[Alavon]

Originally Posted by Satashi

AlternativeS Chapter 1 (AS rough draft)

Spoiler for Alternatives 2-1:

I was awake before Bardiche rang out his alarm to tell me it was time to get up. In fact, I had spent the last little while staring at the ceiling of what I knew to be a forward room. Nanoha had given me my room number and Hayate set it to accept me sometime last night when I was having dinner with my friend. Although they called it a 'special room for important guests', I still couldn't help but feel awkward. Here I am, in my home base, laying in a bed that didn't belong to me. I was still slightly in shock from everything that had happened, but I knew that I had to put it behind me and look for a solution rather than mope around.

Alternatives II
By: Satashi

Fate walked down the hallway leading to Nanoha's room briskly. Having being given clothes to wear, the blonde found herself in a standard base uniform that didn't fit quite right but still felt better than her dirty enforcer attire. When she made it to Nanoha' door, she stopped herself from just entering now that she was stored in the device via password, and instead knocked.

"Come in!" A perky voice came from inside. The door swished open and Fate looked around, spying Nanoha at her tiny kitchen. "Good morning, did you sleep well?"

"No, but I rested enough." Fate told the truth, which got her a look that was mixed between sympathy and amusement. "Did you sleep okay? you didn't wake up too early did you?" The blonde smelt the freshly baked biscuits and bacon before she saw the pan on the stove and light in the oven.

"I woke up on my own, don't worry." Nanoha waved her hand over her wheelchair control orb and went to the refrigerator. "How do you like your eggs?"

"Scrambled... mind if I join in?"

"Some hostess I am, letting my guest do all the work."

"I like cooking." Fate moved by Nanoha and started cracking shells. "You want yours over easy with extra pepper, cooked in the bacon grease right?"

"That's kind of creepy." Nanoha mused, not sure if she was enjoying this or was weirded out by it. "Tell me, how did I make the biscuits?"

"If you're referring to adding in honey, I know your mother taught you to do that when you were young."

Nanoha hummed and simply watched the girl cook. "I'd really like to meet me in your world. It must be nice having someone know so much about you."

"You're about the same, from what I can tell..."

"...I'm sorry, I was being selfish. We'll get you back, don't worry. I'm sure Hayate-chan will want us to meet with her first thing this morning."

"What about your students?"

"Vita-chan can handle them for the morning lessons, this is more important. We have to get you registered while you are here so you won't be in trouble. Last night's battle will be covered by the civilian collaborator contract, but you need to be in the records for now on."

"Yeah..." Fate finished their breakfast while Nanoha removed the now cooked sides. "I just realized I won't have my rank anymore..." Her lips turned up into a small grin. "Should I salute you?" The joke made Nanoha giggle to herself and Fate took comfort in hearing the familiar sound.

Spoiler for AlternativeS 2-2:

Just as soon as the two sat down together, A beeping sound came from Nanoha's wheelchair. "Raising Heart, connect please." The command allowed a monitor to appear in front of the girl and Hayate's image formed on it almost instantly. "Good morning, Hayate-chan."

"Morning, Nanoha-chan." Hayate replied back in kind. "Could you please bring Fate-chan to my office this morning?"

"Already planning on it." Reaching up, she tiled the screen to show Fate was next to her. The blonde smiled and gave a small wave which was returned. "Do you have any idea on what could have put her here?"

Hayate shook her head. "I haven't had time to do anything other than talk to everyone in our room last night. Shamal seems to think she could have come through a dimensional rift, but the chances of that are so low its hard to believe. Anyway, I have some people on it. For now, I need her signed as a collaborator before the T.S.A.B swoop in and try to have her signed on. Is that okay, Fate-chan?"

"Yes, that is fine." Fate nodded at the screen. "Nanoha was just telling me that."

"I see," Hayate looked back over at Nanoha. "Well then, enjoy your breakfast. I'll ask Vita to train your students today for you."

"Please." The two friends nodded at each other and the communication was cut off. "See? Hayate-chan is always on top of things."

"She is." The blonde agreed and a small bit of silence passed over them as hey ate, interrupted only by raising Heart's update on the weather, Nanoha's schedule, and the sounds of utensils tapping their plates.

Once breakfast was over, the two girls headed down out to take care of their business, stopping once they reached the front door. "Raising Heart wasn't kidding when she said high chances of rain today," Nanoha mused while looking out at the drizzling rain.

"Seems so," Fate brought up Bardiche and the device answered her silent call to allow an umbrella to form, casting a translucent yellow barrier above them. "Shall we?"

Nanoha gave Fate an amused look but still allowed girl to hold the shield over them both as they walked to the adjacent building. From there they went up to Hayate's office and the blonde found herself answering questions that both made her grin and sigh out at the same time. Once the paperwork was completed Hayate gave a satisfied nod and began ushering them downstairs once more so they could go give Fate her official ranking test. Their trip was interrupted just moments after they left the main building by Lexus standing in front of them, an umbrella held over his head by none other than a reluctant looking Teana.

Lexus greeted them with a smirk and stepped forward to Fate, making Tea move along with him. "Hello there, Blondie. I did some research and it appeaser you aren't with the T.S.A.B. yet."

"I am a civilian collaborator, and don't call me Blondie." Fate frowned at him but still let her eyes drift to Tea for a brief moment.

"My assistant, Teana." Lexus pointed to the girl. "Not worth anything on the field but she's helpful when I need someone to carry something for me." His words made the girl with him bite down a growl. "Anyway, Hot Legs, why not join my battalion? I have much better resources then these clowns. What do you say?"

"My name is Fate." The woman stated firmly.

"Ooh, my destiny, I like that."

Nanoha chose that moment to interrupt. "Don't hit on my friends."

"Jealous I've never hit on you? Can't see what fun you'll be without moving your hips arou-" His words cut off when a palm connected firmly with his cheek.

"Do not address my friends in such a manor." Fate told him, voice going from her usual soft tone to holding a faint edge to it. "I won't tolerate anyone insulting people I care for."

Lexus licked his lips and looked at Fae with a new interest, left hand going to touch his slapped cheek. "I want you even more now. Have you taken your mage exam test yet?"

"I have not," Fate answered simply.

"Tell you what," stepping closer to her, he forced Teana to lean the umbrella to keep him dry, even though her back was now getting wet. "Let me review you. If I win, you join my battalion, in more ways than one."

Fate felt her body grow stiff, red tinting her cheeks when she realized what the last part meant. Despite this, she still didn't move from him, and answered back calmly. "When I win, that girl with you will join our battalion, and you will address Hayate and Nanoha by their ranks."

Lexus laughed loudly at her. "Well spoken! Fine then. Wingless, we will be using your training field. Lets go, Babe."

Fate nodded and began walking as well, ignoring the astonished look on Tea's face at her sudden involvement with people she didn't even know.

The training area, now free from its morning inhabitants, was quickly changed to form a fake city on it, leaving Fate standing on one building on the east side while Lexus was on the West. The blonde ran her thumb over Bardiche and felt her clothes shift and change around her before forming a barrier jacket to protect herself. 'I don't care if you harass me,' she thought bitterly as a monitor came up in front of her, informing her of how the ranking test would work. 'But I will never forgive anyone who insults my family or friends.'

On the sidelines, Hayate stood with crossed arms. Monitors floated all around her and a firm frown was on her face. "This isn't what I had in mind for today."

Nanoha nodded lightly, moving her hands out to make sure all the necessary information would be recorded and documented. "He is a triple-A plus mage. Fate-chan said she was S, but her performance last night would only suggest a double-A... Was she holding back so she could record for us?"

"... For her sake, I hope so..." Her eyes moved to look at Tea standing next to them. 'And why did she bet that that girl would be transferred to me...? I'm getting too laid back in my old age.' Smirking at the inside joke, Hayate finally pushed the screen to confirm the battle to start. 'Good luck, Fate-chan.'

Spoiler for Alternatives 2-3:

Fate looked out over the make-shift abandoned city from her position on top of a large office building. The screen by her stated that the test was now in progress and she gripped Bardiche a little tighter. "Bardiche?"

"Scan complete, sir." He spoke back calmly. "Enemy is across the field, coming at running speed. ETA is three minutes."

"How impatient, he should have waited for us to come to him." The blonde moved her hand out and placed several binding spells along the ground. "He isn't powerful enough to test us properly... Looks like we will have to be evaluated again once this is over."

"Sir," Bardiche's tone made Fate hesitate leaving the building. "Our situation is weird, please do not be careless."

"...You're right." Fate lifted her hand once more and focused, forming several daggers of energy around herself. "As weird as everything has been, I can not afford to be careless... Especially after he called Nanoha that."

"Yes sir."

Fate frowned to herself and leaped off the building, dropping down to the ground and darting forward. Lexus made it just as she expected and began dodging the sprung traps, twisting and jumping through the yellow binds. When the last one was sprung, his left leg was snared, making him look back in shock. Taking the opportunity, Fate engaged and swung her scythe down hard.

Lexus yelled as his barrier jacket ripped open and barely managed to block the next attack, leaving himself open for several yellow energy daggers to break his auto barrier. The male broke the bind on himself and jumped back, recollecting himself and staring at the blonde who didn't press her advantage. "What's the matter!? Scared you won't do as well after a surprise attack!?"

"Bardiche."

"Yes sir." The device was lifted and circles appeared around them, forming small darts of yellow energy that burst forth, triggering several trap spells that were placed as Lexus retreated.

"Che, you would be a smart one." Making a taunting motion, Lexus smirked at her. "I want you even more now. Tell you what, join me and I'll even let the whore come too."

"Sir." Bardiche's voice made the blonde stop before she lunged at him.

Taking a breath, Fate cooled down and spoke at the man again. "Why are you such a pervert?"

Lexus shrugged. "Guess its in my DNA." Fate twirled Bardiche and walked in a half circle on the mostly destroyed road. Lexus made the other half as they circled each other slowly. Their eyes met and each ran forward. Lexus reacted faster, drawing his device and pointing a gun at Fate and shooting. The magical bullet met it's target and hit the blonde square in the chest before ripping through her back side. "What-the!?"

Fate appeared behind the man as her after-image faded away. A small moment was taken to charge her attack before she slashed her scythe down, the blade pulsating larger than normal. As the man fell forward, Fate caught his collar and pulled him back so she could whisper into his ear firmly. "If you ever look at my wife in a perverted manor again, I won't hold back." When her words were done she let go of him and allowed him to fall onto the ground defeated.

As monitors appeared around Fate, Lexus smirked to himself through the pain in his back. 'So, she does have a weakness...'

Spoiler for AlternativeS 2-4:

~**~

"Fate-chan!" Nanoha's voice made the girl look up and smile at her.

The blonde walked up the ramp leading to the instructor observatory and stood next to Nanoha, red eyes scanning the video image feeds all around her. "Sorry for having to run earlier. Hayate needed me to fill out paperwork and schedule another testing time."

"No problem, she told me before she went to the field to get you. I had to deal with Teana's transfer anyway. Did you get an earful?"

Fate felt a small smile come to her face. "Yes, Hayate scolded me for making that deal and was going to turn it down but Lexus expelled Tea from his base."

"At least my work wasn't for nothing then. I already have her situated in my books."

Fate licked her lips as the screen came up. "Hey...can I ask a favor?"

"Mm?" Nanoha tapped the floating keyboards around herself to make the students training on the field have to swap tactics.

"Can you place Tea with Subaru?"

"Why?" Nanoha looked over at Fate curiously. "That would be a very awkward and inconvenient move for all of our parts. Subaru is a close combat mage while Teana seems to use a pistol. I need to consider Teana's points before I transfer away from where I placed her."

"...Please?"

Nanoha blinked and looked up at Fate once more. "...Why?"

"Its just... in my time, they are forwards... placed directly under your personal training. They improved more than anyone I've ever seen and... well, Tea is my partner when I go on long distance missions."

Nanoha leaned back in her wheelchair and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "The C-ranked mage you forced on me is now suddenly one of my best students who runs with a S ranked mage?"

"Yes."

"Hayate-chan was right, you're really annoying." With a grin, Nanoha glanced up at Fate before typing on her keyboards again. "However, your request will really throw me off. I can't justify this, it just doesn't make any sense."

Fate leaned against the guard rail and looked out over the training field with distant eyes. "I know the feeling."

The blue eyed girl stayed silent for a long moment before heaving out a long sigh. "Hayate-chan is going to yell at me for this."

"Thank you. I will train them myself."

"Nooooo, you're a civilian collaborator, not an instructor. Jeez, does the other Nanoha have to keep you on a leash as well?"

Fate smirked, a playful tint coming to her eyes as she turned to look over her shoulder. "Yes, yes she does."

'What have I gotten into?' Nanoha thought while tapping away on her keyboards. 'I was fine with it when she was just affecting me, but now she's barged into my work and... Maybe Hayate-chan was right, maybe she is here to throw us off balance for some reason...' Eying the blonde looking out over the field, she felt a small tear at her heart. 'But nobody can pretend to be that sad and confused... Even with that smile on her face, I can tell she is about to cry. Just like that girl so long ago, her feelings pour out through her eyes... as if she's screaming for help but can't form the words...'

"You're sighing an awful lot today," Fate told her softly before turning around completely to sit against the railing. "I'm sorry for being so selfish."

"No... I just... I don't know." Nanoha shook her head. "Fate-chan, I'm sorry but can we meet up later? I need to focus on my students."

"Yes, I'm sorry." Fate's tone turned sad almost at once.

'Aw, she probably came to me because she felt alone...' Before Nanoha could speak up again an new voice called Fate's attention.

"Fate." Signum walked to the bottom of the ramp and met the blonde's eyes. "I need you to come with me for a moment."

"Okay." walking down ramp, she gave Signum a curious look. "What is it, Signum?"

Signum stopped to get a drink from a vending machine and waved her device over it again, putting in enough credits for Fate to get one as well. "Mistress Hayate requested for me to accompany you to the bank to set up an account, as well as try and get some more information from you regarding your situation."

Fate picked her drink and smiled while bending over to get it. "You don't trust me."

"I don't."

"I understand." Fate fell into step beside her and walked along the sidewalk. "Later... Lets have a sparing match."

"Why?" Signum eyed her without turning her head.

"Because you and I both can feel someone's emotions when fighting them."

"How do you know that?"

"Because..." Fate whispered softly. "You're my role model. The one I always looked up to and sought advice from."

"... Fine, we will spar later."

"Thank you, Signum."

"Don't thank me yet." A small giggle made her look at Fate curiously. "What?"

"I'm just relieved... Everyone is the same."

"...We can get lunch while we're out too."

"Thank you."

Spoiler for AlternativeS 2-5:

~**~

"That was awkward." The understatement made Signum repress the urge to scoff at the blonde trailing her. "I'm sorry, really."

"You could have at least come up with a story before we got inside the bank." Signum spoke back flatly, clearly annoyed at the embarrassing act. "I thought Hayate and you would have surely discussed what you would put down on the paper. I'm sure Nanoha is thrilled."

"I can't help it, it was instinct!"

"Writing down that you are married and live with the top instructor on this planet isn't something that comes as instinct. You're lucky Nanoha played along with it. I'm sure you saw how embarrassed she was."

"...Yes." Fate sighed and sat in Signum's sports car, closing the door almost too softly to latch. "I've caused so much trouble since I showed up... I really don't know how to apologize for it all."

"Start by thinking more." Signum started the engine and looked over her shoulder to back out of the parking space. "Am I really your role model? I expected better."

"...You don't have to rub it in." Fate's tone made the older woman exhale a defeated breath.

"Okay... Okay, I apologize for getting upset. Don't get all whiny on me... How do I normally deal with you when you do this?"

"Honestly?" Fate inhaled deeply to calm herself down. "You ruffle my hair and tell me to get over it. If its really bad, you'll hold me and kiss my forehead."

"I wouldn't be caught kissing someone's forehead."

"I know." Fate felt a little of her energy come back. "You always hide the fact that you do it. Not even Vita knows, and you do it to her too."

Signum stiffened slightly. "That's very creepy. Knowing things about me that I do not wish you to is very unnerving."

"Yeah," Fate looked out the window. "I've been getting that all day. No matter how casual I try to be, it still freaks people out when I talk like I've known them forever... Tell me, Signum... If you were in my place, how would you handle it?"

The swordsman hesitated her response, rolling the question over in her head as she drove them down the roads in the capital. Finally, after contemplating it for several long moments, she answered. "I would tell you something that there was no way you could know unless we were as close as you say. Having people support you and take you seriously without doubt would be the best way to stay stable."

Fate nodded. "This is embarrassing."

"Say it."

"You have a cosplay fetish, and Shamal dresses you up when you make love. Hayate makes them for you, and you pose in them to satisfy her and not let her know what you two do with them... Also, you-"

"Okay!" Signum interrupted her, cheeks splashed red. "Did you have to pick something sexual? Why not say something simple like..."

"You have a mole on your inner thigh that looks like a star? Because anyone who bathes with you would know that."

"...You impress me." Signum nodded to herself. "But might I ask... How did you get that information?"

Fate grimaced. "When we were younger I caught you two doing it several times but I never understood it until after Nanoha and I made love the first time when we were sixteen... I couldn't look at you in the face for weeks."

"So we don't...?"

"No!" Fate almost shrieked, blushing herself now. "I'm dedicated to Nanoha! Fully!"

"Good..." Signum felt a small grin come to her face. "Well then, Fate, how do you feel now?"

"...Better." Looking at her lap, she played with her fingers. "I'm sure you will understand more when we spar tonight but... I'm glad you gave me a chance. I don't like it when you don't trust me."

"We'll discuss that topic more over lunch, where do you want to eat?"

"Well Fuji's isn't open yet so....."

"Fuji's?"

"Yes?" Fate thought about the bar. "Oh... That's right, I directly had an impact on that place... Since Nanoha isn't an Ace and I wasn't there to find it... Kuhn couldn't have opened his bar." Groaning, the blonde leaned back in her seat. "I don't know then, you pick."

"Okay." The woman flicked her wrist and turned on the car's blinker, moving over to take a turn. "I know a good place."

~**~

Hayate looked up from her monitor when a knock came at her office door. "Come in." Her words granted Fate access and she smiled at the woman walking up to her. "Ah, special collaborator Fate." Standing, she walked over to the front of her desk and saluted. "Allow me to officially welcome you to my base."

"Thank you," Fate saluted back before getting casual. "I'll do anything I can to help while I'm here. Thank you again for helping me as well."

"I have people on your case already, investigating where you woke up and searching for anything that could be related. We don't have much to work with so the best I can say is that I'll contact you the moment we find out anything."

"Thank you." Fate smiled lightly. "I really appreciate this, Hayate."

The shorter girl leaned forward, inspecting the cut on Fate's cheek. "What happened to you?"

"Signum got a lick in." rubbing the spot lightly, she smiled. "We had a little sparring match."

"As long as you don't get hurt. Do you need to go to Shamal?"

Fate shook her head. "I just need a bath. By the way, could I get a small advance on my pay? I need to buy a few things while I'm here."

"I'm sorry, but you're only stationed here. I don't have any control over you except for your duties. Your pay comes from the T.S.A.B directly. I can loan you some of mine though."

"Ah, I'd feel bad... Maybe I can just borrow some clothes from Nanoha until I get my first check."

"If you change your mind, don't hesitate. By the way, did you really put down Nanoha as your wife on the bank application?" The embarrassed look on the girl's face made Hayate put a hand on her hip. "I'm sure Nanoha won't mind, but please don't get her upset okay?"

"I won't."

"Nanoha is... very weird in that area." Hayate thought about how to word what she was thinking. All the time growing up she felt like she wasn't part of her family. Same with the times I've known her as well. People love her, I love her, but she has never truely felt love before. You know what I mean?"

"She desperatly wants someone to be in love with her. I know, she was like that with me as well."

"But you were there... you weren't for my Nanoha. Do you get what I'm saying?"

Fate nodded. "I love my Nanoha. I would never cheat on her, even if its with the same girl in another time line. She is Nanoha, but she's not my Nanoha."

Hayate smiled and gave a relieved chuckle. "Thank you, that makes me feel so much better. I was worried that when you left... it might hurt her."

Fate started walking with Hayate as she closed down her office and walked towards the door. "Don't worry, I don't think she'd fall for me that easily. Nanoha and I danced around each other for years before we started dating. In fact, it was you who brought us together."

"Really?" She tilted her head curiously.

"It was at a sleep over, you dared her to ask out her crush to the dance at school. You got her phone and called her crush and... my phone rang. I remember looking at it and slowly picking it up. I brought it to my ear and looked at Nanoha, who quickly turned away from me and looked down at her lap... Then she meekly told me hello and asked if I had a date yet. It was the cutest thing you would have ever seen. I thought she would pass out, her ears were so red."

With a giggle, Hayate shook her head. "That would be so amusing. Nanoha is so independent it is hard to imagine her all shy blushy."

"Blushy? Is that a word?"

"Its a technical term." Hayate smiled as they walked to the residential area. "Nanoha normally takes a bath in her room so I'm sure she won't mind you taking one there as well. She doesn't like people offering to help her, gets really touchy about it."

"Sounds like her."

"I know, right? One time I offered to carry her to the bathtub and she got really upset. She never lets anyone carry her anywhere, its like her pet peeve."

"Really?" Fate stopped walking and looked at her with a confused look. "I carried her to bed last night and she seemed rather pleased."

"You carried her?" Hayate shook her head. "No, no, nobody carries Nanoha. They would lose their arms."

Fate scratched her head before placing her hand on her hip. "Odd, maybe she was just too tired to say anything."

"Must have been being polite," Hayate agreed. "Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay," Fate nodded and left the elevator once it was on her floor. The short walk was made and she found herself standing in front of Nanoha's door. 'I hope she isn't upset about earlier...' Taking a breath to steady herself, Fate knocked on the door leading into Nanoha's loft. A call from inside bade her entrance and she made her way into the overly large room. "I'm back," she called testingly, seeing Nanoha move over from behind the kitchen cabinets and face her.

"Welcome back," Nanoha smiled in greeting "So, you're registered here, miss Takamachi?"

"I... didn't mean for it to turn out that way. I'm sorry..."

"I don't mind." Nanoha mused, turning her chair around and going back to the kitchen to finish preparing her drink. "You could have told me beforehand, though. I was contacted in front of all my students as I was dismissing them. Now they are all asking me weird questions."

"I'm sorry..." Fate looked down.

"Don't get all pouty on me. Like I said, I don't mind. I'm your wife after all, that's kind of neat. I've never even been on a date and now I have a wife. I should call my parents."

"Nanoha!" Fate felt herself blushing, a fact that the girl didn't miss. "A-anyway, um..."

"Make yourself at home. Want anything to eat or drink?"

"Uhm, a drink would be nice."

Nanoha smiled. "What would you like?"

"Don't suppose you have scotch?" The girl cocked an eyebrow at her. "I don't drink often, but I could use something to mellow me down right now."

"Sorry, don't have any. I have some frozen daiquiri mix and some rum?"

"Thanks but I can't handle the sweetness." Fate moved to the large couch and fell down on it.

Nanoha moved over to her and lifted her arms. The wheelchair shifted and two bars came out for her to grab, allowing the girl to easily move so she was sitting on the couch as well. "So," Once she was set, the wheelchair moved away from them. "Other than looking like a nervous wreck, how was your day?"

"Bad... Good... I'm not sure." Looking down, Fate moved her hands out in a helpless gesture. "I mean, everything is going okay and my day wasn't really that bad, it's just..."

"You're not where you want to be."

"Yeah... which is weird, because this is exactly where I want to be."

"Tell me," Nanoha picked up a pillow from the couch and sat it on her lap. "What do I normally do when you're upset?"

"Rub my back and make advances on me." Fate smiled at the thought. "You're really physical. I remember you telling me that you couldn't express how you felt with words so you tried to do it in a way that would show me."

"Wow, that's interesting." Nanoha leaned forward to make Fate look at her. "So a massage?"

"I- I couldn't-"

"Its okay, you're my wife after all." Nanoha laughed at the statement. "That's so weird to say, I like it. Come on, lets go upstairs and I'll rub your back. Its the least I can do for you fighting for me this morning. Besides, I heard what you said to Lexus."

"A-Ah, that was... Just instinct."

Nanoha smiled more, asking a question fondly. "Am I always in your instinct?"

"...Yeah, you could say that. Not a day goes by without me thinking about Nanoha."

The girl leaned to Fate more. "Then let me help you out for a change. Lets go upstairs... Carry me?"

Fate hesitated, blinking at the innocent eyes gazing at her.

Of all the times you could have left a good cliffhanger, you leave it NOW...HOW DARE YOU!!! I almost choked on my easymac when I read the last line....