of them out there too. I must collect them all or my friends may not be themselves.

Karl: Is this really the Holy Grail, the artefact of great magical knowledge that chose the next Kaiser of Belka? If so, what is it doing here on Earth? Why has it been activated now, when the Imperium has long collapsed? And why have my friends been involved?

Karl: Too many questions... Better focus on something smaller first. Maybe this fragment can lead me to Georashi-san too. Shine, dear gem, guide me home...

Karl: That way!Each game must have a tutorial stage. :p

I did a lot of foreshadowing here. And I think you already know who ??? is... :heh:

Gaoooo~~

Nya~n

2010-04-21, 01:55

There's also an Aaron I spotted in the fic there :heh:

there was an Ax, an Aaron, a Lowe, a Krinen, a Zeo... and these are the ones i remember off the top of my head.

Though if Tempy's ever going to put a cameo of me, i have no idea how he's going to successfully pull it off. Funyan is a little difficult to take seriously xD

NorthernFallout

2010-04-21, 01:57

And there she stood. In the corner of the street, a young and beautiful girl waiting for someone. She seemed so lonely that Noland considered going over and talk. But before his feet began to move, he noticed a suspicious bulb.

Noland decided to walk the other way.

Nya~n

2010-04-21, 02:29

that too xD

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-21, 06:17

Trap failed

FlameSparkZ

2010-04-21, 06:32

Makes me kinda relieved Noland isn't involved in these shenanigans.

Later in the Day EDIT:

So, yeah. Ancient Belka funsies, with cameos. Alistina too.

*SNIP*
Awesome....just flat out AWESOME!!!!
Especially the "Fire in the hole." and RAEG part :D:D:D

This sparks into existence something that can fill a hole in my BreakerS story, Altea's Arc ;)

Guess who's going to get thrown "back in time" to Belka war age :rolleyes:
But first...I NEED TO FINISH WindS-B D: D: D: D: D: D:

*goes off to draw a scene involving Olivie and Klaus* :3

Sheba

2010-04-21, 07:02

Guess who's going to get thrown "back in time" to Belka war age :rolleyes:
But first...I NEED TO FINISH WindS-B D: D: D: D: D: D:

Yuuno Scrya?

Yeah, I cracked with Phean about him possibly going back in time, helping Olivier and sleeping with her before going back to his time. Just so Vivio can go "Oh my god! You were my great-great-great-*n-grandfather all along!"

Keroko

2010-04-21, 07:34

*headdesk* That's... I don't even know where to begin to start listing the amount of things wrong with that idea.

Also, Kha? Keroko is a tough girl, so she doesn't go onii-chan on people.

FlameSparkZ

2010-04-21, 12:13

Yuuno Scrya?

Yeah, I cracked with Phean about him possibly going back in time, helping Olivier and sleeping with her before going back to his time. Just so Vivio can go "Oh my god! You were my great-great-great-*n-grandfather all along!"
lol...no :heh:

*headdesk* That's... I don't even know where to begin to start listing the amount of things wrong with that idea.
I don't know who this is directed to (most likely Sheba)...but what I have planned will be properly explained and won't actually be traveling in time, only feel like it :D

Sheba

2010-04-21, 12:39

*headdesk* That's... I don't even know where to begin to start listing the amount of things wrong with that idea.

Well, it was launched with the "How should we troll the fans?" kind of idea.

Keroko

2010-04-21, 13:12

Well, it was launched with the "How should we troll the fans?" kind of idea.

It shows.

I don't know who this is directed to (most likely Sheba)...but what I have planned will be properly explained and won't actually be traveling in time, only feel like it :D

Oh, I have no problems with Altea. She's from that period to begin with, and dream-induced flashbacks are okay in my book.

FlameSparkZ

2010-04-21, 15:04

Oh, I have no problems with Altea. She's from that period to begin with, and dream-induced flashbacks are okay in my book.
Well, at least someone remember that Altea isn't just a mind-reading tsundere loli :heh:

I still have many tricks and secrets up my sleeve that use her ability and some that don't :D
(Don't spoil any furtherDon't spoil any furtherDon't spoil any furtherDon't spoil any furtherDon't spoil any furtherDon't spoil any furtherDon't spoil any furtherDon't spoil any further)

...Ahem...I'll go back to writing then.
*Touma!dash*

Tempy

2010-04-21, 15:51

hah, awesome. I'm so getting Band of Brothers + Magical Girl vibes from this one.

AX gets the cookie for picking up my inspiration. I was listening to various musics of the Band of Brothers soundtrack as I wrote it, as well as excessive playtime of MAG.

Sergeant Lowe? Is that our Lowe(Gear)? xD

Yep.

Ah! And I finally found time to draw him! :D
Took the designs from the artworks Tempest gave me, simplified it a bit and made a quick coloration.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1953/nolandreiniger.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/nolandreiniger.jpg/)

Oh sweet. It looks awesome :3

Thanks for drawing it.

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-21, 18:34

Also, Kha? Keroko is a tough girl, so she doesn't go onii-chan on people.Even before the incident? I thought she'd be like any other child at that time. :heh:

LimitedEternal

2010-04-21, 21:09

Y'all been keeping busy, I see. :)

Someone mind tossing the IRC info? I've been fighting a Trojan the last few days and I had to reset almost all my data.

Keroko

2010-04-21, 23:09

Even before the incident? I thought she'd be like any other child at that time. :heh:

You mean back when she was four? Well yes, I suppose she was. Still having trouble seeing her go onii-chan on random people though.

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-22, 01:20

You mean back when she was four? Well yes, I suppose she was. Still having trouble seeing her go onii-chan on random people though.

Looks like I gave her too much a contrast... I'll put it down as copying error for now, until I get around to changing it. :heh:

NorthernFallout

2010-04-23, 17:24

Ix short part 2/3

A black crow flew over the deserted battlefield. Underneath its soaring wings there were wrecks of machines smoldering with smoke, the bodies of humans scattered over the land and a landscape destroyed by fire and destruction. Silence was the most prominent feature as far as the crow's senses could reach.

It flapped its wings, regaining some speed and aimed for a lone building still standing among the wreckage, its walls stained with blood and dust on the outside. The crow settled on the spire high above the ground and began to groom itself.

It was there, in the old church that she sat. Its beautiful glass windows hanging in shards, having lost their early glory and prowess. It was a building coming of age... and war.

The roof was partly destroyed, letting the rays of the sun inside. Dust played in its wake, in a silence accompanying the dead. It was a perfect relationship. The heavens shining on the bodies lying within the church's walls, their souls slowly drifting upwards into a paradise, if one believed in such a thing.

In the front of the rows of old wooden benches, some split in half or otherwise broken, there was a huge statue. It was in the shape of a wonderful maiden, with golden wings sprouting from her back and white hair protruding from the cloak on her head. Holding her hands sky-high, she seemed to be waiting for someone's return, her eyes displaying a sincere sadness. Perhaps she was a priestess waiting for her God to take her to the heavens or a metaphor for the Creation.

Beneath this maiden of unknown purpose sat Ixpellia, on the edge of the statue's foundation. In her lap lay a soldier of the enemy, his eyes staring upwards into the beautiful face beckoning above. She was stroking his forehead as gently as she could, her hair hanging free, almost touching his dirt-filled face.

Her other hand hovered over a gaping wound in the soldier's stomach. A soft orb of light was letting its rays penetrate into the wound, keeping the soldier alive for some time more. Blood was still slowly pumping from it, staining the granite floor below red.

"Why haven't you killed me yet? Stop draining my life, Dark King. Prolonging the inevitable will only serve to strengthen my resolve. I'll never join your ranks," the soldier grunted and tried to swap away her hand. An effort without result.

"I'm not draining your life, soldier," Ixpellia said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I'm keeping you alive."

"Lies," he spat. "All damn lies. Then why am I still feeling this pain? I'm burning on the inside and you are just torturing me in the last seconds of my life."

"But-"

"I don't want to hear anymore of the false truth that you speak of. Just let me die so I can reach the heavens, looking over my comrades as they join me one after one in this fruitless battle."

Ixpellia didn't say anything, but the light in her hand began to dim. The soldier grimaced and his eyes began to close.

"My comrades will avenge me. They'll have your blood on their swords." He took a rasped breath. "One day, this land will bloom again. I know it in my heart."

She removed her hand from his stomach and caressed his face instead. He wasn't looking at her anymore, but rather straight through her.

"Look, they are coming. By the Kaiser, angels are descending. So beautiful..."

Ixpellia turned around, but only saw the massive statue standing behind her, sensing no other presence within the church. When she returned to eye the soldier his eyes had closed and his body had gone completely limp.

"Rest in peace, Soldier of Fortune," Ixpellia said and carefully bent down to put the soldier on the floor. She placed his hands on top of each other on his chest and then stood up, looking down on the broken soul. "I'll hope you'll reach what you search for..."

A vague tremor from outside vibrated the shards of glass inside the church. They clinkered in unison, a symphony of the past reminding her of older, more peaceful times.

She remained where she was, idly watching the metal gate shutting the inside of the church off from the rest of the world. She could feel the presence of more war outside. Machines and soldiers marching. Weapons being reloaded and at the ready.

"Protocol Xertha Fifteen," she whispered, having closed her eyes to focus more easily. "Open and initiate."

The granite floor beneath her was indulged in black lines slithering across from her feet. Dark rifts of energy soared into the air filled of dust, the reflections of light dancing in chaos. Magic began to fill her air around it as it always did before release.

The metal gate flew open and soldiers walked in with weapons raised. The sight that met them made them flinch.

Above the floor, floating in the air, was the Dark King, a black thunderous hole of immense energy radiating from her being. Her face was as indifferent as it could possibly be.

Regaining their senses, the rows of soldiers took a new breath and charged, roars of victory filling the church.

The Dark King cried tears of sorrow yet again.

For some reason I turned Ix into an overpowered magical angel. I do like that mental image though. Sort of a mix between Reinforce and... I guess a character from Night's Dawn whom is H4XX.

Next installation will be battle focused with this in mind. I'm gonna come up with a "Nemesis" powerful enough to not make it an overkill...

PhoenixG

2010-04-24, 02:22

Y'all been keeping busy, I see. :)

Someone mind tossing the IRC info? I've been fighting a Trojan the last few days and I had to reset almost all my data.

server: irc.mibbit.net
channel: #outercadia

well some of occ people also on #fanfic_lounge

Gaunt88

2010-04-24, 07:17

Ix short part 2/3

I like it. Ix's characterisation is spot on, as far as I can tell. *Goes off to find part 1*

Re: your author's note... would that be Peter F Hamilton's Night's Dawn series you're refering to?

NorthernFallout

2010-04-24, 07:26

Re: your author's note... would that be Peter F Hamilton's Night's Dawn series you're refering to?Yes, it is, specifically Quinn Dexter.

Although it was more of a "Oh this reminds me of that guy" than a thought-out thing. And obviously not his character, but more like his powerful nature.

Gaunt88

2010-04-24, 07:42

Yeah, Quinn did manage to reach some rather ridiculous levels of power, didn't he?

Of course, I can't think of a character more unlike Ix in terms of personality.

NorthernFallout

2010-04-24, 07:55

Indeed. They are basically the opposite sides of the spectrum.

I generally dislike writing HAXX chars, but for 3/3 she'll meet someone of her own caliber.

Tempy

2010-04-26, 22:08

Alright then.

“Keroko, get out of there! The device is going to blow up at any second!”

Red lights, blaring alarms, the area was mostly empty now, but one still remained.

“I can’t leave yet. Data is still downloading into Neltharion. If we give up on this, then what
worth was going on this mission?”

“Don’t be crazy! That intel is not worth your life!”

“Maybe, but I don’t want to waste all that time and effort spent getting to this point. This is half
a year’s worth of work, Hayate, we can’t just waste it!”

Indeed, there was much sacrifice poured into this operation, the blood, sweat, and tears of many
Enforcers making this all possible. Thousands of man-hours spent, just to provide this small
window. But now, a single bomb threatened to ruin it all.

“This is a direct order from your superior officer, Captain Keroko Takamachi. Evacuate the
premises immediately and return to base!”

It wasn’t often that Hayate used her commander voice, but when she did, it meant she would
not overlook anything. And as much as it pained her, Keroko could not just outright refuse, not
when it was official.

“…Acknowledged. Dissolving connection and evacuating. I just hope what I got is enough.”

The red gem of her device flashed once in confirmation, and the Ace zipped away as fast as she
could. A quiet rumble, rapidly growing into a terrifying roar, came from behind her. The noise
urged her to go faster, away from that terrible sound. She could feel the heat behind her,
scorching the tails of her barrier jacket. Be it morbid curiosity, or nervous worry, Keroko
peered behind her.

She watched as the light consumed her.

“KEROKO!”

Keroko gasped as she awoke, her entire body tight and braced for… something. Deep breaths.
Deep, calming breaths. Okay. Where was she? What time was it? She could not see anything.
Darkness, all around. Why couldn’t she see? Were her eyes covered?

“Oh, Keroko, you’re awake!” a familiar voice. Where?

“Shamal? What’s going on?” Keroko groped blindly in front of her. A warm hand soon grasped
hers.

“You’re in the hospital, Keroko. You’ve been unconscious for almost 48 hours, which is a good
sign. The surgeons had finished treating you, and now you just need to rest.”

She would have tilted her head to the side, had it not threaten to make her nauseously dizzy.
“Surgeons? Did I need surgery? Is that why my head is wrapped up?”

“Yes, it’s is just post-op,” the redhead could hear Shamal step up closer to her, probably
looking at the devices by the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Dizzy, and kind of sick. Mostly nauseous though.”

“What is the last thing you remember?”

“The last thing…?” Keroko tried to focus her mind. “Um… oh! I was getting the intel when
Hayate told me to pull out. Then… I don’t remember much else. There was something really
bright though.”

The Ace could feel a soft hand gently grasp hers, a gesture she returned in relief, but what she
would hear next would steal all the strength from her body. “Keroko, during the last phase of the
mission, there was an extraordinary bright flash, one in which you were in the middle of.”

“Yeah, I remember that.”

“You watched it all happen, Keroko. Your eyes were wide open. As a result, your retinas were
severely damaged. You’re blind, Keroko,” Shamal finished quietly.

“That’s… not as good as I hoped it would be.”

“The surgeons managed to successfully operate on you, but they are not sure if you will regain
sight or not.”

“…What?” her voice dropped to a whisper.

“The damage was incredibly extensive. There was even discussion if we should just remove your
original eyes and replace them with cybernetics. All we can do is wait…”

“—ong?”

“I’m sorry?”

“How long?

The doctor grimaced, unable to give the girl a good answer. “I… I don’t know. ”

“Dammit, Shamal! How long am I going to be fucking blind?!” Keroko could not see the wince
in the doctor’s face as her hand was crushed, but Keroko could feel her trying to pull away.
Immediately the Ace let the hand go, her previously furious face quickly dropping into one of
shame. “I-I’m sorry, Shamal. I didn’t mean to scream. I-I just—I’m just so…”

“It’s okay, Keroko. I understand and I forgive you,” Shamal took Keroko’s hand again.
“You’re under a lot of stress. But as I said, I do not know how long that will be. Everyone’s
body is different and they take to treatments differently. The best estimate I can give you…
maybe a month? That’s best case scenario.”

Despite Shamal’s reassuring squeeze, Keroko’s hand remained numb and limp. She had always
known that there was the threat of severe injury or death while serving with the TSAB, and she
had been convinced she was prepared for those threats. Now that it actually happened… was
she truly prepared for this?

There was an emptiness in her now, a deep, almost bottomless sense of loss that clawed deeply
at her chest. Blindness. Loss of sight. Possibly permanent, with no sense of assurance that it
would heal. Her entire world was gone now, masked in unending darkness.

Her life. Her existence. How much of it was impossible now?

What am I going to do…?

The room door slid open, fast footsteps passing over the threshold.

“Keroko!” a young, worried voice; the voice of her sister.

“Hey, onee-chan,” Keroko greeted as calmly as she could, chuckling as Nanoha caught her in a
big embrace. “Hey, now. I’m hospitalized, remember?”

“I was so worried…!” Nanoha’s voice was muffled with her face buried into Keroko’s shoulder.
In response, the redhead gently patted her sister’s head.

“It’s alright. I’m alive, aren’t I?”

“But your eyes…!”

“The doctors said there was a chance that I may get my vision back. Considering how high-tech
Mid Childa medicine is, I’d say it’s a pretty good chance.”

Nanoha gave no response, choosing only to hug her sister closer.

“Is everyone here?”

Takamachi answered with a nod, “Un. They’re all waiting outside. The doctors are only letting a
few of us in at time. Fate is here too.”

“Hello, Keroko,” A soft voice, yet the worry was painfully evident.

“Heya. Sorry for worrying everyone.”

“As long as you’re fine, it’s okay.”

“Well, what is everyone waiting for? Bring ‘em all in! I might not be able to see, but I can still
hear!” Keroko gave her friends a vicious grin.

She didn’t realize how bad of a headache she would get with so many people in the room.
--

It was a few hours since everyone had left. Though exhausted and fraught with worry, her friends
reluctantly accepted Keroko’s insistence that she was fine. Still, the room she sat in felt painfully
empty. The silence was… frightening, in a way. Earlier, she nearly got a headache from all the
noise, but now the stillness of her room sought to strip her of her clinging sanity. She felt lonely,
weak, and terribly lost. Did she even know the color of her hospital gown? What did her room
look like? Was there even a TV here? A radio? What about the kind of flowers that were
brought in? The card supposedly by her bedside—what did it say? The weather? Were the
lights on? She could even have a sleeping roommate, but she would never know.

God, she wanted to know. All these things, so minor before, now lost to her! She wanted to see!
Tear these bandages away, open her eyes, and throw off this horrible mantle smothering her
vision!

Frustration. Fear. Anxiety. Terror. Her hands fidgeted restlessly as she felt the stress swell
within her chest. Her breath quickened, as did her pulse. The monitors by her bedside beeped
in reflection of her state. Never before did she want to scream so badly, to just break everything
and cry to the world.

There was a quiet knock at her door, waking her to the present and freezing her breath in her
throat. Her heart still thundered in her chest, though the tension seemed to slowly bleed out.
What was…

The knocking came again, to which Keroko managed to croak out, “Come in.”

The door quietly hissed as it slid open, the muted footsteps of her guest coming closer and closer.

“Who is it?” She hated feeling this vulnerable, this weak. If anyone were to do anything, she
would be completely open and unable to respond. Even as this presence stopped by her
bedside, the ace could not help but feel utterly terrified as to whom may be standing there.

“Hello, lady Keroko,” a familiar voice said, deep, quiet, but strong. Those three simple words
seemed to banish all the anxiety, the fear and loathing.

Oh thank God.

“Noland,” she greeted, turning her head instinctively towards the source. “Hey.”

“I apologize for not visiting earlier with the others. There was something I had to attend to.”

“No, it’s fine, really. You visited, and that means a lot to me. Thank you.”

“I am certain you have heard this many times, but, how are you feeling?”

“I’ll be honest with you: like total shit.”

“Unsurprising,” the knight placed something on the nightstand before sitting down. “But you are
alive and well, and for that, I am supremely relieved.”

“Alive, yeah, but I don’t know about well. I’m blind, Noland, and the doctors don’t know if I
can see ever again.”

She jumped as something touched her hand, not expecting the contact. A warm, rough hand
gently grasped hers.

“I heard of your injury from your sister. I am terribly sorry.”

The Ace shook her head, “It’s not like you had anything to do with it. But, I’m not really sure
what I can do about this…”

“What of cybernetics?”

“Don’t even mention that. I don’t care how advanced and safe the stuff is; it just creeps me out.
No offense to the Numbers, but I don’t think I can stand knowing my eyes have been ripped out
and replaced with fakes.”

Noland made no response, instead squeezing the girl’s hand in support.

“Y-you know, I’m… I’m kinda scared,” the girl admitted, reciprocating the squeeze. “No... I'm
very scared. I mean, what if I can’t see ever again? My life… my life is ruined! What good is a
combat mage that’s blind?

“Lady Keroko..."

"I can't work anymore! I can never see my sister, family, and friends again; I can't even see or
take care of Vivio. I'm... I'm useless!"

"Stop. Stop it. Think about what you are saying. What nonsense is this, believing that you are
useless?"

"It's true though. The Bureau has no use for a handicapped mage. Why would anyone even
want me around? I'm just a burden, something to be taken care of. Why would anyone want me
around?"

"You idiot."

Keroko was stunned into silence. Very rarely did Noland used any language other than polite
and formal speech with her, so these words, as mild as they may be, struck her as hard as a slap.
She could feel his grip on her hands tightening.

"You are not useless, nor are you unwanted. That is selfish thinking. Would everyone really
abandon you? Would they all pity you? What has become of the brave, fiery young woman that
I have come to know?"

"She's blind now, unable to even defend herself from a simple Gadget."

Keroko expected a slap for that. Instead, she felt her bed shift towards the edge. Warm, strong
hands grasped her shoulders; Noland was right in front of her.

“You have lost sight, temporary it may be, but that does not mean you are lost. Taste. Touch.
Sight. Sound. These are the senses that you still have.”

“Giving me the lecture, eh?” she asked with a bitter smile.

“Far from it, lady Keroko. I have the highest hopes that you will regain your vision, but until then,
you must adapt. Do you really expect to remain bedridden?”

“But what can I do? I’m not like you, Noland—”

“No, you are not," he interrupted. "You are not as weak as I was. When I was blinded, I
wallowed in self-pity and anguish, my mind overwhelmed by the changes to my body and my life.
Days, weeks, I groped wildly in the darkness, thinking that I was weak and my life was forever
lost. But you, you will not fall to that same despair. You are so much stronger than that. I will not
allow you to be consumed by that darkness within you."

Keroko's shoulders slumped, an invisible action to them both. Noland pulled her into a gentle
hug.

"All is not lost. If you will allow me, I will help you all that I can. The others too, all our friends;
they will gladly help. You are not alone."

“The blind leading the blind,” Keroko chuckled bitterly. “Ironic.”

Still, her arms came up to reciprocate the hug.

“Alright, Noland. We’ll do things your way. Sorry for freaking out there.”

“No, your worries and fears are very understandable. I too was like that.”

They separated, followed by a short moment of silence between them. Keroko leaned back into
her bed, while Noland took a seat next to it.

“Hey, what time is it?” the Ace asked suddenly.

“I do not know. Dark, likely.”

“Mmh.”.

“May I ask a question?” Noland asked suddenly.

“Sure.”

“Why did you not tell the others of your condition?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Before arriving, I received a call from lady Vivio. She wholly believes in your complete
recovery. However, in light of your earlier fears, I suspect you did not divulge the complete truth
to them.”

“Heh. You caught me,” she gave another bitter laugh. “Can you really blame me, though? I don’t
want them to worry more than they have to. Besides, the doctors did say I had a chance.”

“False hopes hurt far more than the most biting of truths, lady Keroko. You know this,”
Noland’s voice was stern at first, but then it softened. “And I too believe in your recovery.
I merely worry that the deception will simply magnify their anxieties.

“I know. I’ll apologize deal with it when the time comes,” she trailed off into a yawn

“You are still recovering. Rest.”

“Yeah. That’s probably the best idea. Are you going back home?” there was something hidden
in that question, a small inflection in her voice. Easily missed, but it was certainly there.

Fortunately, the knight picked up on that little thing, “No. I will be right here when you wake.
Rest well, lady Keroko."

The room was cold, dark, and empty. But here, upon these worn and sterile sheets of white, she
was not lonely. Peaceful slumber came easily.

ghazghkull

2010-04-26, 23:06

Alright then.

*snip*

That was a cool post *.*

Very heart-felt.

*melts at the Kero/Noland moment |D*

Keroko

2010-04-27, 09:38

LoweGear

2010-04-27, 12:11

Who doesn't? As someone who's had been threatened of gradually losing my vision before my eye laser surgery blindness is a very scary thought. Blindness would be much worse than deafness IMHO, just because you stand to lose more without your sight as opposed to being without hearing.

As for the piece itself... is Keroko becoming blind really gonna become "canon" so to speak? Still, it's an initially heartbreaking, but in the end heartwarming piece :T_T:

And Tempy still claims he can't make sweetcheesium... right...

*is SHOT*

Keroko

2010-04-27, 12:30

Keroko's blindness won't be canon as far as I'm concerned. This temporary one, yes, but no permanent one. The personality shift would be larger than I'm comfortable with. Though I could go with the cybernetics, maybe tie it into her growth as an Aspect mage...

No! Bad Kero-chan! One idea at a time! One idea at a time!

Yeah, pass. Too many things are happening to Keroko as it is, throwing in this as well would be bloating her.

LoweGear

2010-04-27, 12:49

ghazghkull

2010-04-27, 12:50

....

*has this strange idea of Keroko recieving an eye transplant from a recently deceased person, restoring her eyesight... but giving her a strange ability to instantly percieve... innuendo.

The deceased person's name was Lowe-*

*FLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ*

*trips Lowe*

NO! Bad Lowe. *points him to a corner for a timeout* :mad:

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-27, 20:01

*observes the fuss over Keroko emotionlessly while working on the next FragmentS short and that Keroko-Elric-Karl fic*

synaesthetic

2010-04-27, 20:45

Nya~n

2010-04-27, 21:10

you don't have to put it that nicely. the rest of us just call it LoweVision(tm)

TheShinySword

2010-04-27, 21:10

....

*has this strange idea of Keroko recieving an eye transplant from a recently deceased person, restoring her eyesight... but giving her a strange ability to instantly percieve... innuendo.

The deceased person's name was Lowe-*

*FLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ*

Ya know you'd have to be dead to donate those... tell your killer not to aim for the head, wouldn't want to damage those eyes.

LoweGear

2010-04-27, 21:25

Mystic Eyes of Ecchi Perception? :D

i.e. the ability to percieve the most mundane of objects and events in the most perverse and sexually-charged manner, and the ability to create double entendres at will, resulting in such skills as Nude Filter, Pettankovision and Zettai Ryouiki Vision.

Also more famously known as [Lowe Vision]

*KILLED*

TheShinySword

2010-04-27, 21:26

i.e. the ability to percieve the most mundane of objects and events in the most perverse and sexually-charged manner, and the ability to create double entendres at will.

Also more famously known as [Lowe Vision]

*KILLED*

Oh goodie now we can donate his body to science.

MeisterBabylon

2010-04-27, 23:10

We should also get some Wan Vision as a comparative sample.

NorthernFallout

2010-05-01, 16:37

After the last of the Ixy shorts (which should be done next week... optimistically) a small project will start. This fic will be set in Ancient Belka and will feature Ixpellia and the Tome. This OC will be the main protagonist.
Name: Clara Statfield
Nickname: Icebreaker
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Affinity: Ice

She was born on a small farmstead on the countryside and spent most of her childhood there with her parents. When she turned 15 she joined a magic society educating new mages for military work around the country.

There she trained for a few years, developing and improving her magic until she became one of the stronger mages to ever graduate from the school. During her time there she had also create connections and relationships with strong, upper-class mages with strong influences with the top of society.

At the age of 22, the calamity of an era arrived, in the appearance of the Dark King Ixpellia. The country where Clara lived was utterly destroyed by the undead forces, including her childhood's farmstead and her parents, along with the magic school she had attended. With almost no one left, apart from a few fellow schoolmates and upper connections, she left the land that had erupted into chaos and went out to search for what she sought the most; Revenge.

Sophisticated and cunning, Clara rarely loses her head in tense situations and has proper manners coming from her time in the magical school. While she can be somewhat arrogant and nasty (bordering close to sadistic), she's often quite normal among other people she respect.

In dangerous situations she often puts herself first, foregoing helping and instead retreating or continuing her assault, unless it's someone she's close to. She does this with the motivation that "It's either me or them".

She has a taste for wine, preferring that over other beverages, and absolutely loves dark chocolate.

http://i455.photobucket.com/albums/qq275/AtomicoX/Random/clarastatfield.jpg

Clara doesn't use a device for her purposes, but instead uses a mix of dance, martial arts and ranged spells for fighting. An important factor to her is to keep it fluid, in a smooth sequence of movements that only stops when the combatant is defeated.

As she has an affinity for ice, she primarily uses ice as a ranged weapon, propelling icicles as projectiles. She knows a wide range of applications however and can use it as a shield, deflection and application on her surroundings or everyday activities.

EDIT: eUzixvKm4Pw

Silvance

2010-05-03, 02:16

After the last of the Ixy shorts (which should be done next week... optimistically) a small project will start. This fic will be set in Ancient Belka and will feature Ixpellia and the Tome. This OC will be the main protagonist.
Name: Clara Statfield
Nickname: Icebreaker
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Affinity: Ice

She was born on a small farmstead on the countryside and spent most of her childhood there with her parents. When she turned 15 she joined a magic society educating new mages for military work around the country.

There she trained for a few years, developing and improving her magic until she became one of the stronger mages to ever graduate from the school. During her time there she had also create connections and relationships with strong, upper-class mages with strong influences with the top of society.

At the age of 22, the calamity of an era arrived, in the appearance of the Dark King Ixpellia. The country where Clara lived was utterly destroyed by the undead forces, including her childhood's farmstead and her parents, along with the magic school she had attended. With almost no one left, apart from a few fellow schoolmates and upper connections, she left the land that had erupted into chaos and went out to search for what she sought the most; Revenge.

Sophisticated and cunning, Clara rarely loses her head in tense situations and has proper manners coming from her time in the magical school. While she can be somewhat arrogant and nasty (bordering close to sadistic), she's often quite normal among other people she respect.

In dangerous situations she often puts herself first, foregoing helping and instead retreating or continuing her assault, unless it's someone she's close to. She does this with the motivation that "It's either me or them".

She has a taste for wine, preferring that over other beverages, and absolutely loves dark chocolate.

http://i455.photobucket.com/albums/qq275/AtomicoX/Random/clarastatfield.jpg

Clara doesn't use a device for her purposes, but instead uses a mix of dance, martial arts and ranged spells for fighting. An important factor to her is to keep it fluid, in a smooth sequence of movements that only stops when the combatant is defeated.

As she has an affinity for ice, she primarily uses ice as a ranged weapon, propelling icicles as projectiles. She knows a wide range of applications however and can use it as a shield, deflection, hardening of her limbs to increase her damage, application on her surroundings or everyday activities.

EDIT: eUzixvKm4Pw

Since Ix is pretty much alive, I'm assuming Clara was either killed or she abandoned her quest for revenge.
Huh, so she fights unarmed. In other words, she's not dependent on devices/weapons in order fight and win her battles. Interesting...

My only question is... what rank is she?

As for the music... I think I've heard of it before but... I just can't remember what movie its from. :heh:

NorthernFallout

2010-05-03, 02:24

^ No established rank as of now. I was unsure if they would do that in Ancient Belka, but if I were to state something it would be around AAA+, maybe close to S. I usually don't use ranks though other than an indicator since things change in writing.

As for the music, no idea which movie it's from.

Kyral

2010-05-03, 12:39

It's nice to see more mages without Devices.
Like Yuuno and some others, you don't necessarily need one if you know what you are doing.

...

Damn it... somehow I got stuck in a "let's redraw characters! :D" mode... again!
Lucky no Nanoha characters are involved so far and I only redraw my WarCraft ones. (Thinking about it, I already did that to my Star Wars characters not so long ago... I a way... :uhoh: )

PhoenixFlare

2010-05-04, 05:31

hardening of her limbs to increase her damage

Though this is somewhat going against the suspension of belief that I am supposed to be having when reading fictions and probably considered super-nitpicky, turning your limbs into ice is generally not considered a strengthening process and instead is more of a weakening process. Ice-covered limbs are supposed to be more fragile than their fleshy counterpart (hence why ice mages revel in freezing their opponents). Unless your ice isn't the everyday ice, even though made by magic.

But yes, that's probably just me, personally.

NorthernFallout

2010-05-04, 05:51

Do I feel embarrassed now. You're right.

Jesus wept *facepalm*

EDIT1: Removed the freezing of limbs, kept the other stuff. As the project moves on I'll prolly come up with an alternative.

FlameSparkZ

2010-05-04, 15:12

Ok, a small piece of WindS-B before the final battle that'll be very messy :heh:

[9:21am]

Having found the elevator, Fuuko and Ellyja entered, opened the ceiling and climbed using the emergency ladder.
As Elly climbed, the dim lit vertical shaft seemed endless...also, something was bothering her.

"Fuu-chan...don't you think that's a bit unfair?"
"Hmm?" Fuuko looked at Elly. "What is?"
"You...flying..." She looked over her shoulder, Fuuko floating behind her.
"I'm watching your back this way, there might be drones around here..." Fuuko explained as she kept her eyes on the surroundings.
"Fuu-chan~" Elly was moved.
"Hurry up, we still have a few floors left." Fuuko slightly increased her flying speed.
"Aaaa~ wait~" Elly picked up the pace.

[9:25am]

"Ugh...how many floors left?"
"2 more floors and we reach the top, a penthouse."
"Finally, I'm getting tired here." Elly wiped the sweat off her forehead.
"We'll take a break when we get there."
Elly nodded, "Okay...how move after that?"
Fuuko gave it some thought, "It's tricky, if this was a normal building, we could go to the rooftop and strike from above...but..."
A screen appeared, Fuuko browsed the hotel's blueprints. "There's a lobby between the actual penthouse and the elevator...it's likely that we'll have a warm welcome waiting for us there."
Elly gulped at the thought of it.
"...Actually." Fuuko's expression became serious, "Looks like we have already a welcome party waiting for us." She looked up.

Above them were sphere drones floating about, as well as humanoids holding onto the walls or the elevator's cable.
"Ueh? I can't fight like this!" Elly looked up.
"I don't like tight spaces either, but we don't have much of a choice!" Fuuko readied her scythe, "Elly, let's go with Alpha-R3!"
"O-Okay!" Elly wrapped her right arm around the ladder's metal bar and held her left arm, where her device is mounted.

"Let's go, Selene!"
[Luna Fang!] 6 blades in front of Fuuko.
"Shoot!" She ordered, the daggers quickly reply, each shooting down a sphere drone.
The remaining drones take notice of Fuuko and retaliate, but she quickly deploys a barrier to deflect the shots.

[Lock On] Arbalest announces as it charges while locking on to the targets.
Elly, using a small screen in front of her, carefully aims at each Hu-G's hand or foot that is keeps them from falling.
"Fire!" A salvo of bullets are released, spreading out.

The bullets hit right on target, the Hu-G lose their balance and fall.
Fuuko finishes them off, with a swipe of her scythe, rushing towards the remaining spheres.
"HA!" Fuuko unleashes a burst of wind that crushes the spheres against the ceiling.

"F-Fuu-chan~!" Elly screamed.
Startled, Fuuko looks down, "What's wrong?!"
"Get it off me~" Elly shook right and left, trying to shake off a battered up Hu-G missing its lower body that was holding onto her.
"Uhhh...." Fuuko sweatdropped.
"Kyaa~ It's groping me in weird places!" Elly blushed as she continued her attempts to shake it off.
"Er-hmmm...." Fuuko kept staring at Elly being assaulted, a faint shade of red on her cheeks.
"F-Fuu-chan, d-don't just stay there, do somethi~ng >_<" She struggled.
Fuuko snapped out of it. "A-ah...sure."

Grabbing the Hu-G's wrist, Fuuko pulls it off Elly.
"T-Thanks..." Elly sighed in relief.
Fuuko held the Hu-G by an arm's length, it continued waving its free arm around...ending up groping Fuuko.

"*silence*" The two girls stared at the Hu-G as it continued frisking Fuuko, trying to hold on, but the hand kept slipping.
Stopping, it tilted its head right, then looked at Elly, reaching out for her.
"Hiiiii!" Elly squealed, not because of the Hu-G...but of Fuuko's murderous aura.
"Y-You....." A vein popped on Fuuko's forehead, the grip on the Hu-G's wrist increased to the point of crushing the outer frame.

"Sorry if..." Fuuko raised the drone above her head as she shouted (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/Artwork/ws-b_fuurage.jpg), "THERE'S NOTHING TO HOLD ONTO!!!"
She then throws it down the shaft at full power, the crash heard a few seconds later.

"After the exam, I'm going to have an extensive talk to Shari about this." an eerie smirk spread on Fuuko's lips.
"I-I'll be going ahead..." Elly climbed the ladder in a hurry.
------------------------------------

[9:30am]
[Lobby to penthouse]

Drones patrolled the area left and right, protecting the path towards the exam's final stage.
*KAR-BLUM!* a loud impact was heard from the elevator door.
Taking notice, the drones turn towards it.

*KAR-BLUM!!* the elevator door becomes deformed with the second blow.
The drones carefully approach the elevator to check it out.

*KAR-BLUM!!!*
The sound attracts more drones, while those on the front prepare to attack.

And then...A slicing sound as heard, another, and another...several consecutive cuts
Confused, the drones tilted their heads, looking at each other.

Countless intersecting green lines were traced along the deformed door.
[Star Shrapnel!] a muffled announcement was heard behind the elevator door.
The metallic door burst apart, showering the drones in front of it with a wave of metal shards.

As the smoke subsided, only a handful of units were still active, but quickly wiped out by Elly.
"All clear!" Elly turned to the doorless elevator.

Out came Fuuko, sweating and panting, "*pant*...Thanks."
Though similar to Erio's Speerschneiden, Star Shrapnel was a move Fuuko couldn't use often, as it required magic and concentration to keep the object being sliced from falling apart.
Fuuko maintains that concentration while continuously slicing the target object into small bits.
After all the slicing is finished, Fuuko compresses the air and magic in front of her, releasing it on the cut object.

Elly walked up to Fuuko, "Fuu-chan, you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Fuuko wiped the sweat off her forehead, "Let's carry on with the plan."
"Shouldn't you rest a little? That door was in better state than you expected wasn't it?"
"Mu--You noticed?" Fuuko looked at Elly surprised.

Indeed, for an abandoned hotel, that elevator door wasn't as rusty as expected, which required more power for a clean cut.
For Elly to notice that, she's gotten sharper than before...Fuuko smiled a little.

"Ok then, I'll rest while you survey the inside." Fuuko sat on the marble floor.
Elly nodded, "I'll be going then~" she playfully saluted Fuuko and went off towards the penthouse.
"Be careful, okay?"
"'Kaaay~" The red haired girl waved her right arm while running, "Hawa!" ...then tripped.
Fuuko sighed, "Klutz..."
"Ahahahaha...I'm okay~" Elly let out an embarrassed laugh as she looked at her partner, turned around and continued.

While Elly was checking the inside, Fuuko reviewed the plan one more time.
But other thoughts invaded her mind, some that have been bothering her for a while now...

Lately, for no apparent reason, her parents have been off field duty, and doing only desk work.
It all started last year, after they returned from their third honeymoon, they suddenly contacted Fuuko to inform her of the change in schedule.
In a way, it was a good thing, Enforcer job kept them busy when investigating incidents and the three didn't spend much time as a family.
Though, at the same time, something was off...whenever they were together, her parents looked like they were going to say something, but didn't.
To her, they looked perfectly healthy, in shape and the with usual appetite.
Her mother wasn't even showing signs of unusual behavior due to "something"...then why the awkward moments?

She didn't get it, the more the thought about the harder it was to understand...the only way to solve this was to ask them directly.

"--u-chan...Fuu-chan!"
"Eh?" Fuuko snapped out of the thinking trance and saw Elly looking at her.
"I'm done checking the inside."
"Oh..." Fuuko replied, still hazy.
"Are you okay?" Worried, Elly kneeled to look closer.
"Y-yeah...Just lost myself in thought for a while. I'm fine." The golden eyed girl stood.

Clearing her head of useless thoughts, Fuuko returned to her usual self and focused on the exam.
"Okay, let's hear what you found out." The short girl turned to her partner and they prepared for the final assault.
------------------------------------

:heh::heh::heh:
Yeah...don't mess with her :rolleyes:

Next part will be the exam's conclusion and the results, followed by a party \o/
'till then...:D

*runz*

[EDIT:] Added a bit more of text, but in case nobody reads it, I'll add it to the next part as well...unless someone comments >_>

NorthernFallout

2010-05-05, 13:03

Final part of the Ix shorts. Made the text thinner, tell me if it's easier to read.

http://i455.photobucket.com/albums/qq275/AtomicoX/doomsday.jpg
"Do you remember the feeling? You know the one, when all of your senses are focused on one thing and one thing only. You clear your mind of unnecessary noise, blink your eyes twice and stare at what is in front of you. What you are seeing can't be comprehended by simple sensory inputs alone.

"You need to think about it. Stop for a moment and grind it through your head. What is it that I'm seeing? Do I understand what will happen in the next few seconds?

"That feeling. Fragmented thoughts racing about in your head. That's what happened to me that day. The moment of an extensive and complicated truth that would come to light. A moment we, the soldiers, had waited for. We had no idea about the outcome. We never thought an end would come in the first place to the dark era of which we lived in.

"But it did. The end did indeed come. Even though it was so very brutal..."

*

"Medic!"

Another explosion threw me down on my stomach. Pebbles and blood rained down upon me, the last remains of the soldier who had stood only a few meters away from me, frantically trying to explain why his feet had hurt so much. There was a bitter taste in my mouth now that I knew that was the least of his problems.

I tossed a glance over my shoulder, but I knew what to expect. I wasn't surprised when I saw body parts scattered over the area. Too bad I didn't catch his name.

"Dammit, I need a medic over here!"

The same voice again. I scrambled to my feet, not bothering to try and smudge away the dirt on my clothes. After a few seconds it would just be the same again. I focused on the voice, trying to decide what direction it had came from. There were screams and explosions everywhere, the flashes and impacts of magical beams blinding me and confusing my senses.

I shook my head to clear it, but it only helped a fraction. By pure luck I spotted the owner of the voice waving through the thick smoke ten meters away. I put my legs into motion again and sprinted through the ranks, lines of soldiers firing their weapons at the forces that were advancing. Bloody hell, did those undead things ever stop?

"Doc! She got hit by a cluster bomb!" the soldier shouted at me when I arrived, skidding along the ground into the tiny hole they had used as protection. Behind me several beams crossed paths where I just had been. I tried not to think what could have happen if I had been a second too slow.

"Where is she hit?" I asked and opened my medical bag containing my equipment. It was standard procedure for medics to always carry one of those bags, but I had almost used up all of my medicine stash.

"On her left side." His face was panic-stricken and rightly so. So far I hadn't seen anyone who wasn't in a state of panic on the whole left flank, what with seeing their fallen reanimated only to turn on their former comrades.

I turned the wounded soldier over carefully, as she was lying on her back, so I could take a closer look. A large red patch had smoothed itself over her uniform and I grabbed my scissors to cut. I paused for a second, trying to stop my hands from shaking and organize my thoughts.

I began to cut open the uniform. Slowly the damaged area came into sight and I couldn't help but release a satisfied sigh. It was a shallow wound, and even if it was bleeding, she'd live.

"Here, take this." I handed over a set of bandages and other things he would need. "Clean the wound and then wrap this around it."

"But, Doc-"

"She'll be fine! It isn't serious!" Out of the corner of my eye I saw something flash. It was more intense than the rest of the chaos around us and I looked up into the sky. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized what it was. There was no mistaking the sort of color the flash had given off.

"Incoming Viper!"

I dove down into the small foxhole again, burying the two soldiers under me, trying to protect them for some reason. I knew it was a futile gesture, but it came from pure reflex. Some called it the Medic Stupidity Move. I almost agreed with them.

The Viper, so aptly called because of its fast speed and precision, was a magical cluster bomb, not very different from that which had hit the soldier now cowering below me. When it detonated, several auto-acquiring magical beams would shoot out and search for targets. Fired against singular targets that could take cover it wouldn't do much damage. Against groups of people on plain ground however, I could only expect carnage.

It hit the ground twenty meters away from us, but I could still hear the screams of those caught in the blast. After three seconds I dared to look up, a cloud of dust drawing in over our hole. As far as I could see from my position, ten had been unlucky, in the sense that I couldn't help them. Viper bombs rarely killed their victims, but I knew that patching them together would only prolong their deaths. Recalling memories from past experience, I let them be, their dying bodies writhing in pain from being shredded by burning magic against which no sedative I could give them would work.

Fifty meters ahead I saw a normal bomb hit the ground, straight into a foxhole. It slung the inhabitants into the air by a good three meters before gravity took over. Before they had even touched the ground I was out of my hole and rushed ahead. It was a long-shot, but judging from their screams of pain I decided they were alive and could, maybe, be saved from a slow and painful death.

Again everything around me dulled my senses. I knew I was a lucky son of a bitch to have stayed alive for such a long time on this flank. A single shot, a single stray bomb could end my life in a heartbeat. I knew it, everyone else knew it. A bit of difference though, it still didn't make.

I ran as fast as I could, beams without a target hitting the ground around me. Soldiers fired back, a deafening noise of compressed magic being released everywhere, accompanied by flashes and explosions from incoming enemy fire. Everything was pure chaos.

With only ten meters left I tried to run faster, forcing my legs across the ground that had started to turn into mud from all the blood. In front of me was another foxhole, a temporary pause until I could get to the wounded. I aimed for it, before my luck would run out.

It was just a bomb among thousands being dropped that day. I could feel the blast wave throwing me to the side, the heat scorching away at my face. I was thrown into the dirt, a pain of a distant world blowing into my mind. I screamed as I hadn't done for years, before I managed to get a grip of my senses.

Nausea made itself apparent and I supported myself on my elbows to check if things were still okay. My arms worked, my neck worked. I glanced down on my body, still whole from the impact. However, when I came down to my legs there was something missing. Where my right foot had once been, there was only blood and flesh hanging from a lump of bone from my knee. I gasped, not believing it was gone. This was where all the pain came from I decided. Everything else was fine. Just the leg. Just my leg.

I retrieved my medical bag again and I noticed my hands had stopped shaking. Odd, I thought to myself and prepared a syringe with a powerful sedative. I was still lying in the middle of the battlefield, the fighting continuing without me. No one paid me a second glance. I was just another body lying on the ground among hundreds, our dark colored uniforms almost making it hard to even see us.

I stuck the needle into my thigh and injected the sedative. My mind went dull and my vision blurry within seconds. I could feel the pain draining away and an odd peace replaced my terror. Strangely, a shadow began to creep over the sky that I could see from my horizontal position. I blinked, but while some of the blurriness disappeared, the shadow remained and grew bigger.

Ah, I thought, a fragment of an old memory from spoken tales blinking like a beacon inside my head. It's her.

*

A few hundred meters up in the sky, Ixpellia surveyed the carnage playing itself out on the ground. Her soldiers of the dead, amassing in the thousands, was crushing the resistance of the nemesis' forces beneath their rotten boots. Though they had put up a fight that even impressed her, their defences was simply too weak for the wave of undead.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled into the air free of the awful smells infecting the ground. "I didn't want this to happen."

Beyond the field of death a bright light suddenly appeared, casting long shadows from the combatants. They didn't pay it any attention, as they were too engrossed in trying to stay alive, but Ixpellia flinched from the light and shielded her eyes. It burned her retinas and skin with a strange sensation.

She knew this light. A few times back she had seen and felt it. It belonged to their leader, a powerful and terrifying being she had only met once in person. A meeting in the old peaceful past.

For the first time in a long while, Ixpellia was scared. So terrified that her hands were shaking and a cold sweat was breaking out over her back. Despite her own powers, close to those of a demigod, this was one of the few beings that could rival her. He possessed the ability to defeat her, utterly destroying her.

Maybe it would put an end to all of this...

She shook her head violently. For all the despair her soldiers had brought, for all the destruction and death that had conquered the lands, she couldn't die. Not now. Not in times of need. The people would require her aid after this unstoppable prophecy had been fulfilled.

She couldn't afford to lose.

An arc of light shot up from the ground and headed towards her. A comet of holy magic flying across the dark sky. It grew in size as it approached, a rain of golden sparkles falling in its train onto the earth. It stopped fifty meters in front of her and dimmed in intensity.

From the golden shimmer emerged an armored knight, with a shield in his right and a broadsword in his left. Both of them with scriptures carved into their golden metal, an enhancer of his being. His face was that of a middle-aged man, carved with war. He was a man who had fought unceasingly, watching his soldiers die in his name. Ixpellia knew it all too well.

"Dark King. I see you are observing your work from afar." He spoke into her mind, a deep voice with hidden poison.

"I have no excuse," she replied, shaking her head. "Would you rather I would get into this myself, ensuring victory, Prince?"

"Victory is inevitable to you no matter how you do it," the Prince snarled. "They fight and they die. They do not give up hope nor do they lay down arms for the likes of you. They are humans."

"Human stubbornness. Yet I am human too, am I not?"

"You? Human? A powerful being, a dark angel descending upon us with the apocalypse. I would not call you a human. Never."

Ixpellia sighed. Beneath the facade she had put up so far she was shaking in terror and regret. She grasped her soul and tried to turn it to stone. "Did you come to only speak?"

"No, I did not." He pulled up the sword and pointed it at Ixpellia. "I have come to make you see the truth, Dark King. To relinquish the darkness with my light. May our ancestors observe this moment."

As a golden circle emerged beneath his feet, Ixpellia produced her symbolic black triangles around herself and her wrists. Every pore on her body produced the tiniest amount of dark magic and the air crackled of the static from particles colliding. When the prince brought his sword up again, placing the edge on his palm and his body bent forward, she put her hands, palms outward, in a cross in front of her.

The Prince disappeared in a blur of light and collided an instant later straight into Ixpellia. Her black triangle shield held, even deflecting the attack. The Prince flew off in another direction, but immediately turned around again, the only argument of his existence being something blurry and golden moving too fast for Ixpellia to distinguish.

He struck again, the air exploding around her as the sound barrier broke. She flinched a little and countered with ghastly shadow arms from her wrist triangles. They shot out towards the blurry light, nearly catching up before it made another lunge and kept its distance.

Ixpellia diminished the shadows and followed the blur with her eyes. It circulated around her, waiting for an opening. She could feel the Prince's intent to destroy her, his mind stretching out through his magic and actions.

She removed the shield she had kept in front of her and took another stance. Her right arm stretched out from her side while she held the left in front of her. Black orbs began to radiate darkness in her palms and she concentrated hard to form them as quickly as possible. This was the crucial moment in shaping them, and if she was interrupted she might as well fall.

It was a stupid decision, such a fruitless attempt, that the Prince was awed at her determination, holding his attack for a few seconds longer than he intended. It was all that Ixpellia needed to finalize the demon orbs.

"Conquer!" she screamed and clashed her palms together, crushing the black orbs into each other. A deafening explosion followed, engulfing her in a bubble that the Prince couldn't see through. It grew stronger, crackling with energy, but he ignored it and initiated his next attack.

He turned in the sky, making a wide arc before throwing himself against the bubble. Again the sound barrier was crushed and he hit the darkness with full force.

But the Prince had came to a full stop. The blurry light disappeared and his sword was shaking on its tip against the unbreakable wall of darkness. He gritted his teeth over the sudden change and pushed harder, producing a second magic circle around the handle of the sword.

"Skofnung! Holy Pierce!"

Three golden arrows appeared next to the tip of Skofnung and started to rotate until they became a blurry circle of swiftly moving images. Slowly they were inserted into the black wall and started to carve into its impossible substance, sparkles flying wild from the resistance.

"Why do you not just admit it," the Prince screamed, "that you are a god from hell? No one has the same power as you, no one in this world besides I can wield a similar power! We are gods, Dark King! Accept it!"

A crack opened in the barrier and light pierced into it. More cracks followed in a pattern similar to lightning and they grew in numbers until the bubble finally shattered into a million black pieces that exploded into dust in the bright sunlight, plunging the Prince towards the core. The small explosions hit his golden armor, but easily absorbed.

"Because," Ixpellia yelled and threw up another triangular shield, "I'm still human!"

The Prince hit the shield yet again, but this time stopped in front of it, pressing his sword against it. He wasn't smiling, but rather carried an expression of sadness and pity. Ixpellia meanwhile gritted her teeth and continued to press back the massive power pushing her down.

"But you aren't human. It's that simple. Look at what I have done for my nation. Look at how peaceful the people were before you arrived. You seek to destroy what I have built, only because of the fake truth you hold so dear. You can't accept to hold the crown of gods because you think it would shun you from the mortals."

"I... don't..."

"Then why are you doing this?" the Prince screamed through gritted teeth. It wasn't rage or anger that held his voice's weight. It was of frustration. "Why do you seek to destroy my brothers and sisters? There must be a reason!"

Ixpellia was sweating heavily and her legs had started to shake. Only a few more moments and her shield was going to break. She had to do something unless she wished to be pierced by the holy sword that was now aimed at her heart.

"Because... because... I can't stop it! I've tried and tried, but there is nothing I can do! My soldiers keep fighting, the undead I created refusing to stop! They follow me, yet they do not! They have their own will, serving a far higher power, one they cannot resist!"

The Prince snarled. "Is that all there is? A blatant lie? How do you expect me to believe in such nonsense! If that's how it is, Dark King, if you really want all this madness to stop, why are you still fighting me? Let me end your reign right here, right now! Without you being a mere shadow leader, or whatever name you would want to give it, they would stop! Why do you not just kill yourself!"

The impact of his words hit her hard and she just stared at him. It had been in front of her several times, the option of suicide, to make everything end. But every time, something in the back of her mind had stopped her, urging her to go on with the prophecy. What was that voice trying to accomplish by forcing her into this...

It was the slight hesitation, and the startled expression on her face, that gave the Prince his opportunity. He pressed on, throwing his own body towards the shield along with his sword. The dark triangle shattered and a golden flash swooped past Ixpellia.

The Prince stopped several yards away and turned around in the sky, just in time to see a dark line form across Ixpellia's left arm. She clutched it with her right hand and grimaced. Blood seeped out, at first slowly, before picking up and finally flooding out from the ravaged arm.

"What did you..." she started and stared at the Prince. Her face was white with fear and the intense pain was twisting her mouth.

"To show you are a god," the Prince simply said and began to descend towards the battlefield. The light enveloped his person once again and the golden comet plunged downwards.

Ixpellia still held onto her arm and was struck with horror when it began to hang loose. The holy sword had cut through her muscles, flesh and bone as if it were paper. Blood was still gushing and her head felt light, floating in an air of confusion and pain.

Her concentration failed and her flight spell canceled itself out. Gravity took over her body and she fell, air rushing past and the dark sky above becoming more distant. She couldn't hear anything but her own breathing and thoughts, racing through her mind to try and stabilize her ruptured state.

Of the Prince there was no sight as far as she could see. He had probably joined the fighting with his soldiers, fighting beside them like she should do with hers. Living and dying on the battlefield.

Her body hit the ground with a dull thump. Dark magic had suppressed the fall, but only a bit. She could feel the bones in her body breaking, her spine snapping like a twig. She didn't even pay attention to the pain any more. It was so overwhelming it simply ceased to exist..

Her arm bounced off in another direction, leaving her wound open, allowing her blood to spill into the already red-soaked ground. In the distance she still heard the fighting, the cries of tormented soldiers filling the atmosphere. All the lost souls, seeking a heaven where they could finally rest.

She closed her eyes and swallowed, followed by a ragged breath. Then, her mind was thrown into a weird world where the shadows were alive and the light was non-existent.

*

She awoke with the rain dancing on her mud-filled face. The noise of battle was gone and everything was silent, apart from the rain hitting the soft ground.

She sat up and shook her head, her orange hair completely ruined by the mud. Blood lay in small puddles everywhere, its red color being awfully apparent in the moonlight.

Where... What...

She didn't feel any pain nor was her mind in disarray. Only a slight confusion of the last hours clouded her judgment, as she supported her body on her arms and stood up on shaky legs. She swung back and forth, her blood not reaching her head quite yet. When it finally did, the realization and memory of what had happened hit her like a brick.

She stared around her with wild eyes, but only destruction was prevalent. Then she remembered her arm and instinctively clutched it. Warm flesh greeted her and she dared to take a look.

The arm was fine. No marks or even scratches were visible. No trace of her defeat. Her heart was still beating, pumping her blood around in her body as usual. Which didn't make sense. She should have been dead. As a human...

Her legs gave away and she collapsed into the mud, only staring at her open hands. A scream slowly began to build up in her throat and tears muddled her eyes. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

Distant thunder crackled through the air like a machine of war crushing the world, partly obscuring the high-pitched scream of anguish and hopelessness the Dark King let out as a result of her divine, yet disgusting, existence and her soul shattering revelation.

And there it is. The last part in this little trilogy. The Prince is an unknown character, the symbolic leader of "Good". I don't think he is meant to be a canon character living in AB, but merely a made up one. Still it's a possibility he might be one of several CCs who hasn't appeared. The whole trilogy isn't intended to be straight fanon, but still contain some canon visions.

Ixpellia is the symbolic "Evil", although it isn't black and white of course.

The two first parts are the same person, a character I simply named "The Medic", who survived the Great Wars of Ancient Belka.

Skofnung, the sword/device used by the Prince is a reference to the sword mentioned in Norse mythology with the same name. It might also share the same properties in this short.

As for the spells used, they were (in order of appearance):

Triangle Shadow (Ix) - A shield.
Light Speed (Prince) - Extreme speed.
Shadow Trail (Ix) - The shadow arms.
Darkness Explosion (Ix) - Black orbs clashing and producing the bubble.
Holy Pierce (Prince) - See short.

FlameSparkZ

2010-05-05, 18:11

Final part of the Ix shorts. Made the text thinner, tell me if it's easier to read.

*snip*
So...did the Doc die? Was he on the same battlefield as Ix? If he died, was it a Mariage that killed him? :uhoh:

Ok, enough questions :heh:
That was pretty good, most information on Ixpellia is still hidden in Tsuzuki's sleeves, if there are any :rolleyes:

But this Ix is pretty cool, capable of defending herself against something that strong, yet still with her fragility and hopelessness.
Throw in immortality and it's done!

We don't know how far Ix's immortality goes in canon, but it's not a perfect one...since her sleep/coma state is caused by damage she took in ancient times that "modern" Mid-Childa technology can't heal yet.

Anyway, that was a good short :D

NorthernFallout

2010-05-13, 13:04

For those unfamiliar with Bloodspeaker, he's essentially the "mentor" of Wallachia and a character that are referred to a lot in the Chronicles, but never actually seen. With the release of Clara, and her fic later set in Ancient Belka, I decided to release this cryptic profile of him because of... secret reasons.

This document is to be released in combination with document AA067 "The Blood Maiden". Responsible for these documents are Dr. H.L Halk, Professor J.Ulft and Investigator Y.Macmillian. Forbidden to be copied, distributed or be researched by non-authorized personnel.

The following information has been gathered through years of investigation and psychological profiling. Rights reserved to modify this document according to paragraph 6.9 if new information were to surface.

1.1; Historical Ties

Extensive research has been conducted on Bloodspeaker's ancestors, stretching as far back as to Ancient Belka (specifically during the lifetime of the Dark King), when we believe it all originated. While the specific individuals cannot be narrowed down any further than his grandparents, we have managed to specify that his family tree has suffered from psychological breaks and behavior in the past, hence making his behavior in his youth and during his homicidal journey more understandable.

By applying modern day schemes, structures and discourses, we have managed to detail his behavior with fairly good accuracy. More on this under 1.2; Personality.

As far his ancestors are concerned, they have been repeatedly mentioned in older medias and through the times, albeit not in public. Witness reports from years back, found in historical archives over at the Infinite Library, tells of his ancestors slaughtering their victims and drinking their blood. This is consistent with Bloodspeaker's behavior before his death.

Other details also surfaced, mostly about heirs and abducted children, but we cannot for sure tell whether these are simply rumors or facts. If they were facts, however, it would coincident with Bloodspeaker himself.

1.2; Personality

We would suggest that Bloodspeaker weren't abnormally more violent than a normal person would be in his everyday life. According to witness statements and notes/diary excerpts found at his various hideouts, he could might as well have passed as a natural gentlemen on the streets. Indications was also made that he had a liking for reading, especially ancient history. We would suggest he was investigating his own past, but we do not have the facts to support such a conclusion.

According to the diary excerpts, Bloodspeaker suffered from, what we have decided to call, Dark and Light moods respectively. In his Light moods, he felt fulfilled and happy, often venturing out on the streets to enjoy the outside or eat at a local restaurant.

His Dark moods seems to be the initiator for his cannibalistic and savage nature. We have yet to determine what would set his Dark moods off.

What caused him to take care of Subject E-678, detailed in document AA067, we still have yet to determine. We think, however, that he knew his time was coming, or that the authority were closing in on him, and hence decided to make an heir. Excerpts from his dairy supports this theory, as comments such as "My end is here", "She is the one" and "Tonight I give my soul to history, but it will still live" has been found and translated.

1.3; Appearance

[DATA UNAVAILABLE ON ORDERS FROM X-X]

1.4; Device

Several times Bloodspeaker has been making references to a certain device he calls Nevrignas, which can talk, cast spells on its own and whom he considers a close friend. No evidence of such a device existing has been found, suggesting he suffered from illusions and hallucinations combined with his psychological problems.

1.5; Powers

We have been unable to accurately define his powers from reports alone, but we can reasonably suggest that they do not differ in a huge degree from that of Subject E-678, if his ancestry are to be interpreted correctly.

1.6; Miscellaneous

Often in our research we encountered words and terms relating to dark/black magic and Ancient Belka, specifically using blood as a common identifier. We cannot help but connect it all down to the Dark King, even if it's only a theory. As old stories suggest about the Dark King, she used dark/black magic that sometimes seems similar to that of what Bloodspeaker's ancestors would use, not to mention we found indications that a part of her persona somehow transferred to another human being at an unknown point in time. Evidence for this theory is still weak, but we keep looking for more answers and hope to update this document within a plausible period of time.

MeisterBabylon

2010-05-18, 22:00

Say Keroko could you take down all the characters listed under Kha and MeisterBabylon (if any! lol)?

I'm doing a complete wipe. No plans to start afresh any time soon (Time and many other obligations have priority) but those old and outmoded characters are a hell of a thorn in my side. I've already backed them up in my computer, and sealed them away for future reference. But publicly, it would be nice to finally, completely, lay them to rest.

@PF: Kha's still available for you to use as you see fit. I give you full licence privileges. You can even kill him off or go marry Fate to Nanoha in GuardianS. As part of the conditional surrender, I don't care any more. :D

@Aaron008R: I'm pulling out of the FragmentS project, but if you want to continue to involve Karl, be my guest. I give him to you. :D

I'll eventually post a finalized profile of Kha/Karl/whateverhemaybe so that I won't leave any one else I've forgotten hanging. :heh:

But that will be my last OC-related piece of work until I have much more time on my hands, along with much much more sensibility and maturity. I’ll still be here though, haunting your works like the specter I’ve become, so don’t you guys go writing me off just yet. :3

I’m just going to be less… khracky, if that’s a word. And let that be the last time the word Khrack is uttered.

Foshizzle!

Evil Rick

2010-05-18, 22:35

Hmmm... by that you mean thorwing all OCs to the trash can? Like giving up all rights over them?

MeisterBabylon

2010-05-18, 22:49

You can have them if you wish, but yes I am throwing all my OCs into the bin basically.

Keroko

2010-05-19, 01:18

I'll leave them up for a day or two so people can save what they want, then take them down.

MeisterBabylon

2010-05-19, 06:00

I doubt anyone would bother to but okay... :heh:

Keroko

2010-05-19, 08:32

... By the way, just checking but you are talking about the To Aru ones, right? Since I can't do much about the Nanoha thread.

MeisterBabylon

2010-05-19, 09:33

... By the way, just checking but you are talking about the To Aru ones, right? Since I can't do much about the Nanoha thread.Wait crap it's GHAZ D=

Oops my bad. The Toaru ones will have to stay for now, but I need to get Ghaz to get my OCs off that antiquated post! :eyespin:

XenahortCharybdis

2010-05-19, 11:56

Wait crap it's GHAZ D=

Oops my bad. The Toaru ones will have to stay for now, but I need to get Ghaz to get my OCs off that antiquated post! :eyespin:

Antiquated is more or less the correct word. We probably haven't updated 5% of that material in a bazillion years. And funny as it sounds coming from me, you don't need to denigrate your deeds in that fashion. 'Tis a phase to be remembered nonetheless, that phase of...mmm, that's a forbidden word now, is it?

...まあ、いいよ. Forbidden it is, then. Not like I'm having much time to comment any more than this much these days.

:D

Wild Goose

2010-05-19, 16:35

I'm getting a sense deja vu here. (Recalls the proclamations of how a changed name would lead to changed output, only for the result to be more or less the same.)

Evil Rick

2010-05-19, 16:48

I'm getting a sense deja vu here. (Recalls the proclamations of how a changed name would lead to changed output, only for the result to be more or less the same.)

Hey, at least it will be something new to talk about here through the week, don't? :p

MeisterBabylon

2010-05-19, 18:19

*bites Goose on the neck and hangs there*

Deja vu? I'm still here you know. :3

PhoenixFlare

2010-05-20, 00:50

Thanks for the full creative license, I guess. Not that I have much time to write fictions these days, it's mostly bacteria and proteins and chromatographies and mass spectrometry ... Words trickle ever so slowly into paragraphs in this mode (1000 words/month?). They still trickle, nonetheless.

I'll let you know of any changes/updates/related stuff whenever.

LoweGear

2010-05-20, 00:58

So we can expect PF to write epic battles between microorganisms and the body's immune systems using Belka and Mid magic?

... alright, better stop that line of thought... :eyespin:

Keroko

2010-05-20, 01:28

Throw a bit of personification in the mix and we're set to go. I say white bloodcells look like Momiji.

MeisterBabylon

2010-05-20, 05:35

Momoji would be a neutrophil. Why? Because she is inflammatory in response. :D

Nya~n

2010-05-20, 05:41

i guess that officially makes Reisen the suppository then.

also, why are we talking touhou in nanoha?

PhoenixFlare

2010-05-20, 05:49

i guess that officially makes Reisen the suppository then.

also, why are we talking touhou in nanoha?

I think you meant why are we talking about cells in Nanoha?!? :eyespin:

PhoenixG

2010-05-20, 06:10

Well you started with those stuff

MeisterBabylon

2010-05-22, 23:26

After being bugged incessantly about this latest bout of SRS BSN, I've made a quick report to answer everyone's queries at once:

2 years ago, I changed identities and began actively trying to destroy the establishment that has possessed OCT. I've only managed to destroy the thread so far, which was part of the plan, but no further progress was achieved.

For 2 years I think I've managed to ruffle every sane feather out there but not to the intended effect. :p

So after so much protracted Saber-rattling (lol), the UNSC passed a formal sanction on me after Nyan went ballistic and declared open war.

That quickly led to my formal conditional surrender because I was unable to sustain a full-on assault and was quickly overrun:

Nyan,

I can't keep this up any longer. Firstly, you are wrong, I did change. I changed for the worse. All that was just a cover for me to buy time to make my comeback, write up what I had in mind, then snap back at Goose and his ilk by showing that I changed nothing yet it is accepted.
I changed for the worse solely for the purpose of revenge. And that made me sore. So every time something came close to pricking that ulcer in Nanoha, I snap.

Furthermore, all this obsession about revenge has made me miss the forest of why I write in the first place.

I still consider you one of my friends, but lately, after I've moved on to Toaru, Negi and whatever, we've ended up arguing rather than writing fics.

I know I am at fault, and I seriously can not go on in a state where every time I want to comment on an anime or manga I have to face backlash.

So if you are agreeable, I formally surrender and take back everything I have said and done, both as MeisterBabylon, and as Kha.

To prevent more bad ideas from appearing, and perpetuating the bad ones already written, I formally withdraw from all fanfic and OCing activities except in casual conversations. I will remove all mention about OCs and related material for other universes. I'll keep my profiles in Toaru posted up, but that's for ppl already using them for stories, but I will no longer update them. Same goes for Nanoha. And I will never mention any ideas for OCs that I do chance upon ever again.

I hope that with this we can at least be friends again. Or at least, not come to blows every time we cross paths.

If you want, I can post this on our profile pages too as a public apology.

Regards,
Kha

Other terms of the surrender include the ceasure of usage of all words and concepts that I have inspired in the past, for example 'khrack', bluecheesium, and several others, in exchange for my full cooperation. Violation of the surrender is a direct act of war at the level of BPHaru and will result in swift impunitive action up to and beyond a permanent ban from all avenues possible. The document was passed unanimously by Spacebrotha, AX, Sheba, and seconded by everyone present on IRC including Zeo. And I accept it.

However, I am permitted to continue posting and commenting on other people's work, just never to publish any of my own.

To further the surrender and bury the hatchet, I was thinking of suggesting a third OCT this time without any trace of my work, but I think this thread still has some ways to go before the mods allow us that privilege...

So it is not that I am overreacting. I really cant post new content anymore. I know some of you resent this outcome, but none of you were in the UNSC and ultimetely it is my fault its come to this. :heh:

(And I don't have Brazil and Turkey to bail me out of this one. :p)

Who says you need to play EVE to find SRS BSN online? :uhoh:

Anyway not like I'm gone... I'm still here trolling this thread mwahahahahaha...

PhoenixG

2010-05-23, 01:57

*rubs temples*

good for you?

Sheba

2010-05-23, 02:07

I said nothing and I have not even paid attention to the lastest happening in FFC and OCC, what the fucking fuck?

Tempy

2010-05-23, 02:21

Yeah, I have no idea what is going on. I've been a bystander to all of this, for once.

Nya~n

2010-05-23, 02:24

pffftttt drama queen. it's your fault and you know it, now stop pinning it on the people who couldn't take the... stuff you decked out.

also, you do realise that your "exploits" across ASuki was what made the mods have the unanimous decision never to open anymore OCTs, right? such is your legacy.

In any case, yes, in case you haven't noticed, EVERYONE already knows you've ragedropped the OC business here. I'm pretty certain everyone noticed that when you posted across every fandom you had a hand in destroying. Now you're just being more annoying than usual. which is saying a lot, i must say. now stop being such an over-the-top matyr-wannabe. the lights are off, the curtains are closed, the stage is empty and the show is over.

Sheba

2010-05-23, 04:03

If I have said anything related to Nanoha OC, it's to voice my annoyance and frustration over the direction that the franchise have taken, where it have become jarringly obvious that Tsuzuki have some raging obsession over SRW, gundam and the whole mecha, where the influences are way past the wink and nudge phase and have gotten to the "I WOULD LIKE BANPRESTO TO INCLUDE MY GIRLS IN THE NEXT SRW AND HAVE JAM PROJECT TO SING THE NEXT NANOHA SEASON SONGS!!" And what's happening to the magical part of the franchise? Yeah, you know. So yeah, it have gotten frustrating to people like me who don't come from the MECHAMECHAMECHA side of the whole creative thing.

tl;dr: Tsuzuki could take his inspiration from other sources, I like Daisuke Ishiwatari's take on a magitech society better. Go Guilty Gear (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbi_UHYM3NU) and BlazBlue (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWQdltUMid4)!

XenahortCharybdis

2010-05-24, 05:59

Kuh...how crudely you awaken me, OCT...

@Sheba: He just got himself addicted to an SWR game for the first time, most likely. Just like how we went through that semi-phase. But hell yes, more might and magic and less mecha.

Anyway...

...Lol, Kha. I mean, like, OCT is possessed?

And by what establishment? The work of your hands that was taken from you, corrupted beyond your liking, twisted by those who disagreed with you, what? I don't see how this establishment was anything more or less than the collective work of our hands. If it needed fixing, breaking, or tearing down, you consult us. Going solo just gives us the excuse to misunderstand you, and you jolly well know the damage that does. And you call that progress...I must be going insane that that actually gets anywhere past my retina, so ludicrous is that declaration.

That much noted, I won't say with certainty if it's the individual delusions or the groupthink illusions that prevail around here, but just an opinion - I think you're fairly possessed, at least. Possessed of some sort of ability to overstate or overdo practically everything sufficiently to drag practically everyone into the rather impractical business of wasting time replying their innocence/rage/ignorance/non-committal stance/whatever.

It's not a bad thing to have, this sort of online animal magnetism.

But if all you ever seem to do despite that is to antagonize various parties it's more likely that it's you who's missing the forest...I think you actually probably missed the forest anyway, unless I misread you - it's not about revenge, surrender, conflict, peace or whatever. True reasons for writing? I have no idea what you're talking about - it's not even as great as that.

Personally, my only bone to pick with you -I won't speak for anyone else- was simply about you being a social being, and being a sensible being. In other words - act your age! That's more or less just the minimum required of you anywhere else in world - much less the internet, where the only way one can judge your actions or intents is through what you 'say', that is, write. You figure out the rest yourself, I'll say nothing more.

Until you figure it out yourself, though, prepare to repair your ego -or is it egos now?- a good many more times and come back for more.

And yeah, try not to die of despair while you're at it.

LoweGear

2010-05-24, 06:10

He just got himself addicted to an SWR game for the first time, most likely. Just like how we went through that semi-phase. But hell yes, more might and magic and less mecha.

AFAIK Tsuzuki was already an SRW fan when he made MGLN, to the point of making SRW-esque stats for Nanoha and Fate in side material. :heh:

XenahortCharybdis

2010-05-24, 06:20

AFAIK Tsuzuki was already an SRW fan when he made MGLN, to the point of making SRW-esque stats for Nanoha and Fate in side material. :heh:

Oh great, he's more hopeless than I thought.

FlameSparkZ

2010-05-26, 11:12

waai~ :kisskiss:
Another piece of WindS-B ch3 done :D almost near the end too :uhoh:

Also note that I'll be repeating a fragment of text that I added at the end of the last post :heh:
So here it goes~~

[9:30am]
[Lobby to penthouse]

Drones patrolled the area left and right, protecting the path towards the exam's final stage.
*KA-BUM!* a loud impact was heard from the elevator door.
Taking notice, the drones turn towards it.

*KA-BUM!!* the elevator door becomes deformed with the second blow.
The drones carefully approach the elevator to check it out.

*KA-BUM!!!*
The sound attracts more drones, while those on the front prepare to attack.

And then...A slicing sound as heard, another, and another...several consecutive cuts
Confused, the drones tilted their heads, looking at each other.

Countless intersecting green lines were traced along the deformed door.
[Star Shrapnel!] a muffled announcement was heard behind the elevator door.
The metallic door burst apart, showering the drones in front of it with a wave of metal shards.

As the smoke subsided, only a handful of units were still active, but quickly wiped out by Elly.
"All clear!" Elly turned to the doorless elevator.

Out came Fuuko, sweating and panting, "*pant*...Thanks."
Though similar to Erio's Speerschneiden, Star Shrapnel was a move Fuuko couldn't use often, as it required magic and concentration to keep the object being sliced from falling apart.
Fuuko maintains that concentration while continuously slicing the target object into small bits.
After all the slicing is finished, Fuuko compresses the air and magic in front of her, releasing it on the cut object.

Elly walked up to Fuuko, "Fuu-chan, you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Fuuko wiped the sweat off her forehead, "Let's carry on with the plan."
"Shouldn't you rest a little? That door was in better state than you expected wasn't it?"
"Mu--You noticed?" Fuuko looked at Elly surprised.

Indeed, for an abandoned hotel, that elevator door wasn't as rusty as expected, which required more power for a clean cut.
For Elly to notice that, she's gotten sharper than before...Fuuko smiled a little.

"Ok then, I'll rest while you survey the inside." Fuuko sat on the marble floor.
Elly nodded, "I'll be going then~" she playfully saluted Fuuko and went off towards the penthouse.
"Be careful, okay?"
"'Kaaay~" The red haired girl waved her right arm while running, "Hawa!" ...then tripped.
Fuuko sighed, "Klutz..."
"Ahahahaha...I'm okay~" Elly let out an embarrassed laugh as she looked at her partner, then turned around and continued.

While Elly was checking the inside, Fuuko reviewed the plan one more time.
But other thoughts invaded her mind, some that have been bothering her for a while now...

Lately, for no apparent reason, her parents have been off field duty, and doing only desk work.
It all started last year, after they returned from their third honeymoon, they suddenly contacted Fuuko to inform her of the change in schedule.

In a way, it was a good thing, Enforcer job kept them busy when investigating incidents and the three didn't spend much time as a family.
Though, at the same time, something was off...whenever they were together, her parents looked like they were going to say something, but didn't.
To her, they looked perfectly healthy, in shape and the with usual appetite.
Her mother wasn't even showing signs of unusual behavior due to "something"...then why the awkward moments?

She didn't get it, the more she thought about it the harder it was to understand...the only way to solve this was to ask them directly.

"--u-chan...Fuu-chan!"
"Eh?" Fuuko snapped out of the thinking trance and saw Elly looking at her.
"I'm done checking the inside."
"Oh..." Fuuko replied, still hazy.
"Are you okay?" Worried, Elly kneeled to look closer.
"Y-yeah...Just lost myself in thought for a while. I'm fine." The golden eyed girl stood.

Clearing her head of unneeded thoughts, Fuuko returned to her usual self and focused on the exam.
"Okay, let's hear what you found out." The short girl turned to her partner and they prepared for the final assault.

------------------------------------

[9:36am]
[Penthouse - Entrance Hall]

The front door of the penthouse blew open, an unarmed Fuuko rushed in, attracting the attention of all drones.
Under fire, she dodged the beams and bullets as well as melee attackers while running around.
But, she got caught in crossed fire...and vanished?!

Then, two Fuuko and one Elly came in running, crossing paths between eachother then each Fuuko going left and right, and Elly forward.
Confused, the drones aimed for Elly. The moment they shot, a shield was deployed, deflecting the bullets.

Meanwhile, the two Fuuko ran around the edges, sticking cards on the walls around the drones.
Elly's shield shattered from continuous fire, but she too vanished.

By the time the drones found the two Fuuko it was too late, the cards on the walls glowed unleashing a stream of chains upon the drones.
The two Fuuko walk up to each other and one changes into Elly, who starts panting when the adrenaline's effects drain away.
"*pant* Maintaining a solid illusion...*pant* remote activating a card, and illusion on myself while running sure is hard...*pant**pant*"
"You did well, I'll deal with these guys." Fuuko grinned as the looked at the chained drones.
Restrained by magic chains, the drones were helpless to defend themselves from Fuuko's attack.

Fuuko and Elly press onward, eliminating the drones along the way to where the hostages are kept.
Reaching a corner Fuuko carefully looks over, "The hostages...and a few drones."

Within the large room, the glass-like hostage dummies were all rounded up on the middle, while drones patrolled about.
"I don't see the boss..."
"On patrol?"
"Maybe. Let's clean up and secure the hostages first."
"Ok." Elly nodded.

After studying the patrol pattern, they timed their attack with the drone's movements.

[Load Cartrige!] the device powers up for the next sequence of moves.
[Sonic Star] in a flash, Fuuko moved in to middled of a group of 3 humanoid drones.
[Spiral Slicer] executing an upward spiral motion with her scythe, the drones are torn apart in an instant.
Fuuko jumps out of the middle before they explode, moving to the next drone.

[Swallow Shot!] Arbalest fires a single bullet that swiftly shoots through sphere drones as if it was a bird flying.
[Light Stiletto] Sensing a Hu-K about to jump her, an energy blade grows from Arbalet's tip, allowing Elly to counter by stabbing it on the chest's triangle.
[Blade Expel] The energy blade is detached from Arbalest, pushing the stabbed drone towards another one like a rocket.
"!!" Elly notices a Hu-G about to snipe her, quickly drawing a card from the pouch attached to her right thigh, blocking the bullets with a barrier.
"Ha!" Fuuko strikes down the Hu-G, finishing the battle.

"Phew..." Elly sighs. "That's all of them, right?"
Fuuko looks around, "Looks like it, don't sense any nearby."

The two girls walk up to the hostage dummies, "Well, then, let's secure this guys."

[Area Defender]
[Dome Protection]
Applying two barriers to the hostages, Fuuko and Elly keep their eyes open in case of an assault.
"Time?" Fuuko asks.
[9:40am] Selene replies.
"5 more minutes..." Fuuko muttered.

Quiet...too quiet...the girls looked around, expecting drones to pop out soon.
Then, the ground shook.
"Earthquake?!" Elly asked surprised.
"No...this is."
[Incoming!] Arbalest warned.
Elly took a couple steps back and prepared a barrier card.
"Idiot! That won't be enough!" Fuuko dashed towards Elly.

Kicking Elly out of the way, the right wall next to them burst open, revealing a large armored humanoid drone rushing towards Fuuko.
Unable to block on time, Fuuko takes the drone's shoulder charge full impact, and is thrown across the room.
"F-Fuu-chan!!" Elly gets up and is about to attack the boss drone when it swings its left arm at her, throwing her against a nearby pillar.

Not bothering to finish them, the boss walks over to the barrier-encased hostages and begins punching the first barrier.
"H-hgnn--" Fuuko groans as she recovers her senses, right arm numb from the impact, fortunately her barrier jacket protected it from becoming dislocated.
Still on the ground, Fuuko looks around, seeing a shaken Elly trying to get up and the boss drone continuously punching the barrier.

Holding Selene with her left hand, she got up. "Don't ignore me you pile of junk..."
With the first barrier shattered, it was already punching the second...it won't last long.
"I don't like being underestimated!" Fuuko runs at the drone boss, scythe in one hand.
Jumping, Fuuko aims for the armor gap on the neck drone.
Raising Selene over her head, she prepares to swing it upon the metallic titan, but it takes notice and blocks with its right arm.
The scythe's blade pierces armor, sinking into the arm, rendering it useless.

As the boss is about to retaliate with its other arm, Fuuko kicks the end of the scythe's shaft to remove the blade, avoiding the punch.
Jumping back to gain some distance, Fuuko grinned, "Not quite as planned, but now you can't use your right arm."
The last attack caught its attention, it pointed at Fuuko with its working arm, revealing two gun barrels under the armguard.
Fuuko frowned. "Selene!"

[Deflector!] the device raised a barrier in front of Fuuko.
The boss drone unleashed a volley of energy bullets, though they were dispersed by Fuuko's barrier, the recoil could still be felt.
Suddenly, a small explosion on the drone's back, it stops shooting and turns around.
Elly, using the pillar to support herself, though panting from the magic used on the last shot, she still prepares another.

Deciding to finish Elly first, the dones take a step towards her...but as it is about to take another step, the foot won't move.
"Elly, blow off its left arm!" Fuuko shouts.
"Eh?" The red-haired girl looks across the room to find Fuuko kneeled and with her left hand touching the floor, using Tera Bind to seal the drone's movments.
"Hurry!"
"O-okay!" Elly focuses her aim on the drone's arm.

Stuck in an awkward position for shooting, the drone still takes aim at Elly.
"Let's go, Arbalest!"
[Roger] The device confirms, [Final Falcon!]
Concentrating magic on the crossbow's tip, a bullet is formed, compressed and fed with more magic.
"Fire!"
If not for the pillar behind Elly, the recoil would have thrown her back the moment the spell was released.
Shooting as well, the drone boss' bullets dwarfed in comparison and were destroyed when they came in contact with Elly's bullet.
The lone bullet pierced through its wrist, travelling along the arm all the way to its shoulder and out, through the ceiling.

"H-Haha...I did it." Exhausted, Elly's legs gave in, sliding to the floor.
The boss drone, now with both arms damaged, looked at Elly, then turned to Fuuko, who still has Tera Bind in effect. Selene standing by her side, thrust on the stone floor.
"So...how about you stay put for the remainder of the exam?" Fuuko asked the metal giant.

The drone rotates it's upper body towards Fuuko, then the metal plate covering it's mouth slides open, energy started gathering.
Fuuko's eyes narrowed, (Cannon?!) Looking at her right arm, only her fingers moved, she can't raise a shield.
Even with Tera Bind canceled, its effect will still take some seconds to disappear...too long in this case.
The drone was nearly finished charging, Fuuko closed her eyes and clenched her teeth, (It's over...)

Then, three cards fly towards Fuuko, deploying shields which overlap eachother.
"Elly?" She muttered just before the cannon's energy is released.
Even with the shields, the explosion sends Fuuko rolling on the floor.
"G-gh..." She winces while getting up.

Across the room, Elly grins at Fuuko, giving her a shaky thumbs us, "Finish it, partner!"
Fuuko smirked, "Heh, I guess I owe you one." She looked at the giant drone, the last obstacle. "Time to end this."
As if agreeing, the metallic titan prepared energy for another cannon shot.

With Selene stuck on the floor and too far to go get her, Fuuko chose her final move...
"You really annoyed me so...I'm gonna tear you to pieces!" Fuuko raised her left arm to shoulder level.
"Wind, gather on this hand!" as ordered, an emerald-colored wind begins to gather, swirling around her arm.
(Gather and compress it, gather and compress it, gather and compress it...) She kept repeating in her mind.
Spinning at fierce speeds, the gathered wind tore apart the sleeve of Fuuko's barrier jacket. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/Artwork/ws-b_fuu-hg.jpg)

Firing once more, the cannon fire heads straight for Fuuko, she stands still, slapping the large energy ball away with her left hand, blasting a nearby wall.
With nothing else left, the drone rushed at Fuuko using its thrusters.
"Pile of junk...KNOW YOUR PLACE!!!" Fuuko runs toward it.
Lowering her body, she made her left hand into a fist, "Roar!" (note: read as "Hoero!" (吠えろ!))
"HOWLING GALE!!!!!!" The blow connects with the titan's chest, puncturing the chest plate like a drill.
Executed like an uppercut and enhanced with a fierce wind, Fuuko sends the drone's boss into the air, bursting through the ceiling and sent flying.

With the sun shining through the hole and a gentle wind running through her hair, Fuuko smiles with pride.

TSAB Rank A Mage Exam...completed with no loss of hostages.
------------------------------------

That's it for the exam part of this story...next it's partying all night long~ \o| \o/ |o/

Wild Goose

2010-05-27, 13:09

Well. Sturm und drang. Sound and fury.

Oscar Mike. Let's move on.

Now that that's done I'm trying to get back into the writing loop. Been thinking a fair bit about my charecters and where I want them to go, while still trying to fit in the shared verse. Which I think is a bit of a lost cause: excepting Lowe, PF, Aaron and maybe TK - though correct me if I'm wrong - my impression of OC seems to be that each OCTer has his/her own interpretation, and thus we create our seperate worlds that are standalone, but could conceivably crossover...

...I knew I shoulda slept instead of stay up late. Rambling again.

Anyway, current OC writing project involves Uruz Team, Belkarangers and armed thugs colliding in a free-for-all over lost logia superweapons.

And Erusians drinking tea from shotglasses.

...And a discussion on the merits of a Shinkenger/Gekiranger crossover, and a revival of Black.

Edit: Come to think of it, I should probably explore the Hayaureion pairing of Hayate-Aurion-Reinforce just for kicks. Although to be honest Hayaurion as parents to Reinforce/Rein Zwei works just as well as a OT3....

*starts running and trying to dodge Aaron's Righteous Fury Danmaku*

LoweGear

2010-05-27, 21:11

Now that that's done I'm trying to get back into the writing loop. Been thinking a fair bit about my charecters and where I want them to go, while still trying to fit in the shared verse. Which I think is a bit of a lost cause: excepting Lowe, PF, Aaron and maybe TK - though correct me if I'm wrong - my impression of OC seems to be that each OCTer has his/her own interpretation, and thus we create our seperate worlds that are standalone, but could conceivably crossover...

I was under the impression that it has been that way since the beginning of OCT: The only reason the lot of us tried to combine each other's OC profiles into a unified setting (ala Marvel or DC) is because it seemed like a fun thing to do. For the most part however, all of us have individual personal interpretations on what's possible and not possible in Nanohaverse fandom, some of which may not be completely compatible with each other. Hence, H4XXbusters. :heh:

Anyway, current OC writing project involves Uruz Team, Belkarangers and armed thugs colliding in a free-for-all over lost logia superweapons.

All in a day's work it seems :nod:

And Erusians drinking tea from shotglasses.

What.... HERESY is this?!? :eyespin:

...And a discussion on the merits of a Shinkenger/Gekiranger crossover, and a revival of Black.

ONORE DIKEIDO

Edit: Come to think of it, I should probably explore the Hayaureion pairing of Hayate-Aurion-Reinforce just for kicks. Although to be honest Hayaurion as parents to Reinforce/Rein Zwei works just as well as a OT3....

*starts running and trying to dodge Aaron's Righteous Fury Danmaku*

Hayate x Aurion x Reinforce awesome threesome?!?! DO IT-

*FLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ*

MeisterBabylon

2010-05-27, 23:02

Don't forget Almari--

*is stabbed with a heavy cruiser*

X_X

NorthernFallout

2010-05-28, 07:12

Wild Goose

2010-05-29, 12:21

I was under the impression that it has been that way since the beginning of OCT: The only reason the lot of us tried to combine each other's OC profiles into a unified setting (ala Marvel or DC) is because it seemed like a fun thing to do. For the most part however, all of us have individual personal interpretations on what's possible and not possible in Nanohaverse fandom, some of which may not be completely compatible with each other. Hence, H4XXbusters. :heh:
True, true. At least we don't have the current headaches with Marvel canon. Though admittedly the filmverse being setup by Incredible Hulk and Iron Man looks to be of much awesome.

And and also the greatest paragraph of Civil War:

Doesn't matter what the press says. Doesn't matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn't matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world — "No, you move."

All in a day's work it seems :nod:
Yep, and our heroes are forced to work together with some friction...

Y78crvRirAI
"Share out your ammo! Use whatever claymores you have left! Defensive positions people! Move!"

Leo Kozlov snatched up his rifle and hurried to his overwatch position; as he jogged past Franz, he could see his commander arguing with Asagi Colwell over a cellphone.

"NO! I don't care that you three are better mages than us, they have a lot of firepower and know how to use it! This is no time for sentai theatrics! Damnit Colwell, listen to Juli's bodyguard - he knows we're in a bad situation! We have to hold them off from an elevated position, and you three are melee! I am not about to risk your lives with a threat that you can't counter favorably! We don't have time to argue - they'll be here any minute. Stick to the plan!"

Asagi Colwell's proposed plan would involve attacking in melee, using the strengths of the Belkarangers against the militia. Franz, being a more conservative soldier, preferred to wear down the enemy with accurate fire from an elevated position.

Leo glanced back at Franz and an involuntary shiver ran up his back. Somehow, there was a certain air of coldness that Franz radiated...

What.... HERESY is this?!? :eyespin:

Franz: "Well if Leo had packed the proper mugs..." :mad:
Taufan: "And if Naomi hadn't lost all the vodka...":frustrated:

That said though, it's an actual Russian thing; they do serve tea in shot glasses. The reason being that the tea provides an excuse to have the shot glasses out, then after a while since you've got shot glasses you can have vodka in them instead of tea...

...tl;dr: Tea, then vodka.

ONORE DIKEIDO
Deshou? Still, imagine the awesomeness of the power of the Samurai-tachi and Geki Jyuken!

....which now makes me wonder of the power that Voldemort knows not is Jyuken... and for some reason I had a thought: what if they did a new Black series, starring Tetsuo Kurata again? Think of it - he'd be the oldest main charecter Rider, but still as awesome...

And also, a slight randomness:

9ShJywV_Mro

"A kenpou which grants the power of costume through sensing one's own cosplay spirit; Cosken.
Cosken is split into opposing styles.
First! Cosken of Moe: Genki Cosken Kawaii Arts!
Second! Cosken of ecchi: Rin Cosken Erogata!
As costume players destined to fight,
Every day they aim for the top,
Learning, and changing."

Lia Dauer twitched. "I think you've been watching too much of your dad's toku."

Ivan Jaeger shrugged, grinning self-depreciatingly. "Probably, but it just suddenly came to me, what with your mom's cosplay obsession - that you share."

"I do NOT have an obsession!"

"You're wearing the same outfit as Mako in the Shinkenger Op. And inside your bags you've got about 4 more outfits."

"You're wearing the Unforgivable shirt."

Hayate x Aurion x Reinforce awesome threesome?!?! DO IT-

*FLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ*

We're both perverts. On the other hand...

YES WE CAN.

*FLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ*

Satashi

2010-06-02, 18:57

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab64/Satashi26/Covers/th_PBJanuary.png (http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab64/Satashi26/Covers/PBJanuary.png)

Bunny Force was originally a gag I did as a "magazine cover". Now, though, I think it would be kinda fun to make it into an actual "Magazine" about the Nanoha universe, fandom, ect.

What I'm looking for from the fandom is anything that you would want in the magazine. I'm going to photoshop it all to look like an actual magazine page scan so you can have your own page, two pages, three, ect. It can be anything as long as it has something to do with the Nanoha series. you can interview your favourite character, submit your fanart, give a teaser of your new fanfic (4 pages max, please), have a profile of your original character, interview your OC, pics of OC, talk about douijin, want about something, shout out, anything at all.

Whatever you want to do for it, just PM it to me and I'll add it in. Please not I can't write anything for you, but I will format it a bit to make it look like a real magazine and not just slapped on there. Even if you don't have much to say or add, go ahead and talk to me about it. I can work it so you share a page with someone else who doesn't have much .

At any rate, once this is done, I plan on releasing it to the fandom through the major sites, and if it goes well I may do a new issue each month. The first issue will probably be released for May if I get enough information.

So PM me any questions you may have. I can work with you to get what you want ^.^

May's cover girl: Cinque
June's cover girl: Sein

OC Thread specific: A lot of you are great at photoshop and stuff, so if you want to deisgn a page or two page spread about your character, feel free to go all out. I hope to have a whole section ( "The Original Character Corner") about OCs so this may be a good chance to get your character out there.

Pages are going to be 800 by 1,200 pixels, a tad smaller than doujin scan pages.

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-04, 04:08

M-must...resist...t-temptation.....>_<
Imagination...going wild...female OCs in pinup poses--M-Moe levels...reaching critical!! :eyespin:

*dies*

Looks like "fun" and all, but being a low-level artist, I'm not satisfied with my current skills...so I don't post my art in any other place than here.
Once I level up, maybe I'll start a career on pixiv 9_9

MeisterBabylon

2010-06-04, 05:29

*beams Flames up to sick bay*

Though if FlameS succeeds the rest of US will be doing the dying. :uhoh:

NeoEevee

2010-06-05, 22:08

Tempy

2010-06-06, 01:43

*inches in nervously* owo;;; I had some original character specs I wanted to post... but, uh, I just looked one or two pages back and... er...

The Bunny Force magazine sounds like a good idea though. I might submit an OC or two... but the thing is, most of them are for a "next generation of Nanoha" idea I have going, and almost all of them are the offspring of canon Nanoha characters. ^^;;

Do not be intimidated. If you're thinking about what's going on with MeisterBabylon, have no worries. That sort of incident is isolated and its problems stem from long ago. Just post your characters and we'll review them. Barring any outrageous claims and/or powers, you shouldn't experience anything bad.

XenahortCharybdis

2010-06-06, 04:21

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-06, 05:33

Indeed...fresh meat new members are always welcome :D

Welcome to Outer Cadia, the hall with countless doors where each leads to a unique alternate universe :)

Heinekochan

2010-06-06, 07:19

aw she's adowable!

*picks up Eevee and huggles*

please do stay! ^w^

MeisterBabylon

2010-06-06, 10:25

...oh god. We now have a cat and an Eevee around here. :uhoh:

Heineko, what are you doing here?! Go work on Decade if you got the time to trawl this place! :/

Future OCs are fine, though as we are we tend to work with the present. But that's okay. Have fun Neo! :D

NeoEevee

2010-06-06, 21:24

Do not be intimidated. If you're thinking about what's going on with MeisterBabylon, have no worries. That sort of incident is isolated and its problems stem from long ago. Just post your characters and we'll review them. Barring any outrageous claims and/or powers, you shouldn't experience anything bad.

Well, well, I'll be. Look who's giving the welcoming address. :D

@NeoEevee: Let's just say that some old habits stick and hence old gripes tend to surface from time to time. We're not that young a thread after all...but feel free to post as you will - we're always happy to have new people contribute.

In any case, offspring has always been of keen interest in a canon where shipping is ostensibly waffled but subtly encouraged, so post away.
Okay. xD;; I was just nervous of getting mixed up in forum drama. It's happened before, and it wasn't pretty...

@XehanortCharybdis: (...I did a bit of a double-take at your username xD hehe, I've been playing Kingdom Hearts for too long...) Alright, that's good to know. I know offspring OCs aren't the most original kinds of characters out there, so I wasn't sure how Kura or Kiri would be received. >w>;;

Indeed...fresh meat new members are always welcome :D

Welcome to Outer Cadia, the hall with countless doors where each leads to a unique alternate universe :)
Nice to be here, and to be around other Nanoha fans. The show's obscure enough that you're sometimes difficult to find. xD

aw she's adowable!

*picks up Eevee and huggles*

please do stay! ^w^
*is huggled* I will, I will. ^^

...oh god. We now have a cat and an Eevee around here. :uhoh:

Future OCs are fine, though as we are we tend to work with the present. But that's okay. Have fun Neo! :D
And we have moe-moe magical girls with badass magical powers. xD So a little more cute couldn't hurt, right?

Right~ ...wait, what about AU warpings of the canon characters to the point they're nearly unrecognizable?

Tempy

2010-06-08, 12:54

Okay. xD;; I was just nervous of getting mixed up in forum drama. It's happened before, and it wasn't pretty...

Ehh, you only get mixed up in it if you willingly do so. There's little in terms of collateral damage, and we don't drag other people in.

Alright, that's good to know. I know offspring OCs aren't the most original kinds of characters out there, so I wasn't sure how Kura or Kiri would be received. >w>;;

I've done one, but haven't used her at all. Just post them up and we'll see.

Right~ ...wait, what about AU warpings of the canon characters to the point they're nearly unrecognizable?

They're still canon characters. They just don't look a lot like them. Given proper justification as to why they're so different, you should be fine.

NorthernFallout

2010-06-15, 04:46

She was lost. For three days she had travelled, making sure she stayed on the correct path that she'd laid out on the scrawny piece of paper some would call a map. She turned it, flipped it and shook her head in frustration. The landmarks were all wrong and the sky was too cloudy to navigate by the stars. Not even the moon could shine through that thick gray layer, and everything was close to pitch-black. She could barely see two meters in front of her and it was driving her mad.

As if that wasn't enough, she'd found herself on the outskirts of a forest. No matter how she tried to find a way around it, be it by map or alternate routes, she would always come back to the same place where she started. It was if some awful misfortune had found her during her journey and had only decided to pop up now, at this most inconvenient time. Everything had gone so well until now...

She sighed in anger. The only way to go was forward, through the forest, unless she wanted to backtrack to an earlier crossing. That was something she didn't have time for. She'd already lost time in a town the day before, where she'd spent some quality time with an old friend. She smiled thinly as she remembered that particular night, but she quickly returned to reality.

She looked at the map again. There was a forest drawn out on it with a name, although the positioning was all wrong. Still, it was the only forest within miles on the map. It was impossible for her to encounter another within a day or two. This had to be it.

Red Forest. She tasted the name, but no recognition catched on within her memories. Shrugging it off, she entered it, ignoring how malicious the red trees looked in the night.

*

For four hours she walked and the forest never seemed to end. She was tired and hungry. She needed to set up camp somewhere and rest. As if she could sleep in this forest.

She was used to owls at night. She could ignore the animals lumbering around in the darkness. But here, there was no sound. No critter scattering over the ground, trying to hide from predators. No wind to rustle the leaves of the trees. She could hear clearly the twigs breaking under her boots when she traversed the landscape. Her own breathing was deafening.

Old instincts had kicked in ever since she entered the forest. She was on constant alert for noise that didn't belong here. She searched the wall of darkness as she walked, trying to keep her eyes open for anything unusual, but nothing had emerged.

Her muscles began to ache. She had to find a spot soon before she became too tired to even prepare a camp. She needed somewhere relatively safe and easy to hide in, just in case bandits or hunters surprised her in her sleep. Although that itself would be surprising in this particular forest, she mused to herself.

A flap of wings made her freeze. Frost formed at her feet and icicles protruded ever so slightly from her palms in a battle-ready stance. She searched the branches of the trees for the noise. A few meters above her she could see something glinting, as gold would in the sunlight. It took off again with a rustle of feathers and a croak.

Without really knowing why she sprinted after it. It was an anomaly in this forest and in the back of her mind something told her that the bird belonged to someone. It had to.

Branches cut her cheeks, stones and roots nearly made her trip as she ran, all the while keeping an eye on the constant golden shimmer from the bird's eyes. It seemed to let her keep up. It didn't swerve away, nor did it take to the skies and disappear from her sight. At times it croaked, to announce its position and perhaps also to urge her on.

In the blind darkness and silence only broken by her feet stomping the ground, she could feel eyes watching her. While keeping an eye on the bird, she threw quick glances at the trees. Something white was obscured by some of them. A cloud of steam or fog perhaps. She shook her head and kept moving.

As she started to run out of breath, she saw a weak glow through the darkness. The closer she got the clearer she could see it. It had the familiar colors of fire and faint sparkles rose in the air, carried by the invisible winds.

The bird flew into the crevice where the light was, and Clara slowed down until she began to walk slowly. In front of her a cave began to take shape. The glow of fire became stronger and she could faintly hear the popping of burning wood. At least someone was here in this forgotten forest and it confirmed her earlier suspicion.

When she reached the edge of the opening, she peeked inside. In the odd shadows cast from a small campfire, she saw a human figure sit cross-legged, the bird, a raven as she could now confirm, pecking its wings on his shoulders. Despite the dark night and the light from within, the person noticed her and the raven croaked in confirmation.

"So you arrive at last. I was afraid you wouldn't follow my dear Martha. Please, take a seat." The man's voice was crude and deep, unfazed by her arrival.

Slightly hesitant, she entered the cave and sat down opposite him, putting the sparkling fire between them. There she could make out more details. It was an old man, his facial structure gaunt, almost like a skeleton, a large gray beard obscuring most of his face. He was wrapped in a dark fur coat, although she couldn't recognize it as anything that would be sold in normal stores. A man of the wilds, she concluded. She'd heard stories about them in other places around the nation, but had disregarded them as myths.

"You don't need to be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you." A shaky hand was withdrawn from his pocket and he gave Martha a seed. It picked it up with its beak gently and pecked it against the man's shoulder.

"I'm not afraid. Just... alert."

"Alert. That's good. Especially in these areas." He nodded, more to himself than her. "Are you lost?"

"You could say that."

"Exhausted?"

Clara tilted her head. "Yes. How can you tell?"

"Aside from obviously being short of breath and the sweat under your clothes so very visible by the fire, I can see a lot of things you wouldn't be able to understand."

Ignoring the first remark, Clara said; "Try me."

The old man chuckled. "Eager to learn or perhaps knowledge to be used?"

Clara shrugged.

"Do you know why this forest is called the Red Forest?" he continued.

"No idea. Although the colors of the trees caught my eye."

"Yes, that's an obvious sign. But that isn't it." He picked up a stick next to him and poked the fire. More sparkles flew, popping in short bursts. "A long time ago, there was a magical incident a few miles from here. An experiment to test new energy sources or some sort of military device. Project Sunlight they called it.

"I was just a young boy back then, in a time far before yours. I lived in a village just on the outskirts of this forest. It was much greener back then, I remember. I used to hunt with my father, too. There used to be a lot of animals around here."

He stared into the fire, suddenly falling quiet. Clara thought she sensed some longing in his eyes for a moment, but he quickly returned.

"Where was I... Ah, yes. The device, or experiment if you want, failed. As had many experiments before it, but this time it was special. I was in my bed at the time, trying to get some sleep after a long day. When I was lying there, looking out through the window, I saw a short flash in the distance. Wondering what it was I got up and looked outside."

He swiped his hand above his head, staring at the cave's roof. "The sky was as red as my blood. I could see rainbows among the stars. The light played tricks with my eyes. For a quiet moment I just stood there by myself, amazed at it all. My skin was tingling, although I couldn't understand why. Even now I don't really know what it was. I remember my head felt heavy and I went back to bed after a while.

"It wasn't until morning that I found out what had happened. When I woke up it was eerily quiet. I couldn't hear the rooster nor any other animals. I got up and went down the stairs. My parents were gone. I went out into the street. Empty. Everyone had disappeared. I searched and searched, but there was no trace. That's when I noticed the trees had turned red, and the village itself, too. Everything as far as I could see was bleeding."

He fell quiet and closed his eyes. Martha still sat on his shoulder, but had her beak tucked under her right wing, her eyes closed too. Clara was half-lying, her head supported on her elbow. She felt an inclination to listen, even though her body had started to recover. She sipped some water from her canteen.

"What happened then?" she asked.

The old man rustled as if awakened from slumber. "I lived as I had learned, of course. I hunted for food and stayed in the village, alone. It was only until recently I decided to move to the forest itself and live within it, not beside it. Thanks to that I've learned things..." He stopped there and something flashed in his eyes. "Girl, the Red Forest holds a lot of secrets, but none of them as great as what I have. The eyes you felt, that ghastly feeling of something being amiss... It wasn't without reason."

"Eh?"

"I've seen so many travel through this forest and never return. Either it's hunger they succumb to or the ghosts take them to their home between heaven and hell. But not you." From within his coat he retrieved a book, one of the largest Clara had ever seen. He held it out next to the fire and nodded at her. "This book has chosen you to be its next master."

She accepted it, taking it with both hands and couldn't help but feel frost tingle on her back. The front was ornamented with golden arrowheads pointing in four directions, held together by a circle. Despite its size it was remarkably light.

"Project Sunlight, while I still don't know what it was, created a destiny for me; to be the master of this book. I've carried it for years, seeing its true powers in action. The knowledge it carries goes beyond what you can possibly imagine."

Clara sighed, starting to grow a bit bored with the old man. "Listen, it's been very interesting to hear all this, but I really need to rest." She held the book out to him. "I don't have a need for it on my journey."

"You don't want help to rid this world of the Dark King?" the old man said in response.

Clara froze and slowly redrew the book back. "How do you know?"

"As I said... I can see a lot of things you wouldn't understand. This book, this tome, will help you defeat the darkness that has reigned over our world for so long. Trust it with your life and it will give you its powers."

She opened it and glanced through a few pages. Symbols and texts. Rituals and spells. Everything she could think of was written within, but in a language she could barely understand.

"How is this supposed to help me against the Dark King? I can't even understand what it says!"

The old man made a laugh that sounded like a cough. "When you wake up in the morning, seeing the daylight illuminating this cave, you shall place your hand upon it and repeat this phrase..."

What the old man said next turned into a whisper and echoed in her head until it became a storm of words. The book felt heavy in her arms and she let it fall onto her lap, her whole body soon following to touch the cold stone floor.

Her eyelids began to shut. A powerful sleep haunted her senses, her mind unable to resist. She could feel the souls of the Red Forest talk in distant murmurs, mentioning a name time and time again. A name destined to fall into the cold hands of corruption and travel through history as a diabolical device.

The Tome of the Night Sky.

*

When she woke up, the old man was gone. So was Martha. His fur coat laid on the dirty floor of cold rock and the fire had burnt out several hours ago. From the cave's opening, sunlight streamed in and touched her face. It was warm and comforting after the strange night.

She rubbed her eyes and tried to sit up. A vague sense of vertigo was present in her head and she had to steady herself. Looking down, she saw the book lying on the ground, its open pages taunting her to do something with it. What that something would be she didn't know, as she still couldn't understand the lang-

She drew a short breath of air when she read the symbols. They made perfect sense to her, their underlying importance standing out as a bright light. The context in which they had been written, the strange ornamental style fitting together with the explanation of spells and rituals. Everything made sense.

A feeling of dread washed over her body, when she realized it hadn't been a dream. The story the old man had told could actually be true. She shuddered and eyed the book with a cautious mind. What was it the old man had said...

She placed her hand on the book and took a deep breath. She had no idea if anything would even happen, but if there was the slightest chance of getting powerful help against the Dark King... It would be worth a try.

She repeated the phrase the old man had told her to use; "Start Up".

Light shone forth from the tome. Even though the light inside the cave was already bright, the light radiating from the book was even stronger. It left the floor, floating in the air and opened its pages. They fluttered as if a strong wind had caught them in its wake, and accompanying the howling of air were magic circles that began to materialize around it.
Clara held up an arm in front of her eyes to shield them and backed away from it. She felt her skin tingle and the mana inside her body surging in her veins, reacting to the powers of the Tome. It was disorientating, horrifying and so interesting that her mind was frozen into place.

Shapes began to form. Blue shards flew in a deafening storm and began to latch together, forming a human body, then two, then five of them. Slowly the color shifted to that of ordinary skin and they were all on their knees, bowing before her. Each of them was wearing some kind of black clothing. She was still standing far back against a wall, observing them. The ice circulating in her blood moved to her fingertips and a thin layer of frost began to form around her feet. Just in case.

The character closest to her, a young woman with long silver hair, got up from her kneeling position and spoke; "Greetings, Clara Statfield. I am the Administrator of the Tome of the Night Sky." She waved a hand to each of the characters behind her. "These are my companions: Signum, Vita, Shamal and Zafira, each a Guardian Knight in the service of the Tome and under my command."

Clara regained some of her posture and took a step forward, cutting off the hesitation inside her.

"It seems you know who I am so an introduction seems unnecessary."

"You have already been authenticated, Master. However, we do not have any current orders." She bent her head in a slight bow. "Master, what would you have us do?"

Clara gave the Administrator a wicked grin when she finally understood that these Guardians, and the Tome to which they belonged, would obey her every word. A warm torrent of satisfaction washed over her mind and an odd peace found her nerves.

"I want you to follow me, Adminstrator," she said in a cold voice, echoing her now regained confidence. She almost flinched at herself in surprise. "Follow me into the darkness."

Arkeus

2010-06-15, 07:12

The small project bears fruit. This will be an Ancient Belka fic, detailing the journey of my OC Clara Statfield (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=3030245&postcount=8838), on her road of revenge against the Dark King. This time around there will be a set amount of chapters from the start, currently 8, rounding about 2-3000 words per chapter. I've found I write better in short bursts, although this might change slightly.

Focus will be on Clara, but other things are included such as:
- Reinforce 1
- Tome of the Night Sky pre-corruption status
- The Wolkenritter
- Ixpellia
- The setting of Ancient Belka itself, through my viewpoint

I'm trying to stick to canon as much as I can, even though info regarding this era is abysmal. Some things I do after my own theories and ideas. CC stuff, well... I can't say I don't try.

http://i455.photobucket.com/albums/qq275/AtomicoX/Random/vengeanceondarknesslogo.jpg
Some flames have a distinct pattern in their movement and color. A dark red dancing in the light from a golden fire ravaging the landscape around you, a lone flame surrounded by its brethren. Yet, it can be seen with clarity as it stands out from the rest. It's a flame of grief and rage. The flame of revenge.

Mixed with sadness and a freezing shock, revenge was the feeling she felt the strongest in her heart. She knew what she had lost, but also what she still had. She knew what means was at her disposal.

A thought of revenge amidst the chaos that surrounded her. It gave fuel to her inner fire and gifted her the courage to look up at the deity who had laid down this devastation upon her life. For a brief moment they caught each other's glances. No words were spoken, but both of them knew the future and what they would become. They would cross paths once again, giving an answer to the question in their minds.

A single question, asking who would live to experience the future beyond their final meeting.

*

"Another glass, Miss?" the bartender asked and held out another bottle of the sweetest wine she had tasted in a long time. She played with the tip of her finger on the glass's edge before nodding and giving him a tiny smile.

"Yea. Why not."

The bartender poured the wine until it filled half of the glass and then bowed, moving on to his other customers sitting with slouched shoulders over the bar desk. She didn't pay much attention to them and they didn't to her.

Each of them had his own problems to think about, the various questions asked as life progressed without stop. Some of them were drinking their sorrows away, seeking the answer in the bottle. Others, much like her, simply pondered and planned of events to come. She, on the other hand, was almost done with her planning. It was only a matter of executing it.

The bar Seven Mages was popular in this part of Kolnen, a small town surrounded by the Sharp-Edge mountain ridge. Only one entrance led to the town itself through the mountain, guarded by several old mages and ordinary constables positioned at a massive iron gate, leading into an underground tunnel. Not that the town had any significant importance in the nation. It was just protection for their inhabitants from outer threats.

Seven Mages was located in the southern part of the town, or what some would call the Visitor's Place. Hotels and private apartments available for rental filled the sides of the streets, all for the visitors' comfort in case they needed a place to rest. Seven Mages was perfectly placed in the middle of it all and the bar had a steady number of visitors every night.

At this time though, being quite early in the morning, there wasn't many people in the pub. Most of them were night-time workers, relaxing after a hard night's work before they'd collapse into their warm beds. The atmosphere was calm and quiet because of this, and the Icebreaker preferred it to stay that way. She didn't like the constant noise that usually accompanied these sort of bars.

"Is this the famous Icebreaker I've been hearing about?" someone asked from behind her back.

A man sat down in the chair next to her and she eyed him thoughtfully. His hair was clean and sorted, but his eyes betrayed the state of his tired body. His clothes were nothing out of the ordinary either, but far from what the other workers in the town usually wore. There was something odd about him.

"I may be. Who's asking?"

"A friend of a friend." He looked at the glass she had on the bar in front of her. "A little early for that, isn't it?"

"Early?" the Icebreaker chuckled. "I happen to enjoy it, no matter the time of the day. Just because you can't handle the alcohol at this time, doesn't mean I can't drink it."

The man nodded and offered a smile of surrender. "Fair enough. I'm sorry for the rude introduction, Miss Icebreaker. My name is Zackory Brown. I'm an associate of Elder Turik. Perhaps you have heard of him?"

"Never heard of him." She kept a straight face to keep the lie hidden and sipped on the wine. The sweet aroma was starting to disappear along with her mood.

"Very well. In any case, Elder Turik has expressed some interest in your, uhm, abilities and would like to meet with you."

"Not interested," she said straight in his face without giving it a second thought. Zackory picked up on it she noticed.

"Quite fast to make decisions aren't you? Why don't you think about it for a while and I'll contact you later tonight."

"I'm leaving town after I'm done with this," she said, shaking the glass. "As I said, not interested."

Zackory twiddled his thumbs and gave a short chuckle. "Miss, it isn't a question. Now, give me the name of the hotel you are staying at and I'll pass by later."

She put the glass down and stared at him, closing the distance between their faces until their noses nearly touched.

"I won't give you anything, Mister Brown," she said in a voice so low no one but they alone could hear. "I suggest you walk the fuck out of this bar and let me finish my drink. I've got things to do and your interruption isn't helping."

Zackory threw a quick glance over to a corner at the other side of the pub. The Icebreaker noticed two big men who quickly stood up and headed towards them. They looked like typical bodyguards. All muscles, but no style.

"Now, I wouldn't be so sure of that," Zackory said and took the Icebreaker's left hand in his. She let him caress it without changing her expression. "A beautiful woman such as yourself shouldn't spend her day in a bar like this. Elder Turik has showed certain interest in what someone like you could do for his... organizational relationships."

"Zackory... I'd rather fuck any of the workers here than you sleezebags who think you rule this town. Tell Elder Turik and his partners that they can go fuck themselves. That includes you."

"You little-"

She snatched his hand and twisted it around until she felt his wrist snap. With a spin of her body she was at his back and rammed his face down on the bar desk. She could hear his nose crack and his teeth suffering the same fate. She smiled at that.

The two bodyguards were slow in their reactions, but nevertheless moved in to subdue her. As one of them got close she took a strong hold of Zackory's body, spun and used her momentum to throw him at the guard. Zackory slammed straight into him, sending them both down to the floor.

The second guard came from her left and lunged at her, leaping like a mad bear. Before her movement completely stopped from the previous spin she lifted a leg and connected her boot's heel with the side of the guard's head, interrupting his flight path and sending him flying over the bar desk. He crashed into the wine stand and several bottles fell down on his head, knocking him out. The floor had become a battleground of broken glass, wine and small tints of blood.

She turned her attention back to the other guard who had just managed to remove Zackory's unconscious body from him. She closed her eyes for a second, mumbled something and frost suddenly formed underneath her feet. She could feel the cold within herself as it shot out across the floor and literally froze the guard's back to the ground before he could get up. Like a fish on dry land he tried frantically to get loose, but failed.

The Icebreaker drew a short breath, a calm wave soothing her senses, and turned to the bartender, who still held the bottle in his hands. The rest of the occupants had drawn a considerably distance between themselves and her, cowering at the walls, watching with nervous eyes. She could feel their fear of what stood before them, but no one tried anything. The bartender however had a straight face and even a thin smile on his lips.

"Miss, I wish you a nice trip and I thank you for visiting Seven Mages."

The Icebreaker was slightly taken aback by his relaxed attitude to what had just happened. She nodded in return, suddenly unsure of herself. When she turned her back on him and headed out of the door she could hear the bartender calling his assistants over to help him clean up the mess.

*

The backpack was secure with straps around her waist and she made the final checks to assure that she had brought everything she needed. She took one last, long look at the hotel room she had rented for twenty-two days before locking the door and heading down to the reception.

A signature, a thanks and a nod later she was out on the busy street. The shops and small market stalls littering the street had begun to set up their daily wares and activity was on the uprise. She peered up in the sky, ogling at the clouds slowly drifting by with a deep blue background behind them. She could see the sun rising in the east, the Sharp-Edge mountain ridge obstructing it partly before its rays could fully engulf the town.

She started walking, her destination being the massive gate at the entrance to the tunnel leading through the mountain. She could make out its spires and towers in the far distance, although the morning fog still laid thick over the town. It taunted her to move. The entrance to the outside world, to be explored again.

On her way she passed several sellers, all eagerly calling out to her, desperately trying to sell her something, anything from their goods so they could add the wealth to their wallets. They looked like they needed it, some wearing ragged clothing and only selling scraps.

The Icebreaker didn't heed their call. She had the money, but not the inclination. It wasn't her style to simply give without receiving something worthwhile. The world didn't look kindly upon those who spread wealth without thought. Especially not in these times, when darkness traversed the lands and death could come at any time...

She passed the fountain located in the middle of the city. Built in the shape of an eagle, water flowed along its stone wings, and the sun shone at its beak which was covered in a material she couldn't quite make out, a golden shade without a single dent. It had been built in the image of a local god, but she couldn't recall its name. All that she knew about it was that it was considered the ultimate guardian of Kolnen, and the people believed deeply in it. A sacred fountain, one could say.

Around it some children were playing tag, but she didn't pay them much attention. They ran around her in circles, laughing and screaming. They nearly bumped into her, but before she was about to tell them to run off they ran in another direction. The Icebreaker sighed at the young, trying to remind herself that she, too, had been in their age. Oddly, she had grown to dislike children everywhere she went. She wondered why.

The rest of her walk was uneventful, as the market area began to thin out until it was completely gone. She could only hear the merchants in the far background, continuing to shout their low prices to the first bidder. She left them to their business, erasing them from her thoughts.

The fog in front of her had lessened in thickness and the gate became visible. The guards were as diligent as ever, standing at attention at their respective stations. She'd only talked to them twice, the first when she entered Kolnen and the other when they took care of some bandits.

One of the guards halted her when she got closer. He was dressed in a black uniform, a coat stretching all the way down to his ankles, and a helmet hiding his face completed the attire. Guardians of Kolnen they called themselves. An unofficial name, as they weren't an authority to begin with, but the Icebreaker had seen what they could do. The bandits could testify to that. They'd be no match for her, of course, but was still a hassle she'd gladly avoid.

"Another visitor leaving our lovely town, eh?" he said when he approached her. "I guess I can't convince you to stay any longer?"

"No. I've been here for a few weeks already. It's time I got going."

The guard's eyes widened slightly and signaled her to hand over her identification papers. "A few weeks, eh? That's a lot longer than other visitors-oh."

For a moment the guard hesitated, glancing between her papers and her. Eventually he folded them and gave them back. "I wish you a good trip, Miss Statfield. Mind if I ask where you are going?"

Clara walked past without giving him a second glance and spoke over her shoulder; "Stalshalk. To kill the Dark King."

She didn't look back to study the guard's facial expression as she walked through the gigantic gates and entered the darkness of the tunnel, a wicked grin of revenge smeared over her face.

Ok, liking it so far. The writing seems a lot crisper than what i remember of your writing, and while your character seems very 'short', it comes across as on purpose and not just bland.

Nice introduction of the character and her way to 'defuse' situation, and her general attitude toward strangers, as well as hints of either cockiness or deeper planning.

She was lost. For three days she had travelled, making sure she stayed on the correct path that she'd laid out on the scrawny piece of paper some would call a map. She turned it, flipped it and shook her head in frustration. The landmarks were all wrong and the sky was too cloudy to navigate by the stars. Not even the moon could shine through that thick gray layer, and everything was close to pitch-black. She could barely see two meters in front of her and it was driving her mad.

As if that wasn't enough, she'd found herself on the outskirts of a forest. No matter how she tried to find a way around it, be it by map or alternate routes, she would always come back to the same place where she started. It was if some awful misfortune had found her during her journey and had only decided to pop up now, at this most inconvenient time. Everything had gone so well until now...

She sighed in anger. The only way to go was forward, through the forest, unless she wanted to backtrack to an earlier crossing. That was something she didn't have time for. She'd already lost time in a town the day before, where she'd spent some quality time with an old friend. She smiled thinly as she remembered that particular night, but she quickly returned to reality.

She looked at the map again. There was a forest drawn out on it with a name, although the positioning was all wrong. Still, it was the only forest within miles on the map. It was impossible for her to encounter another within a day or two. This had to be it.

Red Forest. She tasted the name, but no recognition catched on within her memories. Shrugging it off, she entered it, ignoring how malicious the red trees looked in the night.

*

For four hours she walked and the forest never seemed to end. She was tired and hungry. She needed to set up camp somewhere and rest. As if she could sleep in this forest.

She was used to owls at night. She could ignore the animals lumbering around in the darkness. But here, there was no sound. No critter scattering over the ground, trying to hide from predators. No wind to rustle the leaves of the trees. She could hear clearly the twigs breaking under her boots when she traversed the landscape. Her own breathing was deafening.

Old instincts had kicked in ever since she entered the forest. She was on constant alert for noise that didn't belong here. She searched the wall of darkness as she walked, trying to keep her eyes open for anything unusual, but nothing had emerged.

Her muscles began to ache. She had to find a spot soon before she became too tired to even prepare a camp. She needed somewhere relatively safe and easy to hide in, just in case bandits or hunters surprised her in her sleep. Although that itself would be surprising in this particular forest, she mused to herself.

A flap of wings made her freeze. Frost formed at her feet and icicles protruded ever so slightly from her palms in a battle-ready stance. She searched the branches of the trees for the noise. A few meters above her she could see something glinting, as gold would in the sunlight. It took off again with a rustle of feathers and a croak.

Without really knowing why she sprinted after it. It was an anomaly in this forest and in the back of her mind something told her that the bird belonged to someone. It had to.

Branches cut her cheeks, stones and roots nearly made her trip as she ran, all the while keeping an eye on the constant golden shimmer from the bird's eyes. It seemed to let her keep up. It didn't swerve away, nor did it take to the skies and disappear from her sight. At times it croaked, to announce its position and perhaps also to urge her on.

In the blind darkness and silence only broken by her feet stomping the ground, she could feel eyes watching her. While keeping an eye on the bird, she threw quick glances at the trees. Something white was obscured by some of them. A cloud of steam or fog perhaps. She shook her head and kept moving.

As she started to run out of breath, she saw a weak glow through the darkness. The closer she got the clearer she could see it. It had the familiar colors of fire and faint sparkles rose in the air, carried by the invisible winds.

The bird flew into the crevice where the light was, and Clara slowed down until she began to walk slowly. In front of her a cave began to take shape. The glow of fire became stronger and she could faintly hear the popping of burning wood. At least someone was here in this forgotten forest and it confirmed her earlier suspicion.

When she reached the edge of the opening, she peeked inside. In the odd shadows cast from a small campfire, she saw a human figure sit cross-legged, the bird, a raven as she could now confirm, pecking its wings on his shoulders. Despite the dark night and the light from within, the person noticed her and the raven croaked in confirmation.

"So you arrive at last. I was afraid you wouldn't follow my dear Martha. Please, take a seat." The man's voice was crude and deep, unfazed by her arrival.

Slightly hesitant, she entered the cave and sat down opposite him, putting the sparkling fire between them. There she could make out more details. It was an old man, his facial structure gaunt, almost like a skeleton, a large gray beard obscuring most of his face. He was wrapped in a dark fur coat, although she couldn't recognize it as anything that would be sold in normal stores. A man of the wilds, she concluded. She'd heard stories about them in other places around the nation, but had disregarded them as myths.

"You don't need to be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you." A shaky hand was withdrawn from his pocket and he gave Martha a seed. It picked it up with its beak gently and pecked it against the man's shoulder.

"I'm not afraid. Just... alert."

"Alert. That's good. Especially in these areas." He nodded, more to himself than her. "Are you lost?"

"You could say that."

"Exhausted?"

Clara tilted her head. "Yes. How can you tell?"

"Aside from obviously being short of breath and the sweat under your clothes so very visible by the fire, I can see a lot of things you wouldn't be able to understand."

Ignoring the first remark, Clara said; "Try me."

The old man chuckled. "Eager to learn or perhaps knowledge to be used?"

Clara shrugged.

"Do you know why this forest is called the Red Forest?" he continued.

"No idea. Although the colors of the trees caught my eye."

"Yes, that's an obvious sign. But that isn't it." He picked up a stick next to him and poked the fire. More sparkles flew, popping in short bursts. "A long time ago, there was a magical incident a few miles from here. An experiment to test new energy sources or some sort of military device. Project Sunlight they called it.

"I was just a young boy back then, in a time far before yours. I lived in a village just on the outskirts of this forest. It was much greener back then, I remember. I used to hunt with my father, too. There used to be a lot of animals around here."

He stared into the fire, suddenly falling quiet. Clara thought she sensed some longing in his eyes for a moment, but he quickly returned.

"Where was I... Ah, yes. The device, or experiment if you want, failed. As had many experiments before it, but this time it was special. I was in my bed at the time, trying to get some sleep after a long day. When I was lying there, looking out through the window, I saw a short flash in the distance. Wondering what it was I got up and looked outside."

He swiped his hand above his head, staring at the cave's roof. "The sky was as red as my blood. I could see rainbows among the stars. The light played tricks with my eyes. For a quiet moment I just stood there by myself, amazed at it all. My skin was tingling, although I couldn't understand why. Even now I don't really know what it was. I remember my head felt heavy and I went back to bed after a while.

"It wasn't until morning that I found out what had happened. When I woke up it was eerily quiet. I couldn't hear the rooster nor any other animals. I got up and went down the stairs. My parents were gone. I went out into the street. Empty. Everyone had disappeared. I searched and searched, but there was no trace. That's when I noticed the trees had turned red, and the village itself, too. Everything as far as I could see was bleeding."

He fell quiet and closed his eyes. Martha still sat on his shoulder, but had her beak tucked under her right wing, her eyes closed too. Clara was half-lying, her head supported on her elbow. She felt an inclination to listen, even though her body had started to recover. She sipped some water from her canteen.

"What happened then?" she asked.

The old man rustled as if awakened from slumber. "I lived as I had learned, of course. I hunted for food and stayed in the village, alone. It was only until recently I decided to move to the forest itself and live within it, not beside it. Thanks to that I've learned things..." He stopped there and something flashed in his eyes. "Girl, the Red Forest holds a lot of secrets, but none of them as great as what I have. The eyes you felt, that ghastly feeling of something being amiss... It wasn't without reason."

"Eh?"

"I've seen so many travel through this forest and never return. Either it's hunger they succumb to or the ghosts take them to their home between heaven and hell. But not you." From within his coat he retrieved a book, one of the largest Clara had ever seen. He held it out next to the fire and nodded at her. "This book has chosen you to be its next master."

She accepted it, taking it with both hands and couldn't help but feel frost tingle on her back. The front was ornamented with golden arrowheads pointing in four directions, held together by a circle. Despite its size it was remarkably light.

"Project Sunlight, while I still don't know what it was, created a destiny for me; to be the master of this book. I've carried it for years, seeing its true powers in action. The knowledge it carries goes beyond what you can possibly imagine."

Clara sighed, starting to grow a bit bored with the old man. "Listen, it's been very interesting to hear all this, but I really need to rest." She held the book out to him. "I don't have a need for it on my journey."

"You don't want help to rid this world of the Dark King?" the old man said in response.

Clara froze and slowly redrew the book back. "How do you know?"

"As I said... I can see a lot of things you wouldn't understand. This book, this tome, will help you defeat the darkness that has reigned over our world for so long. Trust it with your life and it will give you its powers."

She opened it and glanced through a few pages. Symbols and texts. Rituals and spells. Everything she could think of was written within, but in a language she could barely understand.

"How is this supposed to help me against the Dark King? I can't even understand what it says!"

The old man made a laugh that sounded like a cough. "When you wake up in the morning, seeing the daylight illuminating this cave, you shall place your hand upon it and repeat this phrase..."

What the old man said next turned into a whisper and echoed in her head until it became a storm of words. The book felt heavy in her arms and she let it fall onto her lap, her whole body soon following to touch the cold stone floor.

Her eyelids began to shut. A powerful sleep haunted her senses, her mind unable to resist. She could feel the souls of the Red Forest talk in distant murmurs, mentioning a name time and time again. A name destined to fall into the cold hands of corruption and travel through history as a diabolical device.

The Tome of the Night Sky.

*

When she woke up, the old man was gone. So was Martha. His fur coat laid on the dirty floor of cold rock and the fire had burnt out several hours ago. From the cave's opening, sunlight streamed in and touched her face. It was warm and comforting after the strange night.

She rubbed her eyes and tried to sit up. A vague sense of vertigo was present in her head and she had to steady herself. Looking down, she saw the book lying on the ground, its open pages taunting her to do something with it. What that something would be she didn't know, as she still couldn't understand the lang-

She drew a short breath of air when she read the symbols. They made perfect sense to her, their underlying importance standing out as a bright light. The context in which they had been written, the strange ornamental style fitting together with the explanation of spells and rituals. Everything made sense.

A feeling of dread washed over her body, when she realized it hadn't been a dream. The story the old man had told could actually be true. She shuddered and eyed the book with a cautious mind. What was it the old man had said...

She placed her hand on the book and took a deep breath. She had no idea if anything would even happen, but if there was the slightest chance of getting powerful help against the Dark King... It would be worth a try.

She repeated the phrase the old man had told her to use; "Start Up".

Light shone forth from the tome. Even though the light inside the cave was already bright, the light radiating from the book was even stronger. It left the floor, floating in the air and opened its pages. They fluttered as if a strong wind had caught them in its wake, and accompanying the howling of air were magic circles that began to materialize around it.
Clara held up an arm in front of her eyes to shield them and backed away from it. She felt her skin tingle and the mana inside her body surging in her veins, reacting to the powers of the Tome. It was disorientating, horrifying and so interesting that her mind was frozen into place.

Shapes began to form. Blue shards flew in a deafening storm and began to latch together, forming a human body, then two, then five of them. Slowly the color shifted to that of ordinary skin and they were all on their knees, bowing before her. Each of them was wearing some kind of black clothing. She was still standing far back against a wall, observing them. The ice circulating in her blood moved to her fingertips and a thin layer of frost began to form around her feet. Just in case.

The character closest to her, a young woman with long silver hair, got up from her kneeling position and spoke; "Greetings, Clara Statfield. I am the Administrator of the Tome of the Night Sky." She waved a hand to each of the characters behind her. "These are my companions: Signum, Vita, Shamal and Zafira, each a Guardian Knight in the service of the Tome and under my command."

Clara regained some of her posture and took a step forward, cutting off the hesitation inside her.

"It seems you know who I am so an introduction seems unnecessary."

"You have already been authenticated, Master. However, we do not have any current orders." She bent her head in a slight bow. "Master, what would you have us do?"

Clara gave the Administrator a wicked grin when she finally understood that these Guardians, and the Tome to which they belonged, would obey her every word. A warm torrent of satisfaction washed over her mind and an odd peace found her nerves.

"I want you to follow me, Adminstrator," she said in a cold voice, echoing her now regained confidence. She almost flinched at herself in surprise. "Follow me into the darkness."

mmmh, interesting.

It seems Clara might have met a remnant of 'something', and i wonder why the book chose her. IS it attune to drive, or vengeance, or simply luck of the linker-core draw?

Anyway, good work there. Are your wolrenkitter going to have personalities, or are they going to be 'empty'?

NorthernFallout

2010-06-15, 08:04

Anyway, good work there. Are your wolrenkitter going to have personalities, or are they going to be 'empty'?They won't be "empty" but they won't have the same personalities either. Probably. I need to think about that.

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-15, 13:56

They won't be "empty" but they won't have the same personalities either. Probably. I need to think about that.
True, these will be the Pre-Corruption version of the Wolken, so I guess you can change their personalities.

Even if it was as Book of Darkness, their memories seem to get reset when it starts a new cycle. Though, we don't know how deep the reset goes, their basic personality may remain intact.
I think this was mentioned in a StrikerS SS where Rein dreams of their past lives through Reinforce I :uhoh:

NorthernFallout

2010-06-17, 14:45

A Wallachia back-to-the-roots short with extra cake.
So burning. So despicable. So horrifying. So terrifying. So painful. So demonic. So unforgiving. As such is the Monster.

*

The young woman stepped into another pool of dirty water that splashed on the walls. She ran, her own ragged breathing and her feet traversing the cold ground being the only thing echoing inside the tunnel, except for a sharp noise far behind her; the sound of a knife dragged along the walls in a slow, hungry stride.

In every turn she took, another nightmare stepped up to infest her already broken mind. The heads on spikes, their empty eyes screaming at her, made her shriek in horror; limbs spiked into the walls made her turn in revulsion; and intestines organized into grotesque, demonic symbols made her stomach turn. The stench reeked from far beyond, into the deepest part of the tunnels from where she had escaped. The wretched smell refused to leave her, rotting her mind and driving her further into panic.

"This is fun!" A giggle, somewhere behind her. "Please, entertain me more!"

"Monster! Monster!" she screamed and almost stumbled across another body. Its hands had been cut off and offered to the Monster now chasing her. His face had been eaten by the Monster. His skin was white as snow, his blood drunk by the Monster.

The Monster was chasing her.

"Ahahaha~~" The laughed bounced of the walls, echoing further in her mind; the damning reminder of certain death slowly making its way towards her. Soon enough, she would join the dead haunting these tunnels, unless she could find the correct path to escape.

"Why didn't I listen?! Fuck!" she swore in a high-pitched voice. It too echoed and produced another giggle from the Monster.

The tunnel took another turn and she halted as the passage split into two separate tunnels. From both a warm light was illuminating in the far distance. The distant noise of traffic could be heard. Both led to freedom!

She took the left tunnel and forced her muscles to run as fast as she possibly could. She was already out of breath, her muscles and blood burning with adrenaline. She vomited as she ran, incapable of stopping from pure mindset. The light grew stronger and stronger. She could smell the fresh air waiting for her. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks as she turned the last corner, embracing the freedom.

She ran straight into a solid brick wall. Drunk on relief, she didn't stop and her nose breaking could be heard through the tunnels, followed with a splash as she fell into the dirty water. Lying on her back she could see the manhole five metres up, the sun shining brightly into it and the noise from the traffic passing by up there vibrated in the walls.

"I was lucky. Imagine if you'd taken the right tunnel. You would have escaped! Ahahaha~~"

The splosh of water with each of the Monster's steps resounded in her head. No way, she thought. No way. No.

Tears of joy no longer ran from her eyes. Fear had gripped her body like a steel clamp. The Monster now stood right above her with a grin on its face. The light bounced off the water and made it even more horrible.

"Found you~~"

The butcher knife slashed silently through the air and hit her right shoulder, cleaving its way straight through the flesh until its edge cut into her bone. Pulling it backwards to slice more, it got stuck in the bone. Blood flooded out of the gaping wound and the woman screamed in horrified pain.

With another pull the knife loosened, spraying an arc of blood into the air that clung to its sharp edge. Before it was back in its original position, it was thrown down again into the same wound, cutting deeper into the bone.

"Ah~~ Smells good!"

The Monster put a foot on the knife's upper side and pushed down. The woman's body convulsed as she tried to squirm herself free from the blade, but a heavy push crushed the bone and the rusty knife eventually forced its way through her whole shoulder. The blood changed direction and now dripped down on the floor as the rest of her arm hang in slices of meat and tendon.

The woman had fallen quiet, too tried to scream, but her mind remained awake. Next to her the Monster kneeled and sniffed the wound. She could feel its breath licking the torn flesh.

Then it took a bite. A giggle reached her ears. The Monster thrashed about, its jaws gnawing into her tender flesh and drinking the blood surging from the open wound. The insane pain reached her mind again, but her throat couldn't make a sound.

Suddenly the Monster stopped eating. It appeared over her face with a disappointed frown, bearing on childish.

"You are awfully quiet. Usually they scream and trash about. You aren't even trying."

The Monster's face erupted into a wide grin as something within it came to light, letting the blood and pieces of meat that remained between its teeth fall down onto the woman's face. It smeared her cheeks red and the meat stuck to them. She didn't blink, but instead kept her stare into the red glowing eyes above her while gritting her teeth.

"It couldn't be... That you like it?" The Monster laughed heartily. "Wonderful!"

It embraced the woman's wound with a tiny hand and sent a surge of magic through the open veins. She could feel her blood stop and return into her body, stopping her from escaping this hell. The darkness that had begun to encompass her soul was violently withdrawn.

"So, what do you want to do now, Princess?" The Monster's eyes travelled across her body until they settled on the other shoulder. "Of course."

The Monster placed the butcher knife over the shoulder as it had been before, but now kept one hand on the handle and the other pressed down on the front. In an achingly slow fashion it began to grind it back and forth, carefully cutting the meat and tendons. The Monster straddled the woman's stomach and grinned into her face as it wagged back and forth.

As her blood no longer left her body, and kept her mind awake, the energy to scream returned and it did so with strength. Someone would hear it above, she thought. For something so loud to go unnoticed they'd have to be deaf!

"Haha~~. Yes, please scream more! Let me hear your satisfaction!"

The blade cut deeper and deeper into her shoulder. It took forever to begin breaking her bone. Minutes passed as it sawed through the muscles and the remaining flesh. Tears of pain drowned her eyes.

"No arms!" the Monster declared in a happy, child-like, voice when the blade finally cut through the last millimetre of flesh. "Now, Princess, it's time to feast!"

The butcher knife was thrown to the side, bouncing off the wall with an audible clank and the Monster brought its head down to smell the woman's neck.

"You smell like roses... Inviting..."

The Monster moved backwards and straddled the woman's hips. With two firm hands it gripped her shirt and ripped it apart, baring her naked chest. The Monster licked its lips and bent down, letting its tongue run across the woman's stomach, between her breasts and up towards her throat where the Monster's mouth opened and sucked on the skin. Its hands grabbed her breasts so hard its nails almost drew blood.

"Delicious..." The Monster's voice become softer and it didn't carry as much weight as before. The woman forced herself to yet again stare into the blood-red eyes, pushing aside her pain and horror, and could see them shudder in their sockets. A trance-like state began to cloud the Monster's mind as its mouth sucked and licked her flesh.

So much pain. The magic unleashed on her wounds finally broke and her blood flooded out into the water slowly streaming past, giving it a hellish red color. Darkness made its entrance in the corner of her eyes again and it was so comforting. So very warm.

"Already?" The Monster looked up with those bright red eyes. "Let me say goodbye then."

The Monster supported the woman's head in her hand and gave her a deep kiss. Its tongue rummaged about, tasting her saliva. When they disengaged the Monster gave off a happy, satisfied sigh and smiled.

The last thing burning in the woman's retina was the Monster opening its mouth, baring tiny fangs within and lunging downwards towards her neck.

*

Wallachia heard the slurping noise far away in the left tunnel that lead into a dead-end. Striding that way, silent as a fox, she sneaked up to the next corner and peeked around it. Sure enough, there the Monster was, feasting on the woman she'd held prisoner for two days.

She smiled to herself, sighed and let her presence be known by stepping into the water streaming past. The Monster peaked its head up at the splash and its face turned from delight into a blushing surprise.

"Ah! I'm s-sorry!" the Monster stuttered and flew to its feet, drabs of meat still hanging from its mouth and blood still spattered on its burning cheeks. "I-It's just she got loose and I, I wanted to... Well... That is..."

Wallachia approached the dead woman and bent down to eye the mess of a human being. Arms torn off and her throat ripped to shreds. She let two fingers scratch the bloody wound that used to be a shoulder and put it in her mouth, licking her fingers clean.

"It is quite delicious... But it can't be helped I guess." She stood up and looked at the Monster with an annoyed stare, putting her hands on her hips. "You know you are supposed to tell me when these things happen. What if she'd escaped? If you've followed her into the streets, how knows what could have happened?"

"Yes," the Monster whimpered. "I know. I just..."

Wallachia smiled softly and put an arm around its shoulders, leading it away from the mangled body. "Come on, Kronia. Let's head home and practice."

The teenage girl nodded her head and gave Wallachia a smile of relief. "Yes, mother."

LoweGear

2010-06-18, 04:42

Monstrous indeed... although my mind did not know whether to be appalled or aroused... ONORE AX!!!!!! :eyespin:

--------

All of the Materials crack throughout this forum has led me to dig up one of my old shop works for a little revision... although debating how to incorporate her into my canon at the moment...

Presenting Material C, aka The Witch of Chaos:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa299/spec_operations/MaterialC4thColors2.jpg

*FLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ*

Silvance

2010-06-18, 22:48

Presenting Material C, aka The Witch of Chaos:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa299/spec_operations/MaterialC4thColors2.jpg

*FLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ*

Wow. Your skills in digital art never cease to amaze me. D=

Judging from her equipments, I'm guessing she's a belka knight?

Material C? Material crack? I guess I've been missing a lot of stuffs in here since I'm not familiar with the term. :heh:

MeisterBabylon

2010-06-18, 22:54

*shoves Lowe out of the way and glomps Fate*

It's C for Chaos. The Witch of Chaos. A terrifying dark power. ;)

LoweGear

2010-06-18, 23:24

Wow. Your skills in digital art never cease to amaze me. D=

Judging from her equipments, I'm guessing she's a belka knight?

Material C? Material crack? I guess I've been missing a lot of stuffs in here since I'm not familiar with the term. :heh:

Thanks, although truth be told this particular image is a recolor/rework of the character she's based off from, another one of my OC's:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa299/spec_operations/MaiBJZRAdjust3.jpg

Then again, the Material series are simply recolored versions of the Aces, so why not do it with an OC? :heh:

And yes, C stands for Crack Chaos :)

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-19, 02:37

Then again, the Material series are simply recolored versions of the Aces, so why not do it with an OC? :heh:

And yes, C stands for Crack Chaos :)

*imagines Material F (Fire)* :uhoh:

*RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNZ!!*

MeisterBabylon

2010-06-19, 05:33

Fire = Keroko? :uhoh:

Though with Keroko's skill set, since the Materials are lettered after their attacks, she might be Material-I. The Orbital Ion Cannon Mage. Cat ears optional. :uhoh:

PhoenixG

2010-06-19, 16:37

You know that the cat ears are for the aim :uhoh:

*runs*

Keroko

2010-06-19, 17:28

Fire = Keroko? :uhoh:

Though with Keroko's skill set, since the Materials are lettered after their attacks, she might be Material-I. The Orbital Ion Cannon Mage. Cat ears optional. :uhoh:

Material-A, Annihilation.

Though ironically, despite her designation she's actually the calmer and collected of the materials. Being Keroko's polar opposite and all. Or is it all a front? A curtain to hide the plans behind those scheming eyes? One thing is for certain, plans are unfolding, plots are moving, and the girl of A is merely smiling.

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-19, 17:41

Material-A, Annihilation.

Though ironically, despite her designation she's actually the calmer and collected of the materials. Being Keroko's polar opposite and all. Or is it all a front? A curtain to hide the plans behind those scheming eyes? One thing is for certain, plans are unfolding, plots are moving, and the girl of A is merely smiling.
That's...creepy. Collected Yandere? :uhoh:

Then...Material-I would be Immolation :heh:

I: Burn...BURN! Burn to ashes! GYAHAHAHAHAH~! *arching back while laughing out loud like she's mad*

MeisterBabylon

2010-06-19, 19:06

Material-A, Annihilation.

Though ironically, despite her designation she's actually the calmer and collected of the materials. Being Keroko's polar opposite and all. Or is it all a front? A curtain to hide the plans behind those scheming eyes? One thing is for certain, plans are unfolding, plots are moving, and the girl of A is merely smiling.As I thought. Evil genius. Fitting for MateriaL DemAndS! :D

That frees up Material-B. B for Blade, or Babylon. ^^;;;

And look we have now A, B, C! In before making 26 Materials and turning all of them into Dopants...

Wait isn't LSD an acid? So we have LSDA? :uhoh:

Tempy

2010-06-19, 19:11

Hmm... so does Kevin have to adopt all of these girls? He's so doomed.

Material-A: Athena or Aria

Material-C: Celia

MeisterBabylon

2010-06-19, 19:17

We're still debating Celia's presence (like B without proper handling her presence would cause a significant damage to causality), but Kevin's definitely adopting Athena.

And for an evil genius, Athena as a name is puuuuuuuuuuuuurrfect. :3

I can imagine Athena singing "Still Alive" after the book is destroyed:

"I'm not even angry.
I'm being so sincere right now.
Even though you broke my heart,
And killed me.
And blew me to pieces.
And ported them into deep space.
As they atomized it hurt because I was so happy for you!"

"Now these points of data make a beautiful line.
And we're out of the book.
We're discharging on time.
So I'm glad I got burned.
Think of all the things we learned
for the people who are still alive~~"

Silvance

2010-06-19, 21:12

*shoves Lowe out of the way and glomps Fate*

It's C for Chaos. The Witch of Chaos. A terrifying dark power. ;)

Oh, hi there. =D

Glomp? Which Fate? I sure hope its not me. XD

Thanks, although truth be told this particular image is a recolor/rework of the character she's based off from, another one of my OC's:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa299/spec_operations/MaiBJZRAdjust3.jpg

Then again, the Material series are simply recolored versions of the Aces, so why not do it with an OC? :heh:

And yes, C stands for Crack Chaos :)

Ah... I see, I see. That make sense now. Also, the black one looks cooler. Its just my personal preference though. I'm a sucker for characters who wears black clothing with golden plates or linings.

Material-A, Annihilation.

Though ironically, despite her designation she's actually the calmer and collected of the materials. Being Keroko's polar opposite and all. Or is it all a front? A curtain to hide the plans behind those scheming eyes? One thing is for certain, plans are unfolding, plots are moving, and the girl of A is merely smiling.

Interesting... We need more dark and manipulative characters imo. XD

So you're in a middle of making a new OC?

That's...creepy. Collected Yandere? :uhoh:

That's what I find fascinating about the character though. =D

Hmm... so does Kevin have to adopt all of these girls? He's so doomed.

Material-A: Athena or Aria

Material-C: Celia

Kevin? Who's Kevin? :confused:

Tempy

2010-06-20, 01:19

Kevin? Who's Kevin? :confused:

You've been out of it for a while, huh?

Kevin is my other OC, a non-magical, wholly unremarkable human who works as a chef. His profile can be seen here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=1806871&postcount=3360), while a series of shorts called "Food For Thought" can be located here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=1602495&postcount=47).

Recently, he was involved in the Dark Fragments incident, eventually adopting Material-D, Material-L, and Material-S. That particular short is here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=3085644&postcount=25298).

In the advent of these OC Materials, the joke is that Kevin will adopt them too.

LoweGear

2010-06-20, 01:25

My current canon plan for Material C is to have her be a temporary apparition in any case, so nothing to adopt here.

Doesn't mean I can't do some AU crack material about her in the interim :uhoh:

Material C: Crack? You crack me and I'll crack your skull in kind!

Nya~n

2010-06-20, 01:35

In the advent of these OC Materials, the joke is that Kevin will adopt them too.

Move along, Genya. You're getting old. The era of Kei Bin has arrived.

My current canon plan for Material C is to have her be a temporary apparition in any case, so nothing to adopt here.

Doesn't mean I can't do some AU crack material about her in the interim :uhoh:

Like, say, Mat-CxSmithxMai shipping?

*FLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZ-*

*is eviscerated*

Keroko

2010-06-20, 02:43

Interesting... We need more dark and manipulative characters imo. XD

So you're in a middle of making a new OC?

I'm always in the middle of making new OC's. :p But yeah, though Material-A is just a little stroll on the side.

My current canon plan for Material C is to have her be a temporary apparition in any case, so nothing to adopt here.

Doesn't mean I can't do some AU crack material about her in the interim :uhoh:

Material C: Crack? You crack me and I'll crack your skull in kind!

Crack does have the tendency to pop up whenever you do and don't expect it to.

That's...creepy. Collected Yandere? :uhoh:

No, no, no, more of a magnificent bastard. A Palpatine, so to speak.

Gaunt88

2010-06-20, 03:43

Hmm.. thinking of posting a few of the OCs from my current fic.

Quick question: I have a summoner character with hawk/falcon-based summons. Is naming his device Faulkner pushing theme-naming too far?

Keroko

2010-06-20, 04:29

I think it fits perfectly.

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-20, 04:52

No, no, no, more of a magnificent bastard. A Palpatine, so to speak.
I see...

On a side note...Material-I would be Ingrid, no? :heh:

Also, atm I'm struggling to not make an OC in a AU parallel to my current AU :heh:
But it's so tempting (because of my original character coupling syndrome) :eyespin:

Keroko

2010-06-20, 11:48

While we're on the subject, might as well do this:

Keroko:
I thought we got them all, why are we still hunting here?

Amy:
Sorry Keroko-chan, but it looks like we missed one of them. We've gotten readings around here that are the same as last time?

Artherion:
[Statement: Final target in sight]

Keroko:
Right, let's get this over with... eh?

Material-A:
Ahh, found at last? Well, I suppose hiding from the bureau's sensors for so long is a feat on its own.

Keroko:
Are you... but how... we already got two of my clones!

Material-A:
Hmm, no you didn't. You forget, you hold two parts within you that can be copied, so you missed the last one. You defeated the copies created from yourself and Neltharion, but you missed me.

Keroko:
Two? Oh, that makes sense.

Material-A:
Indeed. And I take it you are here to take me down?

Keroko:
Of course.

Material-A:
As I thought. But are you sure you wish to do this?

Keroko:
D'wah?

Material-A:
I am, after all, a copy of you. A self aware copy created from your Linker Core, my mind is my own as any other living creature. Do I not have the right to live as any other?

Keroko:
...

Reinforce:
Don't listen to her. She's trying to confuse you.

Material-A:
Such harsh words, is that really how a mother thinks of her daughter?

Keroko:
Y-WHA!? Mother!?

Reinforce:
What are you-!?

Material-A:
Are you not? I was born from a unity between a Linker Core and the Book of Darkness. In a way, this is much like how a child is born between two loved ones, which would make the two of you my parents, wouldn't it?

Keroko:
...

Reinforce:
How- This is hardly the same!

Material-A:
Really? Careful mother, not all children handle rejection so well as Fate has done.

Keroko:
...

Artherion:
[Mockery: Oh please, I feel I am going to rust from all this sappiness.]

Keroko:
Artherion?

Artherion:
[Request: Master, if we are going to be hanging around talking about 'love' and 'family' could we at least do that after we do what we do best? And by what we do best I mean obliterating the enemy in front of us with extreme prejudice. We can always talk when the dust has settled.]

Material-A:
If I am still here, that is.

Artherion:
[Statement: If you aren't, then we move on. None of the master's friends seemed horribly damaged when they defeated their copies.]

Keroko:
But they didn't know...

Artherion:
[Cautionary: Master, please remember how these copies have all been mirrors of your friends. You yourself are a wild, impulsive fighter who doesn't do a lot of thinking -a trait I admire in you, I assure you- but with your personality, how do you think a mirror of yourself would turn out?

Reinforce:
... He's right, a mirror of Keroko would be a great tactician, this was probably part of her plan all along.

Keroko:
...
(Am I really that bad?)

Material-A:
*sigh* Oh well, there goes plan A. Good work Artherion, I hadn't taken you into account. A lesson hard learned.

Keroko:
So what now?

Material-A:
Now? Now we go over to plan B. I destroy you here and now.

Keroko:
I like plan B.

Artherion:
[Statement: Agreed! Couldn't you have made that the main plan?]

Material-A:
Here I come!

*after battle*

Material-A:
Hmm, well I guess that was it. So much for my survival plan.

Keroko:
...

Material-A:
Oh come now, what's with that face? It was a good fight.

Keroko:
Yeah.. Yeah, it was pretty good, huh?

Material-A:
Honestly, you're such a sloppy mom you know that? You're going to have to shape up if you want to be a leader.

Keroko:
You're awfully chipper for someone who's about to disappear.

Material-A:
Am I?

Keroko:
Yes you are.

Material-A:
Well now, I wonder what that means?

Keroko:
You've found peace with yourself?

Material-A:
Hmm, poetic. But I was more thinking that I'm so chipper because I know this isn't over yet.

Keroko:
Wait, you have another plan?

Material-A:
*grins*
Who knows? I'll let you ponder on that question while I'm gone. Bye mom!

Keroko:
... You think she's really gone?

Artherion:
[Statement: I'm keeping the scanners running to be sure.]

Silvance

2010-06-20, 18:02

You've been out of it for a while, huh?

Kevin is my other OC, a non-magical, wholly unremarkable human who works as a chef. His profile can be seen here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=1806871&postcount=3360), while a series of shorts called "Food For Thought" can be located here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=1602495&postcount=47).

Recently, he was involved in the Dark Fragments incident, eventually adopting Material-D, Material-L, and Material-S. That particular short is here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=3085644&postcount=25298).

In the advent of these OC Materials, the joke is that Kevin will adopt them too.

I just finished reading the short story that you made. Honestly speaking, I like the execution of the events and it didn't feel forced at all. You even covered parts about the possibility that the TSAB would want to add the Material girls in their ranks--instead of granting them the freedom of living their lives normally.

The scene where Chrono rejected the idea of making use of Lindy's authority and connections to solve the issue regarding the material girls was also convincing. Yup, after the events with Fate and Hayate, I think its a bad idea to keep pushing her luck. :heh:

Anyway, I bet the upper brass of the militaristic organization wasn't very happy that they couldn't add new officers to their military force. XD

If the case was handled by the Cosmic Union instead, they would've granted the girls the freedom to live their lives however they want, but in exchange, they are required to have their linker cores to be surgically removed. Then again, if that happened, they wouldn't have probably been adopted by Kevin.

Hmm.. thinking of posting a few of the OCs from my current fic.

Quick question: I have a summoner character with hawk/falcon-based summons. Is naming his device Faulkner pushing theme-naming too far?

I don't see any problem if you ask me.

Actually, I'm also working on a summoner. I already finished her profile and basic sketch to show what she looks like but I'm not done with her concept art yet. Whatever the case is, I'll be posting it soon.

While we're on the subject, might as well do this:

Keroko:
I thought we got them all, why are we still hunting here?

Amy:
Sorry Keroko-chan, but it looks like we missed one of them. We've gotten readings around here that are the same as last time?

Artherion:
[Statement: Final target in sight]

Keroko:
Right, let's get this over with... eh?

Material-A:
Ahh, found at last? Well, I suppose hiding from the bureau's sensors for so long is a feat on its own.

Keroko:
Are you... but how... we already got two of my clones!

Material-A:
Hmm, no you didn't. You forget, you hold two parts within you that can be copied, so you missed the last one. You defeated the copies created from yourself and Neltharion, but you missed me.

Keroko:
Two? Oh, that makes sense.

Material-A:
Indeed. And I take it you are here to take me down?

Keroko:
Of course.

Material-A:
As I thought. But are you sure you wish to do this?

Keroko:
D'wah?

Material-A:
I am, after all, a copy of you. A self aware copy created from your Linker Core, my mind is my own as any other living creature. Do I not have the right to live as any other?

Keroko:
...

Reinforce:
Don't listen to her. She's trying to confuse you.

Material-A:
Such harsh words, is that really how a mother thinks of her daughter?

Keroko:
Y-WHA!? Mother!?

Reinforce:
What are you-!?

Material-A:
Are you not? I was born from a unity between a Linker Core and the Book of Darkness. In a way, this is much like how a child is born between two loved ones, which would make the two of you my parents, wouldn't it?

Keroko:
...

Reinforce:
How- This is hardly the same!

Material-A:
Really? Careful mother, not all children handle rejection so well as Fate has done.

Keroko:
...

Artherion:
[Mockery: Oh please, I feel I am going to rust from all this sappiness.]

Keroko:
Artherion?

Artherion:
[Request: Master, if we are going to be hanging around talking about 'love' and 'family' could we at least do that after we do what we do best? And by that I mean obliterating the enemy in front of us with extreme prejudice. We can always talk when the dust has settled.]

Material-A:
If I am still here, that is.

Artherion:
[Statement: If you aren't, then we move on. None of the master's friends seemed horribly damaged when they defeated their copies.]

Keroko:
But they didn't know...

Artherion:
[Cautionary: Master, please remember how these copies have all been mirrors of your friends. You yourself are a wild, impulsive fighter who doesn't do a lot of thinking -a trait I admire in you, I assure you- but with your personality, how do you think a mirror of yourself would turn out?

Reinforce:
... He's right, a mirror of Keroko would be a great tactician, this was probably part of her plan all along.

Keroko:
...
(Am I really that bad?)

Material-A:
*sigh* Oh well, there goes plan A. Good work Artherion, I hadn't taken you into account. A lesson hard learned.

Keroko:
So what now?

Material-A:
Now? Now we go over to plan B. I destroy you here and now.

Keroko:
I like plan B.

Artherion:
[Statement: Agreed! Couldn't you have made that the main plan?]

Material-A:
Here I come!

*after battle*

Material-A:
Hmm, well I guess that was it. So much for my survival plan.

Keroko:
...

Material-A:
Oh come now, what's with that face? It was a good fight.

Keroko:
Yeah.. Yeah, it was pretty good, huh?

Material-A:
Honestly, you're such a sloppy mom you know that? You're going to have to shape up if you want to be a leader.

Keroko:
You're awfully chipper for someone who's about to disappear.

Material-A:
Am I?

Keroko:
Yes you are.

Material-A:
Well now, I wonder what that means?

Keroko:
You've found peace with yourself?

Material-A:
Hmm, poetic. But I was more thinking that I'm so chipper because I know this isn't over yet.

Keroko:
Wait, you have another plan?

Material-A:
*grins*
Who knows? I'll let you ponder on that question while I'm gone. Bye mom!

Keroko:
... You think she's really gone?

Artherion:
[Statement: I'm keeping the scanners running to be sure.]

Nice work there. I quite enjoyed reading it. Among all else, I was rather amused by the conversation between Material A and Keroko. I like how Material A mentioned that despite of how she was created, she's still a living organism with free will and intellect. Too bad her psychological attacks failed to confuse Keroko though.

Anyway, why are all materials considered hostile enemy by the TSAB anyway? Do they randomly wreak havoc and commit crimes?

itanshi1

2010-06-20, 18:10

think they just stand in the way of removing the book of darkness from existence :/

Silvance

2010-06-20, 20:20

think they just stand in the way of removing the book of darkness from existence :/

...That's it? o_O
It sucks to be in their shoes then. D=

Setting that aside, I mentioned that my characters are using the Aldian magic system in the past , but I haven't provided any information about it, not even a visual aid. At first, I thought I should just look for an image of a magic circle in the net and use it; however, I thought that its much better if I design one instead. The Aldian magic array is not as grand as the midchildan and belkan ones since the design is very simple. Also, this is the first time I ever made one from scratch.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/th_AldianMagicArraycopy.png (http://s832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/?action=view&current=AldianMagicArraycopy.png)

Aldian Magic System - One of the oldest magic style in the history of mankind. Unlike the other styles, the Aldian magic system is hereditary, and can only be learned by those who have an Aldian blood in their body. It is recommended that the individual must start learning how to use it at the minimum age of four.

The main benefit of using the Aldian magic style is that it promotes the growth of the linker core, and allows the practitioners to achieve a high level linker core at an early age. One of the negative facts about this magic style is that the practitioner is forced to learn a single specific element. If a person started as a fire mage, he/she will have difficulties in learning other spells of a different element since it will take many years for his/her linker core to adjust. As a result, many Aldian knights sticks to one element type in their whole lifetime.

Another negative factor about the Aldian magic style is that the practitioners will eventually develop a resistance to magical damage. As a result, the chances of the Aldian knights to suffer from severe physical injury increases since their opponents are forced to inflict physical damage instead. Also, the Aldians are only able to inflict physical damage to others, making it difficult for them to defeat their opponents without killing them. Furthermore, unlike the mages who uses the highly adaptive Midchilda magic style, the practitioners of the AMS are incompatible with the Velkan Cartridge System and Unison devices.

Curse Spells - This spell invades the target’s body systems and greatly disrupts their normal functions. Curse spells are the complete opposite of enhancement spells and are only exclusive to the Aldian Magic System.

EDIT:

oh, I forgot to add the Aldian flag.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/th_Aldia.png (http://s832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/?action=view&current=Aldia.png)

Tempy

2010-06-20, 21:00

I just finished reading the short story that you made. Honestly speaking, I like the execution of the events and it didn't feel forced at all. You even covered parts about the possibility that the TSAB would want to add the Material girls in their ranks--instead of granting them the freedom of living their lives normally.

The scene where Chrono rejected the idea of making use of Lindy's authority and connections to solve the issue regarding the material girls was also convincing. Yup, after the events with Fate and Hayate, I think its a bad idea to keep pushing her luck. :heh:

Anyway, I bet the upper brass of the militaristic organization wasn't very happy that they couldn't add new officers to their military force. XD

If the case was handled by the Cosmic Union instead, they would've granted the girls the freedom to live their lives however they want, but in exchange, they are required to have their linker cores to be surgically removed. Then again, if that happened, they wouldn't have probably been adopted by Kevin.

Thanks for reading. You should check out the other Food shorts too :3

There's nothing stopping the girls afterwards, when they get older. The difference here is that they have a choice of enlisting, rather than forceful recruitment. Plus, they at least have a family now, rather than an impersonal official assigned as their temporary guardian.

Anyway, why are all materials considered hostile enemy by the TSAB anyway? Do they randomly wreak havoc and commit crimes?

I haven't played the game, so I don't know all the details, but I figure it is because they are spawned from the Book of Darkness' still-out-of-control Defense Program, and thus they are uncontrolled, unknown, and very powerful entities that seem to have no purpose beyond breaking things.

MeisterBabylon

2010-06-20, 23:49

And somehow, the sensual way they go about breaking things probably adds to their crimes. :uhoh:

Keroko

2010-06-21, 00:18

Also, Material-L is an insane psycho, Material-D wants to be the Evil Overlord, and even Material-S describes an urge to fight. So yes, they're a danger to those around them.

Tempy

2010-06-21, 01:15

But through the magic of hair ruffles, such bloodlust will be calmed.

Do not doubt the power of hair ruffles.

PhoenixFlare

2010-06-21, 02:17

But through the magic of hair ruffles, such bloodlust will be calmed.

Do not doubt the power of hair ruffles.

*imagines one of the Materials going bald*

Hah, no more hair ruffles!

:uhoh:

Rising Dragon

2010-06-21, 02:32

Well there's other sources of hair on the human bod--*is annihilated*

PhoenixFlare

2010-06-21, 02:38

Well there's other sources of hair on the human bod--*is annihilated*

My mind was borked by that mental image. :eyespin::eyespin::eyespin:

XenahortCharybdis

2010-06-21, 02:53

My mind was borked by that mental image. :eyespin::eyespin::eyespin:

Armpit hair fetish. Nuff said.
My lord, what am I thinking...

:eyespin::eyespin::eyespin::eyespin:

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-21, 03:00

But through the magic of hair ruffles, such bloodlust will be calmed.

Do not doubt the power of hair ruffles.
Yeah, hair ruffles, petting the head and skinship! All very effective :D

Like so...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/Artwork/koji_cinque1.jpg

*RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNZ*

LoweGear

2010-06-21, 03:42

^ Scenario. Like. Right. Now.

PhoenixFlare

2010-06-21, 04:03

@FSZ: Is that an angry Yuuno I see in the back with the hair ruffles?!

MeisterBabylon

2010-06-21, 04:04

But through the magic of hair ruffles, such bloodlust will be calmed.

Do not doubt the power of hair ruffles.Forget anti-magic. The normal shall inherit the multiverse. :D

LoweGear

2010-06-21, 04:27

@FSZ: Is that an angry Yuuno I see in the back with the hair ruffles?!

I think that's supposed to be Nove :heh:

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-21, 05:41

@FSZ: Is that an angry Yuuno I see in the back with the hair ruffles?!
I think that's supposed to be Nove :heh:
Yeah, it's Nove :heh:
Yuuno wears glasses in StrikerS :heh::heh:

EDIT:
I exaggerated her ahoge a bit, because she and Maren are surprisingly alike in hair, eye and magic color.
Yes, color tone differs. But basically, Maren looks like a younger Nove (with different hairstyle too) even though I thought her up way before I got into Nanohaverse and introduced her as an OC before Nove's appearance.

How mysterious...are we really sure 7Arcs/Tsuzuki isn't spying us? :uhoh:

^ Scenario. Like. Right. Now.
It's been done a long time ago...:heh:

As for WindS-B...working on it. You know me, I try to keep spoilers to a minimum and surprises to a maximum.
I'm trying to fill empty spots and letting the characters enjoy the party so it doesn't feel like I rushed the plot. :heh:

Wild Goose

2010-06-21, 15:10

Armpit hair fetish. Nuff said.
My lord, what am I thinking...

:eyespin::eyespin::eyespin::eyespin:

Well, there's down there, unless it's been shaved, but then if your hand's already there you've got other, more stimulating options than hair ruffling.

Also, Mat-CxMaixSmith crackpairing supported. As well as Hayaureion OT3. XD :3

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-21, 18:46

Okay, done with this part, so I'm posting it.
I checked for errors, but might have missed some (0:40 here) :heh:

Oh...and watch out your sugar levels. Try not to die from moe :heh::heh:

[April MC 0089]
[37th Non-Administrated World, Elphora]
[Farsh Prairies, Minawa Villa]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/la_001cb.jpg

To celebrate Fuuko and Ellyja passing the TSAB Mage Exam a party was planned, with many friends and family invited.
The location, Koji and Maren's villa built after they got married and where Fuuko spent her days as a child.
A big house with many guest rooms and with a fantastic view of Elphora's vast grasslands.

"Waa~" Elly awed at the scenery, "It's huuuuuge~"
"Hehe, pretty amazing, huh?" Fuuko puffed her chest with pride. "I grew up here."
Elly nodded, "It's gorgeous and the wind feels good too."
"Yep. Morning, evening or night, the wind blowing here is always gentle. Even during the summer it's cool thanks to the mountains nearby." Fuuko explains.
"By the way...is that the moon?" Elly looked up at a shining round body in the sky, "The sun is over there so..."
"Yeah, that's the moon."
"Even though it's day it's glowing like that. And there's only one moon too...How strange."

Fuuko nods, "Yeah, that moon shares a symbiotic relationship with this world, mana constantly flows between here and there, it changes colors every month."
"Wha? Changes color?"
"Is it that strange?" Fuuko stared blankly at Elly.
"Fuu-chan was born here so it's normal, but for everyone else..." Elly paused, "Speaking of everyone..."
"What?"
"You parents sure know a lot of people..." Elly sweatdropped as she looked back at the villa and saw many people helping around, setting tables and preparing the food for the barbeque."
"It comes with the job...I think..." Fuuko sweatdropped as well, so many people came just for a simple celebration...her parents sure exaggerate.

Not counting Nanoha, Fate and Hayate helping Maren in the kitchen, there were over a dozen guests outside helping with the preparations.
Although Shamal wanted to help cook, everyone thought best for her to just help with minor tasks.
Among the guests were the Subaru, Ginga, Teana, Nakajima sisters, Vivio and her friends, Erio and Caro, as well as the Wolkenritter.
Fuuko and Elly weren't allowed to help because the party is for them, giving them a lot of free time until everything is ready.
The two girls sigh...

"If there's nothing to do, might as well rest~" Fuuko stretched her arms and let herself fall back to lie on the soft grass.
At first, Elly was surprised at Fuuko's loose behavior, but she's home...it's probably been a while since she last came here.
Elly quickly followed by sitting and enjoy the scenery.

"Say...Fuu-chan."
"Hmm?" She hummed once while looking at the sky.
"What will be of us from now on?"
"....Isn't that obvious? We're going to keep breaking through all obstacles in our way."
"Eh? You mean...together?"
"Thought I'd rise to Enforcer on my own?"
"Ah...well..."

"Really..." Fuuko sighed, "After all the trouble I went through to help you train...Did you seriously think I'd leave you behind?"
"Fuu-chan..."
"D-don't get the wrong idea, okay? It'd be annoying to train another partner, and there aren't many people that follow the orders of someone younger."
"Mhmm." Elly nodded with a smile and teary eyes.
"W-we've made it this far together, so we might as well go all the way." Fuuko looked away with her cheeks dyed red.
"Mhm~Mhmm~" Elly nodded twice, "As I thought, Fuu-chan is the best! Lov'ya~"

Jumping Fuuko, Elly clings to her as if they're sisters.
"W-w-w--w-w-whaaaaa?!" Fuuko panicked at the sudden skinship.
"Rubrub~rubrub~" Elly rubbed cheeks with Fuuko.
"Sh-Shtop ihht."
"Oh? This isn't enough? Then how this!" Elly slipped her hand under Fuuko's shirt.
"Kyan?!" Fuuko let out a yelp as her dyed cheeks became redder.
"Tickletickletickletickletickletickletickle~~"
"GYahaah-s-stop-ghahahahhaahahaah!!" Fuuko laughed out loud.

When Elly stopped, the two were catching their breath, one with tears on her eyes from laughing too hard and the other tired from all the tickling.
"W-what's with you?!" the fox-girl asked.
"H-haha...just felt like it."
"Honestly, you're really--" but before Fuuko could finish, Koji's voice was heard.

"Heey~ Ellyja, I found an album with picutes of Fuuko during her childhood, wanna see?" Koji shouted from the door.
"Really?!" Elly's eyes glint.
"Go on ahead."
"Eh?" Elly blinked, looking down at Fuuko.
"Because someone attacked me with a Full Drive Trickle Strike, I can't get up."
"Ahahaha..." Elly sweatdropped.
"Go on. I'll catch up."
"Okay." Elly got up and ran towards the house.

Hearing her partner's steps get farther and farther, she sighed.
"I won't last if you keep doing these things to me..."
Basking in happiness, Fuuko couldn't ask for anything else, except for these days to continue on forever.

".........wait a minute." She frowned in thought.
Album? Childhood pictures?
"GEH!" She jumped.

Fuuko remembered all sorts of embarrassing photos of her that were taken, like the frilly dresses she used to wear.
Sure, at that age she thought they were cute, but now...
"GAHHH!! Stop embarrassing me!" Fuuko boomed as she ran towards the villa.

------------------------------------

With everyone gathered at the party, Koji and Maren stood in front of the guests to give a small speech.
"Ahem...we're all gathered here to congratulate Fuuko and Ellyja for passing Rank A Mage Exam."
"They proved their worth as both individuals and as a team by overcoming intimidating odds and completing the mission." Maren added.
"Though they passed this exam, what awaits them is a hard road towards becoming Enforcers--" before Koji finishes, Chrono interrupts.
"You're one to talk. You didn't even take the Enforcer Exam..." Chrono grinned, giggles were heard among the guests.
Koji sweatdropped, "Hahaha...A-anyway, if these girls work together, they'll surely reach their dreams."

Finishing the speech, the guests applaud while looking at Elly and Fuuko.
Maren steps forward, "Well then everyone, please relax and enjoy yourselves in this party. Being a sleepover, the guest rooms have been prepared."
"And with that said, cheers!" Koji raised his glass.
"Cheers~!"

The party starts, and those with an appetite quickly gather around the barbecue grills.
Subaru, Nove, Wendi and Sein already digging in.

Rein and Agito ran around, from table to table collecting several types of food.
Whenever off-duty, the two unison devices would change their forms into Full Size to blend in.
Although they get along, there are cases when they have their usual fight...

With the harvest complete, they both stopped by Signum.
"Here Signum, try this~" The girls presented their plates at the Blazing General.
Exchanging glares, they look at Signum again and smile.
"Signum try these, I picked your favorites." Agito gets closer.
"I picked Signum's favorites too, try them~" Rein follows
"A-aah..." Signum replied not losing composure.

"Hey shorty, why don't you go back to your master and leave me and Signum alone?" Agito sneered.
"Why don't you go mingle with someone else, you're always sticking close to Signum." Rein countered.
"I'll do that later, now I want Signum to try the food I picked for her."
"What a coincidence, I want to do that too."
The two start a fight over who gets to feed Signum first, with Agito pointing out that Rein has Hayate and Vita.

Meanwhile, Chrono and Acous quietly enjoying the party at a corner.

As for Fuuko, she was standing near a table, picking food to her plate and nibbling when...
"Fuuko." Fate approaches the golden-eyed girl.
"Ah, Fate-san." Fuuko turns around, looking up at the blonde Enforcer.
"Congratulations on passing the mage exam." Fate smiles.
"T-Thank you." Fuuko blushed a little.
"So, what are your plans for the time being?"
"Hmm, continue training and also study for the Enforcer understudy exam...and keep an eye on that girl." Fuuko looked at Elly, who was speaking with her idol, Teana.

Ever since Elly became Fuuko's partner, she got to meet Teana.
That reunion made Elly so happy that she cried, reminding Teana of when Subaru saw Nanoha again at the end of their mage rank exam.
After that, they got to meet eachother many times in parties and other events, as well as contacting via mail.

Fate looked as well,"Concerning that, I spoke with Teana the other day and we were thinking of taking in each of you as our aides."
"...eh?" Fuuko blinked in surprise.
The offer was within her expectations, but to come this early...
Fuuko noticed Elly looking at her, it seems the conversation flowed that way too.

The two had promised that they'd work together towards becoming Enforcers, and now they have to split up.
"I see..." Fuuko spoke, forcing a smile. "For now I'd like to focus on the task at hand, when that is done, I'll give my reply."
Fate nods, "I understand." She pets the girl's head, "Don't worry about it and do your best."
"O-Okay."

"Fate-mama, hurry up or we'll eat all of it!" Vivio waves, calling Fate.
Fate turns around, "I'll be right there." then looks again at Fuuko, "I'll be going now, enjoy the party, okay?"
"Yes, Fate-san too."

Seeing her go, Fuuko gets a telepathic message.
(Fuu-chan...) Elly's voice echoed in her mind.
(It's okay, I didn't give a reply.) Fuuko looks at Elly from the corner of her eye.
(I-I see...)
(How about you? This is the perfect chance to work at the side of the person you admire.)
(I guess it is...)
(So? What's keeping you from accepting?)
(What you said before...)

(Hmm? What? I don't remember saying anything...) She feigned ignorance.
(...Won't you be lonely?) Elly asked.
(What? Do you know who you're talking to?) Fuuko raised an eyebrow, (Besides, Fate-san and Shari aren't strangers.)
(I'd be lonely...)
(Hey, hey...what are you talking about? It's Teana Lanster, your idol! You get along, don't you?)
(T-that's true but...)
(But what?)
(Teana-san is Teana-san...Fuu-chan is Fuu-chan. It's not the same if you're not there.)
(Guh....) Fuuko remained silent for a while, a streak of red across her face. (...You really know when to sucker punch.)
(S-Sorry, I didn't meant it that way.)

(*sigh* Anyway...don't think about it right now, we're in the middle of a party and you're making that gloomy face.)
(Haha...look who's talking, you're scowling.) Elly giggled.
(That's more like it.) Fuuko smirked. (Come on, let's go over to that table before Subaru-san and the others eat all the wild boar meat.)
(Eh? Wild Boar?) Elly walks over to Fuuko and the two head to the table.
(Didn't you know? Elphora's wild boar is the best!) Fuuko grinned.

------------------------------------

So hmm...maybe one or two more parts and this chapter will be done too.

Feel free to ask and comment, I'll try to answer without spoiling :heh:
*warps away*

NorthernFallout

2010-06-22, 08:48

A shadow slithered in silence along the large dining room floor, which was ornamented with grand statues and crests of darkness hanging on the stone walls. At the end of the room the wind was brushing the curtains aside with gentle pushes through an open door, to which the shadow crawled towards. It crept onto the adjoining wall to stand at the same height as its Lady, who was leaning against the guardrail out on the balcony.

A dreaming stare set in her eyes, she didn't notice the shadow until it almost touched her cheek.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She extended an arm and let the shadow traverse the gap of light. It coiled around it with a careful touch. "Do you bring news?"

The shadow approached her ear and said something which only its Lady could hear. The Lady nodded.

"I see. Thank you, Icarus. You may go now."

The shadow retreated from her arm and transferred to the wall again where it disappeared into the corner. The Lady kept staring out across the ocean that was throwing its large waves against the walls of her fortress. The sound was calming and she could feel the salt sticking to her skin. At these rare times of peace she missed the chatter of seagulls.

"She's almost reached her next checkpoint," she whispered, her eyes now closed. "My servant, you know what to do."

In her thoughts, a single voice replied without emotion; "Yes, Dark King."

*

The Angel Pass Bridge was an extraordinary piece of architecture of which Clara hadn't set her eyes upon during her journeys. Created from an ancient weapon that had long since been forgotten, the Angel Pass itself was a bottomless gorge that led through a mountainous region where the peaks reached into the sky. Only darkness beckoned beneath her when she looked over the bridge's edge, and a sense of vertigo accompanied it.

The bridge itself was suspended by several round platforms, operating on advanced magical principles that allowed them to sustain a certain weight on top of them. They floated in the air, with tiny blue-ish particles spewing out from underneath them. When Clara walked across them she couldn't feel a budge or even a weak bounce. The bridge was as rigid as solid ground.

She looked ahead, her vision just making out the faint structures on the other side; Angelice, the guardian city of the Angel Pass. The duties of the city's troops, as far as Clara knew, was to check the documents of every traveller that went through their gates and protect the bridge, and their city, from enemies. It was the same as back in Kolnen, although Clara had always expected it to be something more out of the ordinary. Now the city just seemed like any normal human settlement, despite its location and the weird spires disappearing into the clouds.

To take the route over the bridge wasn't something Clara would have liked to do, but it was the quickest way to enter the Klavein nation from Northern Harkus, unless she wanted to backtrack for miles. Again, this wasn't an option she wanted to take. With each passing day she lost progress and the Dark King fell further out of her reach. The detour she had been forced to take around the Red Forest had already costed her a day. Getting out of that forest had taken her quite a while, regardless of the path that had opened after the strange night. She shuddered at the memory.

Upon thinking of Klavein, bad visions began to float up. She'd been gone for a few years, but she suspected it would be just as bad as it had been when she'd left it. Her nation of birth, completely ruined by the Dark King's forces with the flames of darkness still burning with strength. The hope of even seeing her hometown, Brynstride, still standing among the destruction was almost non-existent, but she nonetheless clung to the little that remained. While she had severed most of her ties to the old town, there were some attachments that never went away.

With an abrupt shake of her head, the self-pity left her and she focused on the task at hand. She wasn't sure how long she'd been walking, but judging from how much closer the other side was now, and how much her legs ached, it couldn't be that far left. Boredom was the primary obstacle on this bridge. Not even the awesome views of the mountains, reaching higher than she could see, were enough to distract her for less than a few minutes. Perhaps she could activate the Tome and-

A step behind her froze her body. Two minutes ago, there hadn't been anyone following her and she hadn't heard anyone approach from far off. This was almost right behind her back and she could feel the eyes of her stalker piercing her body.

As the steps began again with rapid strides, she sidestepped and turned around, sensing an immediate danger. Her blood froze and frost formed on her hands, turning them white with slow determination.

It was a Mariage. She recognized it with ease from its rotten skin, the empty eye sockets flaring with blackness and the elongated silver blade that had just slashed past her stomach, missing her skin. Reacting within a second, Clara went down on her right knee and thrust her left leg out, connecting with the Mariage's shin. Unable to keep its balance it fell forward with a mechanical clank. Before it could recover, frost formed underneath it and Clara gave it a push, sending the Mariage sliding over the bridge's edge. It managed to secure itself with its blade, now morphed into a scythe, dangling with its body above the darkness below.

Getting to her feet, Clara turned the part of the bridge, where the Mariage's scythe had gotten a grip, into ice before it could haul itself up. Its metal sunk deeper into the ice, but didn't fall through. Clara had anticipated that and, before the Mariage was able to morph another scythe with its other arm, she rushed forward and stomped down with her right foot on the ice.

The audible crack as the ice started to break echoed off the mountain walls and the ice block gave up its struggle. It broke away from the edges and, with the scythe still attached to it, brought the Mariage down with it. Clara followed it with an intent stare, looking into its expressionless face. Certain destruction awaited the Mariage beneath, but neither fear nor anger flashed on its face. Bodies without a soul or mind, that's all they were, Clara thought to herself.

She took a deep breath and stepped away from the edge. The bridge remained rigid, but was now slightly angled towards the other side as the weight was shifted. It seemed even the slightest of change in the bridge's structure would make it unstable, although there still wasn't a problem to walk on it.

Not giving the Mariage another thought, she began to run towards Angelice. She didn't want to spend more time on this bridge than was necessary.

Unleash us.

She only got off a few metres before she heard more steps behind her. Without slowing down she looked over her shoulder and stared with dread at the dozens of Mariages climbing up from beneath the bridge, all of their blades morphed into scythes and their empty eyes turned towards her.

"Damn zombies," she muttered. There were too many for her to take on and destroying more of the bridge could collapse it all together, plunging both her and the Mariages into the depths. She could already feel it wobbling under her feet, the weight of all the Mariages being too much for it.

Let us help you, Master.

That voice talked in her head again and it took her a moment to realize that it was the Tome speaking to her. She flung an arm back into the backpack and retrieved it without stopping her retreat. She placed her hand upon it and yelled; "Set up!"

That same blue storm of shards erupted as it had back in the Red Forest and the Tome's Guardians emerged, shooting out from the Tome's seals and straight into the mass of Mariages. The initial strike threw a few of them over the bridge and then the battle commenced with the noise of blades and magic clashing together. She could barely see the Guardians, as they were mere shadows while moving.

"Keep running, Master," the Administrator said. She'd remained beside Clara, floating in the air, "the guardians will keep them at bay."

"You think they can stop them?" Clara said between breaths.

"No, but they can buy you time to- Look out!"

Projectiles flew past her ears and almost pierced her head, but the Administrator had put up a shield behind Clara just in time to stop the majority of them. They flew without a sound past her and dropped down into the abyss without scoring a single hit.

"I feel like a coward running away," Clara said, more to herself than the Administrator, and she shook her head. "But it's more important that I survive. Though, are the Guardians going to return?"

"Yes. They might be heavily injured afterwards, but they can regenerate given enough time."

"That should be useful...." Clara muttered.

About two-hundred metres remained now and she could see Angelice's first outpost on solid ground in all its glory. The gate was closed, but the silhouettes of guards could be seen on its upper side. They knew what was going on on their bridge and they were prepared to counter-attack without hesitation. Though, Clara wondered, would they realize she wasn't a threat?

Suddenly a shadow swept past her from above and she looked up with surprise. Horror filled her mind as the black dragon, one of the Dark King's most powerful servants, let loose an inferno upon the bridge all the way to the outpost. The screams of the soldiers as their flesh burnt reached her as soft foreign echoes and she halted her stride, staring at the massacre with an open mouth.

"Poor souls," the Administrator whispered and Clara was inclined to agree.

Burning bodies fell down into the darkness below and explosions shuddered the bridge due to flammable magic compounds, as the fire consumed the outpost in a few seconds. The bridge began to fall apart where the flames had burnt through its material and Clara felt the vibrations as parts loosened, falling down into the gorge. A fifty metre gap was visible through the flames and Clara was dumbstruck at how little remained before she would have reached the other side.

She looked behind her at the battle. The Administrator was still erecting a shield and the Mariage mass came closer. The Guardians, powerful as they might have been, seemed to have fallen, defeated by sheer numbers. Clara couldn't see them among the Mariages, but judging from how calm the Administrator was, although Clara could see her gritting her teeth in concentration, she assumed the Tome had already retrieved them.

She gazed forward at the gap and then at her hand, clenching it into a fist. She backed up a little, turned her leg muscles into iron and sprinted forward towards it.

The Administrator sensed what she was going to do and Clara could hear her voice calling out behind her; "Master, wait!"

She ignored her and ran forward. Everything around her went silent and she concentrated hard. Ice formed from the bridge's broken edge underneath her feet. The ice held and a new road of ice formed in front of her, closing the gap between the dying bridge and solid ground fast.

As her mind focused on building the ice road, the mana stormed in her veins and began to deplete. Producing the ice road was a mana-hungry process she hadn't trained to perfection before leaving the academy, and she'd neglected it for too long in her travels. Yet, judging from the distance left and the speed at which the ice road had formed, she'd made it with relative ease. As her body grew colder from the process, she grinned at this majestic feat and wished that her peers could see her now.

What she hadn't accounted for was the small embers still burning on the bridge and the roaring inferno consuming the outpost. The heat, even at this distance, licked her cheeks and caused her ice road to be severely weakened.

She only figured it out when it was too late, and the road broke with a snap, her mana capacity unable to produce more ice to repair it. Twenty metres remained when the outpost and the land beckoning behind it was interrupted by a wall of rock. The sky became smaller and smaller, and only the air rushing past her reached her senses.

Falling was a weird sensation. Clara didn't like it much as her stomach was turned upside-down and felt like it would burst through her throat. The change of air pressure made her feel dizzy and a vague, alien hum resounded from the darkness beneath. She kept her eyes looking upwards, into the sky, away from whatever awaited.

So that's it then? Already over? she thought, her mind numbed by shock. I haven't even started...

A silhouette appeared against the blue sky that was dwindling away, being replaced by the dark. Four appendages sprouted from it and dove down towards her.

Angels? Hah, as if they exist...

"Master!" The Administrator's loud voice pierced through her thoughts. Her body responded with a twitch. "Master, take my hand!"

Without hesitation and renewed faith she stretched forth her hand and it was grabbed by the Administrator. Her descent came to an abrupt halt and she was heaved into the Administrator's arms. The ascension was faster than the descent, as the air howled past Clara and they reached the surface in no time.

The Administrator put Clara down on her own legs while supporting her with one arm. Clara's legs were shaking and her head was hurting from the abrupt change in altitude. She stood there in a moment's silence, tossing an uninterested glance at the bridge. Dark figures were staring at them without moving, but she didn't pay them any particular attention. They couldn't fly, she knew that for sure, and the dragon was nowhere to be seen. It had came, struck, and disappeared, its mission completed.

"Master, are you all right?"

Clara looked up into the bright red eyes showing a deep worry for her well-being. Pushing herself away, making a slight stumble before recovering her balance, she said; "Yeah, I'm all right... But why didn't you tell me you could fly? We could have skipped the bridge! Hell, we could have flown all the way from the Red Forest!"

"You didn't ask, Master." Clara narrowed her eyes and locked the Administrator with an angry stare. The Administrator realized what she had said and blushed. "No, I mean, even if you'd have asked it would have been impossible. I can't fly for more than a few seconds." She let her head fall as if she was ashamed. "I'm still not at full capacity, Master."

Clara sighed. She couldn't be angry at the Administrator for saving her life. Not at a time like this. "Fair enough. It wouldn't have changed a thing, would it?" The Administrator gave a solemn nod. "Just tell me such things before, OK? It might come in handy in the future."

The Administrator nodded again, this time vigorously. "Yes!"

Clara turned towards the outpost looming behind them at the edge of the Angel Pass. It was still burning, casting long shadows across the land. A hint of remorse hit her mind for all the soldiers that had died for naught, and the fact that she had brought it upon them made it even worse. Their screams as their flesh melted from the fire was still stuck in her head.

"By the way," Clara said with a distant and uninterested voice, "Are the 'Guardians' all right?"

"Yes, they are fine, albeit wounded. They are resting. I'll take care of them."

"Good..." Clara started walking towards Angelice and motioned for the Administrator to follow her. She didn't want to recall her into the Tome just yet.

"I can't keep calling you 'Adminstrator'", Clara said while they walked on the stone road. "It sounds a bit... Never mind. What is your real name?"

The Administrator pondered for a moment and furrowed her eyebrows. "I know my previous Masters gave me a name... But now I can't seem to recall what it was."

Clara could see it was worrying her. It probably went deeper than she thought and she didn't know much about this Administrator anyway.

"I'm sorry, Master," the Administrator said after a few minutes. "I can't remember."

Clara waited a moment before speaking again, this time with a slightly amused tone. "Do you mind if I give you one?"

"Not at all, Master. It's in your full right and I'd be glad to be given one from my current Master."

"Well then," Clara said and grinned. "What do you think about 'Reinforce'?"

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-22, 12:06

*snipsnip*
*reads all 3 VoD chapters*

'Reinforce'?! What kind of name is tha-- *is harisen'ed by Hayate*

:eyespin:

Really...what were the Tome's previous masters doing when they owned it? Tourism? :eyebrow:
...they probably were since the Tome's original purpose was to collect spells :heh:

NorthernFallout

2010-06-22, 12:20

Really...what were the Tome's previous masters doing when they owned it? Tourism? :eyebrow:
...they probably were since the Tome's original purpose was to collect spells :heh:Maybe. Maybe not.

About 5 chapters remaining. Perhaps all answers shall be answered...

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-26, 06:34

Hmm...so...part 2 :sad:

After a gorgeous meal and lively party, the guests split up in groups.
One group helped cleaning up, the easy-going ones sat and talked or took an afternoon nap.

But the younger and energetic ones left for a hike.
Fuuko, who was familiar with the surrounding area, was among that group.

Destination, the large lake near the villa, though the word 'near' is used it still is a considerable distance.
Taking in account the time it takes to go and return, the group brought along some snacks and fishing gear to catch fish for dinner.

For Elly, it's the first time she's visiting Fuuko's homeworld.
The lake looked impressive from the villa, but once they crossed the forest surrounding it...

"Uwaaa~" Elly awed once more at the sight of the lake's sparkling surface and crystal clear water.
And once more, Fuuko sticked her chest out with pride, "Amazing isn't it?"
Elly nods, "It sure is~ Makes me want to go for a swim~" as she said that, she was about to remove her shirt when someone spoke.

"If the lil'lady intends to swim, don't go too far from the margin. The lake's king 'll get'ya."
"Hmm?" Elly looked in the voice's direction and saw an old man sitting on a rock, holding a fishing rod.
"Ohh, it's Gramps!" Subaru and the other sisters approached the man.
"Heya, been a while." He nods to the girls, greeting them.

While the Nakajima sisters talk to the old fisherman, Elly leans towards Fuuko.
"Who's that person?"
"A neighbour, though, his house in quite far from our's. He's been fishing here for the last 50 or so years."
"Wow, that's something."
Fuuko nods, "Subaru-san and the others met him during a party we held here, just like now."

Looking at the old man talking with a lively expression, Elly smiled and walked over.
"Oya? A new face?" The old man noticed her right way, "One of your sisters?" He asked Subaru.
"Ah, no. I'm--"
"She's my partner." Fuuko interrupts Elly as she comes closer.
"I'm Ellyja." She bows slightly.
"Nice to meet'ya." The old man nods, then turns to Fuuko. "An' how'ya been?"
"Fine, as always."
"Hmm..." He looked at Fuuko from head to toes, "You haven't grown much since I last saw'ya."
"Uh...t-that's." Now that the thought about it, the old man didn't know the 'circumstances' surrounding her family.

"I go'just the thin' for that!" The old man hands over his rod to Nove and grabs a nearby basket he uses to store the fish.
Sticking both hands in the basket, splashing sound is heard inside. After a quick struggle, he pulls out a lively catfish with a shiny body.

"Loo'at it. Quit'a healthy one Hahaha~" The old man laughs.
"I-It sure is..." Fuuko forced a smile. (...He's a fish maniac.)
(I-I see...) Elly sweatdrops.

"Here, tak'it." The fisherman signaled Subaru and she grabbed one of the baskets they brought, scooping water from the lake.
"Is it really okay?" Fuuko asked.
"Aye, don'mind. I go'plenty." The old man puts the fish in Subaru's basket.

"Excuse me, about the previous conversation..." Elly stepped in.
"Aye, which one?"
"About a king in the lake."
"Aye." The old fisherman nods, "A large creature lives in this lake, so be careful if you go swimming."

"I heard about that too, though aside from its silhouette, I've never seen it." Fuuko comments.
"Oh, speaking o'the devil..." The old man looks at the lake.

Near the middle of the lake, there it was, an enourmous shadow underwater.
"B-Big..." Elly stepped back.
"It's alrigh'. It neva gets'too close to the margin."
"Is that so?" Elly sighed in relief.
"Yeah, I used to come here often when I was little. No worries." Fuuko adds.

"Heey~ Everything's set up." Wendi signalled the girls.
With the fishing rods prepared, and baskets ready, the calm Dieci was already fishing, while Cinque was preparing an unusual equipment.

In her hands, a small box with throwing knives of different shapes.
Taking one with a arrowhead tip, she ties a fishing line to the hole on the other end.

Elly and Fuuko watch as Cinque assumes a throwing stance while looking at the lake.
Knife ready between the fingers of her right hand and the line coiled around the left hand with enough slack to throw it.
Waiting patiently, Cinque observes the flowing water, until...

"Ha!" With a flick of her wrist, the knife is sent flying, entering the water and hitting a fish.
Pulling the line, Cinque reels in the line with her hands, retrieving the fish.
"OOOH~" Elly claps at Cinque's prowess.

Noticing the feat, Dieci comment, "Cinque-nee, that's pretty cool but...you killed the fish."
"Ah..." Cinque then realized, they're supposed to keep the fish alive to stay fresh.
"C-Cinque-nee, don't worry!" Nove walked over to her. "We can cook it now and eat it ourselves!"

Indeed, the walk to the lake was long, it wouldn't be surprising if some of them were already getting hungry.
"Then, me and Elly will go pick up firewood." Fuuko announced.
"Right, counting on you!" Nove grins at Fuuko's follow up.

~~~~

The rest of the afternoon went by smoothly, with the girls fishing, snacking and talking.
For Elly, this was a new experience. Being born and raised in Mid-Childa, she had never seen such a wonderful place.
Hiking, walking in a forest, preparing a campfire, fishing and eating what you caught youself.
Thanks to meeting Fuuko, a new and colorful world opened to Ellyja.

~~~~

With the sun almost setting, it was time to return.
Going together half the way, the girls bid farewell to the old man as he took another path.

"Next time..." Elly spoke.
"Hmm?" Fuuko looked at her partner.
"It'd be nice if I could bring my family." She smiled as she looked at the sky dyed orange.
"Fine with me." Fuuko raised her arms, folding them behind her head. "My parents would like it too."
"I can?"
"Why not?"
Elly smiled, "Then I'll talk to them when I get back~"
"Mhm." The golden eyed girl nods in approval.

------------------------------------

Arriving to the villa, preparations for dinner had already started, Subaru and the others handed over the fresh fish to the assigned cooks and went help with other tasks.
The tables arranged into a two rows, everyone sat along them.
Unlike lunch, dinner went by quietly. With light conversations and reminiscing old times.

After dinner, the front yard was cleaned up, and the tables stored in a shed near the house.
Moving inside, part of the group continued talking, while the other helped clean up.

~~~~

Fuuko took Elly to her room. With all the fuss of the party, she forgot to show it to her.

A spacious bedroom, one window, a couple of wardrobes on the opposite side.
On the walls, shelves with books or animal plushies she got as present.
A dresser with a mirror and larger, adult-size mirror next to it.
Finally, a large bed, big enough for three people to sleep in. The bed was positioned so the sun would shine on it in the morning and the moon during the night.

"Uwaa~" Elly looked around.
"D-don't stare so much..."

Noticing the wardrobes, Elly went straight for them.
"H-Hey!" Fuuko went after her.
"Is this where all those cute clothes are?" She remembered the album Koji showed her.
"G-geh..." The short girl sweatdropped.
"Let's see~" Elly opened the wardrobe and examined its contents.
"Most of them are old and probably won't fit anymore..."
"Hmm, but some here look like they still do." Elly looked at Fuuko with sparkly eyes.
(Ugh...she really wants to see me wearing them...)

There was no escaping, Fuuko knows Elly for 3 years now, and this is one of those times when she won't give up.
So she surrendered to her partner's request and went along with it.
Together, they choose clothes from the wardrobes and Fuuko put them one on for show.
Sometime's they'd also go to the mirror and change Fuuko's hairstyle.

Being a rare sight, Elly seized the chance and took pictures of her cute partner.
Elly herself tried to wear the larger ones, but even those where dangerously short for her...not to mention tight on the chest.

~~~~

Time flew by without them noticing and it was already late.
"It's this late already..." Elly looked at the time, it was past midnight.
Tomorrow, they're supposed to wake up early, eat breakfast and return to Mid-Childa.

"Yeah..."
Elly got up, "I'll be going to my room then."
"Wait." Fuuko unconsciously grabbed the sleeve of Elly's shirt.
"What?" Elly looked at her small partner, looking up at her with large golden eyes.

"Sleep here, in my room...with me." Fuuko blushed as she spoke.
"Eh?" Elly blinked.
"...Don't want to?"
"T-That's not it. Just surprised."
"I...don't want to be alone tonight." Fuuko herself couldn't understand this uneasiness, it felt like something was grasping her heart tightly.

"...Okay." Elly nods, "I'll just go get my bag."
Elly's sleeve slips from the young girl's slender fingers and watches her go out the door.

------------------------------------

Leaving Fuuko's room, Elly hurries to fetch her bag from the room assigned to her.
On her way back, she noticed the front door slightly opened.
"Hmm?"
Tickling her curiosity, the red-haired girl goes investigate.

Going outside, she looked around.
"Oh? Ellyja?"
"Ah." Elly turns towards the familiar voice.

Fuuko's parents, who are sitting on a long bench at the front of the villa.
"Hmm?" Noticing the bag, Maren spoke, "Is something wrong with the room?"
"Ah, no. It's not that. It's Fuu-chan..."
"Fuuko?" Koji blinked.
"She invited me to sleep in her room." A little embarrassed, Elly scratched her cheek.
The couple was a little surprised, but then smiled warmly.

"I see. Then please look after her." Maren bowed slightly.
"Eh?"
"For Fuuko to say that, she must see Ellyja as a close friend." Maren explains.
"I-Is that so?" Elly blushed a little.
Koji nods, "So, from now on, look after her while we're not around."
"Ah. Y-yes'sir." Elly stands straight.
"Thank you." Maren smiles.
"Go on. Hurry back before she gets worried."
"Yes." Elly turns to the door but then stops and looks back at the couple. "G-Good night." She lowers her head a little.
"Good night."

~~~~

Waiting for Elly to get far enough, the couple looks at each other.
"Looks like today was no good either..." Koji sighed.
Maren held Koji's hand, "We still have some time left...maybe next time."
Koji looked at the starry night sky, "This can't go on for much longer. Our time is running out."
"Yes...but--"
"Yeah...I can't bring myself to tell her either."
"Just imagining the face she'd make when she hears about this...I--"
"I know...we love her too much to make her sad, it's our own fault..." Koji forces a smile.
"We'll have to tell her someday, without fail."
"Yeah." Koji paused, "Let's go inside, it's getting cold."
"Okay."

Holding hands, the couple goes into the house.

------------------------------------

Elly entered Fuuko's room suddenly, and saw her looking at herself in the mirror, wearing only underwear.
"...What are you doing?"

Fuuko jumps back in surprise, then notices Elly.
"C-Changing! What else does it look like?!" Fuuko blushed furiously. "--Or rather, knock first will ya?!"
"Sorry." She giggled, closing the door behind her.

Reaching for the drawers, Fuuko pulled out her pajamas.
Elly too, changed into the pajamas from her bag.

The two slipped into the bed.
"Mmm~ Fuu-chan's bed is nice and soft~"
"Hurry up and sleep."
"Oh? Then you don't want to snuggle up?"
"Haa?" Fuuko blushed. "W-Why would I?"

Elly opened her arms, "Come on~ into Elly-onee-chan's chest~"
"Whaaa?" She raised an eyebrow.
"If you don't come to me, then I'll go~~"
"Eh? W-wai-wait! Mhmm?!" Fuuko face was gently pressed against Elly's chest.
"Like so..." Elly held her close.
"D-Don't be so pushy!" Fuuko complained.
"I can't help it, Fuu-chan's cute~"
"Uuu...T-tomorrow we'll have to wake up early, so let's sleep."

"Well then~" Elly kisses Fuuko on the forehead, "Good night, Fuu-chan~"
"B-b-b-bb-bu-Eh?! W-Why d-d-did you--" Fuuko stutters as she brings her hands to her forehead.
"Hehe~ A good night kiss~" Elly smiled.
"I-I-idi--aah!" Overwhelmed by embarrassement, Fuuko buries her face into Elly's chest to hide her face.
"Hahaha~ T-That tickles~"
"No more talking! Sleep!"
"Yes ma'am~" Elly replied in a playful tone. "Sweet dreams, Fuu-chan."

Elly closes her eyes, wishing for tomorrow to be another good day with Fuuko at her side.

------------------------------------

[The next day...]
[05:13 AM]

Maren and Koji didn't get much sleep.
Being the hosts, they also wanted to look after their guests, even if they are long-time friends.
So, the two made preparations for breakfast, so it'd be done by the time everyone awakes.

It was then that it started, a strange sensation filled the couple's chest, the knife Maren was using slipped from her fingers, falling harmlessly on the counter.
"D-do you feel that?" Koji asked, his eyes wide open.
With a similar expession, Maren nodded.

As if an unseen whimsical being had decided their fate, the hourglass shared by both was reaching its end.
"Dammit...what horrible timing." Koji complained.

Looking at their hands, the fingers trembled as if they were afraid of dying.
Of course they were, not because of themselves, but their daughter...
"Fuuko..." Maren muttered.

Trying to walk, Maren quickly lost her balance, but Koji managed to catch her.
"It's no use...we won't make it to her room." He gritted is teeth in frustration.
Supporting each other, they somehow made it to a sofa in the living room, sitting just before they lost the strength on their legs.
Side by side, the couple leaned on the sofa.

"So...this is how it's going to end." Koji mused.
"...I'm sorry."
"Heh., apologizing again? I told you many times already: I don't regret it one bit." He smiled at her.
Maren chuckled, "It's just me being myself again."
"Yeah...ever since that day, you started apologizing more often."
"That's because I am living on borrowed time...yours."

Koji shook his head weakly, "I gave it to you, and you balanced it between us."
"And thanks to that, I am here with you."
"Though, it seems my life wasn't good enough to keep us alive for long...each time we pushed ourselves, we shaved a few years off our remaining time..."
"I should have been more careful..."
"What's done is done, and with all the incidents that happened, we couldn't just sit back and watch."
"Yes..."

"But, living at a human's pace wasn't half bad, was it?"
"Indeed, compared to my previous experiences. In these 12 years, I was able to live more than in the last couple centuries."
"Falling in love...getting married...giving birth to a child." Maren smiled as she thought of it.
"You forgot 'becoming a woman'." He smirked.
"W-wha?" Maren blushed.

Koji raised an eyebrow, "My my...what are you thinking about? I meant growing up."
"Please don't say such misleading statements!"
"Haha, sorry." He laughed weakly.

"Ever since we got married, you started teasing me."
"That's because you're cute."
"Uuu..."
"But, you've become beautiful, Maren." He looked into her eyes.
"Koji..." She looked back.
Their faces approaching, they kiss lightly.

Resting her head on Koji's shoulder, Maren speaks.
"Could you...say my name, one more time. My full name."
"Of course..." He paused, trying to make his voice as gentle as possible, "...Marenshia."
"Kouji..." She replied equally as they held hands.

"It seems time's almost up...though..."
"It feels like we're going to sleep." Maren spoke as her eyelids were getting heavy.
"Yeah...that's it. We'll be taking a nap."
"Next time we wake up, we may be different people, but..."
"We pledged, so, no matter where we are."
"We'll find each other."
"...and repeat those words again." Koji rested his head on Maren's.

"'Together..."
"...forever.'"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/Artwork/ws-b_km.jpg

------------------------------------

*tries to hold back the tears*

T-they...*sniff*...they...:T_T:

...

Also, incoming Part 3's Preview...

The break of dawn...
Inevitability and coincidence...
Denial...
Sweet whispers of madness...
Twisted reasoning...
And the blade of revenge, pointed at the innocent.

Next...
Changing Winds...when paths divide

This is the end of warm and fluffy feelings...from this point onwards WindS-B gets serious!

Silvance

2010-06-26, 22:50

Thanks for reading. You should check out the other Food shorts too :3

No problem. It was fun reading your work.

I'll make sure to check out the others later. =D

Hmm...so...part 2 :sad:

After a gorgeous meal and lively party, the guests split up in groups.
One group helped cleaning up, the easy-going ones sat and talked or took an afternoon nap.

But the younger and energetic ones left for a hike.
Fuuko, who was familiar with the surrounding area, was among that group.

Destination, the large lake near the villa, though the word 'near' is used it still is a considerable distance.
Taking in account the time it takes to go and return, the group brought along some snacks and fishing gear to catch fish for dinner.

For Elly, it's the first time she's visiting Fuuko's homeworld.
The lake looked impressive from the villa, but once they crossed the forest surrounding it...

"Uwaaa~" Elly awed once more at the sight of the lake's sparkling surface and crystal clear water.
And once more, Fuuko sticked her chest out with pride, "Amazing isn't it?"
Elly nods, "It sure is~ Makes me want to go for a swim~" as she said that, she was about to remove her shirt when someone spoke.

"If the lil'lady intends to swim, don't go too far from the margin. The lake's king 'll get'ya."
"Hmm?" Elly looked in the voice's direction and saw an old man sitting on a rock, holding a fishing rod.
"Ohh, it's Gramps!" Subaru and the other sisters approached the man.
"Heya, been a while." He nods to the girls, greeting them.

While the Nakajima sisters talk to the old fisherman, Elly leans towards Fuuko.
"Who's that person?"
"A neighbour, though, his house in quite far from our's. He's been fishing here for the last 50 or so years."
"Wow, that's something."
Fuuko nods, "Subaru-san and the others met him during a party we held here, just like now."

Looking at the old man talking with a lively expression, Elly smiled and walked over.
"Oya? A new face?" The old man noticed her right way, "One of your sisters?" He asked Subaru.
"Ah, no. I'm--"
"She's my partner." Fuuko interrupts Elly as she comes closer.
"I'm Ellyja." She bows slightly.
"Nice to meet'ya." The old man nods, then turns to Fuuko. "An' how'ya been?"
"Fine, as always."
"Hmm..." He looked at Fuuko from head to toes, "You haven't grown much since I last saw'ya."
"Uh...t-that's." Now that the thought about it, the old man didn't know the 'circumstances' surrounding her family.

"I go'just the thin' for that!" The old man hands over his rod to Nove and grabs a nearby basket he uses to store the fish.
Sticking both hands in the basket, splashing sound is heard inside. After a quick struggle, he pulls out a lively catfish with a shiny body.

"Loo'at it. Quit'a healthy one Hahaha~" The old man laughs.
"I-It sure is..." Fuuko forced a smile. (...He's a fish maniac.)
(I-I see...) Elly sweatdrops.

"Here, tak'it." The fisherman signaled Subaru and she grabbed one of the baskets they brought, scooping water from the lake.
"Is it really okay?" Fuuko asked.
"Aye, don'mind. I go'plenty." The old man puts the fish in Subaru's basket.

"Excuse me, about the previous conversation..." Elly stepped in.
"Aye, which one?"
"About a king in the lake."
"Aye." The old fisherman nods, "A large creature lives in this lake, so be careful if you go swimming."

"I heard about that too, though aside from its silhouette, I've never seen it." Fuuko comments.
"Oh, speaking o'the devil..." The old man looks at the lake.

Near the middle of the lake, there it was, an enourmous shadow underwater.
"B-Big..." Elly stepped back.
"It's alrigh'. It neva gets'too close to the margin."
"Is that so?" Elly sighed in relief.
"Yeah, I used to come here often when I was little. No worries." Fuuko adds.

"Heey~ Everything's set up." Wendi signalled the girls.
With the fishing rods prepared, and baskets ready, the calm Dieci was already fishing, while Cinque was preparing an unusual equipment.

In her hands, a small box with throwing knives of different shapes.
Taking one with a arrowhead tip, she ties a fishing line to the hole on the other end.

Elly and Fuuko watch as Cinque assumes a throwing stance while looking at the lake.
Knife ready between the fingers of her right hand and the line coiled around the left hand with enough slack to throw it.
Waiting patiently, Cinque observes the flowing water, until...

"Ha!" With a flick of her wrist, the knife is sent flying, entering the water and hitting a fish.
Pulling the line, Cinque reels in the line with her hands, retrieving the fish.
"OOOH~" Elly claps at Cinque's prowess.

Noticing the feat, Dieci comment, "Cinque-nee, that's pretty cool but...you killed the fish."
"Ah..." Cinque then realized, they're supposed to keep the fish alive to stay fresh.
"C-Cinque-nee, don't worry!" Nove walked over to her. "We can cook it now and eat it ourselves!"

Indeed, the walk to the lake was long, it wouldn't be surprising if some of them were already getting hungry.
"Then, me and Elly will go pick up firewood." Fuuko announced.
"Right, counting on you!" Nove grins at Fuuko's follow up.

~~~~

The rest of the afternoon went by smoothly, with the girls fishing, snacking and talking.
For Elly, this was a new experience. Being born and raised in Mid-Childa, she had never seen such a wonderful place.
Hiking, walking in a forest, preparing a campfire, fishing and eating what you caught youself.
Thanks to meeting Fuuko, a new and colorful world opened to Ellyja.

~~~~

With the sun almost setting, it was time to return.
Going together half the way, the girls bid farewell to the old man as he took another path.

"Next time..." Elly spoke.
"Hmm?" Fuuko looked at her partner.
"It'd be nice if I could bring my family." She smiled as she looked at the sky dyed orange.
"Fine with me." Fuuko raised her arms, folding them behind her head. "My parents would like it too."
"I can?"
"Why not?"
Elly smiled, "Then I'll talk to them when I get back~"
"Mhm." The golden eyed girl nods in approval.

------------------------------------

Arriving to the villa, preparations for dinner had already started, Subaru and the others handed over the fresh fish to the assigned cooks and went help with other tasks.
The tables arranged into a two rows, everyone sat along them.
Unlike lunch, dinner went by quietly. With light conversations and reminiscing old times.

After dinner, the front yard was cleaned up, and the tables stored in a shed near the house.
Moving inside, part of the group continued talking, while the other helped clean up.

~~~~

Fuuko took Elly to her room. With all the fuss of the party, she forgot to show it to her.

A spacious bedroom, one window, a couple of wardrobes on the opposite side.
On the walls, shelves with books or animal plushies she got as present.
A dresser with a mirror and larger, adult-size mirror next to it.
Finally, a large bed, big enough for three people to sleep in. The bed was positioned so the sun would shine on it in the morning and the moon during the night.

"Uwaa~" Elly looked around.
"D-don't stare so much..."

Noticing the wardrobes, Elly went straight for them.
"H-Hey!" Fuuko went after her.
"Is this where all those cute clothes are?" She remembered the album Koji showed her.
"G-geh..." The short girl sweatdropped.
"Let's see~" Elly opened the wardrobe and examined its contents.
"Most of them are old and probably won't fit anymore..."
"Hmm, but some here look like they still do." Elly looked at Fuuko with sparkly eyes.
(Ugh...she really wants to see me wearing them...)

There was no escaping, Fuuko knows Elly for 3 years now, and this is one of those times when she won't give up.
So she surrendered to her partner's request and went along with it.
Together, they choose clothes from the wardrobes and Fuuko put them one on for show.
Sometime's they'd also go to the mirror and change Fuuko's hairstyle.

Being a rare sight, Elly seized the chance and took pictures of her cute partner.
Elly herself tried to wear the larger ones, but even those where dangerously short for her...not to mention tight on the chest.

~~~~

Time flew by without them noticing and it was already late.
"It's this late already..." Elly looked at the time, it was past midnight.
Tomorrow, they're supposed to wake up early, eat breakfast and return to Mid-Childa.

"Yeah..."
Elly got up, "I'll be going to my room then."
"Wait." Fuuko unconsciously grabbed the sleeve of Elly's shirt.
"What?" Elly looked at her small partner, looking up at her with large golden eyes.

"Sleep here, in my room...with me." Fuuko blushed as she spoke.
"Eh?" Elly blinked.
"...Don't want to?"
"T-That's not it. Just surprised."
"I...don't want to be alone tonight." Fuuko herself couldn't understand this uneasiness, it felt like something was grasping her heart tightly.

"...Okay." Elly nods, "I'll just go get my bag."
Elly's sleeve slips from the young girl's slender fingers and watches her go out the door.

------------------------------------

Leaving Fuuko's room, Elly hurries to fetch her bag from the room assigned to her.
On her way back, she noticed the front door slightly opened.
"Hmm?"
Tickling her curiosity, the red-haired girl goes investigate.

Going outside, she looked around.
"Oh? Ellyja?"
"Ah." Elly turns towards the familiar voice.

Fuuko's parents, who are sitting on a long bench at the front of the villa.
"Hmm?" Noticing the bag, Maren spoke, "Is something wrong with the room?"
"Ah, no. It's not that. It's Fuu-chan..."
"Fuuko?" Koji blinked.
"She invited me to sleep in her room." A little embarrassed, Elly scratched her cheek.
The couple was a little surprised, but then smiled warmly.

"I see. Then please look after her." Maren bowed slightly.
"Eh?"
"For Fuuko to say that, she must see Ellyja as a close friend." Maren explains.
"I-Is that so?" Elly blushed a little.
Koji nods, "So, from now on, look after her while we're not around."
"Ah. Y-yes'sir." Elly stands straight.
"Thank you." Maren smiles.
"Go on. Hurry back before she gets worried."
"Yes." Elly turns to the door but then stops and looks back at the couple. "G-Good night." She lowers her head a little.
"Good night."

~~~~

Waiting for Elly to get far enough, the couple looks at each other.
"Looks like today was no good either..." Koji sighed.
Maren held Koji's hand, "We still have some time left...maybe next time."
Koji looked at the starry night sky, "This can't go on for much longer. Our time is running out."
"Yes...but--"
"Yeah...I can't bring myself to tell her either."
"Just imagining the face she'd make when she hears about this...I--"
"I know...we love her too much to make her sad, it's our own fault..." Koji forces a smile.
"We'll have to tell her someday, without fail."
"Yeah." Koji paused, "Let's go inside, it's getting cold."
"Okay."

Holding hands, the couple goes into the house.

------------------------------------

Elly entered Fuuko's room suddenly, and saw her looking at herself in the mirror, wearing only underwear.
"...What are you doing?"

Fuuko jumps back in surprise, then notices Elly.
"C-Changing! What else does it look like?!" Fuuko blushed furiously. "--Or rather, knock first will ya?!"
"Sorry." She giggled, closing the door behind her.

Reaching for the drawers, Fuuko pulled out her pajamas.
Elly too, changed into the pajamas from her bag.

The two slipped into the bed.
"Mmm~ Fuu-chan's bed is nice and soft~"
"Hurry up and sleep."
"Oh? Then you don't want to snuggle up?"
"Haa?" Fuuko blushed. "W-Why would I?"

Elly opened her arms, "Come on~ into Elly-onee-chan's chest~"
"Whaaa?" She raised an eyebrow.
"If you don't come to me, then I'll go~~"
"Eh? W-wai-wait! Mhmm?!" Fuuko face was gently pressed against Elly's chest.
"Like so..." Elly held her close.
"D-Don't be so pushy!" Fuuko complained.
"I can't help it, Fuu-chan's cute~"
"Uuu...T-tomorrow we'll have to wake up early, so let's sleep."

"Well then~" Elly kisses Fuuko on the forehead, "Good night, Fuu-chan~"
"B-b-b-bb-bu-Eh?! W-Why d-d-did you--" Fuuko stutters as she brings her hands to her forehead.
"Hehe~ A good night kiss~" Elly smiled.
"I-I-idi--aah!" Overwhelmed by embarrassement, Fuuko buries her face into Elly's chest to hide her face.
"Hahaha~ T-That tickles~"
"No more talking! Sleep!"
"Yes ma'am~" Elly replied in a playful tone. "Sweet dreams, Fuu-chan."

Elly closes her eyes, wishing for tomorrow to be another good day with Fuuko at her side.

------------------------------------

[The next day...]
[05:13 AM]

Maren and Koji didn't get much sleep.
Being the hosts, they also wanted to look after their guests, even if they are long-time friends.
So, the two made preparations for breakfast, so it'd be done by the time everyone awakes.

It was then that it started, a strange sensation filled the couple's chest, the knife Maren was using slipped from her fingers, falling harmlessly on the counter.
"D-do you feel that?" Koji asked, his eyes wide open.
With a similar expession, Maren nodded.

As if an unseen whimsical being had decided their fate, the hourglass shared by both was reaching its end.
"Dammit...what horrible timing." Koji complained.

Looking at their hands, the fingers trembled as if they were afraid of dying.
Of course they were, not because of themselves, but their daughter...
"Fuuko..." Maren muttered.

Trying to walk, Maren quickly lost her balance, but Koji managed to catch her.
"It's no use...we won't make it to her room." He gritted is teeth in frustration.
Supporting each other, they somehow made it to a sofa in the living room, sitting just before they lost the strength on their legs.
Side by side, the couple leaned on the sofa.

"So...this is how it's going to end." Koji mused.
"...I'm sorry."
"Heh., apologizing again? I told you many times already: I don't regret it one bit." He smiled at her.
Maren chuckled, "It's just me being myself again."
"Yeah...ever since that day, you started apologizing more often."
"That's because I am living on borrowed time...yours."

Koji shook his head weakly, "I gave it to you, and you balanced it between us."
"And thanks to that, I am here with you."
"Though, it seems my life wasn't good enough to keep us alive for long...each time we pushed ourselves, we shaved a few years off our remaining time..."
"I should have been more careful..."
"What's done is done, and with all the incidents that happened, we couldn't just sit back and watch."
"Yes..."

"But, living at a human's pace wasn't half bad, was it?"
"Indeed, compared to my previous experiences. In these 12 years, I was able to live more than in the last couple centuries."
"Falling in love...getting married...giving birth to a child." Maren smiled as she thought of it.
"You forgot 'becoming a woman'." He smirked.
"W-wha?" Maren blushed.

Koji raised an eyebrow, "My my...what are you thinking about? I meant growing up."
"Please don't say such misleading statements!"
"Haha, sorry." He laughed weakly.

"Ever since we got married, you started teasing me."
"That's because you're cute."
"Uuu..."
"But, you've become beautiful, Maren." He looked into her eyes.
"Koji..." She looked back.
Their faces approaching, they kiss lightly.

Resting her head on Koji's shoulder, Maren speaks.
"Could you...say my name, one more time. My full name."
"Of course..." He paused, trying to make his voice as gentle as possible, "...Marenshia."
"Kouji..." She replied equally as they held hands.

"It seems time's almost up...though..."
"It feels like we're going to sleep." Maren spoke as her eyelids were getting heavy.
"Yeah...that's it. We'll be taking a nap."
"Next time we wake up, we may be different people, but..."
"We pledged, so, no matter where we are."
"We'll find each other."
"...and repeat those words again." Koji rested his head on Maren's.

"'Together..."
"...forever.'"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/Artwork/ws-b_km.jpg

------------------------------------

*tries to hold back the tears*

T-they...*sniff*...they...:T_T:

...

Also, incoming Part 3's Preview...

The break of dawn...
Inevitability and coincidence...
Denial...
Sweet whispers of madness...
Twisted reasoning...
And the blade of revenge, pointed at the innocent.

Next...
Changing Winds...when paths divide

This is the end of warm and fluffy feelings...from this point onwards WindS-B gets serious!

Do you have something like a profile page for these characters? Its just that its hard to follow the events or relate to them unless I know a few things about them. :heh:

Good work on those sketches btw. :3

Setting that aside, I have this burning desire to ask this question.... It may stupefy some of you but... I'll do it anyway. Is it against the rules to post the chapters for our fanfics in here and in the fanfiction thread? Its just that people are also posting their works in this thread, and I just wanted to make sure if its not a problem. :heh:

*Cough*

Anyway, here's something extra from me. Its a sketch that I made about a month ago.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/AscleiForesytheandVanthiaKrysler.jpg

Yeah, Asclei has fangs which is one of his physical characteristics :3

The girl is a new OC from me, and her name is Vanthia Krysler. I started working on her last year around November but since I was busy with school, I couldn't finish her concept art and profile. She's fifteen years old and is a summoner. Her nickname is Jouka no Vanthia (浄火のヴんシア). It means, Vanthia of the Sacred Flame.

Tempy

2010-06-26, 23:55

No problem. It was fun reading your work.

I'll make sure to check out the others later. =D

=D

Setting that aside, I have this burning desire to ask this question.... It may stupefy some of you but... I'll do it anyway. Is it against the rules to post the chapters for our fanfics in here and in the fanfiction thread? Its just that people are also posting their works in this thread, and I just wanted to make sure if its not a problem. :heh:

There is nothing wrong with double-posting in the OC thread and fanfiction thread, in my experience at least. I do it all the time to maximize exposure.

And damn, I am jealous of your art skillz. Wish I could draw my characters like that...

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-27, 05:49

Do you have something like a profile page for these characters? Its just that its hard to follow the events or relate to them unless I know a few things about them. :heh:

Good work on those sketches btw. :3
Thanks and my OC Index is HERE (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=2342938&postcount=6494)
Starts a bit sloppy, but it gets a little better later :heh:

Also, when I'm done with WindS-B, I'll do a sort of remake/recap chapter of how things started ;)

Anyway, here's something extra from me. Its a sketch that I made about a month ago.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/AscleiForesytheandVanthiaKrysler.jpg

Yeah, Asclei has fangs which is one of his physical characteristics :3

The girl is a new OC from me, and her name is Vanthia Krysler. I started working on her last year around November but since I was busy with school, I couldn't finish her concept art and profile. She's fifteen years old and is a summoner. Her nickname is Jouka no Vanthia (浄火のヴんシア). It means, Vanthia of the Sacred Flame.
Oh~ nice and clean art...pretty good.

Though, Jouka means "Purifying Flame", for sacred/holy flame it's 聖火 (Seika)
And Vanthia in katakana would be written as ヴァンシア

Just a minor correction :heh:

Silvance

2010-06-27, 18:59

=D
And damn, I am jealous of your art skillz. Wish I could draw my characters like that...

Thanks. If you keep on practicing, you'll eventually develop such skills so don't be afraid to try. :3

Taking classes also helps. After taking an art class last semester, I noticed that even I improved quite a bit.

Oh, I actually finished reading the first chapter of Food for Thought. Your choice for words to describe Nanoha's appearance and gestures when she woke up was handled very well. I can picture her adorable face in my mind clearly while reading. I'm guessing that Kevin is going to be like a brother-figure to Nanoha?

Anyway, I checked his profile again and you mentioned that he went to college, but you didn't specify what major and degree he got. I'm quite curious about it. >:3

I'll try making an omelet with the recipe that you included. Adding one as a bonus for the chapter was nice touch. XD

Thanks and my OC Index is HERE (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=2342938&postcount=6494)
Starts a bit sloppy, but it gets a little better later :heh:

Also, when I'm done with WindS-B, I'll do a sort of remake/recap chapter of how things started ;)

Oh~ nice and clean art...pretty good.

Alright. With this, I can start reading your work too. >:D

Though, Jouka means "Purifying Flame", for sacred/holy flame it's 聖火 (Seika)
And Vanthia in katakana would be written as ヴァンシア

Just a minor correction :heh:

lol. Thanks for the correction. XD

Actually, Jouka can also mean sacred fire/flame that is offered to shinto gods and Buddha. (http://dictionary.so-net.ne.jp/leaf/jn/93706/m0u/)

Seika (聖火 ) is also a sacred fire that is dedicated to a god. Its also a term used for the Olympic flame or a holy fire that was given by a god.

I used Jouka instead due to my personal preference, and also because it relates to one of Vanthia's summon-beasts... a god-like creature that even outclasses Voltaire.

Now then, its time to post the next portion of Chapter 3.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/Madoukishiasclei.png

Previously on Madoukishi Asclei:

The newly developed dimensional cruiser, Varuna and its crew were sent to Aldia by the top officials of the TSAB. Their mission was to confirm whether the anonymous reports regarding the Aldian Kingdom conducting inhumane experiments was true. If it is, then they must return with a physical evidence so that the organization can get the support of the public as well as its assets about putting a stop to Aldia's immoral activities.

Fate and Teana were able to obtain the necessary documents to prove Aldia's crimes for ignoring human rights; however, the Varuna become unresponsive after its crew tried to analyse the data discs that Fate and Teana managed to get a hold of. The Aldian king immediately dispatched his kingdom's military force to retrieve the documents as well as the researcher that Fate and Teana took into protective custody. The Aldian forces launched their attack after locating Varuna's position. Since the Varuna and its crew proved to be more challenging than expected, the 9th Lance, Versa Crew ordered the Aldian forces to destroy the ship, and eliminate its crew before they escape, and report to their leaders.

During the battle, several Aldian forces managed to breach Varuna's last line of defense. In order to stop the enemy from reaching the ship, Teana used the Starlight Breaker
which was initially intended to be used against her current opponent, Lanos

[http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/sr-1.jpg

“STARLIGHT BREAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Teana shouted.

A blinding light covered the entire mountain where she was at. The ground was carved out by the attack. The spell did not only destroy the airborne units, but Aldia’s ground forces as well. Some Aldian knights managed to get out of the way on time since they were far from its line of fire; however, the infantries on the ground couldn’t due to their incapability of flying or using magic at all. Several Tanks desperately tried to dodge the attack but they were maddeningly slow to the point where its operators left, and ran for their own lives. Lanos was speechless from what he saw. The bright light that covered the battlefield made Lanos consider if he should bring sunglasses the next time he fights Teana.

“Hey! Asclei, you still alive?” Lanos spoke telepathically.

“Rest assured, the blonde and I are far from its line of fire,“ Asclei replied.

“That’s good to hear,” Lanos replied in relief.

“For the love of god! TSAB women are vicious!!! They may look endearing but they have thorns all over them! I guess Sierra is not alone in this world after all…” Lanos shouted.

“Lanos, can we speak about such matters some other time? I‘m quite busy here,” Asclei replied while suppressing his anger.

“Oh, sorry, good luck with her. Just make sure not to stare at her underwear for too long. After all, its a fearful device that causes mass distraction!” Lanos responded while chuckling perversely.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/o_O-1.jpg

“I’d really appreciate it if you stop putting me in the same group as you,“ Asclei answered back.

After Asclei uttered his last words, he ceased communication with Lanos.

Meanwhile, Fate and Asclei stopped and looked behind them. The two stayed levitated and gazed at the damaged that the Starlight Breaker dealt.

“So you ended up using it, Teana…” Fate uttered with a worried look on her face.

With his calm voice, Asclei murmured, “Impressive… a collective-type bombardment spell.”

“That girl did well; however, she should work on keeping the magic particles of her spell close together to make her attack more concentrated.” Asclei commented.

Fate then turned around and faced Asclei directly.

“You don’t seem to be concerned about your partner…” Fate asked curiously

“I was talking to him just now and he seemed fine.” Asclei cheerfully responded to Fate’s question.

“If we were easily killed by something like that, then the two of us would‘ve died a long time ago,“ Asclei stated while scratching his cheek.

“…So you’re saying that you’ve faced opponents much more threatening than us?”

“Perhaps…” Asclei lightly smiled once more.

A complete silence dominated the atmosphere between the two.

Fate was bothered of the fact that Asclei wasn’t intimidated even after seeing the destructive power of the Starlight Breaker. Fate then raised Bardiche in an offensive stance; Asclei did the same. The two resumed their battle. Fate and Asclei charged at one another and exchanged blows which produced shockwaves each time their blades collided. Asclei overwhelmed Fate in close combat during their battle. Each time Silvance clashed against Bardiche, Fate always had to focus her strength on her hands to prevent her device from being blown away. Even with the Riot Form, Fate still couldn’t carry out a successful blow against Asclei. She felt restless. For the first time, she encountered an opponent that surpassed her in swordsmanship and in speed.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/Scan10010ed-1.jpg

“His physical strength is truly unfathomable. Is he even human? Even my defensive spells doesn’t last long against his strikes,” Fate said to herself while breathing heavily.

“Regardless of the gap between our strengths, I cannot back down…not until Varuna’s system are recovered.”

Fate gritted her teeth.

Asclei in the other hand was closing in to Fate’s position. He was like a hound that was chasing after his prey, ready to rip it apart.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/Scan10002ed.jpg

Fate responded by using Blitz Rush to get close to her adversary. She then followed with a diagonal slash with her left blade but Asclei blocked it with Silvance. Fate then thrust her other blade on her right hand, but Asclei evaded it by moving slightly to his right.

Asclei responded by making a horizontal slash but Fate avoided the attack and countered by casting Trident Lancer. Eight projectiles appeared, and flew towards Asclei, but every single one of it was deflected. After seeing what happened, Fate immediately gave her command.

“Turn!”

All eight projectiles then turned around, and came after Asclei once more. When he sensed the projectiles charging at him for the second time, Asclei turned around and prepared to avoid it. However, midway before the projectiles reached him, Fate gave out another command.

“Break!”

Each of the eight Trident Lancers entered a magic circle, and split into three smaller ones. Asclei was caught off guard, there were a total of twenty-four projectiles this time. Asclei gritted his teeth. He then spun his sword which created a giant fan, and swung it in every direction which deflected all of the projectiles, and caused them to blow up.

The smoke that was generated by the explosion hindered Asclei‘s vision. Without warning, Fate appeared to his left. Before she could land her cross slash to her opponent, Asclei swiftly carried out a vertical slash.

“Lightning Crest!” Silvance articulated.

A crescent-shaped wave of lightning was generated and made its way towards Fate; however, she managed to avoid it on time. A few seconds later, Fate heard explosions from the direction where the Lightning Crest went. When she looked behind her, she saw several Aldian airborne units crashing down to the ground. When Fate looked back to Asclei, his face didn’t show any signs of shock or regret regarding the results of his actions. Fate started to wondered whether the attack just now was really aimed at her in the first place.

The eight units that managed to avoid the Lightning Crest in the other hand were still headed towards Fate’s direction. The units started to fire rapidly with its beam armaments, but Fate avoided each one with ease. When the units reached Fate’s range, She suddenly jumped between the first two units and slashed them in half. Fate then threw her left blade towards another unit which stabbed and grappled it. She then followed by throwing her other blade towards another one that was close enough to her. With her hands on the extended rope-like structure that connected the two Riot Blades, Fate jumped and pulled the two units and rammed them against the other four aerial units. All eight of them were immediately destroyed within ten seconds. The rope-like structure that Fate held on to suddenly started to shorten which pulled both of the Riot Blades back to her.

Out of the blue, several missiles came crashing down to Fate. To protect herself, Fate immediately created a barrier which surrounded her completely. As each missiles hit her defensive spell, Fate noticed that her barrier‘s durability was starting to diminish.

“My barrier is weakening?” Fate said to herself as she troublingly held on to her spell.

The bombardment of the long range artillery units from the ground didn‘t stop. They kept on launching barrage of attacks against Fate which kept her on the defensive. Fate couldn’t counterattack either since the explosions and its aftershocks pinned her down too.

It was hard to see due to the explosions, but Fate managed to get a glimpse of a large black artillery vehicle that had a large-size cannon mounted on it. The vehicle in question, launched its attack against Fate. One single shot pushed Fate away from her original position. Thankfully, Fate still had her barrier active. However, she was already at her limits. It was only a matter of time until the enemy fire would penetrate her defensive spell.

“Type-B MNA Class, Anti-mage missiles and Anti-barrier artillery shells” Asclei gasped

“Heee~ So they’re using this opportunity to test the effectiveness of their new toys…” Asclei uttered.

“I’m quite surprised that woman’s barrier didn‘t break immediately after the first shot…”

“Whatever the case is, the situation doesn’t look good...”

As Asclei pondered, the black vehicle launched its second attack. Fate‘s barrier had been penetrated successfully. Before the shell hit her, Fate used Jacket Purge which created an explosion. Fate immediately flew downwards diagonally from inside the smoke. She managed to lessen the damage that she suffered through the explosion that the Jacket Purge created. When Fate landed on the ground, the force of the impact created a crater on the surface of the land. When the smoke faded, Fate was kneeling down with her swords planted into the ground. She was breathing heavier than before. All of a sudden, Asclei appeared behind her and carried out a horizontal slash. His figure seemed like an executioner who was about to cut off the head of the person in front of him. Fate used the Blitz Rush immediately to avoid the attack and Asclei jumped back right away when his blow was avoided. A second later, the missiles from the artillery units crashed to the area where Fate was present earlier. Fate couldn’t help but felt like something was amiss. Asclei in the other hand remained standing on one of the branches of a tree and pondered.

“That attack just now… They were definitely aiming at me as well. Olsen, that bastard. Does he intend to get rid of me and the blonde at the same time?”

“Greedy fat cunt. I bet Versa promised him a promotion in exchange for his cooperation…”

Asclei angrily muttered to himself.

“Asclei-sama, as expected several Aldian forces had left their posts in Meldon base to provide back up over there. The 11th and 8th lance also left their posts just as planned. We will proceed to stage three in a few moments.” A deep manly voice sounded into Asclei’s head.

“Make sure to rescue the TSAB officials that were captured as well while you‘re at it, Drake.” Asclei demanded.

“As you wish, my lord.” the transmission ceased immediately.

End of Part IV

WARNING: Visual Aid #2 is NSFW. Viewer's discretion is advised.

Honestly, this is the longest chapter that I've written and the one that has the most visual aids. Then again, now that I think about it, it was fun for me too so it wasn't that bad.

I'll post the continuation hopefully tomorrow or on tuesday. http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Emoticons/waicopy.png

LoweGear

2010-06-28, 04:35

Will check on stories later...

*Cough*

Anyway, here's something extra from me. Its a sketch that I made about a month ago.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/AscleiForesytheandVanthiaKrysler.jpg

Yeah, Asclei has fangs which is one of his physical characteristics :3

The girl is a new OC from me, and her name is Vanthia Krysler. I started working on her last year around November but since I was busy with school, I couldn't finish her concept art and profile. She's fifteen years old and is a summoner. Her nickname is Jouka no Vanthia (浄火のヴんシア). It means, Vanthia of the Sacred Flame.

Your art seems to be much cleaner (and clearer) this time around, starting with this image, well done :)

Although Vanthea looks like Fate :heh:

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-28, 05:19

Alright. With this, I can start reading your work too. >:D
My stuff is mostly fluffy, love comedy, a bit of action...and sometimes fanservice :heh:

lol. Thanks for the correction. XD

Actually, Jouka can also mean sacred fire/flame that is offered to shinto gods and Buddha. (http://dictionary.so-net.ne.jp/leaf/jn/93706/m0u/)

Seika (聖火 ) is also a sacred fire that is dedicated to a god. Its also a term used for the Olympic flame or a holy fire that was given by a god.

I used Jouka instead due to my personal preference, and also because it relates to one of Vanthia's summon-beasts... a god-like creature that even outclasses Voltaire.
I see, my bad then :heh:

Now then, its time to post the next portion of Chapter 3.

*snip*
That's...one big SLB :twitch:

I'm a little busy with sudden inspiration, I'll comment on the rest later :heh:

Gaunt88

2010-06-28, 07:08

Now then, its time to post the next portion of Chapter 3.

(Snip)

That was quite entertaining. I like the illustrations, especially the first one.

SLB: *SWOOOSH* *BOOOOOOM*
Lanos (I think?): o_0;; ...

*Goes off to find the earlier chapters*

Tk3997

2010-06-28, 07:25

Well Force might not be high art, but it did do the seemingly impossible, it got me motivated enough to start writing my fic again. I also want it noted that I totally beat going a year between updates, the last one was on July 5th of 2009 so I had an entire week the spare! Acutally a bunch of people seem to be updating oddly enough so now as good a time as any I suppose.

Anyway no one probably has a clue what's going on here, but the entire fic can be found in the link in my sig. Anyway In this chapter we see that O’Neil has a plan, everyone is part of it, and no one is allowed to say no…

==========================================
SOPCC Headquarters, January 28th, 077 MC, 1200 Hours
==========================================

While it took some time the fervor over naming the recently revived unison device finally died down when some purposed they should put it to a vote. Names would be submitted and then voted on by the entire staff with the stipulation no one could vote for there own suggestion in the ballet. With this comprise in place the gaggle of people was rather unceremoniously showed the door so the experts could get back to work. The objective this time being trying to figure out why the device’s memory might be damaged or malfunctioning.

==========================================

“I’m telling you this is unnecessary.” Daniel grumbled irritably as he headed for the car he’d been provided carrying the last of his bags. “I’m just going to search some records in a library I don’t need a half dozen armed guards.”

“Danny if there’s one thing this job has taught me it’s that you can never have too many armed guards, ever.” Jack replied sagely. “Particularly with you involved.” Before quickly tacking a barb onto the end.

“I can take care of myself you know.” He shot back irritably.

“Oh I know, but just think of it as insurance.” Jack replied pleasantly. “Besides they’re all salaried and if I have them sitting around doing nothing I’m wasting money.” He added as a causal afterthought.

“And thus the real reasoning comes out, not concern for my safety, but concern for your budget.” Daniel remarked sarcastically.

“Hey I’m a senior officer now I have to be fiscally responsible you know!” Jack replied gravely though this elicited only a disbelieving snort from Daniel. “Besides you’ll never even know they’re there.” He assured him.

“Well as long as they don’t get in the way.” He finally agreed grudgingly, and it was true he seemed to run into trouble on an inordinate number of ‘routine’ missions. “Still why’d you pick this lot?” He asked curious about the personal assigned to the operation, they where more or less entirely newer and younger members of the command.

“Well honestly I’m not expecting any trouble either so I figured it would be a good chance to give them some experience working alone without any of the senior personal around.” O’Neil shrugged. “And one of them I was considering for recruitment before this mess more or less did it for me, but I still want to see how she’ll perform on her own under more controlled conditions.”

“So I get to be a training aid then.” Daniel appeared less then enthused.

“Hey give me some credit if nothing else I know how to pick people. If things get rough they’ll take care of business.” O’Neil assured him and Daniel had to give him that much, as he did seem to have a knack for picking and luring talent to him. The pair arrived outside a moment later to find one of his escorts loading bags and equipment into, or more accurately onto the SUV they’d been provided. The trunk was full and she was currently wrangling cargo onto the roof rack.

The girl struggling with the bags was Anastasia a rather short long haired blond who’d only recently joined the command, but had been an on again presence every since a few of its members had rescued her from a non-administered world some years ago. She was perched rather precariously on the vehicle’s back wheel struggling to place a duffle bag that probably weighed about half as much as see did onto the roof. By the time both of them realized she was about to go over it was too late. She lost her footing and started to tumble backward groping at the already stacked luggage for a handhold, but the only thing she managed to do was drag even more of it off the car with her. She landed in a heap on the ground amid the scattered containers one of which burst open to spew forth dozens of books and piles of papers onto the ground.

“Won’t even notice they’re there?” Daniel remarked pointedly to Jack who merely glanced away and scratching his chin.

==========================================

After helping Daniel clean up most of the mess and load the last of luggage O’Neil had bid his friend farewell and head back to his office. Noticing the door was very slightly ajar as he approached meant he was prepared and unsurprised to find a guest relaxing on one of the chairs inside.

“I take it Doctor Jackson has departed on his research trip?” Aurion asked casually as O’Neil strode in and took a seat himself behind his desk.

“Just finished seeing him off.” O’Neil informed him casually.

“Well I hope he has some luck in his endeavor.” Aurion replied airily.

“I take it you didn’t have any with the device?” O’Neil frowned slightly.

“I’m afraid not, we ran a number of additional diagnostics, but from what we can tell as of now there doesn’t seem to be anything physically wrong with the device’s memory. Once we restored it to consciousness it should be more or less fully operational including its memory which leaves us with several possibilities.” He announced with a slightly frown himself.

“It’s lying, its memory was wiped, or we’re missing some kind of damage because of a lack of knowledge.” O’Neil quickly guessed.

“Nice guesses and more or less exactly so.” Aurion nodded his approval and smirked a moment before continuing. “As for option one well I don’t see it myself, but can’t rule it out based on any solid evidence. Still if he wanted to lie giving us a false story would seem a more viable approach then claiming memory loss, amnesia is hard to fake let me tell you, and in the hours we were examining him he never slipped up even once in anyway that made me suspicious that he might be lying.”

“I didn’t think it very likely, but the possibility is there.” O’Neil shrugged, given Aurion’s own skills at deception and bending the truth him feeling the device was being honest wasn’t a bad endorsement.

“Which means it’s on to option two and what I consider most likely as the device was found in storage. If it was linked up to the main computer systems of the base then it’s entirely possible that the purge initiated in the base computers was also executed on its memory as well.”

“Which would mean there’s basically no chance it’ll regain any kind its memory.” O’Neil’s frown deepened.

“Indeed, and option three is only a little better, if it does have some sort of damage we can’t detect or don’t fully understand there’s not much we can do about it either. Still Unison Devices are very advanced with allot of redundancy and capability for self repair. If there is some kind of subtle damage it’s possible it might repair itself over time, but it’s equally possible it won’t.”

“Nothing can ever be simple can it?” O’Neil grumbled under his breath.

“It does often seem that way doesn’t it?” Aurion agreed absently. “Regardless I’m afraid I’ve more or less exhausted my expertise on this matter, but of course if something new comes up feel free to call.”

“Thanks for the help in any case, anything you need done?” O’Neil shook off the pointless pessimism and got back to matters at hand.

“Nothing in particular at the moment, but I’ll keep it in mind.” Aurion replied casually before bidding him farewell and taking his leave. This trip had been a bit of distraction, but it was hardly wasted time as it wasn’t every day one got to examine a genuine ancient unison device. Even so he was looking forward to getting home and continuing his work on several important projects. Still there was something he wanted to do before he headed out…

==========================================

Felix plopped down at his desk thankful to be able to get off his feet for the first time in some hours after another day spent drilling the plebs. The icepack he’d just retrieved and affixed to his sore knee by a weak bind certainly wasn’t hurting things either. Actually combat and training didn’t normally bother it since he was usually flying; getting it smacked with a hammer during a training bout on the other hand did. He tossed a glare across the room at the source of his current discomfort.

“I told you it was an accident.” She replied glaring back.

“You still smacked me either way.” Felix replied holding the glare.

Further escalation of the spat was prevented by the door to the office area opening which forced both to hurriedly put on there “professional face”, this lasted only so long as it took them to ID the new arrival at which point the masks dropped and scowls returned.
“Ah sorry I didn’t mean to walk in an interrupt your lover’s quarrel I can come back later if want to finish?” Aurion remarked casually as he entered the room.

Oh great he’d heard that bullshit too, he probably didn’t buy it, but that hardly meant he wouldn’t bring it up in the interest of needling them. This was something that Felix was seriously just not in the mood for right no. “So did you come here to be insufferable or do you actually have some business?” He queried bluntly.

“Oh a bit of column A and a bit of Column B, but business first.” He replied casually.

“Goody.” Vita remarked coolly.

“Well since you happen to be here I figured I’d ask you to let Hayate know the project we’ve disused will be ready within a few months, and tell her to call sometime honestly she never calls anymore.” Aurion replied casually feigning distress toward the end.

“Good maybe she’s finally taking my advice then.” Vita replied bluntly.

“Ah that’s cold Vita.”

“You should just consider yourself lucky she’d be mad if I actually went after you.” Vita responded unmoved.

“I however have no such external factors to consider, so if you’re quite done?” Felix added acidly.

“Now, now I just came to deliver that message I’ll be heading back home once I leave.” He casually brushed aside the venom as he made to leave though he paused in the doorway for a moment as if he’d just remembered something. “Oh that and to say that for what it’s worth I happen to think you two actually would make a cute couple.” Even he seemed to realize it would best to be gone before that comment fully sank in and so before the surprise of his victims fully abated he quickly completed his exit from the room.

“… We might be able to catch him before he gets out of the building.” Felix’s remark was deadly serious reinforced by his sideways glance at his device lying on the desk beside him.

“If there’s one thing he’s even better at then being annoying it’s hiding when he doesn’t want to be found.” Vita growled back although she was sorely tempted to try anyway.

“Man I hate that guy.” Felix growled allowed in frustration.

“I suppose we can add that to the short list of things we can agree on Vita.” Vita concurred in an equally venomous tone.

Right about then was when the door was thrown open once more to admit still another annoyance. “Ah there you are, just the man I was looking.” O’Neil announced merrily to Felix as he entered. Apparently the other one hadn’t been quite enough so god had decided to throw a one-two combo of irritation his way.

==========================================

“Alright let’s hear it.” Felix demanded grumpily as he flopped down in a chair in front of O’Neil’s desk.

“No need to be so defensive I just wanted to talk a bit.” O’Neil reassured waving off his concerns.

“I figured and that’s why I’m defensive.” Felix replied flatly.

“Well really I just wanted your opinion of our guests after getting some time in with them under more controlled conditions.” O’Neil asked casually.

Felix eyed him warily still trying to figure out what his game was this time. “Some are better then others, but all of them are decent I suppose. They held up reasonably well on 234 though that wasn’t exactly the stiffest competition I’ve ever seen. There’s room for improvement and polish in most them though.”

“Glad you think so since I’ve already started the processing of transferring them over to us temporarily, for now at least. I’ve got a few others I’m looking to grab as well.” O’Neil announced nonchalantly, but Felix knew that must have taken a fair bit of string pulling to arrange.

“I’d guess that those few others were on that list of people you originally intended to have me headhunt?” Felix ventured flatly.

“You’d be right, files can only tell you so much and I was hoping to have you assess them in person first, but beggars can’t be choosers.” O’Neil replied with a shrug.

“I don’t see why we need them.” Felix replied a bit cantankerously. “We’ve gotten on well enough up to now with just us; at least before you started splitting us all up.”

“We got on well enough, but face it we weren’t making much of an impact on the system. If we’re seriously going to make a dent in the stupid infighting and segregation of the services we need to expand ourselves while positioning more people aligned with us in other branches.”

“So it’s politics then?” He noted with some distaste.

“Yes its politics.” Jack answered unapologetically.

“I liked it better when we stayed out of that shit.” Felix remained rather grumpy.

“You know as well as I do that sometimes you have to do things you don’t like for the greater good.” Jack countered. “The time is now, the blunder with the Cradle has rather blatantly exposed the problems with the current system and people in positions to change things are seriously asking questions now. RF6 wasn’t perfect, but it’s seen as performing better then any of the other services alone did and the interest in increased interoperation is there. If we can provide more examples of it’s effectiveness we could really set the ball rolling.”

“You really think we can do shit to change things?” Felix asked genuinely curious as he shifted his gaze to stare out the window behind Jack.

“I known one thing’s for sure, if no one tries things sure as hell won’t get better.” Jack replied bluntly.

“This was your plan all along wasn’t it?” Felix replied idly changing the subject. It all fit together now pushing to take a commission and thus become fully legitimate, the temporary transfer to a training post, the headhunting. He’d been planning to expand from sometime and he’d been intending to use him as an instructor in that expansion from the start.

“More or less; though the current situation has rather considerably accelerated my plans.” O’Neil confirmed his suspicions.

“I didn’t sign on to be part of some political crusade… but I suppose I can whip some FNGs into shape for you, but if I’m doing this I’m doing it my way.” He replied finality. He was really in way to deep to get out now, for better or worse he’d hitched his boat to O’Neil sometime ago. Now he could only really hope he wasn’t steering them all toward a jagged reef.

“Doing it your way is why I wanted you for the job,” O’Neil smirked and worryingly the smirk only widened as he continued to speak “still you didn’t get the breaking in period I was counting on so I took the liberty of getting an imminently qualified officer to assist in the task, but don’t worry I think your approaches will be quite compatible.”

Felix suddenly felt a migraine coming on.

Nya~n

2010-06-28, 08:43

Your art never fails to amaze us, Fate. You cannot imagine how envious we are ;)

So after 4 years of rewriting, tearing down and rebuilding; as well as 2 previous profiles (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=2757872&postcount=8489) here for practice; and hours of badgering Lowe for some assistance, I've finally completed the profile for the OC I've always meant to create. Said OC has also appeared in that fic I haven't yet updated for some time.

Name: Nikholl Strandale
Affiliation: TSAB HQ Lost Logia Special Investigations Division
Military rank: Investigator
Magical rank: AA- (limiter placed at B- during certain investigations)
Call sign: Schwarz-01
Age: 19
Birthday: January 20 MC 0063
Gender: Male
Height: 174cm
Magical colour: Electric Blue
Hair: black
Eyes: blueish-grey.
Specialty: guerrilla combat; espionage; melee dogfight
C.V.: Maeno Tomoaki

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIzAK4KUQAARpNk.jpg

source (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/475585/) shopped by LoweGear

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIzALmpVoAAeTRd.jpg

Nikholl is, in the words of the people whose nerves he has gotten on in the Bureau, “that damned sunnuvabitch” for his tendency to tick others off with his seemingly uncaring attitude. While some defend Nikholl from this description as an extreme view, Nikholl gleefully accepts this statement as if it were a badge of pride. With a Machiavellian and pragmatic view, some would describe him as lacking emotions, but fact is just that he does not let emotions, laws, nor the value of a human life affect his judgement, allowing him to make completely amoral and rational decisions. With everything reduced to matter of cost and benefit, the only things that matter to him are, in descending order: himself; the people he cares for; and the mission.

Nikholl has an uncharacteristic sweet tooth, and is often seen with a lollipop in his mouth, preferably the Chuppa Chups line of lollipops of which he would often blackmailharass merchants to ship them regularly. This liking for sweets extends to popping sweets even in the middle of serious fights and tearing off cotton candy in the middle of meetings, presentations and training.

Nikholl is also highly proficient at household chores, honed from years of cleaning up after his disorderly mercenary companions(them, he can't go against) and later rooming with an untidy roommate after graduating from Bureau academy(her, he doesn't have the heart to discipline).

Pre-TSAB
Eskara
Orphaned at a young age, Nikholl was taken in by a bunch of mercenaries, the notorious mercenary network known as Eskara whose Clans settle themselves in the magically fatal areas seen across the inter-dimensional seas known as Hell’s Gates. Here he came to experience the underworld of the dimensions, following the Companies of the Clan along, learning their trade of escorting smuggling ships, assassination, fighting in a private army, amongst other tasks in the profession. Over time, he became one of them, specialising in acquiring information and valuable objects by going undercover and also wetwork. The mercenaries’ code of conduct was eventually deeply etched into his psyche – everything is broken down into a simple cost-and-benefit evaluation of the situation and extreme pragmatism.

Downfall of Caracasa
Nonetheless, he did not stay with the Eskarans for long. Caracasa, the Eskaran Clan he belonged to, was eventualy destroyed, neither by external parties, nor internal conflicts - the highly unstable Hell's Gate the Clan made their base in collapsed when almost the entire Clan gathered for a once-every-few-decades Clan festivity. Nikholl, who had been out on a solitary assignment when it happened, returned to find his clan gone, his masters nonexistent.

Nowhere To Go
Drifting around the regional interdimensional seas, he was eventually picked up by a motley crew of mercenaries, and so followed them for survival.

By the time he was thirteen, Nikholl, along with the mercenary crew, was contracted to take part in a civil war in an Administered World not unlike the conflicted Orussia, engaging enemy forces. When the situation escalated beyond control, the TSAB sent its forces in to break the war and extinguish their forces.

Turning Point
Amongst the Strikers breaking through the frontlines was veteran Gates Strandale who was responsible for quelling the region Nikholl was in. One of the last to fall in the area, Nikholl struggled to bring Gates down until he was ultimately blown away. The old veteran commended the boy’s determination and skills, and so Gates offered him a way out of being sentenced for his role as part of an illegal warmongering syndicate – join the TSAB as his adopted son.

Machiavellian instincts kicking in, Nikholl accepted the deal, taking the name of Nikholl Strandale and staying in TSAB “rehabilitation” for a year before enlisting himself into the Bureau.

There, Nikholl spent a year and a half in the TSAB Academy where he was referred to Officer School after an exceptional stint in Basic Training. There, he would meet the three most significant women in his life.

Enforcer Ryna Celica, who proclaimed him the younger brother she never had when he was assigned as her partner during Ground Forces basic training. He too, would look to her and her family as well as his guardian as the family he should have had but never had. While Ryna is far too clingy as an "older sister", the two love each other very much, as far as their platonic relationship goes. His one peeve with this beloved sister figure/best friend is that she is a terrible roommate who has a tendency to clutter up their apartment.

Inspector Estella Avante, a fellow Investigator whom he has known since Basic Training whom he used to have a crush on back then. While the two did not work out, they remain close friends, serving as each others' confidante.

And finally, Instructor Sylphy Trajet, Avante's best friend and partner during BT, and the reciprocating subject of romantic interest. While they did not start off well due to a confrontation prior to formally meeting on TSAB grounds, the two have been steady for quite some time after finally yielding to years of chemistry.

They would eventually be the people he would frequently work with, often calling upon one another(and the resources of their respective departments) for assistance in each others’ cases.

Even with his AA- mage rank, Nikholl rarely fights as a usual mage. Instead, as a master of disguise, he performs a role similar to those in espionage, taking on cases that the Bureau requires to be conducted under the radar, going undercover to investigate or acquire objects that the Bureau intends to obtain under plausible deniability. His usual mode of operation is to go in as what is described in literary circles as the “Invisible Person” – playing a role that anyone hardly takes notice of, like being part of a cleaning company hired to clean up the target premises; a waiter at a suspect establishment, amongst others. He usually goes in under the cover of a plain, harmless transfer student taking on a part-time job, or an orphaned brother supporting his sisters, if he needs to lay it on thick for the sympathy points.

If the situation requires him to take action, like stealing an artifact or an assassination, Nikholl assumes another identity – an entity that, over the years, has come to be known in the underworld as the Shadow Death – a fast, ruthless professional known to be dressed in a trademark black trench coat impervious to small mass-based weapons, due to the complex nanofibre mesh lying between the fabric that is interwoven with magic-retardant fibres that diminishes already-weak spells; and a white porcelain mask that shrouds him in mystery.

In this line of work he eschews the use of his device in case its IFF gives his origin away. Instead, tools that he is known to carry include a series of knives, needles(some poisoned) and retractable wires that are often used as garrottes. He is also equipped with a pair of gloves with magi-electric components that passively converts mana into electricity and stores it, allowing him to discharge these charges to short circuit electrical components; and to stun or even kill without leaving a mess. Other equipments include small, hidden knives.

Due to the nature of his job in the Lost Logia Investigations Division, his assignments in the past few years have changed from "assassination" from his mercenary days to the current role of "acquisition".

It is only when he is involved in a direct sortie with an armed mage that Nikholl uses his device to fight. He favours fighting close range at high speeds, flying in an unpredictable jerky pattern that throws off most devices’ targeting systems. Given such high speeds and sudden turns, Nikholl has to use a field-type spell that enshrouds him, holding his body in place to prevent his bones from breaking in the whiplash and absorb the G-forces that work against his body during these turns.

While Nikholl’s magic is based in the Mid-Childan school, his style is varied, using a more Belkan approach in swordsmanship. This is a result of mixed training during his mercenary days, where their own are trained in various fields to ensure maximum efficiency during their jobs.

Device: Freiheit
Device Type: Inteligent Device
Standby Form: polished silver Yale-style key
Device voice: Andy McAvin

An Axe/Spear-type Intelligent Device, Nikholl's flagship device name bears the Belkan word for "Freedom", in homage to his release from his Eskaran past. In an ironic twist, the Device A.I. is programmed to refer to him by his Eskaran rank of "Cadre".

Jager is Freiheit's all-purpose default form that is mainly used for spellcasting and trivial clashes

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIzAG9SV4AAygv2.jpg

Schneider form is Nikholl's prefered device form when he enters melee combat, and does not support his strongest bombardment spell.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIzAHNSUQAAo9WC.jpg

Jager and Schneider forms are named after the Liger Zero's CAS configurations
To transit from Jager to Schneider form, the device's blades slide forward, closing together to form a spearhead.

Due to the fact that the device blade acts as a guard to protect the cartridge system's magazine, it is impossible to directly load and reload the magazine . In order to do so, the core extends on a shaft to allow the magazine to be reloaded with ease.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIzAHf2UwAApak8.jpg

MAJOR thanks goes to LoweGear for helping me with the vectoring of the device. Without his help, I would not have been able to translate my 4-year-old sketch into this.

A plain, white ceramic-looking opera mask, Nikholl’s “Masquerade” device was developed after he consulted the Infinite Library on various means of disguising himself. It allows Nikholl to change his appearance and grants detection-proof defences of similar levels as that of the Inherent Skill of the deceased Combat Cyborg “Due”. This allows him to go undercover with various disguises at his disposal. It also serves as facial protection in combat.

Nikholl is also a bit of an amateur self-taught device mechanic, often jerry-building devices from unwanted or confiscated device parts from TSAB workshops for credibility as a wandering mage for certain cases, or to avoid using Freiheit on undercover jobs so that his targets do not track Freiheit's Unique Device Identification Signal & Code(U-DISC) back to the TSAB and thus blow his cover.

Homing Pendulum
Type: Controlled Shot Magic
Power: B- / Range: A / Speed: A+ / Control: AA+
-Homing Pendulum is a shooting spell with average power, but leaves a trailing tail that can temporarily be used to bind before it fades. When used in rapid succession, multiple Pendulums are used to bind a target with the tails. Instead of usual shooting spells that change directions at the mage’s will, Homing Pendulum makes abrupt turns at random points even if the target is straight ahead, preventing the target from predicting the estimated point of impact.

Homing Shell
Type: Directed Fire Shooting Magic
Power: B+ to A / Range: B / Speed: B / Control: B
-Homing Shell was specially programmed to home in on a designated target, essentially making it a fire-and-forget spell that leaves Nikholl free to continue with a fight without having to concentrate on controlling the shots. Nonetheless, a manual control version is still available. This spell has an unnamed “Frag” variation that resembles Homing Shell as a disguise for a cluster of Homing Pendulums that separate when desired.

Strike Edge
-The edge of the device blade is lined with mana for increased power in melee fights.

Ex Edge
-Instead of impregnating the device edge with mana, an energy blade is created to form an energy blade. In Jager Form, this would form a rhombus axe blade, while a broadblade is used for Schneider Form.

Carnage Blaze:
Type: Bombardment Magic
Power: A+ / Range: A+ / Speed: C
-Carnage Blaze resembles most other standard bombardment spells.

Panzer Burst:
Type: Bombardment Magic
Power: AAA- / Range: B / Speed: F
-Nikholl’s most powerful spell. This powerful bombardment requires a full magazine, fuelling the power of the spell to the AAA- range. The bombardment is accompanied by erratic bursts of magic that serves to scramble the magical defenses of the target. Because this spell far surpasses Nikholl’s own magical rank of AA, he runs a very high life-threatening risk of suffering the backlash from negative feedback. Therefore, in accordance to his core values of self-preservation, this spell will almost never see the light of day.

Like the Jager and Schneider forms, Strike Edge and Panzer Burst are named for the Liger Zero's Strike Laser Claw and Panzer CAS respectively

Riot Shield
Type: Shield-type Defense Magic
Defensive Strength: B / Area: E
-Nikholl’s shield spell based on the Mid-Childan template.

Protector
Type: Barrier-type Defense Magic
Defensive Strength: C- / Area: D
-Like any other common barrier, Protector buffers attacks as a defensive measure.

Shackle Bolt
Type: Capture-type Binding Magic
Power: B-
-Nikholl’s Binding spell that resembles spell ribbons rather than the magic ropes seen in conventional binding spells.

Jager Rush
-This spell increases Nikholl’s movement speed temporarily.

Ailes Lumiere
-Ailes Lumiere provides Nikholl a boost when in flight, leaving a trail of light after him. It also contains a field enchantment that moulds to the shape of his body to protect him from the risks whiplash from his erratic style of flying.

Nik's last name comes from one of the variations of the Ferarri 360. Ironically, this creator does not really likeis not a fan of Ferarri.
The Hell's Gate mentioned is related to the adaptation that Lowe made in a previous short (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=2603305&postcount=7951).
Chris Wooding's The Fade has played a critical role in the fabrication of Nik's history. It still remains my main source of inspiration for the fic I'm writing that features him.

As with the usual procedures here, please bust/stab/question/rape/comment to your hearts' content to stroke my epeenfor clarification. :3

kct

2010-06-28, 08:59

>rape

How expected of you do say something like that :3 . Nothing much to say, other than well thought out. At least he isn't trying to be an overly complicated character with powers from everywhere.

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-29, 04:20

Now then, its time to post the next portion of Chapter 3.

*snip*snip*
My my...quite a tough battle going on there :twitch:
And if this is happening in MC076, then Koji and Maren are busy in another mission *hint hint* :D

LoweGear

2010-06-29, 05:23

My my...quite a tough battle going on there :twitch:
And if this is happening in MC076, then Koji and Maren are busy in another mission *hint hint* :D

The mission to increase their number through proc- *static*

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-29, 05:45

The mission to increase their number through proc- *static*
*hides pulled plug*

No...that's after the mission. As for what the mission, that's still top secret :D
In a way, it's an omake chapter(s) named BreakerS EXtension ;)

MeisterBabylon

2010-06-29, 05:47

Extension huh... Looks like Koji needed some help in that department? :uhoh:

*ruuuuuuuuuuuuunz*

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-29, 05:55

Extension huh... Looks like Koji needed some help in that department? :uhoh:

*ruuuuuuuuuuuuunz*
Uuuuh....you'll get the meaning when I get to it :heh:

Heinekochan

2010-06-29, 06:39

So many things to read so little time. Busy busy busy! =^w^=

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/AscleiForesytheandVanthiaKrysler.jpg

Yeah, Asclei has fangs which is one of his physical characteristics :3

The girl is a new OC from me, and her name is Vanthia Krysler. I started working on her last year around November but since I was busy with school, I couldn't finish her concept art and profile. She's fifteen years old and is a summoner. Her nickname is Jouka no Vanthia (浄火のヴんシア). It means, Vanthia of the Sacred Flame.She's adorable! Do hope that more details of her would surface soon. ^w^

I'll have to beg your forgiveness for this brief reply. I am putting the finishing touches to a character on my own. It is because Onii-sama is too busy studying during his school vacation...

Doctors. >_<

Be back later! =^w^=

FlameSparkZ

2010-06-29, 08:30

Aaaand now, time for the last bit of WindS-B Chapter 3, the frosting on the cake(?) :uhoh:

Previous Chapters (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=2342938&postcount=6494)

[05:48 AM]

The morning rays began to shine into Fuuko's room.
"Hm--mhmmm~" Still sleeping, Fuuko frowned as the light reached her eyes.

Shifting to a sitting position, she yawns then stretches her arms, her fox ears perk up detecting activity outside.
"Mmmm~ Everyone's awake already..." Fuuko comments with her eyes half opened.

Slipping off bed, Fuuko heads for the mirror and looks at herself, "Still sleepy..." she rubs her eyes.
Hearing a yawn behind her, the golden-eyed girl turns to the bed. "Elly, time to wake up."
"Mhmmm, 5 more minutes..." She requests before shifting her back to the window.
Scratching her head, Fuuko sighs, "Fine, I'll go wash up and come back to wake you."
"Thanks~" Elly replies lazily.

~~~~

Leaving the bedroom, Fuuko enters the bathroom right in front of her room. Splashing her face with cold water, she awakens completely.
"I wonder what breakfast is..." She mutters as she exits to the hallway.

But it was strange, there was scent of food in the air...
Sharpening her senses, there was activity towards the living room, but none in the kitchen.
...something was wrong.
With quickened steps, Fuuko made her way to the living room.

~~~~

Arriving to the living room, everyone except Elly was there, looking at something, but because they were in the way she couldn't see what.
"Is something wrong?" Fuuko asked innocently.
Only a few looked back at the girl, and from those few, only Caro and Erio, Vivio and her friends approached her.
"Fuuko..." Vivio tried to find the right words.
"Vi-nee, were you crying? Your eyes are red." She notices.

Not just her, Corona and Rio's eyes were slightly red too.
Caro who was holding back, leaned onto Erio's chest and started crying.
"Hey...what's happening? You're all acting strange." Fuuko tries to peek, "What's over there anyway?"
"Fuuko, it's best that you don't see it..." Vivio blocked her path.

"Vi-nee?" Confused, Fuuko looked at Vivio.
"Vivio...let her through." Nanoha spoke.
"Eh? But..."
"I'm afraid this is something we can't hide from her."
Reluctantly, Vivio stepped aside and let Fuuko pass.

Slipping through the crowd, Fuuko noticed that some were looking away as she passed by them, and even had signs of having cried.
When the last two, Nanoha and Signum stepped aside, she saw the reason for the gathering...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/Artwork/ws-b_km.jpg

There sat her parents, leaning onto eachother with a peaceful expression as the slept...or so Fuuko thought.

"What? They're just sleeping." Fuuko sighed in relief, "Don't scare me like that..." she looked back at everyone.
But they still had the same expression, no, now they had a more painful one. Hayate embraced Rein, and Shamal turned around to hide her tears.

"Why are you all making that face?" Fuuko spoke, not understanding the situation.
"Fuuko. Look at them." Signum looked at her with serious eyes.

The girl looked at her parents once more, and upon closer inspection she noticed they weren't breathing.
Fuuko turned around, looking at the group, "T-This is a joke, right? It's not funny, you know."
Signum slowly shook her head, "This is the truth...Koji and Maren, your parents, passed away."

As those words reached her ears, Fuuko felt like she was struck by an arrow, relentlessly piercing her heart.
Her eyes opened wide, pupils narrowed, body trembling. She looked at her parents again, walking towards them, one step at a time.
"You're kidding right...this isn't funny, you know?" She spoke to them.

"Old man, this isn't funny." She grabbed her father on the shoulder and shook him...No response.

"...dad?" She shook him again.

"Come on, I'll call you father, I'll apologize for being rude to you all these years, so...please...wake up..." Welled up tears began to overflow.

"Mother?" She turned to her beloved mother, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"...Mother? ...Please...wake up." She shook her as well, the tears running down her cheeks.

"Mother....answer me, please!" She touched her hand, "Eh?" as her fingers came in contact with her mother's hand, it felt slightly cold.

Behind Fuuko, the others couldn't bear to look at that scene anymore.

Regardless of her skill in magic, knowledge and intelligence, she was still a young girl who looked up to her parents.
And now, she was being forced to grow up by accepting the undeniable truth right before her eyes.

".......................mama?" Tears kept rolling down her cheeks without stopping.

Stepping back, she shook her head.
This was a dream, it can only be...
They were fine last night.
How can this be real?

At that moment, something inside her broke...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/ws-b_fuubreak.jpg

Plunging inside her mind, Fuuko was alone in the darkness, until...
<...are you sure they died on their own?> a voice echoed from the right.
(W-who is it?)
<Look at them, do you think parents that have a 12 year old girl to raise would die with such a peaceful face?> echoed from the left.

The voice revealed itself, taking a shape similar to Fuuko.
(Who are you?)
<Why worry about me? You should be thinking about the culprit.>
(C-Culprit?!)
<Yes...right behind you, soooo many suspects.> a 'window' to the outside appeared, displaying the guests.

(Eh?)
<Hmm...who to start with?> She mused.
(Stop that! They wouldn't do such a thing!)

Ignoring Fuuko, the voice continued, <Shamal could have done it. She has access to medicines.>
(Huh?)
<They could have been poisoned you know?>
(Poison?)
<Yes, besides that, there are countless ways to kill someone.>
(W-What?)
<Even you know some, don't you? And if you wanted, you could put an end to someone's life in a blink of an eye.>
(......)
<It's so simple that anyone can do it, so why wouldn't they?>
(They wouldn't do it! They're not like that!)

<...Why?> The voice asked innocently.
(Because!)
<Because what?>
(Because they...they...)
<See? You can't think of a reason.>
(I'm confused! How can I think straight when something like this just happened?!)
<You seem fine to me...All you need is to open your eyes, and see the truth.>
(Huh?)
<Humans are fickle. One day they smile at you, the other they're stabbing you on the back and twisting the proverbial knife.>
(What are you talking about?)

<Oh? Didn't you know? Humans can be veeeeery cruel.>
<If they want something, they can take it by force.>
<If someone has something they don't and can't have it, they will ruin it out of jealousy...Isn't that the case here?>
(A-After all these years, why would they do it now?)
<'Why'? Because they can! Isn't this the perfect chance?>
(...ah...) For some reason, it did make sense...

<Your parents were a happy couple that loved eachother and had you, a beautiful daughter to be proud of.>
<And what do they have? Nothing!>
(But Nanoha has Vivio...)
<Pft! They're not related by blood, you know it, they know it, everyone knows...but they just don't accept it out of fear.>
(Fear?)
<Yes, fear. Fear of being alone. Humans lie to themselves and fool eachother just to avoid it. Pathetic isn't it?>
(Then...I...)
<Mhm, you're alone now, your parents were snatched away from you.>

(How can this be...) Fuuko was confused, it all made sense, but at the same time, didn't.
<Want more? I can keep going until you're convinced.>
(...)
<I'll take that as a yes. Well then, how about Signum?>
(Huh?!)
<Unbelievable, isn't it? But it's true! You know what her fear is?>
(...w-what?)
<Becoming obsolete...like being replaced by the very person she trained. Yes. Sure she's not exactly a human, but was programmed as one, so it's possible.>

<Or maybe the reason was envy? She trained your dad since he was a kid and saw him grow up into a fine man, and then got stolen by another woman...your mother.>
(What?!)
<Just theories. But it is possible...She may be a Living Program, but she still has feelings.>
(...)
<Let's see, who's next?>
(...Stop it.)
<Hmm?>

(Stop confusing me!)
<Confusing? I'm trying to help you here.>
(I don't need your help, I know these people since I was little. I can trust them.)
<.......*sigh* How can some one so smart be so stupid?>
(What?)
<Don't you see? They're all fooling you!>
(Explain.)
<Okay, let's assume your parents died naturally, they would know that their life was nearing it's end. Wouldn't they?>
(...T-That's...)
<Making sense now, isn't it? With Mid's technology, it'd be a piece of cake.>
(Then...)
<They'd tell you wouldn't they? Your parents always told you everything, didn't they?>
(T-They did...)
<See? That leaves only one option...>

(...) Fuuko
<Come on, you can do it...>
(They...)
<Yeees?>
(Were fooling us all along...) Fuuko eyes became blank.
<Mhm> She nodded, <...How cruel of them to ruin your life, and kill your parents in such a cowardly way. Isn't it?>
(Yes...people don't die like this...someone did it.)
<So, what are you going to do now?>
(Kill them all...)
<No...They're too powerful and too many.>
(Then, one by one...)
<Hmm, not good enough...think a bit more. Be creative.> She smirked.

(Ruin their lives, like they did to me...make them suffer.)
<Yes, that's it!>
(But first...)
<Hmm?>
(I have to escape...before they kill me too.)
<Yeah, that's true. They still think you're in shock, and knowing them, they'll keep the act going for a while, so you have some time.>
(Have to take mama and papa...keep them safe, so I can revive them. Then rub that on the faces of the ones that ruined my life before I deal the finishing blow.)
<Oooh~~ I like that idea! Shall we get started?> She held Fuuko from behind, arms wrapped around her neck.
(Yeah...)
<Then...let's go with their act for a little longer.>
(...Okay.)

Having stopped crying, Fuuko stayed silent with her back turned to the group.
Unable to take it any longer, Vivio went through the crowd and spoke. "Fuuko...you know, for a while now, your paren--"

"Shut up..." She couldn't take it, she wouldn't let them soil her parent's dignity.
"Huh?!" Vivio flinched at the sudden tone coming from the small girl in front of her.

Turning around, Fuuko glared at her 'friends' with accusing eyes.
Everyone was taken aback by her expression. A cold stare that stabbed right through them.
"I see now. That's what it was...I get it now."
"What are you talking about?" Vivio blinked in confusion.

A burst of wind was released, not strong enough to throw someone down, but still intimidating.
"Still playing dumb? Fine by me, even if you spat out the truth, it's already too late."

"Fuuko!" Vivio tried to get closer, but a barrier blocked her path. "Ah!"
"You think I'm stupid? 'Always come prepared'...you taught me that." Fuuko pulled Selene from inside her pajamas.

"Fuuko, calm down and listen to us!" Fate spoke to her in a worried tone.
"I won't forgive you...all of you!" Fuuko's eyes narrowed with anger.
"......" Confused, everyone remained silent.

But some were uneasy about her behavior, and thought best to knock her out before someone gets hurt.
Luckly, Vita had Graf Eisen with her, all she needed was an opening...
And she got one as Fuuko turned her back to them.
"TEEEHYAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" She swung the hammer with all her might, hitting the barrier.
"Heh..." Fuuko smirked.
"Uh?" Vita looked at her.
"As I thought, the moment I turned my back, you attacked. But this barrier won't break so easily, after all, you trained me in impact defense."
"Fuuko, you need to chill out for a while!" Vita kept pressing against the barrier.
"Unfortunately, I don't have time for that...so I'll be taking my leave."

As she finished speaking, a Belka triangle appeared under her.
"Dimensional Transfer? When did yo--" Vita and the others looked at her surprised.
"Quite some time ago, before I even raised the barrier."
"Fuuko, don't do this!" Nanoha spoke.
"...next time we meet, we'll be enemies. So...goodbye." With those words, a flash of green light flooded the room.

When the light faded, Fuuko was gone, along with her parent's bodies.
"Shamal, trace her!" Hayate said in a hurry.
"I'm on it!" Shamal pulled Klarwind from her shirt.

They were unable to do anything...they could've all attacked at the same time, but it would only confuse her more.
But still, whichever choice they could take, they'd still regret it...
Only Vivio who saw Fuuko as a sister and the passionate Vita took some sort of action, but it wasn't enough to stop her...
And now...she escaped.
The little girl each of them held in their arms and saw grow up, left with a bitter heart and a serious misunderstanding.

Unaware of all this, Elly was still sleeping in Fuuko's room...

------------------------------------

Well, next will be the closing chapter of this BAD END route >_>

Still need to finish it and draw the illustration for a scene or two, then I'll post it.

EDIT: Done with the preview for Chapter 4...

Beautiful empty shell bathed in moonlight...
The serenity within sorrow...

A crescent blade distored by sadness...
What it reflects...
...her heart.

The pleas of an old friend...
An unexpected shadow that strikes...

A final warning...
...and the last shard of kindness.

The beautiful poetry of the night echoes through the sorrowful sky.

Next...
Midnight Wind

*runs*

Heinekochan

2010-06-30, 09:26

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3586/decadetan.jpg

Destroyer of Worlds, DECADE

Kaprisaviel Einfeldt (center of picture) is a haughty and self-righteous 7 year old young girl who was unwittingly caught in a magical crossfire between Kaleid Liners Illyasviel Einzbern and Miyu Edelfelt, and the Joker Servant card. The massive amount of magic released had created a dimensional dislocation that flung all three mages into another world. Fortunately, the magical girls were able to seal the rampaging card. Unfortunately, Kaprisa ended up with retrograde amnesia (a practical joke by the Joker) and does not recall her past, her origins or what she was doing prior to walking into that fight.

But parts of her memory remained intact. Kaprisa could recall her name. She knew the date was somewhere during the year of MC 0071. She would find herself knowledgeable of things that she could not recall ever learning about them. For example, she could tell the lost Kaleid Liners that they were in another dimension, set in a greater area called Ordered Space, and that it was ruled by an evil organization know as the Time Space Administration Bureau. That reminded the Liners of having met a young Nanoha from the Bureau just over a month before, and that the Bureau was not evil. Kaprisa then deduced that they had met a different Nanoha from a timeline to Kaprisa's. The girl also exhibited some prior knowledge or a talent necessary to her quest in the Rider Dimensions they encounter. Some examples are her knowledge of the Grongi language in Kuuga's dimension and her enrollment as a student in Faiz's dimension. She has also mentioned before that she is capable of doing anything except taking photos. In addition, as Kaprisa, Illya and Miyu teleported to and from dimensions using the lavish Decade spaceship, the ship's transporter system had been pre-programmed to alter Kaprisa's clothing to suit a specific role in the Rider's Dimension, including some accouterments similar in color to her camera and Decade's armor.

Some of the dimensions the girls encounter do not have Riders, to which Kaprisa explained that Kamen Riders were just one form of magic power in a "multiverse of a thousand possiblities". In these dimensions, Kaprisa would be the one being uncharacteristically lost, often to comic effect.

The group eventually worked out from a photo Kaprisa carried that she was probably on a journey to look for the people in that photo. From the exact nature of their landing, and the existence of Kaprisa's private vessel cloaked in dimensional orbit, the girls concluded that it was Kaprisa who somehow accessed the Mirror World that Illya and Miyu were fighting Joker in. The magical explosion sent everything flying into Kaprisa's dimension instead of the Liners'. Kaprisa realized that the Liners being trapped in her multiverse was her fault. She agreed to travel with them and bring them back to their original dimension.

As they wandered, Kaprisa would feel a strong "desire" to "catch the world" using her photos, but somehow they never develop well. She saw this as a sign that she is not of the dimensions they encountered. However as Decade, she is seen as an agent of destruction, usually being called "the devil", a rumor spread by Narutaki, who believes Kaprisaviel does not belong in any dimension. It is also revealed that those who appear in her badly developed photographs have some fate befall them, be it death or otherwise.

Often, before a climactic battle begins, a major villain will demand to know who Kaprisa is. This is always phrased as "Damn you...who are you?!" (貴様、何者だ？ Kisama, nani mono da?), to which Kaprisa responds:

"Just a Kamen Rider passing through, remember that!" (通りすがりの仮面ライダーだ、覚えておけ! Tōrisugari no Kamen Raidā da, oboeteoke!).

Kaprisa always has a "Decade Pink" Blackbird, fly 135 Twin Lens Reflex Camera, hung around her neck.

Tactical Analysis

Ride ArmorsKamen Rider Decade
Decade can transform into any previous Kamen Rider with access to that respective Rider's powers and weapons. One of Kaprisa's particular affectations is dusting her hands, or running a hand along the blade of her sword, while fighting. This armor has two forms, determined by whether Kaprisa transformed into her Adult form. As an adult, she wears the masculine Kamen Rider Decade armor, but sometimes, either by preference or by the effects of her spells, she transforms back to her younger body and wears the Decade-tan armor.

Complete Form
Complete Form is the true form of Decade that is able to manipulate the power of other Riders' final forms, accessed through the K-Touch once she regains the powers of all of the Heisei Kamen Riders. Referred to as the "King of the Rider Worlds", she wears the Decade Complete Kamen Ride Card on her helmet, embedded in the Decade Crown, and the others' Kamen Ride Cards on her chest.

Magical DevicesDecadriver
Kaprika transforms into Decade through the use of the Decadriver belt that is based around the Rider Cards. By inserting a card into the Decadriver, Decade can invoke the cards' abilities. Strapping on the Decadriver alone can trigger Kaprisa to transform into an adult version of herself, though she later demonstrates that she can choose to remain a child, and transform into Kamen Rider Decade-tan instead. In Complete Form, the Decadriver is moved to the right side of her belt where Decade inserts her Final Attack Ride Cards and activates them by touching the Decadriver's window.

Ride Booker
Decade's primary weapon is the Ride Booker which has three modes: Book Mode, which is placed on the left side of her belt, Gun Mode, and Sword Mode. While in Book Mode, the Ride Booker holds the Rider Cards that Decade uses in her arsenal. In Sword Mode, the Ride Booker's finishing move is the Dimension Slash. In Gun Mode, the Ride Booker's finishing move is the Dimension Blast. In either Mode, Decade primarily uses the Ride Booker in the place of the Heisei Kamen Riders' signature weapons, bladed or firearms.

K-Touch
The Final Kamen Terminal K-Touch is a special touchscreen cell phone. Called a "mid-season upgrade" by Illya, the K-Touch was designed to attach onto the Decadriver replacing the card slot, which is moved to her right hip, allowing Decade to transform into Complete Form. In this form, Decade can still use her Ride Cards by inserting them in the card slot and slapping its visor, allowing Decade to summon the powers and weapons of the ultimate form of any of the previous Kamen Riders. When a Rider is summoned, the cards on Complete Form's chest and shoulders change to match the Rider's specific Kamen Ride card and the summoned Rider copies Decade's motions. When activating the K-Touch's functions in Complete Form, any of the 9 Heisei Riders present will be transfomed into their most powerful form.

Spells & Abilities: the Rider Cardshttp://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7317/decadetanganbaride.jpg

Decade uses card-based devices and magic. She is the tenth in line of a new generation of Kamen Riders to be created in Ordered Space, and her creators had aspects of the previous 9 built into her style of magic. However, due to a mysterious seal placed on them all, Kaprisa travels across the worlds to remove the seals and regain the abilities that the cards endow.

Kamen Ride Cards
The Kamen Ride Cards supposedly possess all the powers of the 9 previous Kamen Riders of the revived KR Projects, namely Kuuga, Agito, Ryuki, Blade, Faiz, Kabuto, Hibiki, Den-O and Kiva. Because they were sealed, Kaprisa must touch the heart of a world's Kamen Rider in resolving an issue threatening that world. Each card allows Decade to transform into a particular Rider of her choice. Some examples include:

Decade: Initial card (See above); transforms Kaprisa into Kamen Rider Decade. Kaprisa must use this card first before assuming any other transformations.
Decade Complete: The only Final Kamen Ride Card, manifesting after Kaprisa acquired the K-Touch and realized that she must continue journeying to save Ordered Space. By inserting the card into the K-Touch, it transforms Decade into Complete Form.

Form Ride Cards
Form Ride Cards allow Decade to assume any of the forms the Heisei Riders have. Accessing these forms grants Decade the use of any weapon exclusive to that form. Generally, Decade changes forms within one Rider forms. However, Decade does not have to be a particular Rider to transform into one of that Rider alternate forms.

Attack Ride Cards
The Attack Ride Cards allow Decade to perform any of her own attacks, or a signature attack of whatever Kamen Rider she has transformed into.

Slash: As Decade, this increases the damage done by the Ride Booker's Sword Mode.
Blast: As Decade, this grants the Ride Booker's Gun Mode rapid fire capabilities.
Illusion: As Decade, this creates multiple images of Decade. Each image can come in physical contact with the target. If used in conjunction with the Final Attack Ride card, all the Decades will perform the final attack at the same time.
Invisible: As Decade, this allows Decade to become invisible.
Clock Up: As Kabuto, Decade moves extremely fast to the point that seconds slow down into minutes.
Auto Vajin: As Faiz, Decade turns the Machine Decader into the Auto Vajin, Faiz's own motorcycle, which goes into Battle Mode. This also allows Decade to access the Faiz Edge via the Auto Vajin's right shoulder.
Ongekibou Rekka: As Hibiki, Decade takes out a pair of drumsticks from his lower back to charge them with power and use the finisher Kiboujutsu Rekkadan, igniting the tops with flames, creating torch-like weapons that shoot fireballs to incinerate targets. Decade's fireballs are powerful enough to destroy giant Makamou as well.
Strike Vent: As Ryuki, Decade summons the Drag Claw, a dragon-headed gauntlet that can send a burst of flames out of its mouth. Unlike the original Ryuki, it does not need Dragreder's assistance.
Metal: As Blade, Decade invokes the power of the Seven of Spades Rouse Card, Metal Trilobite, to enhance resilience to physical harm by transmutating her armor into organic metal.
Mach: As Blade, Decade invokes the power of the Nine of Spades Rouse Card, Mach Jaguar, to enhance her speed and agility.
Ore Sanjou!: As Den-O, Decade utters Momotaros's signature phrase and performs his signature pose. The spell, however, does nothing else. Along with other cards like Kotaewa Kiite Nai, Nakerude & Bokuni Tsurarete Miru?, these strange and useless Den-O cards leave Kaprisa scratching her head.
Tsuppari: As Den-O Ax Form, Decade launches a series of palm strikes.
Onibi: As Hibiki, Decade's mask shoots a powerful flame breath attack.
Side Basshar: Turns the Machine Decader into Side Basshar in Battle Mode.

Final Form Ride Cards
Final Form Ride Cards gives Decade the power to bestow new forms upon other Riders by reaching into their back, telling them beforehand "It might tickle a bit". Kaprisa then gives the Rider a shove, causing the Ride Armor to be ejected off and folded into a weapon that both Decade and the Rider wield at the same time. The Rider is also transformed into a Rider-tan, whether they are male or female. Only while the cards stay in effect, the transformed Rider can alternate between his/her new form and his/her original Rider form. Decade's Final Form Ride cards can also work on any Riders Diend manages to summon.

Final Attack Ride Cards

The Final Attack Ride Cards are Decade's most powerful attacks, used for finishing off enemies. The Final Attack Ride Cards, if used in conjunction with the Final Form Rides, can allow Decade to perform an attack with that Rider's FinalForm (which usually resemble that Rider's own signature attack in some way). If the Final Attack Ride is used in conjunction with Kamen Ride Cards, they allow Decade to perform the signature attack of the Rider she is transformed into. If the Final Attack Ride is used when Decade is in Complete Form, he can perform that Rider's signature move (during their ultimate form) alongside the summoned Rider using the Ride Booker to improvise if the attack uses a weapon.

These cards include:

Decade: Decade performs the Rider Kick called the Dimension Kick. With the Ride Booker in Sword Mode, Decade can execute a highly charged slash called the Dimension Slash. While in Gun Mode, Decade can execute a highly charged shot called the Dimension Blast. All these attacks involve the Decadriver generating large golden Final Attack Ride cards, which Decade leaps/runs/shoots through, the final card having an image of Decade's attack before he bursts through it. These hologram cards can also stun the enemy before the attack connects and can line up to track the enemy, even if the target is flying.

Miscellaneous EquipmentDecader
The Machine Decader is Decade's personal Honda DN-01 motorcycle. Like Decade herself, the Decader can assume the form of the respective Rider's motorcycle. It exhibits this ability when Decade (as Faiz) transforms the Decader into the Auto Vajin and Side Basshar.

The Decader also doubles as the conn unit for the Decade spaceship, and is beamed down together with the girls when they disembark. Miyu rides pillion to Kaprisa (adult form) while Illya flies behind them.

Decade spaceship
It may be a grossly painted, overly decorated, and woefully understaffed spacecraft, but it is the prototype to a potent line of ships designed and built by Dai-Shocker with the sole aim to use readily-available technology to outclass mainstream vessels. It features many implements modified from civilian equipment, like 5 forward phase cannons and 4 particle torpedo launchers, ablative armor, integrated phase nacelles, defensive shielding arrays, all packed into its tiny 150m long chassis. Its overpowered engines give a phase signature on par with larger ships, and can maintain a top speed of phase 9.982 for 12 hours straight. While it lacks the armor and shields of Belka escorts, and the technological sophistication of Midchilda ships, it can literally run circles around its bigger brethren while pounding away with all weapons because of its simplicity and superior heat efficiency.
NB: from Oni-sama, with love. <3

Closing Words
As the girls journey through the dimensions, questions are answered as often as new ones appear. Can they really find their way home? Is the Bureau really evil? Who created the Decadriver? Who was this wealthy girl named Decade?

Perhaps, they should have asked themselves first: Could they handle the answer?
All done! =^w^=

I was inspired by the existence of so many Heisei Riders in the thread. And since I really like Decade, I decided to base my character off Tsukasa-kun! :hyper-^v^: For the story, I took over from where the Prisma Illya x Nanoha manga ended and involved Illya and Miyu. The three girls know nothing about how Nanoha's world really works and I think that will provide a unique viewpoint to this rich world that all my dear seniors have created. The Joker card was Onii-sama's recommendation, and I also thank Tempest Dynasty very much for loaning us that idea.

Onii-sama helped proofread a lot and he offered many ideas to "fix" Kaprisa, though I still don't understand why he continues to discourage me from posting even after all that. And he has not been answering my skypes for the past 3 days. It's as though he is actually avoiding me. :(

Please R&R 7 times many times please please pleeeaaase! I want to see how I can improve. In exchange, I will keep my promise and read the new texts that have sprung up. Okay? :D

Replies in a while! Bye-bee! =^w^=

Keroko

2010-07-04, 11:55

Okay, done with this part, so I'm posting it.
I checked for errors, but might have missed some (0:40 here) :heh:

Oh...and watch out your sugar levels. Try not to die from moe :heh::heh:

-snip-

So hmm...maybe one or two more parts and this chapter will be done too.

Feel free to ask and comment, I'll try to answer without spoiling :heh:
*warps away*

Heh. Child albums. I never understood why some people fear them so much, but I'll be damned if I let that stop me from using them to full effect. >:3

Then again, even if she mellowed out, for someone like Fuuko that'd probably be the most effective weapon out there.

-snip-

*tilts head* Reinforce? That's a rather large coincidence... a plot thread going on there?

Hmm...so...part 2 :sad:

-snip-

*tries to hold back the tears*

T-they...*sniff*...they...:T_T:

So first you pull a funny Angel Beats reference, and then pull a 180 and smack us in the face with a Chrono Crusade-style death?

Dammit Flame, do the words mood-whiplash mean anything to you? Hearts can take only so much drama you know!

Also, incoming Part 3's Preview...

The break of dawn...
Inevitability and coincidence...
Denial...
Sweet whispers of madness...
Twisted reasoning...
And the blade of revenge, pointed at the innocent.

Next...
Changing Winds...when paths divide

This is the end of warm and fluffy feelings...from this point onwards WindS-B gets serious!

Hmm, well drama is to be expected (heck, it'd be bad if there wasn't) but I hope we won't see too much emo-Fuuko.

-snip-

You'd really think 'beware of getting back-stabbed at the worst moment' would be in a manual or something. :heh: Oh well, I pitty the poor fools who'll first meet Asclei about this little incident.

Well Force might not be high art, but it did do the seemingly impossible, it got me motivated enough to start writing my fic again. I also want it noted that I totally beat going a year between updates, the last one was on July 5th of 2009 so I had an entire week the spare! Acutally a bunch of people seem to be updating oddly enough so now as good a time as any I suppose.

Anyway no one probably has a clue what's going on here, but the entire fic can be found in the link in my sig. Anyway In this chapter we see that O’Neil has a plan, everyone is part of it, and no one is allowed to say no…

“Doing it your way is why I wanted you for the job,” O’Neil smirked and worryingly the smirk only widened as he continued to speak “still you didn’t get the breaking in period I was counting on so I took the liberty of getting an imminently qualified officer to assist in the task, but don’t worry I think your approaches will be quite compatible.”

Felix suddenly felt a migraine coming on.

I don't suppose you're taking any bets on who this 'qualified person' is, huh?

Seeing O'Neil getting involved with politics certainly was a surprise, though after reading that the entire goal of that is basically to screw around with the system I went 'Yeah, that's so like O'Neil.'

Name: Nikholl Strandale
Affiliation: TSAB HQ Lost Logia Special Investigations Division
Military rank: Investigator
Magical rank: AA- (limiter placed at B- during certain investigations)
Call sign: Schwarz-01
Age: 19
Birthday: January 20 MC 0063
Gender: Male
Height: 174cm
Magical colour: Electric Blue
Hair: black
Eyes: greyish-blue.
Specialty: guerrilla combat; espionage; melee dogfight
C.V.: Maeno Tomoaki

As with the usual procedures here, please bust/stab/question/rape/comment to your hearts' content to stroke my epeenfor clarification. :3

*marks down in a notebook* Colleague for Eden, check.

Eden would love this guy. Well, as far as she expresses love that is. Undercover no sappy get-the-job-done kind of guy? Oh yeah, I can see those two working toge- erm... cooperating on a difficult undercover mission.

Aaaand now, time for the last bit of WindS-B Chapter 3, the frosting on the cake(?) :uhoh:

Previous Chapters (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=2342938&postcount=6494)

-snip-

*runs*

*scratches head* Goody. The very thing I hoped wouldn't happen happened. Well, I'll sit through and see who was doing the emotional blackmail, but honestly, this was a really, really unbelievable move. Why would Fuuko believe some unknown voice that her best friends she has known since birth to the point they were almost family would betray her? It's a rather hard pill to swallow.

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3586/decadetan.jpg

Destroyer of Worlds, DECADE
-snip-
[/SPOILER]All done! =^w^=

I was inspired by the existence of so many Heisei Riders in the thread. And since I really like Decade, I decided to base my character off Tsukasa-kun! :hyper-^v^: For the story, I took over from where the Prisma Illya x Nanoha manga ended and involved Illya and Miyu. The three girls know nothing about how Nanoha's world really works and I think that will provide a unique viewpoint to this rich world that all my dear seniors have created. The Joker card was Onii-sama's recommendation, and I also thank Tempest Dynasty very much for loaning us that idea.

Onii-sama helped proofread a lot and he offered many ideas to "fix" Kaprisa, though I still don't understand why he continues to discourage me from posting even after all that. And he has not been answering my skypes for the past 3 days. It's as though he is actually avoiding me. :(

Please R&R 7 times many times please please pleeeaaase! I want to see how I can improve. In exchange, I will keep my promise and read the new texts that have sprung up. Okay? :D

Replies in a while! Bye-bee! =^w^=

I'm not that familiar with the Kamen Rider universe, so there's a lot I can't comment on. I'll let those more familiar with the Kamen Rider universe do that. I do like her appearance though.

FlameSparkZ

2010-07-05, 03:33

Heh. Child albums. I never understood why some people fear them so much, but I'll be damned if I let that stop me from using them to full effect. >:3

Then again, even if she mellowed out, for someone like Fuuko that'd probably be the most effective weapon out there.
It sure is :heh:

So first you pull a funny Angel Beats reference, and then pull a 180 and smack us in the face with a Chrono Crusade-style death?

Dammit Flame, do the words mood-whiplash mean anything to you? Hearts can take only so much drama you know!
Well, that's Route B's plot :heh::heh::heh::heh::heh:
I see you noticed the Chrno Crusade ref :heh:

*scratches head* Goody. The very thing I hoped wouldn't happen happened.
What would that be? :confused:

Well, I'll sit through and see who was doing the emotional blackmail, but honestly, this was a really, really unbelievable move. Why would Fuuko believe some unknown voice that her best friends she has known since birth to the point they were almost family would betray her? It's a rather hard pill to swallow.
Hmmm...madness does that to people? She did struggle :uhoh:
I can't say much because it'd spoil BreakerS final moments ^^;;

Anyway, there isn't much left to do and once it's all done, I'll reset the world back to the "route splitter" :heh:
Then we'll go back to good old BreakerS that has a lot more plot than WindS-B :D

Keroko

2010-07-05, 06:34

What would that be? :confused:

Fuuko going emo and for some inexplicable reason blaming those she trusts most.

Hmmm...madness does that to people? She did struggle :uhoh:

Madness does a lot to people, but believing an unknown voice that popped up after her parents died that her closest friends killed her parents?

I'd be accusing this unknown voice instead. Yet Fuuko somehow trusts this voice more than she does the people who were like family to her? Like I said, I'll wait for the rest of the chapters before I'll form a final conclusion, to see if anything else is behind this, but this particular plot point is... weak so far.

FlameSparkZ

2010-07-05, 06:57

Yeah...I probably exaggerated a bit too much :heh:
But it's ok, no one dies anyway (except the ones that already died :()

Nya~n

2010-07-05, 07:51

I'd be accusing this unknown voice instead. Yet Fuuko somehow trusts this voice more than she does the people who were like family to her? Like I said, I'll wait for the rest of the chapters before I'll form a final conclusion, to see if anything else is behind this, but this particular plot point is... weak so far.

grieve does crazy things to people. to a child born with power, a stigma she lives with despite the company she's kept with, desperate for answers and blind with grief, she'd jump at anything, even if it goes against what she's always known.

i do wonder if this is an inheritance of that darkness in koji's heart from back during Knight's Ordeal. Though that voice.... that's not the one that's been after the golden crest and its candidates, is it?

Nightengale

2010-07-05, 08:08

Okay, so it's been way too long since I actually posted something worthy a substance. Was it 2 years, or 3? Either way, I've been too caught up at G.R.R.Martin-ing my own stuff to the point I have over 50 work in progress ( only 2 are massive length ideas, mind you ), barely 5 complete. >.>

Still, I guess it was fine time I posted something. Suffice to say I had bits of inspiration and urge to race something out thanks to all the richness I see in these threads.

Okay, time for my short.

Author's Note: Isolated Memories are shorts and almost-self contained chapters that take place in various different timelines within the Nightengale fanon, coinciding with the actual canon, which may or may not be specified within the chapter. Generally, there's enough indication within the self-contained story to get a grasp of when it takes place. Certains part of the story may feel somewhat off to those who remembers all the minor details from my prior fics, but those are plot bunnies of the larger story, though I may address them in a different Isolated Memory in time.

Book of Knights : Isolated Memories
Memories of Null : A Remembrance of Birth and Reason of Existence

Her earliest memories. The scent of mold and wood in the air. Silence that looms almost eternal within a time that is foreign. A clarity that exist and ceases at the whim of the wind. Entrapped, a memory that only exist atop forgotten books in the corner of the empty world of words.

Words that she remembered. From the flickers of white, and the occasional light that shone, her eyes allowed only briefs of sanity, proof that intelligence remained within that artificial construct.

An old relic. She remembered being described, she does not understand. Transmission of spatial perception through exposure of light from physical construct. Only when she is seen with that light, that she exist.

When you close your eyes, I disappear. And with companions of silent bounds of leather, voiced only with silent decay of wood, she did not exist. She thought it would remain so forever. Idly, lyrical, like a waltz for the silent.

Within the darkness, something resembling a white cloud of dimly rose. The image finally cohered, and became the figure of a young child. A blinding light shone over from that small orb, and a memory of past relapses, remembering the scorn of men over the annoying light.

But that boy did not hate, but rather smiled and called the light dazzling; beautiful. Words were exchanged, words I did not comprehend, but stuttered from disbelief and programme.

What was life? What did it mean to be given thought, and live with that capacity? That which existed only when there was someone with her, and opened their eyes to her.

“I promise that I’ll give you a live worth living.”

A whimsical promise by a boy barely 5, to grant her a new shape, to let her learn what it means to live. Big words from a child, but he did what he could first.

A name for something that did not exist.

“Null.”

[...Null.]

And thus a contract was sealed.

~~~

[Are you done for the night, Meister?]

Null watched her lord carefully as he closed the tome, finishing his daily records and placed it atop the table. For Null, it had been a daily routine, watching Saga’s moments of litany and silence amidst the darkened room where he always stood alone, and transferred, emotionally transcribing the words of the day by days without fail.

Things were much simpler in the past. Null still remembered the days past, where backlogs of papers to manage, constant explaining and reprimanding from Lady Althea and the Grand Knight Commander Vellfire were the peace amongst battles fought on every other nights. But now, they find themselves centuries beyond their lives, living in a world where their values were dying. But even Null could tell that Saga was finding some happiness in this, for this was the world that he wished for back when he lived, but the life he is living now wasn’t what he wished for.

"Yes I am, Null.I'll be turning in as soon as I am done sealing the pages."

The Unison Device nodded and prepared to accompany the young knight to return to their home, as she took on a larger, human-sized form. Saga showed a slight frown, but sighed lightly. Null smiled mischievously. It was an unnecessary service on her, and she was often told that it wasn’t necessary, but she preferred walking about with her master than cramping herself atop his shoulder. It was an experience she learned to enjoy as she emulated what Rein and Agito does.

[Let me accompany you on the way then...]

Saga suddenly stopped and turned to face his unison companion just as she began to walk behind him.

"Null..."

Surprised, Null stopped as well; just inches away as she was almost about to bump onto Saga’s back.

[Yes, Meister?]

She held her breath, blinking as her vision cleared to where Saga simply stood. There was something grim and intensely sad in the expression of his face. Having been with Saga for so long, she has only ever seen that kind of face when he was reminded of his distorted, torn and tragic relationship with Reinforce, the one he knows as Tiara and his conflicted emotions with his current feelings towards the master of Reinforce, Yagami Hayate. Even until now, he considered everything that had transpired as his fault. She wondered why he would remember her now. Or perhaps...

"I...I know of how you feel about me.”

Saga’s words left Null breathless.

“ I admit that I was too scared to answer for a long time. I'm sorry..."

Her mind felt hazy, as she suddenly felt a distraught feeling of awkwardness. She stepped back and looked away. The words came to her so suddenly, and placed her to a halt, as if her master's presence sucked all the air out of her lungs, the magic that sustains her. She didn't know if she should be ashamed or relieved. What would his knowledge entail? It was ironic that she was always the one who was playfully teasing Saga and carries their relationship with a joyful happiness, but it is him who touched the true feelings behind her whimsical front.

[I'm sorry... Me.. My Lord.]

He held her arms and raised them so she would face him. She looked up to his face, deep into his dark eyes; wondering if she would find anger or pity there. She saw neither. From his touch, their magic resonates, allowing her to feel his emotions, and from that, she tried to feel the depth of Saga’s feelings. A coldness of apathy, or the flames of disgrace? Still, she found neither, but rather a calm warmness that defined the man she knew.

"You've done nothing wrong that you should apologize for."

Silence loomed in the air for a short while, as they both looked at each other unlike they’ve ever been in the thirty six years they were together. It was Saga who broke the silence once more.

"You've been with me almost all my life, Null. Everything I went through, you were there by my side and shared with you everything else. The Vauxhaul Civil Conflict, our subsequent short time with Master Hoffman...joining the Slavritter, the Schweißritter, Zerstroritter... Girge, Althea, Isdera, Astra, Wira, Selve, the battles and adventures with every one of our friends. You've become very dear to me and I do love you..."

The knight brushed away a tear that trickled from the girl's red eyes just as she nodded in a trance, in response to her master’s gentle voice..

"...but you love me with a far greater magnitude and in a way I cannot return.”

“Not without being untrue to my own feelings."

The young unison device nodded again. This time, wiping her own tears with the sleeves of her robe, hiding her face slightly as she tried to hide her stronger emotional out-pour of both joy and grief. There was nothing for Saga to apologize about either. He loved Reinforce and Hayate more than anyone else. Those were his honest feelings. To him, Null was more of a daughter. It was never a competition where she had any chance to begin with, much less expect to catch up. It was a simple truth.

"I’ve said this before, Null... The Zerstroritter, you... we’re no longer knights in the old wars. You’re not bound to me, Null. You're free, free to do what you want. I cannot-"

The girl shook her head. Stifling a sob she knew was unnecessary. She knew it would be like this a long time ago.

[I would have you and no one else as my master and lord, Meister Saga=Salah-ahdin. Even if you don’t need me as a Unison Device, I need you as the most important person to me, who has taught me what it meant to live and love. I want to be yours even if you can never be mine. Thank you for...for recognizing. Please...if you know I love you, let me love you as I can.] finished the Unison Device as she kneeled before him, speaking with an honest reverence.

Saga was at a loss. Perhaps it was because he lacked the passion of a knight. It was not foreign to Saga, but it was something he couldn't understand and, somehow, it reminded him of how Girge felt, and to a lesser extent, Isdera’s. To keeping holding on to something, to reach out to something earnestly even as they chose to elude the other’s path by choice. But looking at Null, he could not bring himself to tell her to move on. Just like Isdera, Null simply gave her all regardless of who he loved the most. It was a feeling he could not despise, as he too was the same.

To carry on regardless with a selfless sense of selfishness, despite it breaking one’s own soul. That was what bound them together as knights, and what carried forth together today as friends.

"Null.."

The girl silenced him as she stood, and placed a hand to his cheek just as he did hers prior; carefully brushing aside the longer bangs of dark hair. Even though Null’s has grown from her original child-like form in the past few years, she still looked a petite 15 years old girl while Saga’s looks reflected his final days at 24. He was still taller than her by a few inches so she had to tilt her head slightly just to look at him.

[Please allow me one kiss, Saga...one kiss out of love and, the rest, let it be as our first meeting and the promise of our past.]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/chiakt/002-1.jpg

Saga didn't answer. He closed his eyes; letting Null pull him closer and press her lips against his. She put her arms around him, holding tightly for a minute before letting go. After that, wiping the last of her tears on her sleeves, she stepped back and bowed slightly, as she turned behind him and let out her usual mischievous smile and showed her tongue. She had gone back to the usual Null as he remembers, and a loved family once more.

I'll try to keep myself in a more active role... *cough cough*

*runs*

FlameSparkZ

2010-07-05, 08:14

Keroko

2010-07-05, 09:16

grieve does crazy things to people. to a child born with power, a stigma she lives with despite the company she's kept with, desperate for answers and blind with grief, she'd jump at anything, even if it goes against what she's always known.

i do wonder if this is an inheritance of that darkness in koji's heart from back during Knight's Ordeal. Though that voice.... that's not the one that's been after the golden crest and its candidates, is it?

I know grief can do crazy things to people, for those things to go over the edge the person grieving already has to be living badly or somewhat mental in the first place. But a kid like Fuuko who had a happy life until now? Believing an unknown voice instead of those she loves? I mean, if it had been someone she knew or it happened over a long period of time the entire scenario would have been a lot more believable, but an unknown voice?

Eh, I just don't like these 'an unknown source told me you all betrayed me and I believe it!' scenarios.

Okay, so it's been way too long since I actually posted something worthy a substance. Was it 2 years, or 3? Either way, I've been too caught up at G.R.R.Martin-ing my own stuff to the point I have over 50 work in progress ( only 2 are massive length ideas, mind you ), barely 5 complete. >.>

Still, I guess it was fine time I posted something. Suffice to say I had bits of inspiration and urge to race something out thanks to all the richness I see in these threads.

Okay, time for my short.

Author's Note: Isolated Memories are shorts and almost-self contained chapters that take place in various different timelines within the Nightengale fanon, coinciding with the actual canon, which may or may not be specified within the chapter. Generally, there's enough indication within the self-contained story to get a grasp of when it takes place. Certains part of the story may feel somewhat off to those who remembers all the minor details from my prior fics, but those are plot bunnies of the larger story, though I may address them in a different Isolated Memory in time.

Book of Knights : Isolated Memories
Memories of Null : A Remembrance of Birth and Reason of Existence

Her earliest memories. The scent of mold and wood in the air. Silence that looms almost eternal within a time that is foreign. A clarity that exist and ceases at the whim of the wind. Entrapped, a memory that only exist atop forgotten books in the corner of the empty world of words.

Words that she remembered. From the flickers of white, and the occasional light that shone, her eyes allowed only briefs of sanity, proof that intelligence remained within that artificial construct.

An old relic. She remembered being described, she does not understand. Transmission of spatial perception through exposure of light from physical construct. Only when she is seen with that light, that she exist.

When you close your eyes, I disappear. And with companions of silent bounds of leather, voiced only with silent decay of wood, she did not exist. She thought it would remain so forever. Idly, lyrical, like a waltz for the silent.

Within the darkness, something resembling a white cloud of dimly rose. The image finally cohered, and became the figure of a young child. A blinding light shone over from that small orb, and a memory of past relapses, remembering the scorn of men over the annoying light.

But that boy did not hate, but rather smiled and called the light dazzling; beautiful. Words were exchanged, words I did not comprehend, but stuttered from disbelief and programme.

What was life? What did it mean to be given thought, and live with that capacity? That which existed only when there was someone with her, and opened their eyes to her.

“I promise that I’ll give you a live worth living.”

A whimsical promise by a boy barely 5, to grant her a new shape, to let her learn what it means to live. Big words from a child, but he did what he could first.

A name for something that did not exist.

“Null.”

[...Null.]

And thus a contract was sealed.

~~~

[Are you done for the night, Meister?]

Null watched her lord carefully as he closed the tome, finishing his daily records and placed it atop the table. For Null, it had been a daily routine, watching Saga’s moments of litany and silence amidst the darkened room where he always stood alone, and transferred, emotionally transcribing the words of the day by days without fail.

Things were much simpler in the past. Null still remembered the days past, where backlogs of papers to manage, constant explaining and reprimanding from Lady Althea and the Grand Knight Commander Vellfire were the peace amongst battles fought on every other nights. But now, they find themselves centuries beyond their lives, living in a world where their values were dying. But even Null could tell that Saga was finding some happiness in this, for this was the world that he wished for back when he lived, but the life he is living now wasn’t what he wished for.

"Yes I am, Null.I'll be turning in as soon as I am done sealing the pages."

The Unison Device nodded and prepared to accompany the young knight to return to their home, as she took on a larger, human-sized form. Saga showed a slight frown, but sighed lightly. Null smiled mischievously. It was an unnecessary service on her, and she was often told that it wasn’t necessary, but she preferred walking about with her master than cramping herself atop his shoulder. It was an experience she learned to enjoy as she emulated what Rein and Agito does.

[Let me accompany you on the way then...]

Saga suddenly stopped and turned to face his unison companion just as she began to walk behind him.

"Null..."

Surprised, Null stopped as well; just inches away as she was almost about to bump onto Saga’s back.

[Yes, Meister?]

She held her breath, blinking as her vision cleared to where Saga simply stood. There was something grim and intensely sad in the expression of his face. Having been with Saga for so long, she has only ever seen that kind of face when he was reminded of his distorted, torn and tragic relationship with Reinforce, the one he knows as Tiara and his conflicted emotions with his current feelings towards the master of Reinforce, Yagami Hayate. Even until now, he considered everything that had transpired as his fault. She wondered why he would remember her now. Or perhaps...

"I...I know of how you feel about me.”

Saga’s words left Null breathless.

“ I admit that I was too scared to answer for a long time. I'm sorry..."

Her mind felt hazy, as she suddenly felt a distraught feeling of awkwardness. She stepped back and looked away. The words came to her so suddenly, and placed her to a halt, as if her master's presence sucked all the air out of her lungs, the magic that sustains her. She didn't know if she should be ashamed or relieved. What would his knowledge entail? It was ironic that she was always the one who was playfully teasing Saga and carries their relationship with a joyful happiness, but it is him who touched the true feelings behind her whimsical front.

[I'm sorry... Me.. My Lord.]

He held her arms and raised them so she would face him. She looked up to his face, deep into his dark eyes; wondering if she would find anger or pity there. She saw neither. From his touch, their magic resonates, allowing her to feel his emotions, and from that, she tried to feel the depth of Saga’s feelings. A coldness of apathy, or the flames of disgrace? Still, she found neither, but rather a calm warmness that defined the man she knew.

"You've done nothing wrong that you should apologize for."

Silence loomed in the air for a short while, as they both looked at each other unlike they’ve ever been in the thirty six years they were together. It was Saga who broke the silence once more.

"You've been with me almost all my life, Null. Everything I went through, you were there by my side and shared with you everything else. The Vauxhaul Civil Conflict, our subsequent short time with Master Hoffman...joining the Slavritter, the Schweißritter, Zerstroritter... Girge, Althea, Isdera, Astra, Wira, Selve, the battles and adventures with every one of our friends. You've become very dear to me and I do love you..."

The knight brushed away a tear that trickled from the girl's red eyes just as she nodded in a trance, in response to her master’s gentle voice..

"...but you love me with a far greater magnitude and in a way I cannot return.”

“Not without being untrue to my own feelings."

The young unison device nodded again. This time, wiping her own tears with the sleeves of her robe, hiding her face slightly as she tried to hide her stronger emotional out-pour of both joy and grief. There was nothing for Saga to apologize about either. He loved Reinforce and Hayate more than anyone else. Those were his honest feelings. To him, Null was more of a daughter. It was never a competition where she had any chance to begin with, much less expect to catch up. It was a simple truth.

"I’ve said this before, Null... The Zerstroritter, you... we’re no longer knights in the old wars. You’re not bound to me, Null. You're free, free to do what you want. I cannot-"

The girl shook her head. Stifling a sob she knew was unnecessary. She knew it would be like this a long time ago.

[I would have you and no one else as my master and lord, Meister Saga=Salah-ahdin. Even if you don’t need me as a Unison Device, I need you as the most important person to me, who has taught me what it meant to live and love. I want to be yours even if you can never be mine. Thank you for...for recognizing. Please...if you know I love you, let me love you as I can.] finished the Unison Device as she kneeled before him, speaking with an honest reverence.

Saga was at a loss. Perhaps it was because he lacked the passion of a knight. It was not foreign to Saga, but it was something he couldn't understand and, somehow, it reminded him of how Girge felt, and to a lesser extent, Isdera’s. To keeping holding on to something, to reach out to something earnestly even as they chose to elude the other’s path by choice. But looking at Null, he could not bring himself to tell her to move on. Just like Isdera, Null simply gave her all regardless of who he loved the most. It was a feeling he could not despise, as he too was the same.

To carry on regardless with a selfless sense of selfishness, despite it breaking one’s own soul. That was what bound them together as knights, and what carried forth together today as friends.

"Null.."

The girl silenced him as she stood, and placed a hand to his cheek just as he did hers prior; carefully brushing aside the longer bangs of dark hair. Even though Null’s has grown from her original child-like form in the past few years, she still looked a petite 15 years old girl while Saga’s looks reflected his final days at 24. He was still taller than her by a few inches so she had to tilt her head slightly just to look at him.

[Please allow me one kiss, Saga...one kiss out of love and, the rest, let it be as our first meeting and the promise of our past.]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/chiakt/002-1.jpg

Saga didn't answer. He closed his eyes; letting Null pull him closer and press her lips against his. She put her arms around him, holding tightly for a minute before letting go. After that, wiping the last of her tears on her sleeves, she stepped back and bowed slightly, as she turned behind him and let out her usual mischievous smile and showed her tongue. She had gone back to the usual Null as he remembers, and a loved family once more.

I'll try to keep myself in a more active role... *cough cough*

*runs*

It's back it's back it's back! Woo! Now excuse me if I go re-read the entire saga again. :3

Silvance

2010-07-06, 04:13

Will check on stories later...

Your art seems to be much cleaner (and clearer) this time around, starting with this image, well done :)

Although Vanthia looks like Fate :heh:

Thanks.

Despite of her appearance, Vanthia is actually not as innocent and shy like Fate. XD

My stuff is mostly fluffy, love comedy, a bit of action...and sometimes fanservice :heh:
I actually prefer love comedies than serious scenarios. I'd rather laugh than cry or be amazed with action scenes. :3

I see, my bad then :heh:
:heh:

Don't worry about it. XD

That was quite entertaining. I like the illustrations, especially the first one.

SLB: *SWOOOSH* *BOOOOOOM*
Lanos (I think?): o_0;; ...

*Goes off to find the earlier chapters*

Yeah, the one that had that expression was Lanos. XD

If you want to read the previous chapters, you can find them here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=1602046&postcount=34).

My my...quite a tough battle going on there :twitch:
And if this is happening in MC076, then Koji and Maren are busy in another mission *hint hint* :D

Actually, the events in Madoukishi Asclei takes place in MC 085. That's 10 years after the Scaglietti incident. :3

Your art never fails to amaze us, Fate. You cannot imagine how envious we are ;)

Thanks. Funny thing is, although I can draw, I don't have any talent in writing unlike most of you guys in here. I gotta work hard so I can at least make my fanfic a bit appealing to others. XD

Your art never fails to amaze us, Fate. You cannot imagine how envious we are ;)

So after 4 years of rewriting, tearing down and rebuilding; as well as 2 previous profiles (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=2757872&postcount=8489) here for practice; and hours of badgering Lowe for some assistance, I've finally completed the profile for the OC I've always meant to create. Said OC has also appeared in that fic I haven't yet updated for some time.

Name: Nikholl Strandale
Affiliation: TSAB HQ Lost Logia Special Investigations Division
Military rank: Investigator
Magical rank: AA- (limiter placed at B- during certain investigations)
Call sign: Schwarz-01
Age: 19
Birthday: January 20 MC 0063
Gender: Male
Height: 174cm
Magical colour: Electric Blue
Hair: black
Eyes: greyish-blue.
Specialty: guerrilla combat; espionage; melee dogfight
C.V.: Maeno Tomoaki

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t28/eye_no_ball/NikhollStrandale.png

source (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/475585/) shopped by LoweGear

snip*

Nikholl has an uncharacteristic sweet tooth, and is often seen with a lollipop in his mouth, preferably the Chuppa Chups line of lollipops of which he would often blackmailharass merchants to ship them regularly. This liking for sweets extends to popping sweets even in the middle of serious fights and tearing off cotton candy in the middle of meetings, presentations and training.

Nikholl is also highly proficient at household chores, honed from years of cleaning up after his disorderly mercenary companions(them he can't go against) and later rooming with an untidy roommate after graduating from Bureau academy(and her he doesn't have the heart to discipline).

Pre-TSAB
Eskara
Orphaned at a young age, Nikholl was taken in by a bunch of mercenaries, the notorious mercenary network known as Eskara whose Clans settle themselves in the magically fatal areas seen across the inter-dimensional seas known as Hell’s Gates. Here he came to experience the underworld of the dimensions, following the Companies of the Clan along, learning their trade of escorting smuggling ships, assassination, fighting in a private army, amongst other tasks in the profession. Over time, he became one of them, specialising in acquiring information and valuable objects by going undercover and also wetwork. The mercenaries’ code of conduct was eventually deeply etched into his psyche – everything is broken down into a simple cost-and-benefit evaluation of the situation and extreme pragmatism.

Downfall of Caracasa
Nonetheless, he did not stay with the Eskarans for long. Caracasa, the Eskaran Clan he belonged to, was eventualy destroyed, neither by external parties, nor internal conflicts - the highly unstable Hell's Gate the Clan made their base in collapsed when almost the entire Clan gathered for a once-every-few-decades Clan festivity. Nikholl, who had been out on a solitary assignment when it happened, returned to find his clan gone, his masters nonexistent.

Nowhere To Go
Drifting around the regional interdimensional seas, he was eventually picked up by a motley crew of mercenaries, and so followed them for survival.

By the time he was thirteen, Nikholl, along with the mercenary crew, was contracted to take part in a civil war in an Administered World not unlike the conflicted Orussia, engaging enemy forces. When the situation escalated beyond control, the TSAB sent its forces in to break the war and extinguish their forces.

Turning Point
Amongst the Strikers breaking through the frontlines was veteran Gates Strandale who was responsible for quelling the region Nikholl was in. One of the last to fall in the area, Nikholl struggled to bring Gates down until he was ultimately blown away. The old veteran commended the boy’s determination and skills, and so Gates offered him a way out of being sentenced for his role as part of an illegal warmongering syndicate – join the TSAB as his adopted son.

Machiavellian instincts kicking in, Nikholl accepted the deal, taking the name of Nikholl Strandale and staying in TSAB “rehabilitation” for a year before enlisting himself into the Bureau.

There, Nikholl spent a year and a half in the TSAB Academy where he was referred to Officer School after an exceptional stint in Basic Training. There, he would meet the three most significant women in his life.

Enforcer Ryna Celica, who proclaimed him the younger brother she never had when he was assigned as her partner during Ground Forces basic training. He too, would look to her and her family as well as his guardian as the family he should have had but never had. While Ryna is far too clingy as an "older sister", the two love each other very much, as far as their platonic relationship goes. His one peeve with this beloved sister/best friend is that she is a terrible roommate who has a tendency to clutter up their apartment.

Inspector Estella Avante, a fellow Investigator whom he has known since Basic Training whom he used to have a crush on back then. While the two did not work out, they remain close friends, serving as each other's confidantes.

And finally, Instructor Sylphy Trajet, Avante's best friend and partner during BT, whom he considers to be the love of his life. The two did not start off well due to a confrontation prior to formally meeting on TSAB grounds, but the two have been steady for quite some time after yielding to years of chemistry.

They would eventually be the people he would frequently work with , often calling upon one another for assistance in each others’ cases.

*snip

Device: Freiheit
Device Type: Inteligent Device
Standby Form: polished silver Yale-style key
Device voice: Andy McAvin

An Axe/Spear-type Intelligent Device, Nikholl's flagship device name bears the Belkan word for "Freedom", in homage to his release from his Eskaran past. In an ironic twist, the Device A.I. is programmed to refer to him by his Eskaran rank of "Cadre".

Jager is Freiheit's all-purpose default form that is mainly used for spellcasting and trivial clashes

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t28/eye_no_ball/FreiheitDefault.png

Schneider form is Nikholl's prefered device form when he enters melee combat, and does not support his strongest bombardment spell.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t28/eye_no_ball/FreiheitSchneid.png

Jager and Schneider forms are named after the Liger Zero's CAS configurations
To transit from Jager to Schneider form, the device's blades slide forward, closing together to form a spearhead.

Due to the fact that the device blade acts as a guard to protect the cartridge system's magazine, it is impossible to load and reload the magazine. The core extends on a shaft to allow the magazine to be reloaded with ease.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t28/eye_no_ball/FreiheitExtention.jpg

MAJOR thanks goes to LoweGear for helping me with the vectoring of the device. Without his help, I would not have been able to translate my 4-year-old sketch into this.

A plain, white ceramic-looking opera mask, Nikholl’s “Masquerade” device was developed after he consulted the Infinite Library on various means of disguising himself. It allows Nikholl to change his appearance and grants detection-proof defences of similar levels as that of the Inherent Skill of the deceased Combat Cyborg “Due”. This allows him to go undercover with various disguises at his disposal. It also serves as facial protection in combat.

Nikholl is also a self-taught device mechanic, often jerry-building devices from unwanted device parts from TSAB workshops for credibility as a wandering mage for certain cases, or so that he won't have to use Freiheit on undercover jobs so that his targets don't track Freiheit back to the TSAB.

Homing Pendulum
Type: Controlled Shot Magic
Power: B- / Range: A / Speed: A+ / Control: AA+
-Homing Pendulum is a shooting spell with average power, but leaves a trailing tail that can temporarily be used to bind before it fades. When used in rapid succession, multiple Pendulums are used to bind a target with the tails. Instead of usual shooting spells that change directions at the mage’s will, Homing Pendulum makes abrupt turns at random points even if the target is straight ahead, preventing the target from predicting the estimated point of impact.

Homing Shell
Type: Directed Fire Shooting Magic
Power: B+ to A / Range: B / Speed: B / Control: B
-Homing Shell was specially programmed to home in on a designated target, essentially making it a fire-and-forget spell that leaves Nikholl free to continue with a fight without having to concentrate on controlling the shots. Nonetheless, a manual control version is still available. This spell has an unnamed “Frag” variation that resembles Homing Shell as a disguise for a cluster of Homing Pendulums that separate when desired.

Strike Edge
-The edge of the device blade is lined with mana for increased power in melee fights.

Ex Edge
-Instead of impregnating the device edge with mana, an energy blade is created to form an energy blade. In Jager Form, this would form a rhombus axe blade, while a broadblade is used for Schneider Form.

Carnage Blaze:
Type: Bombardment Magic
Power: A+ / Range: A+ / Speed: C
-Carnage Blaze resembles most other standard bombardment spells.

Panzer Burst:
Type: Bombardment Magic
Power: AAA- / Range: B / Speed: F
-Nikholl’s most powerful spell. This powerful bombardment requires a full magazine, fuelling the power of the spell to the AAA- range. The bombardment is accompanied by erratic bursts of magic that serves to scramble the magical defenses of the target. Because this spell far surpasses Nikholl’s own magical rank of AA, he runs a very high life-threatening risk of suffering the backlash from negative feedback. Therefore, in accordance to his core values of self-preservation, this spell will almost never see the light of day.

Like the Jager and Schneider forms, Strike Edge and Panzer Burst are named for the Liger Zero's Strike Laser Claw and Panzer CAS respectively

Riot Shield
Type: Shield-type Defense Magic
Defensive Strength: B / Area: D
-Nikholl’s shield spell based on the Mid-Childan template.

Protector
Type: Barrier-type Defense Magic
Defensive Strength: C- / Area: D
-Like any other common barrier, Protector buffers attacks as a defensive measure.

Shackle Bolt
Type: Capture-type Binding Magic
Power: B-
-Nikholl’s Binding spell that resembles spell ribbons rather than the magic ropes seen in conventional binding spells.

Jager Rush
-This spell increases Nikholl’s movement speed temporarily.

Ailes Lumiere
-Ailes Lumiere provides Nikholl a boost when in flight, leaving a trail of light after him. It also contains a field enchantment that moulds to the shape of his body to protect him from the risks whiplash from his erratic style of flying.

Nik's last name comes from one of the variations of the Ferarri 360. Ironically, this creator does not really likeis not a fan of Ferarri.
The Hell's Gate mentioned is related to the adaptation that Lowe made in a previous short (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=2603305&postcount=7951).
Chris Wooding's The Fade has played a critical role in the fabrication of Nik's history. It still remains my main source of inspiration for the fic I'm writing that features him.

As with the usual procedures here, please bust/stab/question/rape/comment to your hearts' content to stroke my epeenfor clarification. :3

lol. You're a big fan of Hei aren't you? XD

Anyway, I like Nikholl personality since he's quite composed and rational. With those two traits, and with his experience in combat, Nikholl is definitely a reliable asset.

Also, you and LoweGear did a really good job in working with the design of the device. Its not too colorful or flashy which is a good thing imo. :D

Aaaand now, time for the last bit of WindS-B Chapter 3, the frosting on the cake(?) :uhoh:

Previous Chapters (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=2342938&postcount=6494)

[05:48 AM]

The morning rays began to shine into Fuuko's room.
"Hm--mhmmm~" Still sleeping, Fuuko frowned as the light reached her eyes.

Shifting to a sitting position, she yawns then stretches her arms, her fox ears perk up detecting activity outside.
"Mmmm~ Everyone's awake already..." Fuuko comments with her eyes half opened.

Slipping off bed, Fuuko heads for the mirror and looks at herself, "Still sleepy..." she rubs her eyes.
Hearing a yawn behind her, the golden-eyed girl turns to the bed. "Elly, time to wake up."
"Mhmmm, 5 more minutes..." She requests before shifting her back to the window.
Scratching her head, Fuuko sighs, "Fine, I'll go wash up and come back to wake you."
"Thanks~" Elly replies lazily.

~~~~

Leaving the bedroom, Fuuko enters the bathroom right in front of her room. Splashing her face with cold water, she awakens completely.
"I wonder what breakfast is..." She mutters as she exits to the hallway.

But it was strange, there was scent of food in the air...
Sharpening her senses, there was activity towards the living room, but none in the kitchen.
...something was wrong.
With quickened steps, Fuuko made her way to the living room.

~~~~

Arriving to the living room, everyone except Elly was there, looking at something, but because they were in the way she couldn't see what.
"Is something wrong?" Fuuko asked innocently.
Only a few looked back at the girl, and from those few, only Caro and Erio, Vivio and her friends approached her.
"Fuuko..." Vivio tried to find the right words.
"Vi-nee, were you crying? Your eyes are red." She notices.

Not just her, Corona and Rio's eyes were slightly red too.
Caro who was holding back, leaned onto Erio's chest and started crying.
"Hey...what's happening? You're all acting strange." Fuuko tries to peek, "What's over there anyway?"
"Fuuko, it's best that you don't see it..." Vivio blocked her path.

"Vi-nee?" Confused, Fuuko looked at Vivio.
"Vivio...let her through." Nanoha spoke.
"Eh? But..."
"I'm afraid this is something we can't hide from her."
Reluctantly, Vivio stepped aside and let Fuuko pass.

Slipping through the crowd, Fuuko noticed that some were looking away as she passed by them, and even had signs of having cried.
When the last two, Nanoha and Signum stepped aside, she saw the reason for the gathering...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/Artwork/ws-b_km.jpg

There sat her parents, leaning onto eachother with a peaceful expression as the slept...or so Fuuko thought.

"What? They're just sleeping." Fuuko sighed in relief, "Don't scare me like that..." she looked back at everyone.
But they still had the same expression, no, now they had a more painful one. Hayate embraced Rein, and Shamal turned around to hide her tears.

"Why are you all making that face?" Fuuko spoke, not understanding the situation.
"Fuuko. Look at them." Signum looked at her with serious eyes.

The girl looked at her parents once more, and upon closer inspection she noticed they weren't breathing.
Fuuko turned around, looking at the group, "T-This is a joke, right? It's not funny, you know."
Signum slowly shook her head, "This is the truth...Koji and Maren, your parents, passed away."

As those words reached her ears, Fuuko felt like she was struck by an arrow, relentlessly piercing her heart.
Her eyes opened wide, pupils narrowed, body trembling. She looked at her parents again, walking towards them, one step at a time.
"You're kidding right...this isn't funny, you know?" She spoke to them.

"Old man, this isn't funny." She grabbed her father on the shoulder and shook him...No response.

"...dad?" She shook him again.

"Come on, I'll call you father, I'll apologize for being rude to you all these years, so...please...wake up..." Welled up tears began to overflow.

"Mother?" She turned to her beloved mother, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"...Mother? ...Please...wake up." She shook her as well, the tears running down her cheeks.

"Mother....answer me, please!" She touched her hand, "Eh?" as her fingers came in contact with her mother's hand, it felt slightly cold.

Behind Fuuko, the others couldn't bear to look at that scene anymore.

Regardless of her skill in magic, knowledge and intelligence, she was still a young girl who looked up to her parents.
And now, she was being forced to grow up by accepting the undeniable truth right before her eyes.

".......................mama?" Tears kept rolling down her cheeks without stopping.

Stepping back, she shook her head.
This was a dream, it can only be...
They were fine last night.
How can this be real?

At that moment, something inside her broke...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/ws-b_fuubreak.jpg

Plunging inside her mind, Fuuko was alone in the darkness, until...
<...are you sure they died on their own?> a voice echoed from the right.
(W-who is it?)
<Look at them, do you think parents that have a 12 year old girl to raise would die with such a peaceful face?> echoed from the left.

The voice revealed itself, taking a shape similar to Fuuko.
(Who are you?)
<Why worry about me? You should be thinking about the culprit.>
(C-Culprit?!)
<Yes...right behind you, soooo many suspects.> a 'window' to the outside appeared, displaying the guests.

(Eh?)
<Hmm...who to start with?> She mused.
(Stop that! They wouldn't do such a thing!)

Ignoring Fuuko, the voice continued, <Shamal could have done it. She has access to medicines.>
(Huh?)
<They could have been poisoned you know?>
(Poison?)
<Yes, besides that, there are countless ways to kill someone.>
(W-What?)
<Even you know some, don't you? And if you wanted, you could put an end to someone's life in a blink of an eye.>
(......)
<It's so simple that anyone can do it, so why wouldn't they?>
(They wouldn't do it! They're not like that!)

<...Why?> The voice asked innocently.
(Because!)
<Because what?>
(Because they...they...)
<See? You can't think of a reason.>
(I'm confused! How can I think straight when something like this just happened?!)
<You seem fine to me...All you need is to open your eyes, and see the truth.>
(Huh?)
<Humans are fickle. One day they smile at you, the other they're stabbing you on the back and twisting the proverbial knife.>
(What are you talking about?)

<Oh? Didn't you know? Humans can be veeeeery cruel.>
<If they want something, they can take it by force.>
<If someone has something they don't and can't have it, they will ruin it out of jealousy...Isn't that the case here?>
(A-After all these years, why would they do it now?)
<'Why'? Because they can! Isn't this the perfect chance?>
(...ah...) For some reason, it did make sense...

<Your parents were a happy couple that loved eachother and had you, a beautiful daughter to be proud of.>
<And what do they have? Nothing!>
(But Nanoha has Vivio...)
<Pft! They're not related by blood, you know it, they know it, everyone knows...but they just don't accept it out of fear.>
(Fear?)
<Yes, fear. Fear of being alone. Humans lie to themselves and fool eachother just to avoid it. Pathetic isn't it?>
(Then...I...)
<Mhm, you're alone now, your parents were snatched away from you.>

(How can this be...) Fuuko was confused, it all made sense, but at the same time, didn't.
<Want more? I can keep going until you're convinced.>
(...)
<I'll take that as a yes. Well then, how about Signum?>
(Huh?!)
<Unbelievable, isn't it? But it's true! You know what her fear is?>
(...w-what?)
<Becoming obsolete...like being replaced by the very person she trained. Yes. Sure she's not exactly a human, but was programmed as one, so it's possible.>

<Or maybe the reason was envy? She trained your dad since he was a kid and saw him grow up into a fine man, and then got stolen by another woman...your mother.>
(What?!)
<Just theories. But it is possible...She may be a Living Program, but she still has feelings.>
(...)
<Let's see, who's next?>
(...Stop it.)
<Hmm?>

(Stop confusing me!)
<Confusing? I'm trying to help you here.>
(I don't need your help, I know these people since I was little. I can trust them.)
<.......*sigh* How can some one so smart be so stupid?>
(What?)
<Don't you see? They're all fooling you!>
(Explain.)
<Okay, let's assume your parents died naturally, they would know that their life was nearing it's end. Wouldn't they?>
(...T-That's...)
<Making sense now, isn't it? With Mid's technology, it'd be a piece of cake.>
(Then...)
<They'd tell you wouldn't they? Your parents always told you everything, didn't they?>
(T-They did...)
<See? That leaves only one option...>

(...) Fuuko
<Come on, you can do it...>
(They...)
<Yeees?>
(Were fooling us all along...) Fuuko eyes became blank.
<Mhm> She nodded, <...How cruel of them to ruin your life, and kill your parents in such a cowardly way. Isn't it?>
(Yes...people don't die like this...someone did it.)
<So, what are you going to do now?>
(Kill them all...)
<No...They're too powerful and too many.>
(Then, one by one...)
<Hmm, not good enough...think a bit more. Be creative.> She smirked.

(Ruin their lives, like they did to me...make them suffer.)
<Yes, that's it!>
(But first...)
<Hmm?>
(I have to escape...before they kill me too.)
<Yeah, that's true. They still think you're in shock, and knowing them, they'll keep the act going for a while, so you have some time.>
(Have to take mama and papa...keep them safe, so I can revive them. Then rub that on the faces of the ones that ruined my life before I deal the finishing blow.)
<Oooh~~ I like that idea! Shall we get started?> She held Fuuko from behind, arms wrapped around her neck.
(Yeah...)
<Then...let's go with their act for a little longer.>
(...Okay.)

Having stopped crying, Fuuko stayed silent with her back turned to the group.
Unable to take it any longer, Vivio went through the crowd and spoke. "Fuuko...you know, for a while now, your paren--"

"Shut up..." She couldn't take it, she wouldn't let them soil her parent's dignity.
"Huh?!" Vivio flinched at the sudden tone coming from the small girl in front of her.

Turning around, Fuuko glared at her 'friends' with accusing eyes.
Everyone was taken aback by her expression. A cold stare that stabbed right through them.
"I see now. That's what it was...I get it now."
"What are you talking about?" Vivio blinked in confusion.

A burst of wind was released, not strong enough to throw someone down, but still intimidating.
"Still playing dumb? Fine by me, even if you spat out the truth, it's already too late."

"Fuuko!" Vivio tried to get closer, but a barrier blocked her path. "Ah!"
"You think I'm stupid? 'Always come prepared'...you taught me that." Fuuko pulled Selene from inside her pajamas.

"Fuuko, calm down and listen to us!" Fate spoke to her in a worried tone.
"I won't forgive you...all of you!" Fuuko's eyes narrowed with anger.
"......" Confused, everyone remained silent.

But some were uneasy about her behavior, and thought best to knock her out before someone gets hurt.
Luckly, Vita had Graf Eisen with her, all she needed was an opening...
And she got one as Fuuko turned her back to them.
"TEEEHYAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" She swung the hammer with all her might, hitting the barrier.
"Heh..." Fuuko smirked.
"Uh?" Vita looked at her.
"As I thought, the moment I turned my back, you attacked. But this barrier won't break so easily, after all, you trained me in impact defense."
"Fuuko, you need to chill out for a while!" Vita kept pressing against the barrier.
"Unfortunately, I don't have time for that...so I'll be taking my leave."

As she finished speaking, a Belka triangle appeared under her.
"Dimensional Transfer? When did yo--" Vita and the others looked at her surprised.
"Quite some time ago, before I even raised the barrier."
"Fuuko, don't do this!" Nanoha spoke.
"...next time we meet, we'll be enemies. So...goodbye." With those words, a flash of green light flooded the room.

When the light faded, Fuuko was gone, along with her parent's bodies.
"Shamal, trace her!" Hayate said in a hurry.
"I'm on it!" Shamal pulled Klarwind from her shirt.

They were unable to do anything...they could've all attacked at the same time, but it would only confuse her more.
But still, whichever choice they could take, they'd still regret it...
Only Vivio who saw Fuuko as a sister and the passionate Vita took some sort of action, but it wasn't enough to stop her...
And now...she escaped.
The little girl each of them held in their arms and saw grow up, left with a bitter heart and a serious misunderstanding.

Unaware of all this, Elly was still sleeping in Fuuko's room...

------------------------------------

Well, next will be the closing chapter of this BAD END route >_>

Still need to finish it and draw the illustration for a scene or two, then I'll post it.

EDIT: Done with the preview for Chapter 4...

Beautiful empty shell bathed in moonlight...
The serenity within sorrow...

A crescent blade distored by sadness...
What it reflects...
...her heart.

The pleas of an old friend...
An unexpected shadow that strikes...

A final warning...
...and the last shard of kindness.

The beautiful poetry of the night echoes through the sorrowful sky.

Next...
Midnight Wind

*runs*

I have to admit, the first half of the chapter was tear-jerking. The latter half, however, felt kinda forced imo. Then again, with her current state mind, I guess she's vulnerable to such deceptions?

btw I find it interesting that you're having alternate routes for you fanfics. Maybe I should start doing that too... XD

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3586/decadetan.jpg

Destroyer of Worlds, DECADE

Kaprisaviel Einfeldt (center of picture) is a haughty and self-righteous 7 year old young girl who was unwittingly caught in a magical crossfire between Kaleid Liners Illyasviel Einzbern and Miyu Edelfelt, and the Joker Servant card. The massive amount of magic released had created a dimensional dislocation that flung all three mages into another world. Fortunately, the magical girls were able to seal the rampaging card. Unfortunately, Kaprisa ended up with retrograde amnesia (a practical joke by the Joker) and does not recall her past, her origins or what she was doing prior to walking into that fight.

But parts of her memory remained intact. Kaprisa could recall her name. She knew the date was somewhere during the year of MC 0071. She would find herself knowledgeable of things that she could not recall ever learning about them. For example, she could tell the lost Kaleid Liners that they were in another dimension, set in a greater area called Ordered Space, and that it was ruled by an evil organization know as the Time Space Administration Bureau. That reminded the Liners of having met a young Nanoha from the Bureau just over a month before, and that the Bureau was not evil. Kaprisa then deduced that they had met a different Nanoha from a timeline to Kaprisa's. The girl also exhibited some prior knowledge or a talent necessary to her quest in the Rider Dimensions they encounter. Some examples are her knowledge of the Grongi language in Kuuga's dimension and her enrollment as a student in Faiz's dimension. She has also mentioned before that she is capable of doing anything except taking photos. In addition, as Kaprisa, Illya and Miyu teleported to and from dimensions using the lavish Decade spaceship, the ship's transporter system had been pre-programmed to alter Kaprisa's clothing to suit a specific role in the Rider's Dimension, including some accouterments similar in color to her camera and Decade's armor.

Some of the dimensions the girls encounter do not have Riders, to which Kaprisa explained that Kamen Riders were just one form of magic power in a "multiverse of a thousand possiblities". In these dimensions, Kaprisa would be the one being uncharacteristically lost, often to comic effect.

The group eventually worked out from a photo Kaprisa carried that she was probably on a journey to look for the people in that photo. From the exact nature of their landing, and the existence of Kaprisa's private vessel cloaked in dimensional orbit, the girls concluded that it was Kaprisa who somehow accessed the Mirror World that Illya and Miyu were fighting Joker in. The magical explosion sent everything flying into Kaprisa's dimension instead of the Liners'. Kaprisa realized that the Liners being trapped in her multiverse was her fault. She agreed to travel with them and bring them back to their original dimension.

As they wandered, Kaprisa would feel a strong "desire" to "catch the world" using her photos, but somehow they never develop well. She saw this as a sign that she is not of the dimensions they encountered. However as Decade, she is seen as an agent of destruction, usually being called "the devil", a rumor spread by Narutaki, who believes Kaprisaviel does not belong in any dimension. It is also revealed that those who appear in her badly developed photographs have some fate befall them, be it death or otherwise.

Often, before a climactic battle begins, a major villain will demand to know who Kaprisa is. This is always phrased as "Damn you...who are you?!" (貴様、何者だ？ Kisama, nani mono da?), to which Kaprisa responds:

"Just a Kamen Rider passing through, remember that!" (通りすがりの仮面ライダーだ、覚えておけ! Tōrisugari no Kamen Raidā da, oboeteoke!).

Kaprisa always has a "Decade Pink" Blackbird, fly 135 Twin Lens Reflex Camera, hung around her neck.

Tactical Analysis

Ride ArmorsKamen Rider Decade
Decade can transform into any previous Kamen Rider with access to that respective Rider's powers and weapons. One of Kaprisa's particular affectations is dusting her hands, or running a hand along the blade of her sword, while fighting. This armor has two forms, determined by whether Kaprisa transformed into her Adult form. As an adult, she wears the masculine Kamen Rider Decade armor, but sometimes, either by preference or by the effects of her spells, she transforms back to her younger body and wears the Decade-tan armor.

Complete Form
Complete Form is the true form of Decade that is able to manipulate the power of other Riders' final forms, accessed through the K-Touch once she regains the powers of all of the Heisei Kamen Riders. Referred to as the "King of the Rider Worlds", she wears the Decade Complete Kamen Ride Card on her helmet, embedded in the Decade Crown, and the others' Kamen Ride Cards on her chest.

Magical DevicesDecadriver
Kaprika transforms into Decade through the use of the Decadriver belt that is based around the Rider Cards. By inserting a card into the Decadriver, Decade can invoke the cards' abilities. Strapping on the Decadriver alone can trigger Kaprisa to transform into an adult version of herself, though she later demonstrates that she can choose to remain a child, and transform into Kamen Rider Decade-tan instead. In Complete Form, the Decadriver is moved to the right side of her belt where Decade inserts her Final Attack Ride Cards and activates them by touching the Decadriver's window.

Ride Booker
Decade's primary weapon is the Ride Booker which has three modes: Book Mode, which is placed on the left side of her belt, Gun Mode, and Sword Mode. While in Book Mode, the Ride Booker holds the Rider Cards that Decade uses in her arsenal. In Sword Mode, the Ride Booker's finishing move is the Dimension Slash. In Gun Mode, the Ride Booker's finishing move is the Dimension Blast. In either Mode, Decade primarily uses the Ride Booker in the place of the Heisei Kamen Riders' signature weapons, bladed or firearms.

K-Touch
The Final Kamen Terminal K-Touch is a special touchscreen cell phone. Called a "mid-season upgrade" by Illya, the K-Touch was designed to attach onto the Decadriver replacing the card slot, which is moved to her right hip, allowing Decade to transform into Complete Form. In this form, Decade can still use her Ride Cards by inserting them in the card slot and slapping its visor, allowing Decade to summon the powers and weapons of the ultimate form of any of the previous Kamen Riders. When a Rider is summoned, the cards on Complete Form's chest and shoulders change to match the Rider's specific Kamen Ride card and the summoned Rider copies Decade's motions. When activating the K-Touch's functions in Complete Form, any of the 9 Heisei Riders present will be transfomed into their most powerful form.

Spells & Abilities: the Rider Cardshttp://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7317/decadetanganbaride.jpg

Decade uses card-based devices and magic. She is the tenth in line of a new generation of Kamen Riders to be created in Ordered Space, and her creators had aspects of the previous 9 built into her style of magic. However, due to a mysterious seal placed on them all, Kaprisa travels across the worlds to remove the seals and regain the abilities that the cards endow.

Kamen Ride Cards
The Kamen Ride Cards supposedly possess all the powers of the 9 previous Kamen Riders of the revived KR Projects, namely Kuuga, Agito, Ryuki, Blade, Faiz, Kabuto, Hibiki, Den-O and Kiva. Because they were sealed, Kaprisa must touch the heart of a world's Kamen Rider in resolving an issue threatening that world. Each card allows Decade to transform into a particular Rider of her choice. Some examples include:

Decade: Initial card (See above); transforms Kaprisa into Kamen Rider Decade. Kaprisa must use this card first before assuming any other transformations.
Decade Complete: The only Final Kamen Ride Card, manifesting after Kaprisa acquired the K-Touch and realized that she must continue journeying to save Ordered Space. By inserting the card into the K-Touch, it transforms Decade into Complete Form.

Form Ride Cards
Form Ride Cards allow Decade to assume any of the forms the Heisei Riders have. Accessing these forms grants Decade the use of any weapon exclusive to that form. Generally, Decade changes forms within one Rider forms. However, Decade does not have to be a particular Rider to transform into one of that Rider alternate forms.

Attack Ride Cards
The Attack Ride Cards allow Decade to perform any of her own attacks, or a signature attack of whatever Kamen Rider she has transformed into.

Slash: As Decade, this increases the damage done by the Ride Booker's Sword Mode.
Blast: As Decade, this grants the Ride Booker's Gun Mode rapid fire capabilities.
Illusion: As Decade, this creates multiple images of Decade. Each image can come in physical contact with the target. If used in conjunction with the Final Attack Ride card, all the Decades will perform the final attack at the same time.
Invisible: As Decade, this allows Decade to become invisible.
Clock Up: As Kabuto, Decade moves extremely fast to the point that seconds slow down into minutes.
Auto Vajin: As Faiz, Decade turns the Machine Decader into the Auto Vajin, Faiz's own motorcycle, which goes into Battle Mode. This also allows Decade to access the Faiz Edge via the Auto Vajin's right shoulder.
Ongekibou Rekka: As Hibiki, Decade takes out a pair of drumsticks from his lower back to charge them with power and use the finisher Kiboujutsu Rekkadan, igniting the tops with flames, creating torch-like weapons that shoot fireballs to incinerate targets. Decade's fireballs are powerful enough to destroy giant Makamou as well.
Strike Vent: As Ryuki, Decade summons the Drag Claw, a dragon-headed gauntlet that can send a burst of flames out of its mouth. Unlike the original Ryuki, it does not need Dragreder's assistance.
Metal: As Blade, Decade invokes the power of the Seven of Spades Rouse Card, Metal Trilobite, to enhance resilience to physical harm by transmutating her armor into organic metal.
Mach: As Blade, Decade invokes the power of the Nine of Spades Rouse Card, Mach Jaguar, to enhance her speed and agility.
Ore Sanjou!: As Den-O, Decade utters Momotaros's signature phrase and performs his signature pose. The spell, however, does nothing else. Along with other cards like Kotaewa Kiite Nai, Nakerude & Bokuni Tsurarete Miru?, these strange and useless Den-O cards leave Kaprisa scratching her head.
Tsuppari: As Den-O Ax Form, Decade launches a series of palm strikes.
Onibi: As Hibiki, Decade's mask shoots a powerful flame breath attack.
Side Basshar: Turns the Machine Decader into Side Basshar in Battle Mode.

Final Form Ride Cards
Final Form Ride Cards gives Decade the power to bestow new forms upon other Riders by reaching into their back, telling them beforehand "It might tickle a bit". Kaprisa then gives the Rider a shove, causing the Ride Armor to be ejected off and folded into a weapon that both Decade and the Rider wield at the same time. The Rider is also transformed into a Rider-tan, whether they are male or female. Only while the cards stay in effect, the transformed Rider can alternate between his/her new form and his/her original Rider form. Decade's Final Form Ride cards can also work on any Riders Diend manages to summon.

Final Attack Ride Cards

The Final Attack Ride Cards are Decade's most powerful attacks, used for finishing off enemies. The Final Attack Ride Cards, if used in conjunction with the Final Form Rides, can allow Decade to perform an attack with that Rider's FinalForm (which usually resemble that Rider's own signature attack in some way). If the Final Attack Ride is used in conjunction with Kamen Ride Cards, they allow Decade to perform the signature attack of the Rider she is transformed into. If the Final Attack Ride is used when Decade is in Complete Form, he can perform that Rider's signature move (during their ultimate form) alongside the summoned Rider using the Ride Booker to improvise if the attack uses a weapon.

These cards include:

Decade: Decade performs the Rider Kick called the Dimension Kick. With the Ride Booker in Sword Mode, Decade can execute a highly charged slash called the Dimension Slash. While in Gun Mode, Decade can execute a highly charged shot called the Dimension Blast. All these attacks involve the Decadriver generating large golden Final Attack Ride cards, which Decade leaps/runs/shoots through, the final card having an image of Decade's attack before he bursts through it. These hologram cards can also stun the enemy before the attack connects and can line up to track the enemy, even if the target is flying.

Miscellaneous EquipmentDecader
The Machine Decader is Decade's personal Honda DN-01 motorcycle. Like Decade herself, the Decader can assume the form of the respective Rider's motorcycle. It exhibits this ability when Decade (as Faiz) transforms the Decader into the Auto Vajin and Side Basshar.

The Decader also doubles as the conn unit for the Decade spaceship, and is beamed down together with the girls when they disembark. Miyu rides pillion to Kaprisa (adult form) while Illya flies behind them.

Decade spaceship
It may be a grossly painted, overly decorated, and woefully understaffed spacecraft, but it is the prototype to a potent line of ships designed and built by Dai-Shocker with the sole aim to use readily-available technology to outclass mainstream vessels. It features many implements modified from civilian equipment, like 5 forward phase cannons and 4 particle torpedo launchers, ablative armor, integrated phase nacelles, defensive shielding arrays, all packed into its tiny 150m long chassis. Its overpowered engines give a phase signature on par with larger ships, and can maintain a top speed of phase 9.982 for 12 hours straight. While it lacks the armor and shields of Belka escorts, and the technological sophistication of Midchilda ships, it can literally run circles around its bigger brethren while pounding away with all weapons because of its simplicity and superior heat efficiency.
NB: from Oni-sama, with love. <3

Closing Words
As the girls journey through the dimensions, questions are answered as often as new ones appear. Can they really find their way home? Is the Bureau really evil? Who created the Decadriver? Who was this wealthy girl named Decade?

Perhaps, they should have asked themselves first: Could they handle the answer?
All done! =^w^=

I was inspired by the existence of so many Heisei Riders in the thread. And since I really like Decade, I decided to base my character off Tsukasa-kun! :hyper-^v^: For the story, I took over from where the Prisma Illya x Nanoha manga ended and involved Illya and Miyu. The three girls know nothing about how Nanoha's world really works and I think that will provide a unique viewpoint to this rich world that all my dear seniors have created. The Joker card was Onii-sama's recommendation, and I also thank Tempest Dynasty very much for loaning us that idea.

Onii-sama helped proofread a lot and he offered many ideas to "fix" Kaprisa, though I still don't understand why he continues to discourage me from posting even after all that. And he has not been answering my skypes for the past 3 days. It's as though he is actually avoiding me. :(

Please R&R 7 times many times please please pleeeaaase! I want to see how I can improve. In exchange, I will keep my promise and read the new texts that have sprung up. Okay? :D

Replies in a while! Bye-bee! =^w^=

Whoa! That's quite a number of Kamen Rider reference you have there. The only series that I've watched was Black after all so I'm kinda lost in some parts. :3

You'd really think 'beware of getting back-stabbed at the worst moment' would be in a manual or something. :heh: Oh well, I pitty the poor fools who'll first meet Asclei about this little incident.

back-stabbing is quite common in Aldia, then again, you're right about Asclei holding a grudge (Assuming I didn't misunderstand your statement D=). Anyway, I'm surprised you can tell he's a vengeful type of person. XD
I don't remember giving strong hints about Asclei's violent nature. >__<

Setting that aside, I just finished another sketch of a new OC that'll make a brief appearance in Part 5 of ch 3. I'll have to recheck everything and hopefully, I'd be able to post it later today or tomorrow. >:3

Nya~n

2010-07-06, 05:59

*marks down in a notebook* Colleague for Eden, check.

Eden would love this guy. Well, as far as she expresses love that is. Undercover no sappy get-the-job-done kind of guy? Oh yeah, I can see those two working toge- erm... cooperating on a difficult undercover mission.
Between Masquerade and Deceived Sight, they probably wouldn't even know that they're working together, even if their job-honed intuition tells them they have a fellow mole in their midst.

lol. You're a big fan of Hei aren't you? XD

Anyway, I like Nikholl personality since he's quite composed and rational. With those two traits, and with his experience in combat, Nikholl is definitely a reliable asset.
The funny thing was, I actually started with two things in mind - the "Invisible Staff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropes_in_Agatha_Christie's_novels#Invisible_Staff )" type of character that Agatha Christie famously applies(amongst others); and the other being Orna from The Fade to lay the groundwork when creating him(I did say it was a huge inspiration in creating Nik). Strangely enough, cryptomnesia kicked in, and I started to incorporate bits of Hei before I even knew it, probably because Hei... actually works under the same conditions. I only realised it when I was re-watching DtB S1 back in '08, but I decided to keep what worked. That said though, (from my point of view anyway) the Hei parts that I kept were his equipment(the coat, garotte, and that glove that sparks) and then blending some of Hei's disciplines with how I interpretted a less-emotionally-reckless Orna to be like. He's definitely more emotional than even post S2 Hei though.

Also, you and LoweGear did a really good job in working with the design of the device. Its not too colorful or flashy which is a good thing imo. :D

=D Thanks, though a great deal of credit goes to lowe for being able to interpret a pretty old degraded sketch into that, as well as making excellent calls in making aesthetical changes to the original.

FlameSparkZ

2010-07-06, 09:47

I actually prefer love comedies than serious scenarios. I'd rather laugh than cry or be amazed with action scenes. :3
Good :3

Actually, the events in Madoukishi Asclei takes place in MC 085. That's 10 years after the Scaglietti incident. :3
Oh, that's one year before WindS :D

I have to admit, the first half of the chapter was tear-jerking. The latter half, however, felt kinda forced imo. Then again, with her current state mind, I guess she's vulnerable to such deceptions?
Blame my hastiness in jumping to WindS and not finishing (thus revealing everything plotholes) in BreakerS :heh:

btw I find it interesting that you're having alternate routes for you fanfics. Maybe I should start doing that too... XD
Yeah, it's kinda fun :D
This comes from playing games with alternate endings :heh:

As for Chapter 4 of WindS-B, I'm doing some finishing touches to it...:rolleyes:

Tk3997

2010-07-06, 14:11

I don't suppose you're taking any bets on who this 'qualified person' is, huh?Hehehe... No.

Seeing O'Neil getting involved with politics certainly was a surprise, though after reading that the entire goal of that is basically to screw around with the system I went 'Yeah, that's so like O'Neil.'
Politics comes bundled with any rank with the word "general" in it, it's a package deal you can't refuse. So you gotta make the best of it really. That said even back in his home universe it was rather evident he could play the game when it suited his purposes or he felt he had no choice for the greater good.

itanshi1

2010-07-06, 14:46

Sheba

2010-07-06, 17:13

Not sure this was brought up, I'd like to think it was, but with Force in mind, what temporary CW weapon upgrade would your OC use?

This (http://www.giantbomb.com/evoker/93-55/). Because this will be my middle finger to all this more dakka mecha-style arm race

FlameSparkZ

2010-07-06, 17:39

And here it is, the final chapter of WindS-B!

[MC 0089, late October]

[Mid-Childa, Cranagan]
[TSAB Air Force HQ, Cafeteria]
[17:38]

"How did it come to this?" Nanoha asked herself while looking at a picture taken last year.
It was a picture of her closest friends all together. Among them were Koji, Maren and their daughter, Fuuko, all together and smiling.

Now, they are dead and their daughter, confused, swore revenge on Nanoha and the others before escaping with her parent's bodies through Dimensional Transfer.
Shamal and Yuuno still tried to trace her destination, but it was all too sudden.

It was only later that they found out that a hospital in Cranagan was attacked.
Two adult-size life pods were stolen, along with some equipment. It was her...the time matched perfectly.

The dots connected easily, her goal was to preserve her parents' bodies until she could bring them back.
This made those involved in the Precia Incident remember unpleasant memories.
Except in this case, it was the reverse: a lonely daughter trying to recover her parents' warmth...

Using their IDs, Fuuko accessed the TSAB databanks and downloaded large amounts of information before the IDs were cancelled.
What followed were a series of attacks to research facilities, museums and owners possessing harmless Lost Logia.
Even when officers managed to get to the crime scene on time, Fuuko's speed and power proved too much for regular TSAB mages.

Her hideout was soon discovered: the remains of the lab used by Scaglietti. But once Fate got there, she had already left.
Fate and Teana conducted investigations on abandoned facilities, arresting unrelated criminals in the process, but no clues leading to Fuuko.

Even Ellyja, who is still training to be an Enforcer, also cooperates whenever she can.
It was a shock to her when she found out what happened, but recovered quickly...after all, her partner is in trouble.
So even after Fuuko's disappearance, she dilligently continued the training regime they did together for the last 3 years.

On her mind was only one thing: Saving her friend from the sadness and confusion imprisoning her heart.

~~~~

Vita entered the room, holding in each hand a cup with a warm drink.
Walking up to Nanoha, she sets the drink on the table. "Here." Vita took her seat opposite to Nanoha.

Setting the picture on the table, she grabbed the cup and sipped quietly.
"So, no news?" Vita asked but Nanoha shook her head. "I see..."

It's been 6 months since Fuuko ran away, and thankfully, the only crimes she commited were robbery and resisting arrest.
They had to catch her fast, before she causes an incident or kills someone.
If it gets any more serious, TSAB law won't go easy on her...

After some silence, Nahoha spoke, "This year..."
"Hmm?" Vita looked at Nanoha.
"She spent her birthday alone."
"...Yeah." The little knight paused, "We'll just have to make a big one after we catch her."
"We sure will." Nanoha smiles.

Finishing her drink, Nanoha stands.
"Something wrong?" Vita blinked.
"According to her strike pattern, she'll make a move soon."
"Yeah, so?"
"I'm going out to patrol."
"Again? You did the morning shift remember?"
"I'm still going." Nanoha headed to the exit.
"W-Wait!" Vita drank in a hurry and went after her. "I'm going too."
"Thanks."
"If I don't keep an eye on you, you'll push yourself again."
"Look who's talking." Nanoha countered in a playful tone.
"S-shut up..." She pouted.

------------------------------------

[Mid-Childa, Cranagan]
[7th District, Urban Area]
[21:57]

Ellyja ran through the streets in a hurry...This was it, a rare chance!
Less than 10 minutes ago, a nearby mansion was robbed of some old documents containing information on artifacts, the pattern was identical to Fuuko's style.
(It's her. It's her. It's her!) Elly repeated in her mind. (If I can talk to her, she'll listen to reason.)

(Ellyja, respond.) Teana's voice ecchoed in her head.
(Yes?)
(I'm at 29th Street, no signs, what's your location?)
(I just passed 14th Street, no signs as well.)

(Ok. This district has been sealed with a barrier, officers haven been dispatched to help search.)
(Understood.)
(If you encounter the criminal, report immediately and do not engage, I repeat, do not engage, understand?)
(R-Roger.) Elly frowned at the orders. But Teana is her superior, she had to obey them.

~~~~

Passing a couple of buildings, then making a turn left, Elly finds a Bureau Officer sprawled on the floor.
"H-Hey!" The girl runs up to the fallen officer and checks his vitals, quickly sighing in relief, "He's alive."

Elly then notes that the way the officer is on the floor was due to a blow from behind.
Examining him closer, she doesn't find any scorch marks on the back of his head or armor.
Then, something caught her attention, a small mark on the pavement, as if a sharp object fell from above, penetrating the stone.

Reconstructing the scene in her head, said object would fall behind the officer if he was standing still and wouldn't hurt him.
(It didn't make sense...something's off.)

(...or missing!) As Elly realized it she rolled on the ground, hearing afterwards the sound of something hitting the pavement.
Once she looked, she saw a silvery dagger-shaped blade of energy partially embedded on the stone floor.
(It's not Fuu-chan's magic color...) She thought.

But it all made sense now. A bind effect applied on a magic knife thrown at the target's shadow, pinning into the floor those in contact with the shadow, followed by the finishing blow.
Of course, this is only possible because the streets are illuminated.
Sharpening her senses, Elly looked around, ready to move if another dagger is thrown.

"It would have been better if you hadn't moved. Just like that civil servant." a voice ecchoed on the empty street.
(This is bad, I better call for backups.) Once she opened the channel, all she heard was static. (J-Jamming?)
"Judging by your face, you noticed the jamming field I set up. So...will you be a good puppy and be knocked out in a quick and painless manner...or struggle?"
(I can't let that happen!) Elly gritted her teeth, (I have to find Fuu-chan!)

[Light Stiletto!] an energy blade grows from the tip of Elly's Device mounted on her left arm.
"...Is that your answer?"
Elly assumes a fighting stance to emphasize.
"So be it." As she finished, four magic knives came out from a dark alley, straight for Elly.

Rolling out of the way, Elly makes sure her shadow doesn't get hit. But as she stops and prepares herself for another strike, something grazes her left shoulder, cutting her Barrier Jacket.
Wincing, Elly realizes she's in a bigger disadvantage than she expected.

She had to even the odds.
Pulling some cards out of the pouch on her right leg and scatters them, turning into copies of herself.
(Have to take out the lights!) Shuffling herself with her illusions, each aim at a streetlight.
"Like I'll let you." the voice spoke again, throwing two daggers for each Elly.

All except one Elly successfully dodge the blades, the one that is hit vanishes, leaving the charged bullet behind.
"Tch." The assailant clicks its tongue.
"Shoot!" The remaining shout as they fire at the lampposts.

Hitting the lamps, the light provided by them quickly vanishes.
With their task completed, Elly's copies disappear as well.

Though still illuminated by Mid-Childa's moons, the street became a lot darker.
(With this she can't use the shadow bind ability.)
"Congratulations, your plan worked...now what?" the voice asked in a worriless tone.

To be honest, Elly hadn't thought that far, she wanted to find Fuuko before she ran away...wait.
Elly compared her attacker's pattern with Fuuko's. "Are you the one that stole the documents?" She asks.
"And if I am?" The voice spoke right behind her.
"!" Elly turns around, but there wasn't anyone there...

"You're not the person I'm after, but I'll have to arrest you for invasion of private property and robbery!"
"Person you say...*chuckle*" The voice came from another direction, "If you're chasing the golden-eyed girl, I suggest you withdraw."
"Do you know her?!" Elly stepped forward, towards the voice.
"My, my...don't let your emotions get the best of you, it's dangerous." the voice giggled again.

Controlling herself, Elly spoke in a calm tone, "...What is your relation with her?"
"I'd say...rival? We're after the same things after all."
"What do you mean?"
"Now now, you haven't even caught me and you expect me to tell you everything?" It said playfully.

Elly frowned, assuming a fighting stance, "Then I'll arrest you and make you speak!"
"Unaware of what its facing, the puppy continues to bare its fangs...how foolish."
(What should I do? I said those things but...I'm not sure I can win.) She thought while keeping her guard up.

In a flash, the attacker was right in front of Elly, a silver magic blade growing from the back of its right hand swipes at her.
The blades clash as Elly parries the blow in time. A second blade grows its left hand and strikes with a rising slash.
Backstepping in time, Elly escapes with only a cut on her barrier jacket.

And as soon as it came, her attacker vanished into the shadows...but she saw its appearance.
An emotionless mask. Long, wavy silver-white hair, cat ears and tail of matching color and a woman's body covered in black tights.
Cat ears and a tail...her attacker is a familiar..."Who is making you do this?" She asked.

"What are you talking about?" The masked woman spoke from the darkness.
"You're a familiar, right? Is your master forcing you to commit crimes?"
"Sharp eyes...but judging by the way you talk, you know nothing of familiars."
"Eh?"
"A master's wishes are the familiar's wishes."
"Are you saying that you're doing this because you want to?"
"Who knows..." She paused, "A familiar's duty is to protect its master...by doing this, I am protecting my master."
"What do you mean?" Elly asks, not knowing where to face.

"Enough talking, time is short and I've wasted enough of it already. Time for you to sleep."
Silence filled the dim lit street, yet the masked familiar didn't strike...a psychological attack perhaps?
Elly's reaction speed allows her to avoid a clean hit but the problem is her assailant so far wasn't serious.

Fast, moves silently and can attack from any side...so which side to expect the strike?
(No...not just the sides!) As Elly realized, she looked above...but it was too late, she wouldn't be able to block in time.

At that moment...a green magic bullet hits the masked woman throwing her off course and crashing on the floor.
As she fell, a folder fell off the belt on the tights.
"T-The documents!" Even with her mask cracked from the blast, she struggled to reach the folder.
A green knife of magic landed between her and the folder.
"I'll be taking that." A young voice ecchoed from up high as the folder began to glow green and float upwards.

[Storing...] Another familiar voice spoke as it absorved the folder.

Ellyja was still surprised...that emerald hue of green, bullet's travelling speed and the wind released...and now those voices.
(There no misaking it, it's her!) She looked towards the voice coming from the top of a building.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/Artwork/ws-b_efuu.jpg

"F-Fuu-chan?" She muttered as tears of nostalgia gathered on the corners of her eyes.
[Selene. No response.] Arbalest spoke as it tried to communicate.

Fuuko simply stood there, on top of the building, bathed in the light of Mid-Childa's moons.
Her cold, piercing stare gave the impression of being viewed as nothing more than a nuisance, an ant.

The fox-girl and even her device were barely recognizable...Elly remembers when Fuuko spoke of her Device, how it reflected her state of mind and mood.
From the once straight edges that were mounted on top and the elegant, curved scythe, it became a twisted, jagged and malicious-looking weapon.

"H-How?" Shaken from the blast, the masked familiar tried to get up, "I didn't even detect you..."
Fuuko looked down on the cat familiar. "Did you really think you could fool a fox? Know your place!"

[Aeolus Constrict!] Selene announced as rings of wind wrapped around the familiar.
"Wha-?!" She let out in surprise.

"So...you're the one that's been sneaking around, copying me and stealing what I'm after?" Fuuko asked.
"I-I am. G-got a problem with that?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. I don't care if the blame is pinned on me, but you stole some items I had my eyes on."
"F-First come, first serve." Judging by the tone of her voice, she was grinning.

"...Looks like you don't understand the situation you're in." Raising her armored left hand to waist level, she slowly closes her hand.
"G-NGH?!" The cat familiar quickly realized it wasn't a regular bind.
"So...where are the items you stole?" Fuuko asks calmly.
"L-like I'd tell you!"

"...Is that so?" She closed her fingers a bit more.
"G-GAAAH!" She shrieked as the binds thightened.
Meanwhile, Elly watched in disbelief, the Fuuko she knew, acting like this...

"N-No...Nooo...L-Lia..." The cat familiar spoke despairing tone.
"Hm?" Fuuko takes note the strange word.
"L-Lia..." As the mask fell off, it revealed beautiful cobalt-blue eyes overflowing with tears. "I-I c-can't die he-re...s-she'll b-be...all alone."

Seeing the previous cold assailant become so emotional, Elly turned to Fuuko.
"Fuu-chan, stop! It's enough already!"
"...Why should I?" She spoke while keeping her eyes on the familiar.
"She's doing this to protect her master! She has someone to return to! So...so, please Fuu-chan! Stop!" She begged to the point crying.
"N..." Fuuko's eyes twitched at the request, and the look on their faces. But she still lessened her grip, thus loosening the binds until they disappeared.

The familiar fell on her knees, gasping for air.
"Be thankful, cat. Your life is spared...Now go before I change my mind."
"Y-you conceited brat, I'll remember this!" Saying that, the familiar vanished into the night.

After a moment of silence, Elly spoke, "...Thanks, Fuu-chan."
"I wasn't really going to kill her."
"Eh?"
"...I needed to know where the items she stole were."

That reminded Elly of her duty: recover the stolen documents as well as finding Fuuko...well, there she was, and the documents were with her.
But not only did she look different, she had a different feeling...like there was an overwhelming aura around her.
Still, Ellyja wouldn't give up now, not after half a year of not seeing her best friend.

"...I missed you, Fuu-chan."
"..."
"I heard about what happened...about you acting a little strange and running away."
"..."

"You seem fine now so...let's go back, Fuu-chan, everyone's waiting." Elly was standing on the middle of the street, but she still reached out for her friend.
"...That won't be possible."
"Why?"
"There's no 'Fuu-chan' or 'Fuuko' here anymore."
"W-What do you mean?"
"...In the past, a certain woman lost half of her name after sinning. She considered herself unworthy of it, so she sealed it away."

Even though she didn't understand what Fuuko was talking about, Elly still listened.
Fuuko brought her left hand to her chest, "That day, something inside me broke. When I came to, I saw everyone as my enemy and blamed them for what happened."

After a pause, Fuuko continued, "Several days of thinking things over and over, I realized what I had done."
"T-Then--" Elly interrupts, but is then interrupted herself.
"I can't go back to who I was anymore! There's something inside me that urges me to move forward, no matter what...and it won't shut up."
"Fuu---"
"I'm not Fuuko anymore! I am the black wind that blows during the night, Midnight Wind." To emphasize this, a strong burst of wind is released.
"G-Gh..." Elly braces as the wind pushes her back.

"It's not too late!" Able to keep herself on her feet, Elly continues to persuade her.
"..."
"We can still help you! Everyone is willing to help!"
"I told you, it's not possible."
"Why?!" She raises her voice.

For the first time, Fuuko's expression became one of sorrow as she raised her gauntlet, fingers twitching.
"Even now, just looking at you...I have my hands full restraining this increasing bloodlust. Can you imagine what would happen if I saw them?" She looked at Elly.
"Fuu-chan..."

Her expression became stern again, "So...I'll give you a message to pass to everyone."
"W-What is it?"
"'Stop chasing after me.' and 'Forget about me.'"
"......" Elly looked down, her arms trembling.
"If you understand, then go, and tell them that."
"How can I?!" She looked at the building top where her friend is, "There's no way I can say that to them!"

"I see..." Fuuko sighed, shaking her head in disappointment, "I have no choice but to make an example out of you...Diva!"
"Huh?" Elly raised her eyebrows at the strange word that reached her ears.

But then, something pink flashed from the corner of the left eye, followed by stinging pain on the neck.
"NG-GAAAAH!?" Elly looked at her left shoulder and saw a small girl biting on her neck.
While trying to use her device, the girl blocks her left hand, applying a bind, and then her right so she couldn't take any spell cards.

"...You haven't met her, right? This is my familiar, Dhivallia or simply 'Diva'. She has a very interesting ability." Fuuko smirked.
Elly soon figured what it was, as she was starting to feel weak as if her magic was being drained.
"T-Then...the reason the Vampire Incident ended suddenly..." Elly connected the dots.

The 'Vampire Incident' was the name of a series of attacks during the night where students and mages were found unconscious, drained of their magic.
Though there was no damage to the victim's Linker Core and they would recover after some rest, the incident still caused anxiety among possible victims.

Fuuko jumps from the buiding, landing softly with the use of wind magic, she slowly walks toward the restrained Elly.
"That's right, she was the culprit. I recruited her to my side, quite kind of me if I may say so myself." Fuuko was back to acting the way she did before the cat familiar left.

"F-Fuu-chan...." With her legs already trembling, Elly could hardy stand.
Seeing her master approaching, Diva forces Elly drop on her knees while still to biting on her neck.
"How does it feel? The sensation of mana drained being from your body?" Fuuko smirked. "When you get used to it, it actually feels good."

"P-please...stop doing this. Your parents wouldn't want this, they---" She said weakly before being cut off.
"Don't you dare say it!" She looked down on Elly with the fierce eyes of a beast, "You think you can convince me when you don't even understand it?"
"But..."
"That can be easily solved though..." Fuuko bowed, becoming face to face with Elly, "By wiping out your family...that way, you'd understand, wouldn't you?"
"G-ghh..." Elly's eyes narrowed, she gritted her teeth trying to free herself, but it was no use.

"Hmph..." Fuuko straightened herself, fixed her hair, "Diva, that's enough, let her go."
Removing her fangs from Elly's neck, she replies, "Yeeees~" Stood and playfully hopped her way to Fuuko, coiling her arms around her master's left arm.

"How was it? The taste." Fuuko smirked as she looked at her familiar.
Diva licked her lips, "Her mana is delicious, not too thick or too thin, she's keeping herself in shape. Of course, it doesn't compare to master's~" She snuggled closer to Fuuko.
Fuuko looked at Elly, "I'm happy, Elly. Even without me, you still keep training. As your former partner and teacher, I'm proud of you."

Looking around, Fuuko notices the barrier's effect was wearing off, "Hmm, it seems our time is running out. Doesn't matter anyway, I got what I wanted."
"F-Fuu-chan...." Losing the support her assailant was providing, she became wobbly, thumbling sideways.
"Diva, preparations." She instructed.
"Yes~" The bat familiar let go of her master's arm, taking some steps back to prepare a spell.

Meanwhile, Fuuko got closer to Elly, and kneeled to whisper into her ear.
"Remember my message, stop chasing after me...you don't stand a chance."
"Hgnn..." Elly struggled with what little strength she had left.

"I owed you one, so I won't kill you...but the next time we meet..."
Fuuko licks the blood off the bite wound on Elly's neck.
"Nnn..." Ellyja winces weakly.
"Consider yourself warned." The golden eyed girl says before she turns her back to her former partner.

And with her familiar, she disappears into the darkness of night.

Elly and the unconscious TSAB officer were discovered afterwards, needless to say, the mission to retrieve the documents failed.

------------------------------------

[A few days later...]

[Mid-Childa, Cranagan]
[Building Top]
[22:14]

After a successful strike at a museum, Fuuko stood there, feeling the cold wind blow by before leaving to their hideout.
No one even imagined that the hideout was at the caverns in Elphora's mountains near her old home.

By her side, her small familiar, holding on to her affectionately as if they're siblings.
Having both lost people important to them, and in the midst of loneliness, these two found comfort in each other.
But at this silent moment, there was an intruder...

"You sure have a lot of guts to come near me after what happened the other day." Fuuko spoke, not turning around.
From the shadows, the cat familiar approached, "I'm not here to fight."
"Then what are you here for?" Fuuko continued with her back turned to the familiar, but Diva had her eyes on the cat, sticking out her tongue.

Kneeling, the familiar speaks, "I apologize for my behavior the other day."
Fuuko raised an eyebrow, "That's quite a drastic change of character. What's the catch?"
"My master's guardian wishes to speak to you about business, in person."
"Hmph...Is that so?" She turns around.

A small device is shown on her hand, "The dimensional coorditates and location are stored here." and throws it at Fuuko.
Catching it, Fuuko looks at the tiny device, and crushes it in her hand.
"...Are you refusing the invitation?" The cat familiar asks, preserving her composure.
"No need to beat around the bush...lead the way."
"Understood..." She got up, and prepared a dimensional transfer spell for three.

~~~~

Arriving to an unknown world, Fuuko stood at the gates of an enormous black castle surrounded by a forest.
The familiar signaled the guards to open the gigantic doors and they entered. Inside, a large garden, but the only flowers growing were black roses.
Reaching the front doors, opening seconds later and displaying the ostentatious main lobby.

"Luxurious" was too common a word to define the interior, not only did it look like royalty lived there, but it was backed up by a row of servants on each side to welcome them.
Bowing at the guests, the servants greet them, "Welcome."

Examining the servants as they walked, Fuuko noted they were all female familiars wearing servant's clothes, a maid's uniform.
(Such an amount of familiars...) She thought. (The owner of this place must have a vast amount of mana to support all these...)
"This is only a small fraction of them." The cat familiar spoke, knowing what Fuuko was thinking about.
"Impressive. Are you part of these servants too?"
"In my free time I work as one of them, but I have my own master." She spoke with pride.
"I see." Fuuko paused, "So...what are you called?"

"...Mani." She replied after some hesitation.
Fuuko smirked, "'Moon' huh? How fitting."
"Your praises are meaningless to me..." Mani replied.

After some minutes of walking in long hallways, climbing stairs and more hallways, they arrived to gaudy double doors that obviously led to an important room.
"We're here." Mani stopped in front the doors, pushing them open. "From here on, you go alone."
With the large doors closing behind Fuuko and Diva, they moved onward.

The overly decorated throne room was large, occupying two stories. Judging by how big the castle is and how much they walked, this room is located in the center of it all.
To greet them was small group of servant familiars lined up in front of them, wearing uniforms different from the previous ones, possibly elite.
They bowed in perfect timing, welcomed them in unison and then cleared way.

Looking ahead, there was another set of stairs, and at the end of them a large throne. Sitting on it, a middle-aged woman that reminded her of Precia Testarossa.
Accompanying her were two more females. At her left, a familiar in her early twenties dressed in maid uniform more elaborate than the elite itself...the head maid.

At her right, a small girl with interresting traits: jet-black hair, sapphire-blue eyes. She bore familiar symbols on her forehead and left hand.
On top of her head, two locks of hair bent at the base, making them look like horns, also bat wings above her ears and her back...but she's not a familiar.
She also held in her small arms a strange black book.

"Welcome to my humble home, Alte Burg..." Once the woman recognized her guest, she smiled, "What a lovely coincidence...Fuuko, wasn't it?"
"Not anymore, Professor Laestyl." Yes, Fuuko knew the woman, she was a former colleague of Yuuno at the Archaeologist's Association.

"Same for me, I'm not a Professor anymore...I ran away with a few artifacts after all" She smirks.
"So I heard." Fuuko paused, "So...What talk of this of business?"
"Right to the point, huh?" She shifted her legs, "...How does a partnership sound?"
"Do elaborate."

"In the last 6 months, you have collected some items that are of use to me, and I have some that are of use to you...as well as this." She pointed at the black book next to her.
"...What would that be?"
"The Tome of Nightmares...heard of it?"
A smirk spread across Fuuko's lips, "One of the pieces of a certain puzzle...amazing how you got your hands on it."

"I excavated it several years ago, it's one of the artifacts I ran away with. And if you are aware of it, then you know this is too good an offer to refuse."
Laestyl adds. "Once it's completed, reviving your dead parents is a simple task."
"...So you know of it." Fuuko frowns.
"After 6 months? Even Dr. Scaglietti who is in jail should know of it by now."
"Well, it doesn't matter....I'll take your offer."
"Excellent." She and her small companion smiled at the answer. "We're looking forward to working with you."

"Who's the small one?" Fuuko asked.
"Oh, how rude of me." Laestyl said playfully, "Allow me to introduce you to the Tome of Nightmares' Administrator, the Digger of Graves, Aetla."
"Nice to meet you." The girl smiled impishly as she bowed slightly.
"I see where this is going...and I like it." Fuuko smirked once more.

It seems that in the near future, Fuuko will have a chance to go wild in North Mid-Childa.

------------------------------------

[The following day...]

[37th Non-Administrated World, Elphora]
[Shrigg Mountains, Caverns]

After a long negotiation, the alliance formed and a taste of the life waiting them in Alte Burg, Fuuko and Diva returned to their hideout and made preparations to move.
As Diva and some maids packed the hideout's contents in crates, Fuuko was alone in a section deep in the caves...

It was a small room, but for Fuuko, the most important room of all...the place where her parents rested.
Each in a lifepod and perfectly preserved, the couple looked like they were merely sleeping.
Embracing both capsules, the girl rubbed her cheeks on the glass surface.

"Mama, Papa, wait just a little longer. Soon, very soon, I'll bring you back...and then we can be a family again."

Basking in the happiness of her own little world, the girl giggled as her dreams would soon become reality...

THE END?

...and that's it for WindS-B. Lots of names, revelations, hints and stuff mentioned, most of them will only appear in WindS-A :rolleyes:
(I think I spoiled a bit too much :uhoh:)

If you're wondering what Diva-chan looks like, here's it is! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/zetar0n1n/Artwork/winds_diva.jpg
the seiyuu I chose for her is Kitamura Eri who voiced Rin in Kodomo no Jikan, and Yui in Angel Beats! XD

Now with this done, I can go back to BreakerS for some sweet Koji x Maren :D

*runz*

itanshi1

2010-07-06, 17:42

This (http://www.giantbomb.com/evoker/93-55/). Because this will be my middle finger to all this more dakka mecha-style arm race

uh nanoha is an arms race

MeisterBabylon

2010-07-06, 21:52

Not sure this was brought up, I'd like to think it was, but with Force in mind, what temporary CW weapon upgrade would your OC use?

It's funny and unfortunate, I had one prior to the debut of Nanoha's new toy, but the use of it means I need to make another one context wise, ackYou're not alone. I dreamed up a double-barreled smart rifle and a tower shield that can open up and reveal an integrated disruptor array. With enough self-buffs, the shield can fire either a concentrated pulse or extend a very long energy sword best described as a "warship breaker".

itanshi1

2010-07-07, 01:51

x_x of course you did, and all i did was give fury tempest grenade like abilities on top of her usual pin ball explosive tactical strikes. That is to say, she's belkan sans cartridges, but if she were to have a cartridge upgrade, it'd be using them as explosive shaped charges.

Tk3997

2010-07-07, 06:49

Not sure this was brought up, I'd like to think it was, but with Force in mind, what temporary CW weapon upgrade would your OC use?

It's funny and unfortunate, I had one prior to the debut of Nanoha's new toy, but the use of it means I need to make another one context wise, ackNothing becasue I'm getting pretty tired of the anti-magic crap (I will use drones though cause they make good cannonfodder and can be defeated with normal weapons using skill) so my OCs are avoiding all that and my OCs are already in a shared universes that IIRC is AU to Force. So I have no real plans for such things besides they're clearly going to be utterly pwned by the CC so no need to get involved.

uh nanoha is an arms raceIt's started to become one, but we hardly need to follow it down that rather rocky road.

Keroko

2010-07-07, 07:03

MeisterBabylon

2010-07-07, 07:44

Moczo

2010-07-07, 07:46

Frankly, any sequel to A's not focused on a new cast has always been a lose/lose situation. New bad guy is more powerful than the main cast? "OMFG Nanoha is teh most powerful new enemie is mary sue this sux RAAAAAAAAAGE!" New enemy uses a way to work around the main casts power? "OMFG How fake cheaters they can't win without haxcheats RAAAAAAAAAAAGE!"

That's one thing Vivid did right: Keep the universe, make the old cast cameo's, and focus on the huge new not nearly as overhyped cast you introduced in StrikerS.

I dunno... I've got a pretty extensive fic going and all of the villains except Precia are OC's with power roughly on par with most of the canon cast, perhaps slightly higher; so far, nobody seems to really mind. 'Dangerous, but not unstoppably so' seems to be the key; one-sided curbstompings have their place, but they get boring quickly. A really good fight scene should have both sides relatively well matched, and most fans will react well to villains that follow this principle. The Big Bad can be a breaker of worlds, but most of the villains can and should just be 'viable threats'. If they threw Nanoha and co. a pack of Worthy Opponents, I'm sure the public would react favorably.

(On a side note, I haven't posted these OC's here because the fic was already 20 chapters along when I started posting on the forums. A little late to make any major changes... :heh:. Maybe I'll post them anyway later, just for the hell of it.)

Heinekochan

2010-07-07, 09:36

EDIT: Page claim! Nya! =^w^=

I'm not that familiar with the Kamen Rider universe, so there's a lot I can't comment on. I'll let those more familiar with the Kamen Rider universe do that. I do like her appearance though.I was waiting for more to join in the discussion, but I haven't seen anyone of the Rider creators in my recent lurking... And Onii-sama told me that one of his staunchest supporters Aaron008R was stunned speechless...

Me can has epic fail. :(

The profile was meant to build on the other Rider profiles I find in the thread. I also withheld a lot of spoileric details so I can understand the confusion. Glad you liked her appearance. Did you know I cosplayed as Decade-tan at my 21st birthday? It's the wildest thing I have ever done! :eyespin:

So after 4 years of rewriting, tearing down and rebuilding; as well as 2 previous profiles (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=2757872&postcount=8489) here for practice; and hours of badgering Lowe for some assistance, I've finally completed the profile for the OC I've always meant to create. Said OC has also appeared in that fic I haven't yet updated for some time.

Stuff the super mouse.The ladies' man in a spy novel. Cute! =^w^=

On the other hand, there are some very strange names in there... :heh:

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Fanfic/Madoukishiasclei.png

I'll post the continuation hopefully tomorrow or on tuesday. http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz245/Fate_T_Harlaown/Emoticons/waicopy.pngAsclei gave Fate the run for her money! Do update soon.

Okay, so it's been way too long since I actually posted something worthy a substance. Was it 2 years, or 3? Either way, I've been too caught up at G.R.R.Martin-ing my own stuff to the point I have over 50 work in progress ( only 2 are massive length ideas, mind you ), barely 5 complete. >.>Don't worry. I know of an even bigger procrastinator. :3

[CENTER]Book of Knights : Isolated Memories
Memories of Null : A Remembrance of Birth and Reason of Existence

I'll try to keep myself in a more active role... *cough cough*

*runs*I just finished reading Saga's Saga (:heh:) last week so it is still fresh in mind. It does not seem to gel with the latest chapter I could find (or it is just buried so deep where the Sun don't shine)...

It is a simple drawing, but very moving. I thought Null was KOS-MOS for a second though... :heh:

It's back it's back it's back! Woo! Now excuse me if I go re-read the entire saga again. :3Yay! :hyper-^v^:

Not sure this was brought up, I'd like to think it was, but with Force in mind, what temporary CW weapon upgrade would your OC use?

It's funny and unfortunate, I had one prior to the debut of Nanoha's new toy, but the use of it means I need to make another one context wise, ackI don't really have an upgrade in mind. You see, in FORCE, Kaprisa would be 19 years old and holds the record for youngest person to be made spaceship captain. She would be in command of the warship recovered from Dai-Shocker, the T.S.S. Decade. She would have made a name for herself during the StrikerS incident and in subsequent spillover conflicts. Because of her prior assignment under then-Captain Keroko of the Riot 6 "Drake" Squad, Kaprisa and the Decade would be eventually called to support Hayate and the Wolfram.

The Decade is a state-of-the-art escort by herself. Perhaps the only upgrade to Kaprisa's tough little boat would get is a cloaking device.

You're not alone. I dreamed up a double-barreled smart rifle and a tower shield that can open up and reveal an integrated disruptor array. With enough self-buffs, the shield can fire either a concentrated pulse or extend a very long energy sword best described as a "warship breaker".Wasn't it supposed to be the Extreme Memory?

I dunno... I've got a pretty extensive fic going and all of the villains except Precia are OC's with power roughly on par with most of the canon cast, perhaps slightly higher; so far, nobody seems to really mind. 'Dangerous, but not unstoppably so' seems to be the key; one-sided curbstompings have their place, but they get boring quickly. A really good fight scene should have both sides relatively well matched, and most fans will react well to villains that follow this principle. The Big Bad can be a breaker of worlds, but most of the villains can and should just be 'viable threats'. If they threw Nanoha and co. a pack of Worthy Opponents, I'm sure the public would react favorably.

(On a side note, I haven't posted these OC's here because the fic was already 20 chapters along when I started posting on the forums. A little late to make any major changes... :heh:. Maybe I'll post them anyway later, just for the hell of it.)The studio had already matched power for power before hence they had to think of something different. But I think the studio should have put in more effort in trying to be different. I agree with Onii-sama that this anti-magiclink trend is getting rather tired and undermines the notion that magic is the way of the future.

MeisterBabylon

2010-07-07, 09:59

*rubs forehead*

Thanks for the heads-up, AX. :heh:

The Decade is a state-of-the-art escort by herself. Perhaps the only upgrade to Kaprisa's tough little boat would get is a cloaking device.The Romulans won't allow that! :uhoh:

Wasn't it supposed to be the Extreme Memory?Kamen Rider Unicorn is one single U. Not Double-U. :/

PhoenixFlare

2010-07-07, 10:40

*peers in*

*presses Launch Nuke*

*flees*

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha GuardianS

Chapter Thirteen—The Saint and the Devil (Part Two)

[Unknown Location] [March 10th, MC 081] [2222 hours]

Darkness.

Chaos swirled in the twilight, a shadow so deep there was no end. It was a sea of pure black, one that consumed all things in its endless hunger.

From within the heart of this primordial darkness emerged myriad entities so tiny as to be mere motes of dust if not for their constant twinkling and blinking in a mysterious light of their own possession. As each passed her by, there were brief flashes of images, fleeting pictures that moved and shifted. Try as she might, she could never discern who they were or what were they doing.

Never could, except for the ephemeral whistles of fairy-like sounds.

And only then she realized where she was—a deep, endless darkness, and she was somehow drifting within in. She gasped, shocked at the discovery. And she started to fall, fall down the long way into the gaping maw of the pitch-black abyss. Stranded unknowingly in the middle of nowhere, there was nothing she could hold on to stop her deathly plummet. She screamed, but no sound came out. There was no help at all, and she would die in this lonely, desolate place …

Somebody … anyone … save me!

As suddenly as it had begun, her plunge downward stopped. In the strange space, she floated as a fish would in water. Is this water? she thought. Against the better of her judgments, she reflexively took a deep breath, thinking that she would inhale liquid and start clawing her throat for air. But, it did not happen—she could breathe normally, as peculiar as the notion was to her. In the vacuum of this unknown plane of existence, it was a wonder that she could even breathe, let alone hear anything. Yet she did, all the while floating effortlessly in the still air. The darkness below and around her undulated like a restless sea, tossing and churning of its own accord. Fearing that it would become a high wave, she pulled herself higher, farther from the menacing depths. Strangely enough, the distance did not seem to change at all. She flew higher, straining all her might, but the waters below were always but meters away from her feet.

… Where am I?

In answer, the tiny fireflies of light that had sped past her soared out of the roiling waves in a brilliant burst of colors. As one, they winked around her, a rainbow of lights that dazzled and blinded. For a normal person, it was a fascinating sight to behold, as if one had swam in a sea of stars. But, not so for her, who screamed and clapped her hands to her ears as pain and agony began assaulting her in a rising crescendo.

Pain and agony that came in the form of sounds so all-encompassing it was overwhelming.

There were no particular words or specific terms that she could hear; in fact, she could barely want to listen at all. Her head pounded and her blood rushed as the aural wave continued all around her. The malevolent chorus combined and surged as one, attacking her with a relentless vigor. The drones of indiscernible voices, noises of things both familiar and alien, and the eruptions of unnatural sounds jarred her being and made her tremble violently in an unspeakable pain.

She doubled over in anguish, pressing her hands to her ears so hard the fingers were white and the nails dug deep into her skin, drawing tiny pearls of ruby blood. Even this physical pain could not negate the suffering she was going through, for these strange reverberations, as powerful as they were untouchable, thundered not only in her ears, but also stormed her mind in a fury unmatched. There was just so much for her to handle, so much that she wished she could die just to escape this unassailable hell …

No! Stop this!

And they did. The flitting fireflies suddenly dimmed and the noise vanished abruptly, diminishing into mere whispers barely audible. The pain remained for some time as a throbbing pulse at her temples before it, too, subsided. She could hardly believe herself, so sure that she had actually gone deaf or mad. Slowly, she pulled her trembling hands away from her sweat-drenched face, her hair tangled in a sticky mess. And then came a most unexpected sound—one that made her reflexively cringe slightly after the initial experience: the crash of some waves below her. Her eyes, still teary from the attack, could only see the inky blackness that seemed to shift invariably.

Wait … so is that really water down there? she thought after she overcame the shock. Wiping the sweat from her face (she had not even realized this when she was in so much pain) and tidying herself up a bit, she began to look around her again. Nothing was out of the ordinary in the enveloping darkness except for the tiny stars that still circled lazily around her. They seemed tamer and less lively than before, for some unknown reason.

Her eyes widened suddenly. Is it because I … just now? The realization sent her blood racing. But, where is this? What really happened just now? As if in answer, one of the stars suddenly lit up, glowing so brightly it startled her. As it floated in front of her, she could, through her squinted eyes, actually see something deep within the tiny entity—something that moved and changed.

Something that made a sound.

Thankfully, this was something far tolerable than what happened previously, and she could actually listen to the sound despite the strange inflections she attributed to the peculiar space she was in. Only then she realized what were the things that moved in the glittering star and what the sound was.

The ‘things’ were people, and the ‘sound’ was, in reality, words from a conversation. Of course, when they had all crashed down on her back then, it was not surprising for her to feel overwhelmed by the sounds that, when all the multitudes were joined together in a single wave, were like a hurricane unto a tiny sapling. That, and the fact that the torture she experienced had not been purely from the physical side, but rather most keenly in the mental aspect …

“… This isn’t good, she won’t make it unless we do something fast,” said a female voice, directly into her mind. The voice was familiar to her, but she could not make out the features of the speaker in the shimmering entity. It was as if a permanent veil enshrouded everything, making it a perpetual gray.

“What do you propose we do?” asked a male voice that sounded slightly strained and melancholic to her.

“I’m not sure,” admitted the female. “There’s nothing we can do to the origin of her ailment. Our best option right now is to seal her powers where they are and …” The voice trailed away, as if cut off by something. “… but it would probably be a dangerous gamble …”

There was a long pause such that she thought the conversation had ended, leaving her with multiple questions that need answering. And then … “Do it,” replied the male grimly. “If that’s the only way to save her, then I suppose we have no choice. I hope this will go well, A—” Again, the speaker was terminated so abruptly it seemed almost deliberate.

Or was it?

There was no time to contemplate the question as the mysterious star suddenly rose up into the air and, before she could grab it, sped up in a sparkling spiral. She watched it growing smaller and smaller until it was but a single dot of light in the shadowy horizon, much like what she saw when they first emerged from the darkness, and disappear into the maws of the black sky. Strangely, something within her seemed to resonate deeply with the loss, as if it was a piece of memory truly important to her.

… Memory?

“Do you still remember, my child?” another voice started speaking suddenly, arising from yet another star that glowed brightly behind her. “Do you remember the stories of our ancestors … and the Burdens they bear?”

“Yes, Mother,” said the tiny voice of a girl. Something snapped inside her when she recognized who the speaker was: it was she herself, from a long time ago, talking to her kind, beautiful mother. She recognized this scene, but could not remember when had it happened. Everything was so blurry … like the gray veil obscuring the faces of the two persons. “To be born into a clan of Seers, one bears the three heaviest Burdens a man could ever imagine. First is the Burden of Permanent Sin, for the Seer’s transgression into the secret realm of the gods and attempting to divine the mysteries of the cosmos. A Seer, once awakened to his or her power, can never touch the realm of eternal peace in the afterlife. The second is the Burden of Nocent Fortune, for even as a Seer sees the future and changes the paths that the commoners, the kings, or even the world walks, the Seer cannot see his or her own and will never be able to escape from the destinies already set for them by the heavens. And these destinies, as divine punishment, are the cruelest and most painful for any man to venture. The third and the last is the Burden of Impetuous Death, but … no one really explained this to me.”

“That is quite enough, my daughter,” said the mother in a small voice. Letting out a deep sigh, she continued, “You are right. Seers are tasked in guiding the world, yet they are no more than pawns to heaven’s will. Our power of foresight is both wondrous and dreadful in its own light. Such had been, have been, and will always be the destiny of the Seers. For endless cycles of the world, no Seer has ever been able to escape from this cruel path laid down for them from birth. Not even me …”

“Then, Mother, will you too …?” the girl asked in a startled voice.

“Worry not, my child. Death is an inevitable part of life. The end of one’s journey is merely the beginning for another,” the mother replied calmly. “But … but, you, my daughter, are different. You are a Seer and yet you are not. You represent the first generation of what the Seers of old have long hoped to be: possessing the latent powers of foresight, different though they may be, but bear not the three original Burdens. That is why you are different, my daughter. That is why you are special.”

“Special?” the little one asked.

“Indeed,” came her reply. “You will be the one to forge a new path for the Seers, my child. You will make a new history for us and our ancestors who were tainted by our powers. No longer will you be bound by the weak will of our people, and never again will you be the tool for the greedy and the rich. You will be free!”

Unexpectedly, the girl started sobbed. “But, Mother, I’m scared …”

“Fear not,” she soothed her daughter. “Your powers, small as they are now, will protect you. Even in the darkest corner of the world, you can always find protection in them. However, even I cannot fathom what will happen when your ability reaches maturity, for yours is an entirely different phenomenon. But, it is exactly this that you can find comfort in their presence—no one will be able to make you beholden to them unless you yourself submit willingly. Of course, none may be able to, except for one …”

“Who is the one?” she questioned in a trembling voice.

“The unseen one, the untouchable, they who dwell in the high thrones of the heaven,” her mother said. “To them, you are a violation of the contract between the Seers and their ancient oath, an aberration that should not exist.” Her voice became sad and solemn. “For this, I am truly sorry, my daughter. It is I who decided to break this cycle, yet you will be the one to bear the sins of my doing. This defiance brings about a great misfortune that will surely befall you. But worry not … for I will always be there to protect you.”

“… Mother? Are you crying?”

“Crying? No, I’m not … it’s probably just sand in my eyes …”

The girl gasped. “This … This is blood! You’re injured! Your eyes … they’re bleeding!” she cried in alarm.

There was a short pause before the mother said: “So, it’s finally begun, eh? … No, my child, this is no mere injury. This is the third and the last Burden that was never explained to you—the Burden of Impetuous Death. When a Seer attempts to change the course of someone or something to a magnitude that defies the allowed boundary of interference such that it may have a wide-ranging influence on the world, the heaven punishes the Seer by afflicting a lethal damage that cannot be prevented by any means, not even by the most powerful magic in the world. This is their justice, their retribution, that the Seers must live by. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer this, my daughter.”

“But … why?” she wailed.

“I do not know why these Burdens exist for us Seers that are harmless in most aspect, but I suppose our dabble into the cosmic secrets must be paid with something of an equivalent value, and that means our lives. However, I am willing to suffer this cruel fate because I love you, my daughter. Even in my death, even as I struggle in the depths of damnation, I will always protect you …”

“No! I don’t want this! I want you, Mother!”

“There are no words to express how sorry I am, my daughter, but even if you hate me for my selfishness, I will love you always. With my power as the last Seer of the clan, I’ve diverted most of the harm that would’ve eventually come your way. The protection I wove around you when you were born will shield you from the dangers that lie in the future. The symbol of Lahst of the Rebirth, the eternal bird of the White Goddess Elreana, you bear is proof of this. But even I am not able to stand in heaven’s way forever. When the time comes, remember yourself, my daughter. You are a child that stands equal among God and Devil …”

“What does that mean?”

“When that time comes, you will be given your very first, and also your very last, choice to make. At that moment, fate shall reserve its capricious tamper and destiny shall relinquish its whimsical hold on you. Choose well, my daughter, for your choice is the crux of all that will be: whether you become a redeemer, or the harbinger of destruction for a world …” Her voice grew so faint it was difficult to hear.

“No! Mother, no!” cried the girl frantically.

“Farewell, my daughter … I have done all that I could. My deepest and only regret is that I wasn’t able to save your sister—”

Tears rolled down her cheeks in silence as the star dimmed and flew up, leaving a fading trail of the anguished cry of the child—her younger self—before it disappeared. There was so much sorrow, so much pain that she had endured in her life, but nothing could compare to the sadness she had at that time. Her heart was ripped into a thousand pieces when her kind, benevolent mother passed away, leaving her alone in the merciless world. And perhaps it was that helplessness, that loneliness that eventually made her into …

As if connected to her inner turmoil, the miniature stars that circled around her lazily began to spin faster and more frantic. Their lights throbbed and pulsed almost with a life of their own. And then … “This is no good,” said a gruff voice. “The others cannot survive one, let alone multiple inclusions of these magic sources.”

“They were but weak specimens,” answered another, his voice rather nasal. “For the attainment of our goal, everything is dispensable. Our spies are reporting movements among the nobles of the kingdom especially now that the Queen is exiled. The Conclave isn’t resting until they gain control of the throne. Already, rumors of assassination are rife and the bastard Prince is making those idiot councilmen dancing to his fingers as a puppeteer would his marionettes. He’s intimidating the Royals to do as he wishes. It won’t be long before he sets his sight on the Hierocracy. Needless to say, we do not and cannot mix with those bloodthirsty nobles. To this end, there’s only one conclusion in sight.”

“A war!” gasped the other.

“Precisely,” replied the nasal-voiced man. “It will take some time, several years perhaps, because the Prince is wary of the vast power wielded by the Church. But, the combined might of the Conclave and the Royals would be sufficient enough to crush us if they deign to unleash the full brunt of their force on us. The elite mages of the Conclave—the Council—are nothing to trifle with. We have the Astral Templars now as peacekeepers, but even they would eventually have to face them in combat. And if they fall, we have nothing else to rely on but ourselves. That’s why it’s imperative that we gain headway of the Conclave with this project.”

“But … she is just a child. It seems so cruel!”

“Ah, compassion is something we cannot spare this time,” said the man. “If everything fails, the fates of those associated with us will be even more horrible than anything imaginable.”

“Still …”

“You are a kind man, Fleming, and I can see why the Queen has taken you in much confidence. But kindness cannot prevail against the madness of the Prince and his cohort. The Goddess Elreana loves life, but even She understands the rules of nature and becomes the fearsome Warrior-Maiden of the Moon to protect those dear to Her. You must understand.”

There was a short pause before the one called Fleming replied. “Yes … yes, I understand. Then I will pray for the Goddess to grant us Her boon and enlightenment so that this war can be averted.”

“Pray, then, if you must, and I wish the same as you for the sake of our future. I hope that these children will never have to suffer the pain of the war, for their awakening is indeed cruel even if it was necessary. May the love of the Goddess bless these Princesses with joy …”

“Princesses, huh? They who will bear the legacy of the Child-Goddess Aisha, the young princess of ancient times that was also known as the greatest sorceress ever alive …”

The conversation from before ended abruptly as the sound of explosions rocked the strange world. She could see nothing of what was happening, but the din and chaos was loud enough that it made her feel like she was in the middle of a battlefield.

“Run, our Princess! We will hold them back!” shouted a man. She thought his voice sounded familiar. Of course, isn’t he the one who …

“Halt, Templars, and surrender to the grace of the Prince!” the harsh command of the pursuers sounded.

“Go, our Princess, the ship will take you somewhere safe. Do not worry about us; these puny mages are no match for us. We’re the elite Templars, after all,” said a woman whose voice was like the sound of murmuring stream. Again, the eerie familiarity clicked in her mind, and she felt her heart stop a beat. This cannot be …

“Yup! We’ll kick their rears so hard they will regret ever challenging us. We won’t lose when we manifest our Essences!”

“We’ll meet you after we’re done here, our Princess. Goddess willing, it will not take us long at all. This, we promise.” The voice of this lady was clear yet somber. It was very familiar, very close even, as if the certainty of her cognizance was standing at the precipice of recollection, but it soon fell into a deep, dark void, lost and forgotten. The melancholy of her words struck something in the back of her mind—she was sure she was supposed to recognize who she was, but the memory escaped her.

… Or perhaps it was she who was escaping from the memory?

“And you know the Templars do not break their promise. Take this ring, our Princess, as the symbol of our words.”

“Ah, is that ring …?” The image of the ring, vague though it was, was burnished bright into her mind. She could never forget it. How could she, when she actually possessed it, and when it was but ruined after that accident? No, it would be a grave sin for her to forget …

“Yes, it is the same ring as the one I have … my engagement ring to …”

“But to give away something so important …”

“… is proof of our promise. We will definitely meet again, our Princess.”

But their next words were eclipsed by something of an unbelievable magnitude. There was a bloodcurdling scream such that it sent chills down her spine. But, deep down inside, she knew her shivering was not because of fear. Rather, it was because of something far more terrifying. The memory had been locked away for so long, buried in the innermost part of her mind, that she thought it would never resurface. Yet, it did, and it scared her.

For she recognized whose heartrending scream it was.

No …

Propelled by an unseen force, the stars around her swirled so fast that they became ribbons of light. A thin, high-pitched hum began to resonate, growing louder and louder, filling her ears with its nerve-wracking keen. Stray stars flung themselves from the pool of light, disappearing into the restless clouds of darkness surrounding her. The frenetic dance of light was as incredible as it was dizzying. In the deafening noise of explosions that followed, the dome of light shattered as if struck by a massive bolt of power. Brilliant shards of the stars were blasted off into the void of the world until the soothing warmth of light all but vanished and only she alone remained in the ashen desolation.

But, there, in the distant, was always, always this shroud of darkness deeper than the twilight of this world, a blot of abyssal shadow against the black, restless sky. And the shroud, ever so slowly, shifted, exposing the pure white within, just like the shell of an egg peeling to reveal the pale content of its hidden treasure.

And the pure white was to be the face of an angel, with smiling lips so red it was almost blood, a nose as perfect as china, and eyes as deep and mysterious as sardonyx.

She was to be an angel until she unfurled the wings of black feathers that embraced her so lovingly it was almost painful.

Until she gazed at her with those somber eyes, drawing her into their infinite depths, and wept fire.

Fire that burned at her body, her mind, and her soul …

NOOOO!

* * * * *

She jolted awake, her face and body drenched in sweat. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps, as if she had ran hundreds of miles in her sleep. But she had not, still in her silk nightgown and on the bed, in the room she recognized so well. The sheet was wet and crumpled, and so was her hair.

Weakly, she brushed away the vagrant strands that stuck to her face like cobweb. Only then did she notice that her hands were trembling badly. She gripped her hand with the other and forced herself to calm down. It took some effort, but she finally did.

… But, what was that really just now?

* * * * *

Unbeknownst to her, another person in another place awoke at the same time she did, in a sweat-drenched and trembling body just like her, asking the same exact question.

[Unknown Location] [March 11th, MC 081] [0923 hours]

The atmosphere in the room was tense as the four Templars stood in silence, deep in their own thoughts.

When Grandia and Trystahn came back from their meeting with the person who gave them their mission yesterday and told the other two Templars about it, an argument had broken out between Sharazad and Grandia, the former who adamantly refused to follow with the plan even after her brother had explained their situation. The Sage of the Harp stood with her own stance, saying what a fool they had been to acquiesce with the provost’s crazed idea. Trystahn did not say anything, torn between agreeing with his lover or his leader; similarly, Vestrell took a neutral stand by saying she would go with the majority consensus. Since neither sibling could come to an agreement that day, Trystahn suggested that all of them took some time to consider the mission and what they would do, independent of one another.

And the four of them separated for one whole day, never speaking or seeing one another until this morning, the day when they would decide on their options.

“So?” The ice of silence between them cracked like thunder when Grandia uttered the question in his most solemn, coldest voice they had ever heard. His demeanor radiated no warmth either. Already garbed in his battle gear, the hilt of the golden sword Helios gleaming bright at his waist, he appeared prepared to move on with the plan regardless of their answer.

There was no immediate response. However, from the looks on Trystahn and Vestrell’s expressions, as their guilty eyes shifted furtively in Sharazad’s direction, it was clear what their decision was. Now, all that remained was the reply of one of the most crucial members in their ranks, for even as they were all skilled warriors in their own rights, none of them possessed the ability to wield elemental powers to the degree that she could. Her presence was one that could truly turn the tide of battle in their favor.

Then, she finally spoke: “I will go.” The words, however, felt as if a sharp dagger had just sliced through the air. Matching her brother in asperity and seriousness, Sharazad stood with all the imperiousness a queen could have possibly mustered, her eyes cast disdainfully in another direction as she said her agreement. Her contempt to the entire plan was unmistakable that perhaps only out of sheer desperation or honor of their promise made her decide otherwise. Even then, her expression was one of pain and sorrow, forced into this decision she did not desire by the circumstances of their situation.

“Sharazad …” muttered Trystahn softly, feeling her anguish.

“Very well then,” Grandia said, his tone frostily crisp. Though not immediately noticeable, his rigid expression did soften somewhat, relieved to have his sister by their side in the forthcoming battle. “Come along now, we have a long way to go,” he continued, turning around. Vestrell leapt down from the couch she was sitting on and followed while Trystahn picked up his mace and pulled his cloak over it with his good hand.

“Wait,” Sharazad interrupted sharply.

All three froze in their track, surprise on their faces as they wondered whether Sharazad had changed her mind on the issue in so short a time. “What is it?” Grandia asked, his voice edgy. “Do you want to renege on your words, Sharazad?” The glint of animosity in his eyes, even towards his own sister, was apparent when he thought she was going to betray that hope he carried when she agreed to go with them.

Sharazad calmly shook her head, the azure locks of her hair trailing softly. “No such thing, brother,” she said softly even as she gazed coolly into her brother’s eyes. “As much as I detest on this plan we’re to embark on, I have given my words that I would follow all of you in honor of the oath we made to seek the one goal we have in this life, even if it meant certain death.”

Grandia relaxed slightly at her assurance. “Then, what is the interruption about?”

“We will move along with what destiny had lain for us, but I do not want us to go unprepared this time,” she said. “Our foes will definitely be waiting for us, and though we may be better in certain aspects, the mages we’ve faced so far are not amateurs, either. If we’re going to meet them, we’ll do it … as what we’ve done since the times of old.”

“Since the times of—wait, you don’t mean …?” Trystahn said, his eyes widening in disbelief. Both Grandia and Vestrell, too, caught the hint and were similarly incredulous.

“But … we haven’t used them for so long!” Vestrell argued. “And you know what horrible things would come out of them!”

“I know,” Sharazad said. Her voice was tremulous. “But, we’ve already come so far, and at this critical juncture, we couldn’t just rely on our strength alone to succeed. We are but four. Against the mages, we will surely be outnumbered. If we choose to go this path of destruction only to meet Death, then our effort would have been in vain. I don’t want everything to end before we achieve our goal. At least, not without trying all the available options.”

“… Then, I assume you would not go unless we agree to this?” Grandia asked coolly.

Sharazad brushed a vagrant lock of hair back and smiled. “We are indeed as close as siblings can get, brother.” Raising her sea-blue eyes to meet theirs, she said, “In fact, I have even taken the liberty to bring the Templar’s Raiment and Astral Essence from their protected vaults.”

[Laboratory 55, Gavana Falls] [March 11th, MC 081] [1614 hours]

“Do you two have some time?”

Kratos and Gabriel paused in their discussion to see who had called them, though the unmistakable familiarity of the voice already told them who the person was. Leona was standing at the entranceway, patiently waiting for their answer.

“Of course, Milady,” Kratos answered, nodding. The holo-screen he was working on flickered as if in protest when Kratos halted the ongoing process with a command. Gabriel did likewise.

Leona, her face a little paler than usual, smiled lightly as she walked slowly in, the automatic door closing behind her. “Still working on the defenses of the laboratory?” she asked, looking at the screens.

On Griffith’s order, the forward squads and most auxiliary members had all moved from Escutcheon to the facility the day before so that they could work on strengthening the laboratory’s security. Most of the groundwork had been done by Aurion and Tesla, leaving only particular systems for the backup team to fill in. Kratos and Gabriel had offered to help (and partly because Kratos thought it would be prudent for his Wide Computer Array to be linked up to the main surveillance system, in case something cropped up), so the two of them had been working on it since this morning.

“Yup,” Gabriel said a little coldly. “It should be done soon, but Kratos’s WCA still needs a little time. The Cherubs are in the process of linking up with the system.”

“I see …” Leona muttered distantly.

“What brings you here, Milady?” Kratos asked, his gaze never leaving her. Her pale countenance concerned him when he first saw her enter, but he did not ask.

Leona sighed. “Relax, you two. There’s no one here except for the three of us. We can drop the pretense for the time being.”

“Pretense?” Gabriel replied, his tone sharp. “It’s probably very easy for you to say, Tyriel, but for us, it’s torture!”

“Gabriel!” Kratos said sternly. “Watch what you’re saying.”

“No, he was right, Kratos,” Leona said calmly. “I was, after all, the one who asked for the impossible. However, I make no apologies for doing so. You all agreed to do it voluntarily.”

“We did,” Gabriel growled. “But, it doesn’t mean we should like it.”

Leona gave a small smile. “Ever the temperamental one, eh, Gabriel …”

Since the night she had revealed her past, the once warm atmosphere shared between the four of them had deteriorated into almost arctic cold. But, when Nanoha had raised the concern to her, the azure-eyed captain had brought them together again, at the same place, to ask not for a reconciliation, but rather for a favor: that whenever they are in the company of others, they would act as if there was no significant change to their relationship and that they were still able to work with one another. After much protest, Kratos, Gabriel, and Xeno had finally relented, though it was fueled in part by their hope of a renewed connection between them and her.

Leona, however, did not change in her stance.

She maintained her distance from them, artfully presenting herself as being congenial with them in the presence of others, but mostly disconnecting from the group when there was no longer any need to do so. The rapid and frequent changes in behavior confused them. At the same time, it also scared them. There were moments when they thought that Leona had returned to her normal self, only to discover later that she had no intention of doing so. There were also times, like now, when she appeared remote, but showed concern for them. The Leona they knew was getting farther and farther out of their grasp, and the frustration and anger and pain were flooding to the point where it became almost unbearable.

But bear it they did, even if it was difficult to keep up at certain points. To outsiders, they would have appeared to be conversing quite normally most of the time, but the observant ones could possibly see the awkwardness present in the stiffness of their behavior, skillfully hidden in the tiniest motions. For silver-haired Kratos, there was now always the small, uncomfortable twitch whenever he called Leona ‘Milady’ in front of the others that was not present before. For Xeno and Gabriel, there were particular nuances that were missed for people who were not close to them, the latter sometimes close to being unable to control his anger at the veneer they had to put up. Only Leona almost effortlessly kept them from failing.

And that was what pained them the most, for it showed them just how much Leona had endured before as she masqueraded to others before her revelation to them. It was an agony, a torture for her as well as for them that they could not bring themselves to hate her, even if she wanted them to.

If there was any chance … any hope of ever retrieving the time they had together before again …

“In any case, I came here to ask if you have any information for the inevitable encounter with the enemy that you’d like to know beforehand?” Leona asked.

“Not particularly,” Kratos said. “I’ll most likely be at the back, watching their movement, but in case of engagement, I know what to do. My hunch is telling me that the Templars won’t be foolish enough to just charge through with only the four of them, so I expect them to have reinforcements ready.”

“Those summoning spells, eh?” Gabriel chipped in. “Yeah, those would be nasty if they dropped in on us by surprise, but the defensive squads under you and Shamal-san should be able to fend them off. The Templars would probably be a handful to handle. The green-haired girl—what was her name again? Vestrell Floriene? She was especially wild.”

Kratos grinned in a fashion not unlike Xeno after hearing that. “Ah, you mean the one who gave you a beating of your life? Interesting adjective you use there.”

“Totally unrelated,” Gabriel scowled. “But, seriously, she was aggressive, like a predator in the jungle. If you’re not prepared, she’ll skin you alive. Still, after watching the video her fight with me, Lanster, and Tyr—I mean, Milady, I think I should be able to take her on without much trouble.” He looked slightly sheepish at the awkward change in his address of Leona, but the captain did not seem to notice.

Instead, she said, “Do not be too confident of yourself, Gabriel. What you’ve seen so far may not be all there is to them. In fact, now that I think about it, they’re still far from displaying their full abilities …” Leona trailed off, lost in thought.

“Huh?” Gabriel asked, perplexed. “What do you mean?”

She did not answer immediately, but her expression was grim. Then, she looked confused herself. “I … I can’t say for sure how or what, but the Templars are not as simple as you thought them to be. Trained from young to manipulate forces that are like unto magic itself, their abilities are enhanced the closer they are to the heart of the natural environment. And in places where such intimacy is not possible, they possess some means to help them level the playing field in their favor.”

“You mean, like the wastelands in Sector 2?” Kratos said. “But, those are all recorded in the post-mission data compiled by Rein-san. Except for their peculiar weapons, there was nothing of note that improved their combat prowess. That, however, does not mean that they are to be underestimated.”

Leona became silent for a moment. She then shook her head. “I … I don’t know, then. It’s just … something that I suddenly thought of.”

Kratos eyed her critically, concern written on his face. “By ‘suddenly’, you did mean several sleepless nights, didn’t you?” Gabriel started at the mention, quickly aware of what he had initially missed when he saw the captain came in.

Leona looked at him, surprised. “What … H-how did you …?”

“You may have tried to hide away from us for our own good, Milady,” Kratos said softly, his eyes gentle. “But the fact remains that we’ve known each other long enough to realize when something is afflicting anyone of us. You are no more different than that.”

“Kratos …” Leona began, lost for words. Then she smiled, a mysterious yet infinitely delicate smile that they recognize of her. A smile that they now know to embody both pain and joy, suffering and bliss. “Perhaps so, Kratos, perhaps that was meant to be. When I first broke through the shell of my former self, back when I first reintegrated into the folds of society, I’ve always wondered what a bond between humans can be. I imagined it to be sweet as honey, bitter as tears, the gray between the divide of life and death. But with it also come the realization that sometimes bonds can also bring agony and sadness even as it brings happiness and comfort.”

She looked away from them, trembling slightly. “Truth is … I never really wanted to break the chains of our relationship with my own hands,” she continued, her words surprising both men. “The moments we’ve shared together … the tears and laughter … the memories of those times remain embedded in my mind, replaying over and over when I shied away from all of you. It haunted my waking hours, it disturbed my dreams. And I’m very sure that this, too, happened to you all.”

“Milady …”

“But …” Leona turned around, and they saw those azure eyes of hers sparkling with a deep sorrow. “But … please, please also understand why I have to do this.” She gave a long sigh, her pale countenance making her look even more fragile than ever. “Even as I remember the times we’ve been through, there are also memories that I do not remember having. Fragments. Pieces of my past that became jumbled and tangled in this feeble mind of mine, appearing unbidden from the depths of those swirling pool of recollections. They are undoubtedly part of me, but I cannot recall when had I experienced them. But, all the same, they always seem to reflect a dark foreboding, an inexplicable ill will. It appears ready to jump out from my mind, manifesting in a horrifying shadow of myself that even I am fearful of. The pit of my stomach churns with an unknown horror whenever I think about it. The brief vision of it brings an unspeakable terror I cannot explain. That is why I want all of you to stay away from me until I sort this out.”

“But, it’s just a dream, right?” Gabriel said. “There’s no need to be—”

Leona shook her head, cutting him off. “If it were a dream, then there is nothing that I should run away from. The feeling, the intensity, it had all felt so … real, so visceral. The heat of destruction in the … premonition, if it was even appropriate to call it so, was all but as vivid as day. It’s the same when I became suddenly familiar with the skills used by the Templar called Vestrell Floriene in Sector 2. It’s also the same when I had a sudden insight now that they have yet to bear the full force of their abilities on us. Granted, even if I was the one who discovered the identity of these intruders when we first encountered them, the connection cannot be merely coincidental. And I fear the truth that we seek may be worse than we actually thought.”

“What do you mean?” Kratos asked.

“My knowledge of the Templars stems from an ancient line of warriors dedicated to the protection of their sacred priestesses, one whom they believed to be the divine vessel of their goddess. They were born mages, but gave up their magical ability for the discipline dictated by their patron deity,” Leona explained. “In a sense, they believed that everything should flow with nature, and magic of any kind, particularly those augmented by devices and technology, was a twisted reflection of the natural order. Thus, part of their trainings was aimed at countering those who they deemed were dangerous to their faith.”

“This is pretty much similar to these Templars, yeah,” Gabriel said, nodding.

“But, that is itself the problem!” Leona replied. “Because that line of warriors is supposed to be dead. Extinct.”

The statement astounded them. “You don’t mean—but, that’s impossible!”

“Which is why it’s been such a strange enigma to me,” Leona admitted glumly. “As much as it’s impossible, the fact that they are here right now, with all the same traits and qualities as the Templars I knew, means that something has happened in between that we’re not aware of. And since my other memories have begun to resurface unbidden, the connection is getting blurry and at the same time unmistakable. I’m not entirely sure about this, but my part in the puzzle could only be one thing …”

“And what is that?”

Leona became silent. “That I am the—”

[Attention all staff.] interrupted an officer through the intercom. [This laboratory has been placed under heavy security for safety reasons. Until further notice, all staff except those notified by the administration are to return to their residences for the time being. We apologize for the abruptness of the situation, but this is an order from the Ground Forces’ Headquarters. I repeat, all staff except those notified by the administration are to return to their residences until further notice. That is all, and thank you.]

“The civilians are now moving out, huh?” Gabriel muttered. “Anyway, what was it that you were saying, Milady?”

She looked at them both for a brief moment, then said, “No, nothing. In any case, I think we’ll eventually get to the bottom of this. Now that the premise is being emptied out, there should be more space to work with. The Cherubs will still take some time to complete the uplink, so I suppose I should go now and get to work, too.”

As Leona walked towards the exit, Kratos suddenly stopped her. “Wait, Milady!”

“What is it?”

The silver-haired man took some time to compose his thoughts. “Your words just now … were they the truth?”

There was a brief pause before Leona replied. “Yes, they were,” she said, glancing at them. At this, both men seemed to brighten up. As she continued to walk towards the entryway, she added, “… But, it doesn’t mean that it should return to the way it was.”

Her words stung like sharpened ice.

She stopped at the automatic door that had slid open. Turning her face around for the most fleeting moment, Leona said, “I’m sorry, Gabriel, Kratos, but thank you so much …”

Her words hung in the air like softest velvet, drifting on the draughts that flowed into the room. As the door closed, leaving the two men alone, all they could remember of that parting was only one thing.

Her eyes, those melancholic blue eyes, were the saddest they had ever seen, as if they were grieving for a great, incomparable loss.

But they reflected not the great loss that was her unto them. Rather, her sorrow was the passing of these good, honest companions from her life.

For should what she think about the truth was correct, then she would eventually no longer be the person they would have known as Leona Aurora Seraphina Tyriel.

They would come to know her instead as the Herald of Destruction, prophesized in the Ancient Belkan poem divined by Knight Carim.

She would be the one they call the Princess.

P/S: This is just a quarter of the done-and-ready chapter (which is split into about five parts), but I think I should just drop a mini-nuke instead of blasting the thread apart with multiple posts. I'll post the rest some time later, or when the chapter is over (~80% right now).

P/S: Yes, the time of foreshadowing is reaching its climax. When this chapter is done, I suppose it'll answer a ton of questions and also introducing new ones.

P/S: Also linking the >>main link post (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=1602207&postcount=40)<< which has been updated to the latest version if somebody was wondering whether I had posted any in between. =3

Moczo

2010-07-07, 10:53

The studio had already matched power for power before hence they had to think of something different. But I think the studio should have put in more effort in trying to be different. I agree with Onii-sama that this anti-magiclink trend is getting rather tired and undermines the notion that magic is the way of the future.

They don't need to be that different. There's nothing wrong with the villains being roughly the same level of ability as the heroes. If they want to use AMF or whatever as their excuse rather than just matching power for power (which admittedly gets unbelievable after awhile), go right ahead. I'm just saying that fight scenes are generally more interesting if it seems like either combatant could legitimately come out on top, so an effort should be made to make new villains roughly in the same ballpark as the heroes, however it has to be done. The Curbstomp Battle has its place, but it gets old very quickly.

(I'm actually hopeful, because right now they seem to be doing this for Force by making the new villains super-over-powered, then powering up the main cast. I'm just hoping that this actually brings things into some kind of balance, and doesn't just make the scales tip in the opposite direction.)

Nightengale

2010-07-07, 11:03

DAMN YOU PF. :)

I just finished reading Saga's Saga (:heh:) last week so it is still fresh in mind. It does not seem to gel with the latest chapter I could find (or it is just buried so deep where the Sun don't shine)...

It's not supposed to, this chapter kinda jumps into Book III of Saga's Saga when all I published is Book I. :p

It partly an experimental writing ( since I'm shifting mainly to 3rd person writing now, so I need feedbacks ) and partly compelled by a need to publish something. I don't exactly make for a sight if I have 50k of words in my notebook and none of those 50k words even make up a single proper cohesive chapter... yet.

The whole part with Saga 'having feelings' for Hayate and stuff did come out of nowhere for those without the know of my plot bunnies who's freezing to death for being kept in cold storage.

My next piece hopefully covers something less... so far away.

Frankly, any sequel to A's not focused on a new cast has always been a lose/lose situation. New bad guy is more powerful than the main cast? "OMFG Nanoha is teh most powerful new enemie is mary sue this sux RAAAAAAAAAGE!" New enemy uses a way to work around the main casts power? "OMFG How fake cheaters they can't win without haxcheats RAAAAAAAAAAAGE!"

That's one thing Vivid did right: Keep the universe, make the old cast cameo's, and focus on the huge new not nearly as overhyped cast you introduced in StrikerS.

Then again, even that got the "it doesn't have enough old cast RAAAAAAAAAAGE!" so I guess any sequel to A's would have been labeled a failure.

Villains who are legitimately stronger than Nanoha and co. or equal enough for a mano-o-mano at their peak all got a downgrade or plot-induced AIDs. Zest, Reinforce, Wolkenritter, Precia, of sorts.

It makes one wonder why Tsuzuki even bothered to establish the fact that there are equals to Nanoha and co. even within the same TSAB structure ( just older and less talented, perhaps ) when the actual showcase of the series finds ways to not employ quality talent, but rather cast-weakening devices.

Nya~n

2010-07-07, 22:16

Decade-tan

i gotta ask though, is this in the same continuum as the Riders in OCT?

If yes... Then you've hit a snag.

The details of the Rider Projects are kept under wraps, even though the DeLiner and ZECT projects are the mascots of the success of the Masked Rider Project as a whole. Project DenLiner may know of the Riders that Project ZECT is working on, but they probably don't know of the details of the Project itself, as well as ZECT's Rider System. Vice versa for ZECT.

Projects IXA and Kiva too, are kept secret. IXA as an Ancient Belkan prototype for an Intelligent Device and it's working mechanisms continue to be a mystery; and Kiva's owner ensures that details of the Rider system is not disclosed to anyone but herself, and its developer is MIA.

The Kanzaki Project too, which produces the summoning-style Riders, was thought to be dissolved after the facility was destroyed, and the fact that the project is still going on in the shadows wasn't known even to other projects and Division 66 until Ryuki himself knocked at their doorsteps.

Project SmartBrain too, is wholly unknown, as it was thought to be destroyed, and all other information available is of no use.

Kuuga, Agito and Hibiki notwithstanding since none of us have worked on it yet(last i heard, esta was working on kuuga and maybe agito too), what we've built on the Riders so far suggests you'd probably need a lot of red tape to muscle the information out of every project to get the data to emulate the systems.

If it's not in the same continuum, which is my suspicion, since the profile suggests parallel universes with different Riders in each PU rather than "everything exists in the same universe on different worlds" that we're on, then I've got pretty much nothing much to comment on.

The only thing i DO have something to comment on the rest of the specifics of your system though... was the lack of adaptation and blatant use of copypasta.exe from wiki.

Chaos2Frozen

2010-07-08, 04:01

Somehow, everybody's coming back, even Nighty :eyespin:

I've taken alot of time to remake my old characters, everything is going out of the window now. I need recreate everything- New Organizations would have to be created... The concept of the Destroyers would have to be tossed out, cause everyone and their trap friends have an evil limey mastermind and a Freelance psychopath behind the scenes, no point adding more. Especially with how the recent FORCE manga is going, mass killing of innocents just to look badass is not in style anymore. I'm also taking some lessons from Toaruverse to spice up magic in Nanohaverse... Needless to say, that's alot of stuff to do.

But one step at a time...

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa299/spec_operations/JenoShop2.jpg

Name: Jeno=Unknown
Gender: Male
Race: Undead
Age: Appears 18
Title: "Inferious Villain"
Role: "Boss Character"
Group: "Nephilim"
Height: 175
Weight: 70
Magic Style: Anti-Belkan
Magic Colour: Navy Blue

Character Quote:

"While we're at it, let me show you what it means to be a real villain."

Personality:

Perennially smooth, calm and collected, Jeno knows how to dress the part. His signautre don't-mess-with-me altitude is what his enemy remember him for. Luckly, he's a real chameleon, be it in a fight or a conversation, he is able to convincingly switch his role at the drop of a hat. While not afraid of a fight, he tries to avoid going overboard if he can help it, the last thing he needs is an all out man hunt with his name on it. But sometimes an operation requires alittle flair, when that happens Jeno is more than happy to pull out all the stops.

Very little is known about Jeno's history before being an 'undead', but one thing's certain; He always get himself into girl troubles. Be it kidnapping the local princess, rescuing persecuted witches, breaking up a pair of starcross lovers, or simply fighting a female computer avatar that has gone rogue and wants to start a global killing spree, he'll always find himself in the middle of it.

Outside of field work, Jeno is also responsible for managing the other Nephilim Mages.

Fighting Style:

Jeno is a high speed melee type fighter, prefering to overwhelm the enemy with lightning fast slashes and stabs. He doesn't use many projectile attacks, but he did program his Device to fire magic bolts at incoming enemy projectiles. This is a calculated risk move to maintain his momentum in a fight.

His device [Albireo] is a sword device that Jeno uses. Abit more fanciful than a regular long sword, it was named after the fifth brightest star in the constellation Cygnus. Compared to an average Intelligent Device, [Albireo] has been upgraded with a wide variety of sensors and processing hardware capable of avance multi tasking and calculations. Few people realize that the Albireo star is actually made of two separate stars instead of one. Likewise, [Albireo] is actually made of two swords, one of which is hidden in the Device's subspace.

Magic Style:

Jeno uses a special customized formula design to counter the magicial arrays of the Belkan type magic. But unlike true anti-magic this formula is only effective against Belkan, but on the plus side, it doesn't negate your own magic. Aside from the following Character-specific spells, Jeno can also use the offensive magic taught to all Nephilims.

1. Rare Skill - [Grim Sight]: A powerful ability that allows the user to see the negative emotions of his target, like Fear/Anger/Greed/Violence/Lust etc. Using this ability he can foresee most lies and attacks against him. However, this ability doesn't work if the target himself/herself is a twisted enough individual that he/she doesn't perceive the thought to be evil.

2. Specialize Magic - [Sword of the Destroyer]: By lining up both Albireo swords together, Jeno creates a giant 30m Beam sword similiar to Fate's Jet Zamber. Jeno is able to swing this sword around as easily as his normal weapon and to disengage and reengage it without any trouble. Reverse engineering the spell allows Jeno to create energy blade that he can fire around.

3. Elemental Affinity - [Radiation]: Another special function of Albiero, Jeno can convert magic energy into different forms of radiations. However, due to it's dangerous nature, Jeno still have much difficulty controlling it's power.

Albireo: "Two hostiles detected, you should be able to see them in three seconds."

Which he did.

Jeno: "Oh crap."

He only had a split second to react.

Nanoha: "Excelion Buster!!!"

Fate: "Trident Smasher!!!"

Jeno flew out of the their arc of fire, at those speeds the sudden G-Forces alone would had blacked out a lesser being. Powerful stream of pink and yellow had narrowly turned Jeno into breakfast toast. It didn't seem like the new company were in the mood for talking, not like he was convince he could talk them out of saving hundreds of lives for the advancement of the native race.

The beautiful sunset beach resort was now a speck on the horizon. Five miles behind him was a large state-of-the-art-for-their-kind cruise ship, in about seven minutes time, a very large, very powerful storm would hit them. The engineers and crewmen of the vessel have never experience anything like it before, they are fatally underequipped.

Alot of people will die.

No, no he had nothing to do with it. Just an unfortunate natural disaster. Sure, those things happen all the time, but what are you going to do? The Boss said this one was different and wanted TSAB out of the way less they're tempted to do sometime stupid. So he had to convince the TSAB patrol that they have bigger fish to dry elsewhere, by beating the crap out of most of the Native Criminal Cartels and local Warlords into behaving. Once the TSAB realize that nothing bad was going to happen that concerns them, they would move on to another planet.

At least, that was the plan.

Albireo: "You orders?"

Jeno: "I was hoping it wouldn't come down to this... I'll leave you with defense?"

Albireo: "As you wish."

Fighting two people at the same time is never ideal, but there are ways to even the odds. It never hurts to be faster than they are, but more important is to always maintain visual contact with them. Normally, one should try to push them into a corner and fight them both face to face, but since Jeno is in the middle of the open ocean, he can throw that plan out of window.

Nanoha fired several pink bolts at him, Albireo intercepted them with a few projectiles of his own. In a high speed mid-air clash like this one, the key is momentum, to always keep moving. Blocking would just break his momentum and risk the change of being boxed in, especially in a 2 v 1. While Dodging would help maintain some of the momentum, it's all too easy to be led into another trap. What Jeno finds to be the ideal solution is to intercept the projectiles with his own. It's still comes with it's own risks, but it allows him to keep the momentum and remain in control.

Nanoha continues to fire her projectiles while Fate circles around to strike him from behind. Jeno leaves the pink bolts to Albireo while he focus on Fate, whenever she breaks off, he quickly chases after her, always keeping her with three metres distance. He figured that as long as her friend is within her arc of fire, Nanoha isn't crazy enough to use her bigger spells... Until he pushes her over the egde. Fate herself isn't making this any easy for him- it seems she has alot of experience fighting people with swords.

In a 2 v 1 fight, it would be better if you were fighting amateurs instead of pros that have years of experience working together.

Albireo: "Heads up."

While he was concentrating on surviving Fate, Nanoha stuck up behind him, pump a few rounds into her Device, which had taken a spear-like form, and shot like a rocket towards him.

Raising Heart: "Axel Charge System (ACS) Mode"

The resulting explosion rocked the ocean below him. By now the cruise ship would have entered the storm and probably wouldn't be able to hear it through the thunder.

When the smoke cleared the results were surprising. A Second Alberio manifested in his left hand which he use to deflect the Charge attack just enough to deviate it off course from blowing him up.

Albireo: "Demon Fang"

A powerful wide arc of energy surge from the [Albireo Main] that forces Fate to back off from the blade lock. Jeno then brought both his swords together and swung at Nanoha.

Albireo: "Fierce Demon Fang"

Jeno decide to switch tactics; He was going to go after Nanoha. The idea was not to defeat them, but to keep them here as long as he could, until it was too late. Because Fate's fight style was close combat similar to himself, he doesn't have to worry about her getting out of range from him.

It's never easy when you're two-timing girls. But Jeno has a little trick up his sleeves, the rare skill known to few as [Grim Sight]. This ability allows him to see the bad thoughts of people, stuff like lying, anger, fear, violence, greed, envy and lust are all as clear as day to him. With this ability, he's always one step ahead of their moves.

So long as he keeps them angry enough at him.

Jeno slash out at the beams fired by Nanoha, deflecting while dodging at the same time. Though occasionally he took a few hits from Fate. He needs to keep them interested in him, if he becomes too good at evading their attacks, they would just dump him. By giving them some freebee, he keeps them just interested enough hold on to their attention, while trying not to die at the same time, he fired back a few beams of his own to keep up the dance.

I've been out of the game for too long so alot of my concepts might not work in Nanohaverse anymore, don't hesistate to point out any technical corrections that needs to be made. I've also realized that putting some of those concepts from brain to paper might not transit as smoothly as I thought. I'll be more than happy to clarify any questions.

P.S - I'll add details on the (two) new organizations later on.

EDIT:

Here's the list of attack spells that all my OCs have access to, sort of a general lists of what they all have been taught. Most of these spells are pretty straightforward with hardly any advance calculations involved.

Heavy Stab - Sonic Thrust: A fast and powerful stab attack.
Heavy Slash - Greed Sever: A wide and powerful slash attack.
Heavy Impact - Siege Impulse: An explosive close range attack.

Multiple Stab - Scintillanting Stream: A blinding fast barrage of stabs.
Multiple Slash - Ravaging Swarm: A furious rapid volley of slashes.
Multiple Slash - Diabolic Edge: Spinning a sharp weapon, turning it into a buzzsaw.

Range Stab - Rising Force: A stream of energy release from a stab motion.
Range Slash - Demon Fang: A circular shape energy attack release from a slash motion.
Range Slash - Spark Fury: A vectical slam that shoots out a wave of energy.

Multiple shot - Temper: A platform that fires multiple shots.
Heavy shot - Vendetta: A single powerful shot.
Cannonball - Heart Breaker: A very powerful concentration of energy in a form of a ball.
Cannon Beam - Defiance: A very powerful beam of energy.
Vectical Cannon - Indignation: An extremely powerful bombardment spell that requires a long charge up time.

EDIT(2):

The organization known as [Management] is a huge Private Security Company that operates outside of TSAB territories, their personnel come from all corners of the dimensions. Officially, they're works covers everything from bodyguards, to guns for hire in small private wars. Occasionally they would eliminate a local warlord or criminal cartel to gain control over the area, or to remove them from attracting too much attention from the TSAB. [Management] tries to avoid/minimize conflicts with the TSAB as it would be too costly to go to war with such a large organization like themselves.

Jeno is working for a group called the [Nephilim], who are in turn under the control of [Management] and serve as part of their most elite unit.

Soldiers under [Nephilims] are not exactly human. They are dead mages whos bodies have been reanimated back to life using powerful nanotechnology, technically they didn't come back from the dead as the nanomachines are now the ones in control. If a Nephilim becomes unable to function properly, the Nanomachines can leave the body to find another host. However, to find one that is compatible to the individual set of machines is very difficult, one could be searching for years before an acceptable host is found. The Nanomachines are able to cast magic via the host's Linker Core.

[Nephilim] does many things for [Management]. but they are mostly responsible for Anti-belkan combat.

I'm thinking of an idea for a new type of mage. If we are led to believe that an average mage is below 'B' rank according to the TSAB, than wouldn't it be a good idea to equip them with guns? They could still cast defensive spells or speed/strength boost, but their firepower could be subsitute with guns. And since devices are well known to be able to change forms, we could have a device switch between rifle/shotgun/sniper with easy.