Nanoha FanFiction Discussion

[DezoPenguin]

Originally Posted by RadiantBeam

Yeah, had a change of heart at the last minute. Felt like a cruel thing to do, especially to Nanoha.

Especially if you're going to blame me for giving you the idea!

Edit: Page claim for ongoing, independent beepage!

[MeisterBabylon]

Finally! My 2nd test is over! Looks like I survived!

Crossposting here since this is where it began. As you all may well know, once I hit my books hard, khrack builds up really quick. And after a certain discussion in FFT regarding a certain plotbunny about a certain scientific city on Earth, the reconnaissance mission has been called:

Spoiler for The Khrack Has Landed!:

Karl aimed his gaze at the scene of the crime again and almost whistled at the destruction of his target by a single game coin travelling at Mach 3. Even though it had been a while since the incident in front of the bank resolved, seeing the famous "Railgun" in action was still a wonder even to the veteran warrior. She might have even outdone Fate in using electricity to hurl objects at that speed. The Belka knight moved his face from his rifle's scope and let a sigh of relief go.

"Looks like they didn't need any help, those girls. I'm calling this sector clear, resuming scout operation."

The gerbil named Rhyne beside him set down his nut. "Told you way before, didn't I? Judgement 117th are not even I dare to cross with."

"That's because you're a small house pet," the knight continued as he began taking apart his weapon.

"I have my perks, kid. I can sleep all day, hide in the girls' laundry basket and no one will say a thing. So I'm not complaini--" The rat cut himself off as he noticed his wingman stiffen. "What?"

"Did you hear that?" Karl spoke in a hurry and reached for his farscope.

Rhyne perked his ears up and strained. "You mean that motorcycle scream? It's pretty run of the mill if ya ask me."

"It's too familiar to me..."

~~~

Misaka heard it as well. She turned to look down the street where the growling whir of a scrambler grew as the golden-brown Kuroko slipped off her neck in sparking spasms. Uihara and Saten hurried over to pick the toasted department captain off the floor, but Misaka continued searching the distant corner, wondering what was this pressure she sense...

SCREEEEEEK!

The girls all jumped as a lone biker astride a two-wheeled machine almost completely doused in pink drifted around the block, leaving a trail of white smoke as she gracefully curved through the course and sped straight at them.

Karlheim dropped his farscope. "Good Kaiser no!"

Misaka found herself both admiring and twitching at the skillful yet reckless riding. And from the biege-orange vest over a white shirt and matching short skirt, it was obvious that the rider was her schoolmate from Tokiwadai Middle School. She was wearing a helmet --at least she did given her driving!-- there was no way that Ace could tell who she was. The green tag of Judgement on her sleeve told her nothing, in fact made it even harder for her to guess. Even the rider's presence felt rather foreign...

It then dawned on her that this newcomer was still bearing down on them at full tilt! She turned to the cluster of girls to get them to move out of the way when she noticed that the bike had shifted to its side and begun to impossibly skid-slide on its wheels. Saten, Misaka, and a few on-lookers, had their jaws to the floor as the stuntrider came to a perfect stop a car's length from them; surprisingly, Uihara and Kuroko were not fazed one bit. The rider vaulted off the vehicle like a gymnast, flashing her white underpants for all to see before making a ten-point landing.

Good lord, have some decency! Misaka becried mentally as the biker came running up. The latter's pink headgear dematerialized and silver-white locks fell out.

"Shirai-chan! Uihara-chan!" She came up panting. She then turned to Misaka having just caught sight of her, greeted her with a hurried hi! and carried on, "Sorry! I came as soon as I heard! Are you alright? Who did this to you?!"

"I-it's nothing..." Kuroko replied a little weakly. "I just had a ride of my life..."

The red-eyed Tokiwadaian turned her attention to the smoking ruins of the bank. "And the incident...?"

"It's been settled already," replied the captain as she dusted herself off. "All thanks to Onee-sama!"

"I see..."

"Eto..." Misaka began, face still twitching in disbelief. "Who are you?"

"I'm just a passing-through magical girl!" She beamed back without skipping a beat.

Mikoto found herself pondering how did that girl use passing-through and magical girl in the same sentence, or that she even called herself a magical girl!

Kuroko noted Misaka's surprise. "This is another backup member of 117th Judgement, though as an outrider she's just attached to the group. Kaprika von Touareg!"

Shirai then leaned closer and whispered, "Unlike you, she's showing signs of healthy development, and doesn't wear strange things under her--"

Misaka socked the little girl across the top of her head and stopped the perverse infomercial.

~~~

Meanwhile, Rhyne asked, "Just who is she?"

As his mind raced through a list of who in the Saint King's name would include that girl in the TSAB's undercover task force, Karlheim could only dead-pan, "my baby sister."

~~~

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" Kaprika greeted with a small bow and smile.

...inspired by the end of a certain episode about a certain scientific railgun in a certain random crossover as the result of a certain khrack attack.

[Heinekochan]

Gratz Onii-chan! You've finally stopped failing.

I think you still need a strait-jacket though. And a dictionary, or someone to correct all that bad Singlish. :P

Thanks for using Kaprika. \o/

[XenahortCharybdis]

Originally Posted by MeisterBabylon

Finally! My 2nd test is over! Looks like I survived!

Crossposting here since this is where it began. As you all may well know, once I hit my books hard, khrack builds up really quick. And after a certain discussion in FFT regarding a certain plotbunny about a certain scientific city on Earth, the reconnaissance mission has been called:

Spoiler for The Khrack Has Landed!:

Karl aimed his gaze at the scene of the crime again and almost whistled at the destruction of his target by a single game coin travelling at Mach 3. Even though it had been a while since the incident in front of the bank resolved, seeing the famous "Railgun" in action was still a wonder even to the veteran warrior. She might have even outdone Fate in using electricity to hurl objects at that speed. The Belka knight moved his face from his rifle's scope and let a sigh of relief go.

"Looks like they didn't need any help, those girls. I'm calling this sector clear, resuming scout operation."

The gerbil named Rhyne beside him set down his nut. "Told you way before, didn't I? Judgement 117th are not even I dare to cross with."

"That's because you're a small house pet," the knight continued as he began taking apart his weapon.

"I have my perks, kid. I can sleep all day, hide in the girls' laundry basket and no one will say a thing. So I'm not complaini--" The rat cut himself off as he noticed his wingman stiffen. "What?"

"Did you hear that?" Karl spoke in a hurry and reached for his farscope.

Rhyne perked his ears up and strained. "You mean that motorcycle scream? It's pretty run of the mill if ya ask me."

"It's too familiar to me..."

~~~

Misaka heard it as well. She turned to look down the street where the growling whir of a scrambler grew as the golden-brown Kuroko slipped off her neck in sparking spasms. Uihara and Saten hurried over to pick the toasted department captain off the floor, but Misaka continued searching the distant corner, wondering what was this pressure she sense...

SCREEEEEEK!

The girls all jumped as a lone biker astride a two-wheeled machine almost completely doused in pink drifted around the block, leaving a trail of white smoke as she gracefully curved through the course and sped straight at them.

Karlheim dropped his farscope. "Good Kaiser no!"

Misaka found herself both admiring and twitching at the skillful yet reckless riding. And from the biege-orange vest over a white shirt and matching short skirt, it was obvious that the rider was her schoolmate from Tokiwadai Middle School. She was wearing a helmet --at least she did given her driving!-- there was no way that Ace could tell who she was. The green tag of Judgement on her sleeve told her nothing, in fact made it even harder for her to guess. Even the rider's presence felt rather foreign...

It then dawned on her that this newcomer was still bearing down on them at full tilt! She turned to the cluster of girls to get them to move out of the way when she noticed that the bike had shifted to its side and begun to impossibly skid-slide on its wheels. Saten, Misaka, and a few on-lookers, had their jaws to the floor as the stuntrider came to a perfect stop a car's length from them; surprisingly, Uihara and Kuroko were not fazed one bit. The rider vaulted off the vehicle like a gymnast, flashing her white underpants for all to see before making a ten-point landing.

Good lord, have some decency! Misaka becried mentally as the biker came running up. The latter's pink headgear dematerialized and silver-white locks fell out.

"Shirai-chan! Uihara-chan!" She came up panting. She then turned to Misaka having just caught sight of her, greeted her with a hurried hi! and carried on, "Sorry! I came as soon as I heard! Are you alright? Who did this to you?!"

"I-it's nothing..." Kuroko replied a little weakly. "I just had a ride of my life..."

The red-eyed Tokiwadaian turned her attention to the smoking ruins of the bank. "And the incident...?"

"It's been settled already," replied the captain as she dusted herself off. "All thanks to Onee-sama!"

"I see..."

"Eto..." Misaka began, face still twitching in disbelief. "Who are you?"

"I'm just a passing-through magical girl!" She beamed back without skipping a beat.

Mikoto found herself pondering how did that girl use passing-through and magical girl in the same sentence, or that she even called herself a magical girl!

Kuroko noted Misaka's surprise. "This is another backup member of 117th Judgement, though as an outrider she's just attached to the group. Kaprika von Touareg!"

Shirai then leaned closer and whispered, "Unlike you, she's showing signs of healthy development, and doesn't wear strange things under her--"

Misaka socked the little girl across the top of her head and stopped the perverse infomercial.

~~~

Meanwhile, Rhyne asked, "Just who is she?"

As his mind raced through a list of who in the Saint King's name would include that girl in the TSAB's undercover task force, Karlheim could only dead-pan, "my baby sister."

~~~

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" Kaprika greeted with a small bow and smile.

...inspired by the end of a certain episode about a certain scientific railgun in a certain random crossover as the result of a certain khrack attack.

Spoiler for Short comments. No time for anything long, just passing through, Meister Khrack.:

Geeezzzz...You take colloqualisms a bit too far, Kha, with the dialogue. I mean, does a semi-Germanic galaxian male even know the persasive influences of BengSpeak?

Also, I have a few standing issues with the way you structure sentences...but we will dilate upon this on the morrow, when I finally unshackle myself from this desolate madness that they call FINAL EXAMS. Of course, that is predicated on whether you have mind or time to dedicate to the improvement of your crack writing, which is, as aforementioned, is Up. To. You.

God, I sound like a meganekko.

Originally Posted by Heinekochan

Gratz Onii-chan! You've finally stopped failing.

I think you still need a strait-jacket though. And a dictionary, or someone to correct all that bad Singlish. :P

Thanks for using Kaprika. \o/

...

I think...I correct myself...

...I'm having second thoughts about this relationship suddenly.

*takes a deep breath*

Spoiler for NANI KOREGA?!!!:

KHA NO IMOUTO?!!!!! UUSSSSSOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

Need a couple more votes before I can continue... a 50/50 vote pattern kind of ends up stuck in limbo and it defeats the purpose if I'm the one who ends up deciding what to do.

Play the Game People

[Satashi]

*smiles* how about a story where we only know what Fate knows? In a situation where what she knows isn't what everyone else knows...

Spoiler for chanceS part 1:

Red eyes slowly opened, squinting as they tried to focus. Clouds were visible above and the girl laying on the ground let out a slow groan as she came to. Blond hair kept small strands of freshly mowed grass in it as Fate slowly sat up. 'What... where am I?' The questions came at once and the girl swallowed thickly, realizing her throat was parched. 'I feel like my whole body was scrambled...' Moving one hand to rub her eyes, she placed the other on the ground beside her and yelped when she realized that Bardiche was in battle form minus the plasma glow of his blade. "B-Bardiche? What... what happened to us?"

"Memory blocks for the past twelve hours are missing, sir." The device told her helplessly.

"...Why am I in my barrier jacket?" Fate slowly stood and stumbled back to her knees when her vision swam in front of her. "Ugh... Bardiche, can you scan me?"

"Already have sir, condition green."

"Thank you..." Fate took a long steading breath and felt herself feel a little better. "If I'm here, then the others might be in danger... I think this qualifies as flight without permission. Let's go, Bardiche!"

"Yes sir!"

Fate leapt into the air and twisted once to stabilize herself before looking around from her bird's eye view. "I'm in the park in the town, so that means the base is westward." After nodding to herself, she took off, forming a small barrier around herself to block most of the wind blowing on her.

"Incoming communication, sir." Bardiche informed her, popping a monitor up for her.

"Connect." Fate replied easily, relieved that she was being contacted.

"Unidentified mage, you have entered a restricted air flight zone in military use. State your name and land immediately or you will be fired upon."

Fate blinked at the harsh command and looked at the man on the screen she didn't recognize. "Fate T. Harlaown, lead enforcer of section six on my way back from a battle. I need a status update for the past twelve hours."

The man typed a few things on a floating keyboard before glaring at Fate. "There is no mage by that name stationed here. Please land at once."

Fate growled. "Look, I was knocked out in battle and have no idea what is going on, I need a status update!"

Again the man frowned. "Land right now, mage, or you will be intercepted. This is your last warning."

The blonde sighed and cut the communication off, flying to the front of her familiar base. 'I'll have to find Hayate or someone to find out what's going on.' As she started walking to the door, Signum exited it and stood infront of Fate. "Signum, thank goodness." She offered her friend a relieved smile. "I was knocked out some time ago and-"

"How do you know my name?"

Fate stopped talking for a few seconds, looking at her friend with a slightly open mouth. "Signum, please, I am seriously worried that-"

"Answer my question, mage. You entered a military base without permission after being warned that hostile action would be taken. This is a restricted zone."

"Signum, this isn't funny!" Fate's voice started shaking, fear settling in on her. "Please, I am really worried here, I don't need this!"

"I need to restrain you and take you so you can be questioned. Will you come with me quietly?"

"Signum!" Fate shouted now, tears in her eyes. "Why are you doing this, I need your help right now! This isn't funny!" When the woman didn't reply she walked past, then shoved her away when a hand moved to grab her. Before the warrior could make another attempt, Hayate made it to them, already in her jacket. "Hayate, will you-"

Hayate pointed her staff at Fate and glared at her with serious eyes. "Put down your weapon and identify yourself."

[SulliMike23]

Originally Posted by Satashi

*smiles* how about a story where we only know what Fate knows? In a situation where what she knows isn't what everyone else knows...

Spoiler for AlternateS part 1:

Red eyes slowly opened, squinting as they tried to focus. Clouds were visible above and the girl laying on the ground let out a slow groan as she came to. Blond hair kept small strands of freshly mowed grass in it as Fate slowly sat up. 'What... where am I?' The questions came at once and the girl swallowed thickly, realizing her throat was parched. 'I feel like my whole body was scrambled...' Moving one hand to rub her eyes, she placed the other on the ground beside her and yelped when she realized that Bardiche was in battle form minus the plasma glow of his blade. "B-Bardiche? What... what happened to us?"

"Memory blocks for the past twelve hours are missing, sir." The device told her helplessly.

"...Why am I in my barrier jacket?" Fate slowly stood and stumbled back to her knees when her vision swam in front of her. "Ugh... Bardiche, can you scan me?"

"Already have sir, condition green."

"Thank you..." Fate took a long steading breath and felt herself feel a little better. "If I'm here, then the others might be in danger... I think this qualifies as flight without permission. Let's go, Bardiche!"

"Yes sir!"

Fate leapt into the air and twisted once to stabilize herself before looking around from her bird's eye view. "I'm in the park in the town, so that means the base is westward." After nodding to herself, she took off, forming a small barrier around herself to block most of the wind blowing on her.

"Incoming communication, sir." Bardiche informed her, popping a monitor up for her.

"Connect." Fate replied easily, relieved that she was being contacted.

"Unidentified mage, you have entered a restricted air flight zone in military use. State your name and land immediately or you will be fired upon."

Fate blinked at the harsh command and looked at the man on the screen she didn't recognize. "Fate T. Harlaown, lead enforcer of section six on my way back from a battle. I need a status update for the past twelve hours."

The man typed a few things on a floating keyboard before glaring at Fate. "There is no mage by that name stationed here. Please land at once."

Fate growled. "Look, I was knocked out in battle and have no idea what is going on, I need a status update!"

Again the man frowned. "Land right now, mage, or you will be intercepted. This is your last warning."

The blonde sighed and cut the communication off, flying to the front of her familiar base. 'I'll have to find Hayate or someone to find out what's going on.' As she started walking to the door, Signum exited it and stood infront of Fate. "Signum, thank goodness." She offered her friend a relieved smile. "I was knocked out some time ago and-"

"How do you know my name?"

Fate stopped talking for a few seconds, looking at her friend with a slightly open mouth. "Signum, please, I am seriously worried that-"

"Answer my question, mage. You entered a military base without permission after being warned that hostile action would be taken. This is a restricted zone."

"Signum, this isn't funny!" Fate's voice started shaking, fear settling in on her. "Please, I am really worried here, I don't need this!"

"I need to restrain you and take you so you can be questioned. Will you come with me quietly?"

"Signum!" Fate shouted now, tears in her eyes. "Why are you doing this, I need your help right now! This isn't funny!" When the woman didn't reply she walked past, then shoved her away when a hand moved to grab her. Before the warrior could make another attempt, Hayate made it to them, already in her jacket. "Hayate, will you-"

Hayate pointed her staff at Fate and glared at her with serious eyes. "Put down your weapon and identify yourself."

I'm sensing a little bit of "It's A Wonderful Life" in this one.

[Satashi]

Spoiler for ChanceS part 1:

Red eyes slowly opened, squinting as they tried to focus. Clouds were visible above and the girl laying on the ground let out a slow groan as she came to. Blond hair kept small strands of freshly mowed grass in it as Fate slowly sat up. 'What... where am I?' The questions came at once and the girl swallowed thickly, realizing her throat was parched. 'I feel like my whole body was scrambled...' Moving one hand to rub her eyes, she placed the other on the ground beside her and yelped when she realized that Bardiche was in battle form minus the plasma glow of his blade. "B-Bardiche? What... what happened to us?"

"Memory blocks for the past twelve hours are missing, sir." The device told her helplessly.

"...Why am I in my barrier jacket?" Fate slowly stood and stumbled back to her knees when her vision swam in front of her. "Ugh... Bardiche, can you scan me?"

"Already have sir, condition green."

"Thank you..." Fate took a long steading breath and felt herself feel a little better. "If I'm here, then the others might be in danger... I think this qualifies as flight without permission. Let's go, Bardiche!"

"Yes sir!"

Fate leapt into the air and twisted once to stabilize herself before looking around from her bird's eye view. "I'm in the park in the town, so that means the base is westward." After nodding to herself, she took off, forming a small barrier around herself to block most of the wind blowing on her.

"Incoming communication, sir." Bardiche informed her, popping a monitor up for her.

"Connect." Fate replied easily, relieved that she was being contacted.

"Unidentified mage, you have entered a restricted air flight zone in military use. State your name and land immediately or you will be fired upon."

Fate blinked at the harsh command and looked at the man on the screen she didn't recognize. "Fate T. Harlaown, lead enforcer of section six on my way back from a battle. I need a status update for the past twelve hours."

The man typed a few things on a floating keyboard before glaring at Fate. "There is no mage by that name stationed here. Please land at once."

Fate growled. "Look, I was knocked out in battle and have no idea what is going on, I need a status update!"

Again the man frowned. "Land right now, mage, or you will be intercepted. This is your last warning."

The blonde sighed and cut the communication off, flying to the front of her familiar base. 'I'll have to find Hayate or someone to find out what's going on.' As she started walking to the door, Signum exited it and stood infront of Fate. "Signum, thank goodness." She offered her friend a relieved smile. "I was knocked out some time ago and-"

"How do you know my name?"

Fate stopped talking for a few seconds, looking at her friend with a slightly open mouth. "Signum, please, I am seriously worried that-"

"Answer my question, mage. You entered a military base without permission after being warned that hostile action would be taken. This is a restricted zone."

"Signum, this isn't funny!" Fate's voice started shaking, fear settling in on her. "Please, I am really worried here, I don't need this!"

"I need to restrain you and take you so you can be questioned. Will you come with me quietly?"

"Signum!" Fate shouted now, tears in her eyes. "Why are you doing this, I need your help right now! This isn't funny!" When the woman didn't reply she walked past, then shoved her away when a hand moved to grab her. Before the warrior could make another attempt, Hayate made it to them, already in her jacket. "Hayate, will you-"

Hayate pointed her staff at Fate and glared at her with serious eyes. "Put down your weapon and identify yourself."

Spoiler for ChanceS part 2:

"What...?" Fate felt her legs shake but managed to keep herself standing. "Hayate... What is going on?" The tip of the staff lowered slightly when a tear fell from Fate's eye. "I don't... understand... Why are you acting like this...?"

Signum looked at Hayate and then back at the blonde who was on the edge of a breakdown. "I think the best course of action right now would be for you to come with us for a while and get some questions answered. Why do you know our names and why are you insisting that we know you?"

"Nanoha..." Fate's voice was soft, unsure of herself anymore. "I want to see Nanoha and Vivio."

Hayate positioned her staff in a less threatening way and put a hand on her hip, judging the woman in front of her. "Why do you want to see Nanoha-chan?"

"Please. Just please, okay? I need to see her..."

Signum stood behind her woman and put a hand on Fate's shoulder. "Mistress, I can take her from here."

"Please," Fate spoke again. " Just let me see them?"

"Who is Vivio?" Hayate asked, making Fate stiffen. "Okay, okay... I will ask for Nanoha to come to the interrogation room, will that make you feel better?"

"Mistress!?"

"I don't think she will cause any trouble." Hayate told her friend. "Now, can you tell me your name?"

"Fate." Fate finally spoke up. "Fate T. Harlaown."

Ignoring the last name as a coincidence, Hayate simply nodded. "Signum, please escort Fate-san here to the interrogation room. I will get Nanoha and ask her to meet you there."

Signum nodded and addressed Fate again. "Please disarm your device." She watched Fate recall her staff and place the gem in a slot on her left glove. "Thank you, this way, please." Putting her hand on Fate's back, she began to lead her.

Silence hung over the two as they slowly walked across the base while Hayate flew off towards the training field that was near where they were heading. No words were spoken during the semi-long walk and Fate felt a little bit of relief when she was entered in the air conditioned building. Together they walked to an elevator and she ignored the strange look she got when she pushed the button for the correct floor. After exiting, she made her way to the room and opened it, seeing Nanoha and Hayate already sitting behind the desk in the room.

After sitting down, Fate looked at Nanoha's questioning face and felt her heart break completely. "You... don't know who I am, do you?"

Nanoha looked at the woman in front of herself and slowly shook her head. "I'm... sorry? I don't remember you..."

Hayate spoke up, giving the woman a sad look. "Fate-san, could you please answer some questions for us? We have gone out of our way for you so much already." Fate nodded sadly, eyes still focused on Nanoha. "You told our contact that you were stationed here, am I correct?"

"Yes. Bardiche, could you?"

"Yes sir." Several monitors popped up, displaying Fate's I.D and information.

"Lightning one," Signum noted. "That is my call sign."

Fate didn't say anything. Instead, Hayate continued. "This looks too good to be faked... She even has our friendly unit code...It says here you live... In Nanoha's room."

Fate nodded again. "Yes, along with Vivio."

Nanoha shook her head. "Who is Vivio?" She almost flinched when Fate looked as if she had just lost her will to live. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." She glanced at Hayate with a confused face and whispered to her. "What happened to this girl?"

"I don't know," Hayate whispered back softly. Turning back to Fate, she tried again. "Fate-san, you said something about being knocked out? You are in battle mode?"

Fate was looking down at her hands on the table, talking so softly she almost couldn't be heard. "I don't know... I woke up and have no memory of the battle I was in or how I even got there... The last I recall was dropping Vivio off at school."

"That name... why would that person be in my room?"

"She's our daughter," Fate revealed, voice breaking again. "You... You really don't remember me? Nanoha?"

Nanoha swallowed and leaned back, stammering over her words. The woman in front of her was obviously upset because of them but she honestly couldn't remember anything. "Tell me something I would remember?"

"Our marriage?" Nanoha shook her head at Fate's words. "Adopting Vivio? Growing up, swapping ribbons?" When Nanoha kept shaking her head, Fate started getting desperate. "Anything? You saved me from my mother-" When Nanoha's eyes widened slightly, Fate felt a small bit of hope. "When we were nine, I attacked you for the jewel seeds!"

"I... I remember that, that was when I met Yuuno-kun and found out I was a mage..."

Fate nodded, reaching over and taking both of Nanoha's hands, much to everyone's displeasure. "Yes! And Arf, my familiar! Suzuka and Arisa!"

Nanoha shook her head, unsure. "How... can you know what happened on Earth..."

"That was me! The girl with pigtails! We fought and fought and you kept trying to get me to talk to you, and then when I was captured I came to help you against my mother. You offered your hand and saved me!"

Nanoha shook her head again. "But I... that girl died." This time Fate shook her head. "I remember it... I was yelling at her... to take my hand... and she didn't... she reached for her mother and was pulled into the void..."

"No... no, I reached for you. You saved me!" She felt Signum place a hand on her shoulder and she sat back down. "This isn't happening..."

"Fate, could you look at me...?" Nanoha leaned forward and ignored her friend's looks. Gently she touched Fate's cheeks and looked into her eyes. "I remember... those eyes. That were so very sad...."

Fate leaned lightly against the palms and placed her hand over Nanoha's. "I didn't die... Why is everything so suddenly different... I don't..."

"Lets talk somewhere more comfortable," Nanoha requested softly. "Hayate-chan, I don't think she is a threat. We need to let her settle down and try and figure out why she knows all of this. I think we should help her."

Hayate let out a breath but agreed anyway. "You always were one to help people no matter what... But I agree, this is a very confusing situation."

"Okay then, lets go to my room, Fate-chan. Signum, could you watch my students for an hour?" She got a nod and a very thankful look from Fate. "Lets go then." her hands pulled back and moved back under the table. A moment later she moved back and ran her palm over a small orb on her chair, gliding over to a shocked Fate. "Fate-chan?"

Fate felt everything stop, seeing nothing but Nanoha in a wheelchair. The questions around her started to fade out and she felt as if sand was pouring all over her body before she collapsed to her knees and then to the floor. The last thing she heard was her name being shouted and Nanoha trying to lean over to reach her.

[deathcurse]

Originally Posted by Satashi

Spoiler for ChanceS part 1:

Red eyes slowly opened, squinting as they tried to focus. Clouds were visible above and the girl laying on the ground let out a slow groan as she came to. Blond hair kept small strands of freshly mowed grass in it as Fate slowly sat up. 'What... where am I?' The questions came at once and the girl swallowed thickly, realizing her throat was parched. 'I feel like my whole body was scrambled...' Moving one hand to rub her eyes, she placed the other on the ground beside her and yelped when she realized that Bardiche was in battle form minus the plasma glow of his blade. "B-Bardiche? What... what happened to us?"

"Memory blocks for the past twelve hours are missing, sir." The device told her helplessly.

"...Why am I in my barrier jacket?" Fate slowly stood and stumbled back to her knees when her vision swam in front of her. "Ugh... Bardiche, can you scan me?"

"Already have sir, condition green."

"Thank you..." Fate took a long steading breath and felt herself feel a little better. "If I'm here, then the others might be in danger... I think this qualifies as flight without permission. Let's go, Bardiche!"

"Yes sir!"

Fate leapt into the air and twisted once to stabilize herself before looking around from her bird's eye view. "I'm in the park in the town, so that means the base is westward." After nodding to herself, she took off, forming a small barrier around herself to block most of the wind blowing on her.

"Incoming communication, sir." Bardiche informed her, popping a monitor up for her.

"Connect." Fate replied easily, relieved that she was being contacted.

"Unidentified mage, you have entered a restricted air flight zone in military use. State your name and land immediately or you will be fired upon."

Fate blinked at the harsh command and looked at the man on the screen she didn't recognize. "Fate T. Harlaown, lead enforcer of section six on my way back from a battle. I need a status update for the past twelve hours."

The man typed a few things on a floating keyboard before glaring at Fate. "There is no mage by that name stationed here. Please land at once."

Fate growled. "Look, I was knocked out in battle and have no idea what is going on, I need a status update!"

Again the man frowned. "Land right now, mage, or you will be intercepted. This is your last warning."

The blonde sighed and cut the communication off, flying to the front of her familiar base. 'I'll have to find Hayate or someone to find out what's going on.' As she started walking to the door, Signum exited it and stood infront of Fate. "Signum, thank goodness." She offered her friend a relieved smile. "I was knocked out some time ago and-"

"How do you know my name?"

Fate stopped talking for a few seconds, looking at her friend with a slightly open mouth. "Signum, please, I am seriously worried that-"

"Answer my question, mage. You entered a military base without permission after being warned that hostile action would be taken. This is a restricted zone."

"Signum, this isn't funny!" Fate's voice started shaking, fear settling in on her. "Please, I am really worried here, I don't need this!"

"I need to restrain you and take you so you can be questioned. Will you come with me quietly?"

"Signum!" Fate shouted now, tears in her eyes. "Why are you doing this, I need your help right now! This isn't funny!" When the woman didn't reply she walked past, then shoved her away when a hand moved to grab her. Before the warrior could make another attempt, Hayate made it to them, already in her jacket. "Hayate, will you-"

Hayate pointed her staff at Fate and glared at her with serious eyes. "Put down your weapon and identify yourself."

Spoiler for ChanceS part 2:

"What...?" Fate felt her legs shake but managed to keep herself standing. "Hayate... What is going on?" The tip of the staff lowered slightly when a tear fell from Fate's eye. "I don't... understand... Why are you acting like this...?"

Signum looked at Hayate and then back at the blonde who was on the edge of a breakdown. "I think the best course of action right now would be for you to come with us for a while and get some questions answered. Why do you know our names and why are you insisting that we know you?"

"Nanoha..." Fate's voice was soft, unsure of herself anymore. "I want to see Nanoha and Vivio."

Hayate positioned her staff in a less threatening way and put a hand on her hip, judging the woman in front of her. "Why do you want to see Nanoha-chan?"

"Please. Just please, okay? I need to see her..."

Signum stood behind her woman and put a hand on Fate's shoulder. "Mistress, I can take her from here."

"Please," Fate spoke again. " Just let me see them?"

"Who is Vivio?" Hayate asked, making Fate stiffen. "Okay, okay... I will ask for Nanoha to come to the interrogation room, will that make you feel better?"

"Mistress!?"

"I don't think she will cause any trouble." Hayate told her friend. "Now, can you tell me your name?"

"Fate." Fate finally spoke up. "Fate T. Harlaown."

Ignoring the last name as a coincidence, Hayate simply nodded. "Signum, please escort Fate-san here to the interrogation room. I will get Nanoha and ask her to meet you there."

Signum nodded and addressed Fate again. "Please disarm your device." She watched Fate recall her staff and place the gem in a slot on her left glove. "Thank you, this way, please." Putting her hand on Fate's back, she began to lead her.

Silence hung over the two as they slowly walked across the base while Hayate flew off towards the training field that was near where they were heading. No words were spoken during the semi-long walk and Fate felt a little bit of relief when she was entered in the air conditioned building. Together they walked to an elevator and she ignored the strange look she got when she pushed the button for the correct floor. After exiting, she made her way to the room and opened it, seeing Nanoha and Hayate already sitting behind the desk in the room.

After sitting down, Fate looked at Nanoha's questioning face and felt her heart break completely. "You... don't know who I am, do you?"

Nanoha looked at the woman in front of herself and slowly shook her head. "I'm... sorry? I don't remember you..."

Hayate spoke up, giving the woman a sad look. "Fate-san, could you please answer some questions for us? We have gone out of our way for you so much already." Fate nodded sadly, eyes still focused on Nanoha. "You told our contact that you were stationed here, am I correct?"

"Yes. Bardiche, could you?"

"Yes sir." Several monitors popped up, displaying Fate's I.D and information.

"Lightning one," Signum noted. "That is my call sign."

Fate didn't say anything. Instead, Hayate continued. "This looks too good to be faked... She even has our friendly unit code...It says here you live... In Nanoha's room."

Fate nodded again. "Yes, along with Vivio."

Nanoha shook her head. "Who is Vivio?" She almost flinched when Fate looked as if she had just lost her will to live. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." She glanced at Hayate with a confused face and whispered to her. "What happened to this girl?"

"I don't know," Hayate whispered back softly. Turning back to Fate, she tried again. "Fate-san, you said something about being knocked out? You are in battle mode?"

Fate was looking down at her hands on the table, talking so softly she almost couldn't be heard. "I don't know... I woke up and have no memory of the battle I was in or how I even got there... The last I recall was dropping Vivio off at school."

"That name... why would that person be in my room?"

"She's our daughter," Fate revealed, voice breaking again. "You... You really don't remember me? Nanoha?"

Nanoha swallowed and leaned back, stammering over her words. The woman in front of her was obviously upset because of them but she honestly couldn't remember anything. "Tell me something I would remember?"

"Our marriage?" Nanoha shook her head at Fate's words. "Adopting Vivio? Growing up, swapping ribbons?" When Nanoha kept shaking her head, Fate started getting desperate. "Anything? You saved me from my mother-" When Nanoha's eyes widened slightly, Fate felt a small bit of hope. "When we were nine, I attacked you for the jewel seeds!"

"I... I remember that, that was when I met Yuuno-kun and found out I was a mage..."

Fate nodded, reaching over and taking both of Nanoha's hands, much to everyone's displeasure. "Yes! And Arf, my familiar! Suzuka and Arisa!"

Nanoha shook her head, unsure. "How... can you know what happened on Earth..."

"That was me! The girl with pigtails! We fought and fought and you kept trying to get me to talk to you, and then when I was captured I came to help you against my mother. You offered your hand and saved me!"

Nanoha shook her head again. "But I... that girl died." This time Fate shook her head. "I remember it... I was yelling at her... to take my hand... and she didn't... she reached for her mother and was pulled into the void..."

"No... no, I reached for you. You saved me!" She felt Signum place a hand on her shoulder and she sat back down. "This isn't happening..."

"Fate, could you look at me...?" Nanoha leaned forward and ignored her friend's looks. Gently she touched Fate's cheeks and looked into her eyes. "I remember... those eyes. That were so very sad...."

Fate leaned lightly against the palms and placed her hand over Nanoha's. "I didn't die... Why is everything so suddenly different... I don't..."

"Lets talk somewhere more comfortable," Nanoha requested softly. "Hayate-chan, I don't think she is a threat. We need to let her settle down and try and figure out why she knows all of this. I think we should help her."

Hayate let out a breath but agreed anyway. "You always were one to help people no matter what... But I agree, this is a very confusing situation."

"Okay then, lets go to my room, Fate-chan. Signum, could you watch my students for an hour?" She got a nod and a very thankful look from Fate. "Lets go then." her hands pulled back and moved back under the table. A moment later she moved back and ran her palm over a small orb on her chair, gliding over to a shocked Fate. "Fate-chan?"

Fate felt everything stop, seeing nothing but Nanoha in a wheelchair. The questions around her started to fade out and she felt as if sand was pouring all over her body before she collapsed to her knees and then to the floor. The last thing she heard was her name being shouted and Nanoha trying to lean over to reach her.

.....

OMG, I love it! I like how Hayate's sympathetic but still wary, and the circumstance of the trouble is just...wow. Fate choosing to die, and all the consequences of that action...absolute yay

[spawnofthejudge]

Originally Posted by Satashi

ChanceS

Awesome premise, Satashi! Not so hot about the title, but I'm so hooked on the narrative, I barely care. Looking forward to many particular scenes that have formed in my head about this.... ... ... ...

... if you don't do them, I might . Please continue!

[SulliMike23]

Originally Posted by Satashi

Spoiler for ChanceS part 1:

Red eyes slowly opened, squinting as they tried to focus. Clouds were visible above and the girl laying on the ground let out a slow groan as she came to. Blond hair kept small strands of freshly mowed grass in it as Fate slowly sat up. 'What... where am I?' The questions came at once and the girl swallowed thickly, realizing her throat was parched. 'I feel like my whole body was scrambled...' Moving one hand to rub her eyes, she placed the other on the ground beside her and yelped when she realized that Bardiche was in battle form minus the plasma glow of his blade. "B-Bardiche? What... what happened to us?"

"Memory blocks for the past twelve hours are missing, sir." The device told her helplessly.

"...Why am I in my barrier jacket?" Fate slowly stood and stumbled back to her knees when her vision swam in front of her. "Ugh... Bardiche, can you scan me?"

"Already have sir, condition green."

"Thank you..." Fate took a long steading breath and felt herself feel a little better. "If I'm here, then the others might be in danger... I think this qualifies as flight without permission. Let's go, Bardiche!"

"Yes sir!"

Fate leapt into the air and twisted once to stabilize herself before looking around from her bird's eye view. "I'm in the park in the town, so that means the base is westward." After nodding to herself, she took off, forming a small barrier around herself to block most of the wind blowing on her.

"Incoming communication, sir." Bardiche informed her, popping a monitor up for her.

"Connect." Fate replied easily, relieved that she was being contacted.

"Unidentified mage, you have entered a restricted air flight zone in military use. State your name and land immediately or you will be fired upon."

Fate blinked at the harsh command and looked at the man on the screen she didn't recognize. "Fate T. Harlaown, lead enforcer of section six on my way back from a battle. I need a status update for the past twelve hours."

The man typed a few things on a floating keyboard before glaring at Fate. "There is no mage by that name stationed here. Please land at once."

Fate growled. "Look, I was knocked out in battle and have no idea what is going on, I need a status update!"

Again the man frowned. "Land right now, mage, or you will be intercepted. This is your last warning."

The blonde sighed and cut the communication off, flying to the front of her familiar base. 'I'll have to find Hayate or someone to find out what's going on.' As she started walking to the door, Signum exited it and stood infront of Fate. "Signum, thank goodness." She offered her friend a relieved smile. "I was knocked out some time ago and-"

"How do you know my name?"

Fate stopped talking for a few seconds, looking at her friend with a slightly open mouth. "Signum, please, I am seriously worried that-"

"Answer my question, mage. You entered a military base without permission after being warned that hostile action would be taken. This is a restricted zone."

"Signum, this isn't funny!" Fate's voice started shaking, fear settling in on her. "Please, I am really worried here, I don't need this!"

"I need to restrain you and take you so you can be questioned. Will you come with me quietly?"

"Signum!" Fate shouted now, tears in her eyes. "Why are you doing this, I need your help right now! This isn't funny!" When the woman didn't reply she walked past, then shoved her away when a hand moved to grab her. Before the warrior could make another attempt, Hayate made it to them, already in her jacket. "Hayate, will you-"

Hayate pointed her staff at Fate and glared at her with serious eyes. "Put down your weapon and identify yourself."

Spoiler for ChanceS part 2:

"What...?" Fate felt her legs shake but managed to keep herself standing. "Hayate... What is going on?" The tip of the staff lowered slightly when a tear fell from Fate's eye. "I don't... understand... Why are you acting like this...?"

Signum looked at Hayate and then back at the blonde who was on the edge of a breakdown. "I think the best course of action right now would be for you to come with us for a while and get some questions answered. Why do you know our names and why are you insisting that we know you?"

"Nanoha..." Fate's voice was soft, unsure of herself anymore. "I want to see Nanoha and Vivio."

Hayate positioned her staff in a less threatening way and put a hand on her hip, judging the woman in front of her. "Why do you want to see Nanoha-chan?"

"Please. Just please, okay? I need to see her..."

Signum stood behind her woman and put a hand on Fate's shoulder. "Mistress, I can take her from here."

"Please," Fate spoke again. " Just let me see them?"

"Who is Vivio?" Hayate asked, making Fate stiffen. "Okay, okay... I will ask for Nanoha to come to the interrogation room, will that make you feel better?"

"Mistress!?"

"I don't think she will cause any trouble." Hayate told her friend. "Now, can you tell me your name?"

"Fate." Fate finally spoke up. "Fate T. Harlaown."

Ignoring the last name as a coincidence, Hayate simply nodded. "Signum, please escort Fate-san here to the interrogation room. I will get Nanoha and ask her to meet you there."

Signum nodded and addressed Fate again. "Please disarm your device." She watched Fate recall her staff and place the gem in a slot on her left glove. "Thank you, this way, please." Putting her hand on Fate's back, she began to lead her.

Silence hung over the two as they slowly walked across the base while Hayate flew off towards the training field that was near where they were heading. No words were spoken during the semi-long walk and Fate felt a little bit of relief when she was entered in the air conditioned building. Together they walked to an elevator and she ignored the strange look she got when she pushed the button for the correct floor. After exiting, she made her way to the room and opened it, seeing Nanoha and Hayate already sitting behind the desk in the room.

After sitting down, Fate looked at Nanoha's questioning face and felt her heart break completely. "You... don't know who I am, do you?"

Nanoha looked at the woman in front of herself and slowly shook her head. "I'm... sorry? I don't remember you..."

Hayate spoke up, giving the woman a sad look. "Fate-san, could you please answer some questions for us? We have gone out of our way for you so much already." Fate nodded sadly, eyes still focused on Nanoha. "You told our contact that you were stationed here, am I correct?"

"Yes. Bardiche, could you?"

"Yes sir." Several monitors popped up, displaying Fate's I.D and information.

"Lightning one," Signum noted. "That is my call sign."

Fate didn't say anything. Instead, Hayate continued. "This looks too good to be faked... She even has our friendly unit code...It says here you live... In Nanoha's room."

Fate nodded again. "Yes, along with Vivio."

Nanoha shook her head. "Who is Vivio?" She almost flinched when Fate looked as if she had just lost her will to live. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." She glanced at Hayate with a confused face and whispered to her. "What happened to this girl?"

"I don't know," Hayate whispered back softly. Turning back to Fate, she tried again. "Fate-san, you said something about being knocked out? You are in battle mode?"

Fate was looking down at her hands on the table, talking so softly she almost couldn't be heard. "I don't know... I woke up and have no memory of the battle I was in or how I even got there... The last I recall was dropping Vivio off at school."

"That name... why would that person be in my room?"

"She's our daughter," Fate revealed, voice breaking again. "You... You really don't remember me? Nanoha?"

Nanoha swallowed and leaned back, stammering over her words. The woman in front of her was obviously upset because of them but she honestly couldn't remember anything. "Tell me something I would remember?"

"Our marriage?" Nanoha shook her head at Fate's words. "Adopting Vivio? Growing up, swapping ribbons?" When Nanoha kept shaking her head, Fate started getting desperate. "Anything? You saved me from my mother-" When Nanoha's eyes widened slightly, Fate felt a small bit of hope. "When we were nine, I attacked you for the jewel seeds!"

"I... I remember that, that was when I met Yuuno-kun and found out I was a mage..."

Fate nodded, reaching over and taking both of Nanoha's hands, much to everyone's displeasure. "Yes! And Arf, my familiar! Suzuka and Arisa!"

Nanoha shook her head, unsure. "How... can you know what happened on Earth..."

"That was me! The girl with pigtails! We fought and fought and you kept trying to get me to talk to you, and then when I was captured I came to help you against my mother. You offered your hand and saved me!"

Nanoha shook her head again. "But I... that girl died." This time Fate shook her head. "I remember it... I was yelling at her... to take my hand... and she didn't... she reached for her mother and was pulled into the void..."

"No... no, I reached for you. You saved me!" She felt Signum place a hand on her shoulder and she sat back down. "This isn't happening..."

"Fate, could you look at me...?" Nanoha leaned forward and ignored her friend's looks. Gently she touched Fate's cheeks and looked into her eyes. "I remember... those eyes. That were so very sad...."

Fate leaned lightly against the palms and placed her hand over Nanoha's. "I didn't die... Why is everything so suddenly different... I don't..."

"Lets talk somewhere more comfortable," Nanoha requested softly. "Hayate-chan, I don't think she is a threat. We need to let her settle down and try and figure out why she knows all of this. I think we should help her."

Hayate let out a breath but agreed anyway. "You always were one to help people no matter what... But I agree, this is a very confusing situation."

"Okay then, lets go to my room, Fate-chan. Signum, could you watch my students for an hour?" She got a nod and a very thankful look from Fate. "Lets go then." her hands pulled back and moved back under the table. A moment later she moved back and ran her palm over a small orb on her chair, gliding over to a shocked Fate. "Fate-chan?"

Fate felt everything stop, seeing nothing but Nanoha in a wheelchair. The questions around her started to fade out and she felt as if sand was pouring all over her body before she collapsed to her knees and then to the floor. The last thing she heard was her name being shouted and Nanoha trying to lean over to reach her.

Man, if I were Fate I'd be devastated by all this too.

[deathcurse]

*Tip toes in*

Midterms suck >< Four midterms within a week is just torture

Thanks to Itanshi1 and RB again!

ANGEL
Is second-best really good enough?

Spoiler for Angel, Chapter 5:

Chapter 5: Bear the Cross

“Nothing,” Teana scowled into her cell phone, crouched at the edge of an office building in some run-down country half-way across the world. The reception was crappy but hey, it wasn’t like she had to pay the long-distance bills. It pays to have a computer-savvy comrade and a master scryer on your team.

“Make another round,” Chrono’s voice crackled. “The magic traces are still strong, it could be a potential one. Shamal’s been amplifying the trace to the Angels, so watch if they show—although with a new Tome reader, they might have picked it up before us.”

“She might not even be dead.” Standing beside Teana, a cheery blue-haired girl joined in the conversation. Teana gritted her teeth—ever since Subaru had been upgraded with wireless and Bluetooth no phone conversation stayed private anymore. While she didn’t care if it happened while reporting dull news to Chrono, the annoying habit was just another thing about Subaru that irritated the illusion-maker. Blithely unaware of Teana’s fuming thoughts, Subaru continued, “Signum ‘ported them all out really quick; the Angel could still be alive, possibly.”

“No, I doubt it,” Teana snapped. “Angel or no, she’s only human—and most humans can’t survive skewering.”

“You’re always so mean to me Tea!” Subaru whined, scratching at her cheek with a hand. Despite herself, Teana stared at the metal segments flexing, looking horrifically robotic when exposed without a layer of synthetic skin lining the skeletal frame. Quickly, Subaru shoved her hand into her pocket when she noticed, turning away so that the bare rods in her forearm were hidden from Teana’s view.

“Emergency repair,” she muttered, no trace of mirth left. “I’ll get Amy to help when we get back; I didn’t have much time last night to do it myself.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Teana recomposed herself, but Subaru had gone all quiet now. Sighing, Teana rose, readjusting the long knives at her belt.

Chrono coughed, and said a little awkwardly, “I think we can assume for now that she’s indeed, dead. Anyways, there’ve been a few families in the past whose lines discontinued, then restarted after Bardiche moved on to a new Angel family. There’s a high chance it could resurface with them. Check again, then both of you can come back.” He hung up.

Huffing, Teana snapped her phone shut. “I don’t see why we waste our time tracking the Angel,” she groused. “We should be going after the Jewels before they do.” Subaru only shrugged, and Teana stifled another sigh.

“Come on, let’s get this over with.” Maybe they’ll stop by an ice-cream stand later or something—ice-cream always cheered Subaru up again.

***

The moment they arrived in Fate’s apartment, Nanoha let out a huge sigh of relief.

“You didn’t have to make it so obvious,” Fate grumbled. “I have done teleportations before.”

“Yes, but after casting the circle, you can’t visually double-check the coordinates,” Nanoha retorted. “And it’s not like anyone else can do it for you, individualized sigils and all, so forgive me for being a little uneasy! I have no desire of ending up in Siberia or in the middle of the ocean by accident.”

Shrugging, Fate swept her way over to their bedrooms, actually using her cane since she didn’t know what had been thrown around from Nanoha’s bombshell entrance a couple days earlier. She hadn’t bothered bringing Arf, although speaking of her dog, she had to bring some dog food for Arf and Zafira…table scraps aren’t so good for them…

Nanoha interrupted her mental lists. “The two of you live alone here?”

“We live together,” Fate said drily. “But yes, it’s just the two of us.” She made a detour at the front door and checked for mail. Lobbing a handful of envelopes Nanoha’s way, trusting that the ninja-girl would catch them all, Fate asked “Could you read those for me?”

“Credit card bill for Yagami Hayate,” Nanoha informed her. “24 500 yen.”

“Hayate needed a new wheelchair,” Fate answered absently, packing clothes for herself and Hayate. “The frame bent on her old one when a bus driver fobbed the transfer and dropped it into traffic.” She counted her steps into the bathroom and tried to find Hayate’s adaptive equipment. Her roommate was too considerate at times, keeping her specialized gear out of the way so well sometimes Fate had trouble finding where Hayate had stuffed it.

Paper ripping, then “Confirmation of transfer from BOJ, monthly stipend, for trust account held by Yagami Hayate and Fate Testarossa.” Nanoha paused. “Isn’t it confusing that you list your names differently?” Rhetorical question, as she simply continued, “Student loan applications, listed for both of you.”

“Ah!” Fate groaned, in the middle of pulling out Arf and Zafira’s travel kits. “I forgot about those…bring them along, maybe Hayate could do them if she’s got time.”

“She’ll be helping Carim look for the Jewel Seeds,” Nanoha protested.

“Look,” Fate said angrily, turning to face the other girl’s general direction. It was a body-language reflex even though Fate knew that she looked silly staring off over her opponent’s shoulder most of the time. At least Hayate never laughed at her, even during their rare arguments. “Some of us have lives, not only a mission. As long as I’m fulfilling my duties as the Black Angel, what do you care about our normal lives?” She shook her head in disgust, and hoisted their packed bags back into the living room.

Nanoha was silent for a time, then when she spoke again, her tone had turned rigid. “Since I don’t care about anything but our mission, why don’t you answer some questions I have? I’ve thought about it, and I have a hard time believing that Alicia never told us about Al Hazard, if it was such an integral part of our goal.”

“I didn’t lie,” Fate couldn’t help saying defensively, more affected by the unspoken implication than she would have liked. Troubling how much she cared, when she had prepared herself to not care at all. “I don’t know why Alicia didn’t say anything about it, but it’s the truth.” Now there she was getting dangerously close to lying…

And of all the luck, Nanoha’s sharp eye caught her hesitance. “You’re not telling me something.” Nanoha eyed her fiercely. “Why didn’t Alicia tell us? Did Precia make her lie to us—threaten her? Alicia would never lie to—”

“Mother would never do that!” Fate cried.

“Then what were they hiding? There has to be something!”

The truth meant nothing to Fate, insignificant in the bigger picture. Even then she hadn’t intended on saying anything, but the words came rushing out to counter Nanoha’s accusation. “She did it for you. For all of you. You’re all so happy as a team, thinking that you’ll watch each other’s backs and be friends forever. It matters a lot to you, doesn’t it?” Fate gripped her cane tightly. “Alicia didn’t tell you about Al Hazard because in the end, none of you can do anything for her. All your missions, all your experiences and promises together gathering the Seeds will come to nothing in the end, because at the very end only the Angel can enter Al Hazard. In the end, she’d face her last enemy all alone, and she’d win or die by herself with no one watching her back. Is that what you wanted Alicia to tell you?”

Exhausted from the spiel, Fate sat down on the couch and rested her elbows on her knees. She couldn’t see Nanoha’s face—she didn’t want to see Nanoha’s face.

She heard Nanoha swallow. “Did she…did she ever tell you this?”

“I haven’t seen her for five years—she never told me anything.” Fate said bitterly. “But no, even in our dreams she never said it…but she doesn’t have to.” Smiling wryly, she shrugged and said simply. “I understand the feeling.”

***

Large hallways didn’t always equate to wide doorways, Hayate learned. Although she’s had plenty of practice in the past, Hayate yelped as she scraped her knuckles on the door frame passing into the kitchen. Kissing the bruised skin, she shook her hand out and rolled over to the fridge. For a populated house, no one seemed to think about food at all.

Hm…most of the food still seemed fresh, so Hayate began gathering ingredients, humming under her breath while she moved about. Or at times, she got Zafira to move for her.

“Sorry Zaffy!” Hayate said sheepishly when she had to send him around opening all the cupboard doors again since the first round didn’t yield any cutting boards. He only waved his tail agreeably. Perhaps the fussing she had made over him that morning while brushing his coat with the combs Fate had brought paid off. At times, Zafira was so intelligent that he’d get cross with her when she made him redo simple things, although he was always long-sufferingly patient.

He would be such an awesome father…Hayate gushed at the thought of Zafira with a pack of puppies climbing all over him and tugging his ears. “Aha!” Cutting board! “Bring.” The trouble with most houses was their counters. The house she had lived in before had been made for paraplegics, with lowered counters and shelves and such, making cooking so much easier. Even the apartment she shared with Fate had high counters, although both of them tended to cook and eat on the kitchen table instead.

Settling the wooden cutting board over her legs, Hayate started slicing vegetables, scraping the cut pieces into a large pot on the floor beside her. Zafira worked himself nearly underneath her, waiting to vacuum up any bits that she might accidentally drop. Arf had the same taste for human food, and when both of them were in the kitchen together Hayate could barely turn without accidentally elbowing some part of a dog.

She had a pot of stew cooking away, pasta baking in the oven and was in the process of frying eggs, a process that was always fun since she could barely see over the edge of the frying pan, when she heard a shoe against the tile.

“Hayate?” Carim looked at her in surprise. The blonde appeared rumpled, as if she had spent most of the day and the previous night awake.

“Good afternoon!” Hayate said cheerily. Being able to take care of herself in the morning made her content; being able to take care of others, especially her friends, thrilled Hayate. Having ready guinea pigs for her culinary experiments didn’t hurt either!

Carim smiled as Zafira padded over, licking her hands hello. Rubbing his ears, she said, “I’ll have to say, it’s been a while since anyone even tried cooking in here.”

“Oh? How did you guys survive?” Hayate laughed.

“We don’t think about it much, I suppose,” Carim admitted. “They work out, eat whatever they find or order in, then go back to training.” She gave a small smile. “I confess I do the same, although I forget the time more often than they do.”

“Is that what you were doing?” Hayate couldn’t resist reaching over and taking one of Carim’s hands, touching the worn bandage with a frown. “Looking for the Jewel Seeds?”

“No, I can’t do that on my own, remember?” Carim reminded, and yawned, covering her mouth politely.

“Food?” Hayate waved her spatula at her creations with a glowing smile.

“Please,” Carim smiled in return, and Hayate felt something skip in her stomach.

They settled at the table, Carim having pulled out a chair nonchalantly for Hayate so that they could sit beside each other. Zafira wiggled under the table, and his manners were too good for him to beg from Carim, but not from Hayate. She patted his head, giggling at the feeling of his bushy tail wagging hopefully.

“He takes care of you well,” Carim commented, smiling at them. She ate slowly, and Hayate noticed that she held her fork gingerly in her bandaged fingers. They must still be paining her—and Carim had been doing tarot readings before too! Hayate pondered, then unhappily decided to stifle the protective protest she wanted to blurt out. It didn’t seem quite fair to pressure Carim while the other woman looked so exhausted.

“So, did you see anything interesting?” Hayate inquired lightly.

A shadow passed over Carim’s face, and Hayate caught a glimpse of the sadness that Fate had heard in the cheery blonde’s voice. But just as quickly, it was gone, and Carim replied in an equally light tone, “Little things, here and there. But nothing as important as finding Jewel Seeds. I’ve been meaning to ask, and I’m sorry for doing that right after such a fabulous meal—will you try to read the Tome?”

Carefully, Hayate leaned back, setting her spoon down. Zafira stiffened, looking up at her with worried dark eyes. “As you said before, you need the Tome to read the Divine Prophecy.” Hayate pushed herself back, holding one wheel to turn to the door. “Come on, I’ll read it for you. Then you can see the Prophecy, and find the next Jewel Seed for Fate—I mean the Black Angel.”

“Alright,” Carim said, her tone puzzled no doubt at the sudden lack of warmth in Hayate’s voice. “It would really help, especially since finding a Jewel Seed isn’t exact. We can only pick up clues and its signature trace, so tracking it down takes some time as well.”

“Then we’d better get started quickly, hm?” Hayate gave one last hard push and glided into her room, stopping by the bed and picking up the heavy brown book on the nightstand. “So what do I do?”

Carim stared at her, and Hayate felt a twinge of guilt at the hurt and concealed bewilderment in her face. But Carim’s response was only, “Yuuno—the last reader—already had the Tome when we first met him, but whenever he wanted to use it, he would, um, open the Tome, and then go still while the pages turned by themselves. I guess he was reading those pages somehow…”

Hayate let the Tome fall open in her lap and riffled through a few blank pages. “Okay…” she said slowly, looking down dubiously. They waited in silence for a few tense minutes, Carim still standing by the doorway, stiff as if she felt like an unwelcome guest, and Hayate in her wheelchair with her fingers clenched around the hard covers.

What will they do if I can’t read it? Hayate wondered darkly. But…Fate needs to know where these Jewel Seeds are.

Wind blew suddenly in the room, flipping the Tome’s pages violently. Startled, Hayate pushed the Tome outward, but then she couldn’t see her hands anymore as light exploded from the pages, blinding her but not in a painful way. Bright light flowed around Hayate, erasing the world until she sat in a golden field.

Before her stood another Hayate.

She was smiling, and laughed, turning to run teasingly from someone out of sight. Hayate watched her double moving so quickly and freely, the doppleganger’s legs straight and flexing with muscle.

Hayate closed her eyes. “Stop it,” she chided. When she opened her eyes again the golden field was gone, and so was the Other Hayate. This time, the world around her was black, with glimmers of purple keeping the darkness from turning oppressive.

“Someone’s here,” Hayate called out. “Please come and say hello. I’m not angry, really. It’s just…it’s just not nice to spring stuff like that on people.”

Small silver stars lit up briefly then faded in the darkness.

“So you’re there,” Hayate said, and smiled. The silver stars reminded her of a meteor shower she had seen once, on the balcony of their apartment with Fate. More lights appeared then vanished, and Hayate felt the temperature rise like a warm hug.

“Did you like that?” Hayate paused, then recalled another happy memory; the first time she met Zafira, and the quiet delight in her heart when he sniffed and licked her hands, wagging his tail as he nudged her cheek.

This time the Tome, or the sentience that was the Tome, responded with another vision. Blond hair brushed by Hayate’s cheek, and she felt a soft pair of lips on hers, and her body reacted excitedly to the sensations jolting like short shocks through her insides.

Hayate blushed, raising a hand to her lips in embarrassment. “Are you showing me the things I want? Why?”

Again, she saw her double running in a rich field, jumping and laughing, and then the faces of her late parents smiling at her, then Carim stroking her face, the other woman’s purple eyes glowing with affection. Finally, she saw the insignia of the Tome hovering before her.

“Can you…can you make those things come true?”

Once more, she saw each scene flash by, each wish separated by an image of the Tome. Ah, Hayate understood. “Only one.”

The temperature rose again, then cooled.

Hayate hesitated. She didn’t want to ask, since she knew that once she did, she would get an answer that she might not like. But she had to. It was too good to be true. “What happens if I make that wish?”

She saw herself watching Fate and the others fighting, then chasing and darting in and out of teleport circles, exhaustion lining their every movement. A brief glimpse of Fate’s face showed that her friend believed in nothing, hopelessness and suffering carved into her features. She saw chains binding the Tome again, and the silver speckles fading into obscurity, dormant once more.

“I see,” Hayate said softly. She leaned her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes. It was so hard, so hard to do something as simple as closing her eyes. But she did, and she gripped her armrests, swallowing a hard ball of emotion fiercely down her throat. “Thank you, but no. Please take me back.”

Silence, then she heard the sounds of running feet, memory-voices of her parents, and soft, electrifying sensations on her lips. Her hands tightened on the armrests. “No. I can’t choose myself over my friends. See? They need me, and I…I can’t let them down. I don’t want to see that future for them, and for you. Besides, you can’t make some of those wishes real. Carim’s a person, and you can’t play with her emotions just to please me!” She shook her head, and responded with a memory of her and Fate at the park, throwing balls for Arf and Zafira to catch, and the brief moment when Hayate had said something that caused Fate to pause and take Hayate’s hand in hers, painful tears glimmering in her blank red eyes.

Hayate opened her eyes.

“Are you alright?” Carim laid her hands on Hayate’s cheeks, checking her over worriedly. “I’ve never seen that happen before! My cards ripped out of my pockets, and the Tome glowed so hotly I thought that it would burn you. Are you alright?”

Hayate needed a moment before she could look up and smile at Carim, patting the blonde’s hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry,” she said placidly, and let the image of herself running lightly over a golden field fade from her mind. “I’m perfectly alright. Now that I know how to read the Tome—let’s look for a Jewel Seed.”

Spoiler for Author's Note:

Eh he, I’m not sure how their teleportation coordinates and stuff work, but for drama’s sake in this story the mage casts the circle part from mental power/memory, but then usually double-checks it visually before actually teleporting, to prevent mistakes It’s an AU anyways

Previous Parts:
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

Next chapter: In the Closet

[Tk3997]

Originally Posted by Keroko

Personally, I'd say its a bit less plot-devicey to have them investigate earth after Chao did her thing, and they were send to investigate the huge spike of magicaal energy.

Though I think its a good idea not to cross more than one series. Using ellements of another series is fine, but when we start dragging settings and characters of more than two series in a crossover, things usually start to break down in my experience.

If it's an attempt at blending which works off the idea that the universe are the same, but that the characters have never encountered each other this is often true. Still the rule isn't iron clad either, I've seen some fairly large crossovers that didn't use alternate universes or the like. While harder to do without opening up gapping plot holes if done well they can be quite interesting to read as the author weaves the different canons together.

As in any writing it's really the skill of the author that most contributes to success or failure though.

If you just toss the blending idea and go for alternate worlds though the number of crossovers possible is much higher. It’s also easier to explain. (And if you already have magic or sci-fi frankly not that outlandish as the Many Worlds theory isn’t rock solid, but it is a possibility.) In this case even if the former option is chosen I do think it could work with only minor reworking. We don't hear much about Espers in Negima, but we don't really see anything that says they're impossible either and focusing on a Magic user it would have little reason to show much of them either. Negima also seems to show that various sorts of magical socities or cabals exist and that magic is actively hidden which would again fit rather neatly with the Index-verse.

So really it's the TSAB that becomes the big problem with such a cross IMO. According to canon Earth does not have a large magic using community, but then again one could go with the old "As far as they know..." out. Indeed one could perhaps even weave a background that the reason magic is hidden is because of the TSAB. Perhaps not wanting to be bothered with its rules and regulations the magic users of Earth are aware of the TSAB, but content to hide and let the TSAB think it’s an uninteresting world of magic blunts. Using this approach it would seem likely that Earth was "lost" sometime in the past probably during the massive wars that brought down the Belkan Empire which destroyed records of it. Another option is that a small core of mages may have actively destroyed records of it and used it as a "safe house" to ride out the war. (This also explains some of the differences in practice as the Earth mages have developed there own systems separate from the large state taught styles of the TSAB.)

The TSAB appears to have had a very minor presence on the world, only showing up at all when a very large scale disturbance was detected. They appear as of S1 to have no permanent bases or monitoring installation on the planet. It’s entirely possible that after a brief survey decades ago which showed an underdeveloped world with no active magic community the TSAB “monitoring” consisted of the occasional fly by of a ship ever few years. Such a weak knee approach would likely not uncover a magical underground that even the planets permanent residents are not aware of. After the Jewel Seed and Book of Darkness incident though they seem to have taken more of an interest in the world. This could finally result in them perhaps uncovering some oddities that lead to them digging deeper and uncovering the hidden magic users.

With a bit of work it's often possible to fit a number of universe together into one, but it's not always possible and sometimes some things do need to be trimmed to fit. Having said that I myself largely prefer the "Inter-universe travel" approach, it's frankly not that outlandish compared to what many universes already have, and while unlikely perhaps not actually impossible even in real life. It also IMO allows for more flexibility in how they universe meet and interact since by tweaking the method used and the rules about it you can allow or disallow allot of stuff fairly plausibly. (It also frees you of a possibly heavy and limiting backstory to explain why they two series haven't met until now.)

I've acutally pondered this myself a bit as of late as I've been screwing around with a Halo/Macross/other stuff crossover.

[RadiantBeam]

Originally Posted by deathcurse

*Tip toes in*

Midterms suck >< Four midterms within a week is just torture

Thanks to Itanshi1 and RB again!

ANGEL
Is second-best really good enough?

Spoiler for Angel, Chapter 5:

Chapter 5: Bear the Cross

“Nothing,” Teana scowled into her cell phone, crouched at the edge of an office building in some run-down country half-way across the world. The reception was crappy but hey, it wasn’t like she had to pay the long-distance bills. It pays to have a computer-savvy comrade and a master scryer on your team.

“Make another round,” Chrono’s voice crackled. “The magic traces are still strong, it could be a potential one. Shamal’s been amplifying the trace to the Angels, so watch if they show—although with a new Tome reader, they might have picked it up before us.”

“She might not even be dead.” Standing beside Teana, a cheery blue-haired girl joined in the conversation. Teana gritted her teeth—ever since Subaru had been upgraded with wireless and Bluetooth no phone conversation stayed private anymore. While she didn’t care if it happened while reporting dull news to Chrono, the annoying habit was just another thing about Subaru that irritated the illusion-maker. Blithely unaware of Teana’s fuming thoughts, Subaru continued, “Signum ‘ported them all out really quick; the Angel could still be alive, possibly.”

“No, I doubt it,” Teana snapped. “Angel or no, she’s only human—and most humans can’t survive skewering.”

“You’re always so mean to me Tea!” Subaru whined, scratching at her cheek with a hand. Despite herself, Teana stared at the metal segments flexing, looking horrifically robotic when exposed without a layer of synthetic skin lining the skeletal frame. Quickly, Subaru shoved her hand into her pocket when she noticed, turning away so that the bare rods in her forearm were hidden from Teana’s view.

“Emergency repair,” she muttered, no trace of mirth left. “I’ll get Amy to help when we get back; I didn’t have much time last night to do it myself.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Teana recomposed herself, but Subaru had gone all quiet now. Sighing, Teana rose, readjusting the long knives at her belt.

Chrono coughed, and said a little awkwardly, “I think we can assume for now that she’s indeed, dead. Anyways, there’ve been a few families in the past whose lines discontinued, then restarted after Bardiche moved on to a new Angel family. There’s a high chance it could resurface with them. Check again, then both of you can come back.” He hung up.

Huffing, Teana snapped her phone shut. “I don’t see why we waste our time tracking the Angel,” she groused. “We should be going after the Jewels before they do.” Subaru only shrugged, and Teana stifled another sigh.

“Come on, let’s get this over with.” Maybe they’ll stop by an ice-cream stand later or something—ice-cream always cheered Subaru up again.

***

The moment they arrived in Fate’s apartment, Nanoha let out a huge sigh of relief.

“You didn’t have to make it so obvious,” Fate grumbled. “I have done teleportations before.”

“Yes, but after casting the circle, you can’t visually double-check the coordinates,” Nanoha retorted. “And it’s not like anyone else can do it for you, individualized sigils and all, so forgive me for being a little uneasy! I have no desire of ending up in Siberia or in the middle of the ocean by accident.”

Shrugging, Fate swept her way over to their bedrooms, actually using her cane since she didn’t know what had been thrown around from Nanoha’s bombshell entrance a couple days earlier. She hadn’t bothered bringing Arf, although speaking of her dog, she had to bring some dog food for Arf and Zafira…table scraps aren’t so good for them…

Nanoha interrupted her mental lists. “The two of you live alone here?”

“We live together,” Fate said drily. “But yes, it’s just the two of us.” She made a detour at the front door and checked for mail. Lobbing a handful of envelopes Nanoha’s way, trusting that the ninja-girl would catch them all, Fate asked “Could you read those for me?”

“Credit card bill for Yagami Hayate,” Nanoha informed her. “24 500 yen.”

“Hayate needed a new wheelchair,” Fate answered absently, packing clothes for herself and Hayate. “The frame bent on her old one when a bus driver fobbed the transfer and dropped it into traffic.” She counted her steps into the bathroom and tried to find Hayate’s adaptive equipment. Her roommate was too considerate at times, keeping her specialized gear out of the way so well sometimes Fate had trouble finding where Hayate had stuffed it.

Paper ripping, then “Confirmation of transfer from BOJ, monthly stipend, for trust account held by Yagami Hayate and Fate Testarossa.” Nanoha paused. “Isn’t it confusing that you list your names differently?” Rhetorical question, as she simply continued, “Student loan applications, listed for both of you.”

“Ah!” Fate groaned, in the middle of pulling out Arf and Zafira’s travel kits. “I forgot about those…bring them along, maybe Hayate could do them if she’s got time.”

“She’ll be helping Carim look for the Jewel Seeds,” Nanoha protested.

“Look,” Fate said angrily, turning to face the other girl’s general direction. It was a body-language reflex even though Fate knew that she looked silly staring off over her opponent’s shoulder most of the time. At least Hayate never laughed at her, even during their rare arguments. “Some of us have lives, not only a mission. As long as I’m fulfilling my duties as the Black Angel, what do you care about our normal lives?” She shook her head in disgust, and hoisted their packed bags back into the living room.

Nanoha was silent for a time, then when she spoke again, her tone had turned rigid. “Since I don’t care about anything but our mission, why don’t you answer some questions I have? I’ve thought about it, and I have a hard time believing that Alicia never told us about Al Hazard, if it was such an integral part of our goal.”

“I didn’t lie,” Fate couldn’t help saying defensively, more affected by the unspoken implication than she would have liked. Troubling how much she cared, when she had prepared herself to not care at all. “I don’t know why Alicia didn’t say anything about it, but it’s the truth.” Now there she was getting dangerously close to lying…

And of all the luck, Nanoha’s sharp eye caught her hesitance. “You’re not telling me something.” Nanoha eyed her fiercely. “Why didn’t Alicia tell us? Did Precia make her lie to us—threaten her? Alicia would never lie to—”

“Mother would never do that!” Fate cried.

“Then what were they hiding? There has to be something!”

The truth meant nothing to Fate, insignificant in the bigger picture. Even then she hadn’t intended on saying anything, but the words came rushing out to counter Nanoha’s accusation. “She did it for you. For all of you. You’re all so happy as a team, thinking that you’ll watch each other’s backs and be friends forever. It matters a lot to you, doesn’t it?” Fate gripped her cane tightly. “Alicia didn’t tell you about Al Hazard because in the end, none of you can do anything for her. All your missions, all your experiences and promises together gathering the Seeds will come to nothing in the end, because at the very end only the Angel can enter Al Hazard. In the end, she’d face her last enemy all alone, and she’d win or die by herself with no one watching her back. Is that what you wanted Alicia to tell you?”

Exhausted from the spiel, Fate sat down on the couch and rested her elbows on her knees. She couldn’t see Nanoha’s face—she didn’t want to see Nanoha’s face.

She heard Nanoha swallow. “Did she…did she ever tell you this?”

“I haven’t seen her for five years—she never told me anything.” Fate said bitterly. “But no, even in our dreams she never said it…but she doesn’t have to.” Smiling wryly, she shrugged and said simply. “I understand the feeling.”

***

Large hallways didn’t always equate to wide doorways, Hayate learned. Although she’s had plenty of practice in the past, Hayate yelped as she scraped her knuckles on the door frame passing into the kitchen. Kissing the bruised skin, she shook her hand out and rolled over to the fridge. For a populated house, no one seemed to think about food at all.

Hm…most of the food still seemed fresh, so Hayate began gathering ingredients, humming under her breath while she moved about. Or at times, she got Zafira to move for her.

“Sorry Zaffy!” Hayate said sheepishly when she had to send him around opening all the cupboard doors again since the first round didn’t yield any cutting boards. He only waved his tail agreeably. Perhaps the fussing she had made over him that morning while brushing his coat with the combs Fate had brought paid off. At times, Zafira was so intelligent that he’d get cross with her when she made him redo simple things, although he was always long-sufferingly patient.

He would be such an awesome father…Hayate gushed at the thought of Zafira with a pack of puppies climbing all over him and tugging his ears. “Aha!” Cutting board! “Bring.” The trouble with most houses was their counters. The house she had lived in before had been made for paraplegics, with lowered counters and shelves and such, making cooking so much easier. Even the apartment she shared with Fate had high counters, although both of them tended to cook and eat on the kitchen table instead.

Settling the wooden cutting board over her legs, Hayate started slicing vegetables, scraping the cut pieces into a large pot on the floor beside her. Zafira worked himself nearly underneath her, waiting to vacuum up any bits that she might accidentally drop. Arf had the same taste for human food, and when both of them were in the kitchen together Hayate could barely turn without accidentally elbowing some part of a dog.

She had a pot of stew cooking away, pasta baking in the oven and was in the process of frying eggs, a process that was always fun since she could barely see over the edge of the frying pan, when she heard a shoe against the tile.

“Hayate?” Carim looked at her in surprise. The blonde appeared rumpled, as if she had spent most of the day and the previous night awake.

“Good afternoon!” Hayate said cheerily. Being able to take care of herself in the morning made her content; being able to take care of others, especially her friends, thrilled Hayate. Having ready guinea pigs for her culinary experiments didn’t hurt either!

Carim smiled as Zafira padded over, licking her hands hello. Rubbing his ears, she said, “I’ll have to say, it’s been a while since anyone even tried cooking in here.”

“Oh? How did you guys survive?” Hayate laughed.

“We don’t think about it much, I suppose,” Carim admitted. “They work out, eat whatever they find or order in, then go back to training.” She gave a small smile. “I confess I do the same, although I forget the time more often than they do.”

“Is that what you were doing?” Hayate couldn’t resist reaching over and taking one of Carim’s hands, touching the worn bandage with a frown. “Looking for the Jewel Seeds?”

“No, I can’t do that on my own, remember?” Carim reminded, and yawned, covering her mouth politely.

“Food?” Hayate waved her spatula at her creations with a glowing smile.

“Please,” Carim smiled in return, and Hayate felt something skip in her stomach.

They settled at the table, Carim having pulled out a chair nonchalantly for Hayate so that they could sit beside each other. Zafira wiggled under the table, and his manners were too good for him to beg from Carim, but not from Hayate. She patted his head, giggling at the feeling of his bushy tail wagging hopefully.

“He takes care of you well,” Carim commented, smiling at them. She ate slowly, and Hayate noticed that she held her fork gingerly in her bandaged fingers. They must still be paining her—and Carim had been doing tarot readings before too! Hayate pondered, then unhappily decided to stifle the protective protest she wanted to blurt out. It didn’t seem quite fair to pressure Carim while the other woman looked so exhausted.

“So, did you see anything interesting?” Hayate inquired lightly.

A shadow passed over Carim’s face, and Hayate caught a glimpse of the sadness that Fate had heard in the cheery blonde’s voice. But just as quickly, it was gone, and Carim replied in an equally light tone, “Little things, here and there. But nothing as important as finding Jewel Seeds. I’ve been meaning to ask, and I’m sorry for doing that right after such a fabulous meal—will you try to read the Tome?”

Carefully, Hayate leaned back, setting her spoon down. Zafira stiffened, looking up at her with worried dark eyes. “As you said before, you need the Tome to read the Divine Prophecy.” Hayate pushed herself back, holding one wheel to turn to the door. “Come on, I’ll read it for you. Then you can see the Prophecy, and find the next Jewel Seed for Fate—I mean the Black Angel.”

“Alright,” Carim said, her tone puzzled no doubt at the sudden lack of warmth in Hayate’s voice. “It would really help, especially since finding a Jewel Seed isn’t exact. We can only pick up clues and its signature trace, so tracking it down takes some time as well.”

“Then we’d better get started quickly, hm?” Hayate gave one last hard push and glided into her room, stopping by the bed and picking up the heavy brown book on the nightstand. “So what do I do?”

Carim stared at her, and Hayate felt a twinge of guilt at the hurt and concealed bewilderment in her face. But Carim’s response was only, “Yuuno—the last reader—already had the Tome when we first met him, but whenever he wanted to use it, he would, um, open the Tome, and then go still while the pages turned by themselves. I guess he was reading those pages somehow…”

Hayate let the Tome fall open in her lap and riffled through a few blank pages. “Okay…” she said slowly, looking down dubiously. They waited in silence for a few tense minutes, Carim still standing by the doorway, stiff as if she felt like an unwelcome guest, and Hayate in her wheelchair with her fingers clenched around the hard covers.

What will they do if I can’t read it? Hayate wondered darkly. But…Fate needs to know where these Jewel Seeds are.

Wind blew suddenly in the room, flipping the Tome’s pages violently. Startled, Hayate pushed the Tome outward, but then she couldn’t see her hands anymore as light exploded from the pages, blinding her but not in a painful way. Bright light flowed around Hayate, erasing the world until she sat in a golden field.

Before her stood another Hayate.

She was smiling, and laughed, turning to run teasingly from someone out of sight. Hayate watched her double moving so quickly and freely, the doppleganger’s legs straight and flexing with muscle.

Hayate closed her eyes. “Stop it,” she chided. When she opened her eyes again the golden field was gone, and so was the Other Hayate. This time, the world around her was black, with glimmers of purple keeping the darkness from turning oppressive.

“Someone’s here,” Hayate called out. “Please come and say hello. I’m not angry, really. It’s just…it’s just not nice to spring stuff like that on people.”

Small silver stars lit up briefly then faded in the darkness.

“So you’re there,” Hayate said, and smiled. The silver stars reminded her of a meteor shower she had seen once, on the balcony of their apartment with Fate. More lights appeared then vanished, and Hayate felt the temperature rise like a warm hug.

“Did you like that?” Hayate paused, then recalled another happy memory; the first time she met Zafira, and the quiet delight in her heart when he sniffed and licked her hands, wagging his tail as he nudged her cheek.

This time the Tome, or the sentience that was the Tome, responded with another vision. Blond hair brushed by Hayate’s cheek, and she felt a soft pair of lips on hers, and her body reacted excitedly to the sensations jolting like short shocks through her insides.

Hayate blushed, raising a hand to her lips in embarrassment. “Are you showing me the things I want? Why?”

Again, she saw her double running in a rich field, jumping and laughing, and then the faces of her late parents smiling at her, then Carim stroking her face, the other woman’s purple eyes glowing with affection. Finally, she saw the insignia of the Tome hovering before her.

“Can you…can you make those things come true?”

Once more, she saw each scene flash by, each wish separated by an image of the Tome. Ah, Hayate understood. “Only one.”

The temperature rose again, then cooled.

Hayate hesitated. She didn’t want to ask, since she knew that once she did, she would get an answer that she might not like. But she had to. It was too good to be true. “What happens if I make that wish?”

She saw herself watching Fate and the others fighting, then chasing and darting in and out of teleport circles, exhaustion lining their every movement. A brief glimpse of Fate’s face showed that her friend believed in nothing, hopelessness and suffering carved into her features. She saw chains binding the Tome again, and the silver speckles fading into obscurity, dormant once more.

“I see,” Hayate said softly. She leaned her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes. It was so hard, so hard to do something as simple as closing her eyes. But she did, and she gripped her armrests, swallowing a hard ball of emotion fiercely down her throat. “Thank you, but no. Please take me back.”

Silence, then she heard the sounds of running feet, memory-voices of her parents, and soft, electrifying sensations on her lips. Her hands tightened on the armrests. “No. I can’t choose myself over my friends. See? They need me, and I…I can’t let them down. I don’t want to see that future for them, and for you. Besides, you can’t make some of those wishes real. Carim’s a person, and you can’t play with her emotions just to please me!” She shook her head, and responded with a memory of her and Fate at the park, throwing balls for Arf and Zafira to catch, and the brief moment when Hayate had said something that caused Fate to pause and take Hayate’s hand in hers, painful tears glimmering in her blank red eyes.

Hayate opened her eyes.

“Are you alright?” Carim laid her hands on Hayate’s cheeks, checking her over worriedly. “I’ve never seen that happen before! My cards ripped out of my pockets, and the Tome glowed so hotly I thought that it would burn you. Are you alright?”

Hayate needed a moment before she could look up and smile at Carim, patting the blonde’s hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry,” she said placidly, and let the image of herself running lightly over a golden field fade from her mind. “I’m perfectly alright. Now that I know how to read the Tome—let’s look for a Jewel Seed.”

Spoiler for Author's Note:

Eh he, I’m not sure how their teleportation coordinates and stuff work, but for drama’s sake in this story the mage casts the circle part from mental power/memory, but then usually double-checks it visually before actually teleporting, to prevent mistakes It’s an AU anyways

Previous Parts:
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

Next chapter: In the Closet

...

I think my heart just broke. Again. ;__;

[Nanya01]

Well, everyone, it's that time again...

No, not time for world domination! *Smacks anyone who thinks so*

RadiantBeam and I are proud to present... (at least I am, I don't know about her. )

Day in the Life

Chapter 22

Proposal

[Sarcasm mode]You'll never guess what's going to happen.[/Sarcasm mode]

In addition, this chapter takes place at the same time as the last chapter.

Aaaand, it's too long... Two post chapter coming up!

Spoiler for Proposal:

It was a bit windy and chilly outside, much like it had been back home, Fate thought to herself as she snuggled in deeper to her white coat. She had black pants on that were a little tight to her, she was still working off some of the fat she had put on when pregnant with Alicia, after all. Fate didn't mind the walk at all, but she just wished the wind didn't threaten to cut into her skin through her clothes all the time. She could only imagine how it would be for Alicia if she wasn't so tightly bundled up in a dark purple, mostly because Fate didn't think that Alicia would like bright pink, blanket, a hood over her head, and her carrier had its cover pulled up and above Alicia's head, keeping the wind off of her baby. "I always did find this season sad." She said softly as she looked at the trees, the leaves turning a golden color as they dried up and were blown off the trees. One such leaf flew off a tree, danced in the wind in front of her and floated across the street, and up into the air, out of sight.

She blinked as a gloved hand, Yuuno's, she realized, since Nanoha was walking just ahead of her, touched her on the shoulder. She turned to look at him, his long hair, like hers and Nanoha's, was blowing in the wind. He smiled at her, dressed in his green jacket, blue pants and black gloves, light ones, covering his hands, two baby bags on his shoulders as he felt the need to carry something; she couldn't help but smile back at him gently as cars passed them by every so often. "I know, it is sad, isn't it? Seeing the lively green turn to such colors, beautiful, yet sad."

She smiled as the two started walking again, Nanoha, dressed in a white coat and red pants, turning and waving for them to hurry up. Not that either of them blamed her, since they were heading to Suzuka's estate, but both blonds were dreading, for different reasons, the meeting with their high school friends. Fate, because she was worried about the reaction her friends would have for taking so long for her and Nanoha to play "show and tell" with their babies; and Yuuno, well, he was dreading the "Burning Arisa Punch" that might be heading his way.

"You know, you could've stayed with Shinobu-san." Fate smiled. "We wouldn't have blamed you."

Yuuno shrugged even as he grimaced. "I'd rather get it done now," he said. "It might hurt less."

Fate giggled softly. "It will be okay. Just hide behind Alicia, Sora and Isamu, they'll protect you." She smiled as she walked towards the house. "...Is it just me, or did the yard get bigger?" She asked as she looked through the gates, Nanoha was looking around as she waited for her lovers to catch up.

"Maybe. Suzuka-chan always did love a big yard for her kittens to play in." Nanoha smiled and shifted her two boys in their carrier slightly. "Not often that they're both asleep." She said softly, knowing that they would wake up the instant that Arisa and Suzuka saw them.

"Should we ring the doorbell or..." Yuuno trailed off as a limo drove up to the gate from the street and stopped, allowing the gates to open. It drove forward a few feet before stopping again, the black doors opening as a purple haired woman and a blond woman stepped out from the two back doors. They were both dressed in black hooded coats and blue pants as they smiled brightly at the trio. Nanoha on one side of the car, Fate and Yuuno on the other side.

"Nanoha!"

Arisa reacted first, which surprised no one; she wasted no time, tackling Nanoha in a tight hug, thankfully not causing the two to spill to the ground as Nanoha was still holding her babies. "You're so lucky we're best friends," she said. "I would have never forgiven you otherwise."

Nanoha laughed weakly. "I know."

Suzuka chuckled and turned, smiling warmly. "Fate-chan, Yuuno-kun, it's been awhile." She stepped closer. "So this is Alicia?"

"Uh huh." Fate nodded, smiling.

"And these handsome boys must be Sora and Isamu." Arisa smirked. "Oh, Yu-un-o," she called out in singsong.

The male blond of the group gulped as Arisa seemingly jumped over the trunk of the limo and walked up to him, a peculiar look on her face. "Now, you wouldn't hit a man with glasses would you?" Nevermind the fact that he was a hell of a mage, Arisa was a friend and she didn't have magic, or at least he didn't think she had magic. The flaming aura around her body was a neat trick though.

Fate and Nanoha were about to say something when Arisa pulled Yuuno into a headlock and started rubbing her knuckles on her skull hard and fast. "How dare you get my best friends pregnant?! I don't care if the three of you were drunk! That's no excuse to have children before marriage!" She ranted as she continued to give Yuuno the noogie of his life.

"Arisa-chan, we should go to the house before the babies get too cold." Suzuka spoke up, offering Fate into the car, before nodding to Nanoha, who followed Fate's example and got inside as well.

"Hmph! You're lucky, ferret-boy," Arisa let go of the headlock, letting Yuuno re-adjust his glasses. "If it wasn't for the babies, I would have done that until you cried uncle!" She pointed at finger at him, looking sternly, before she broke down and started to laugh. "It's been too long, Yuuno..." She smiled and hugged him. "I'm glad you're okay."

Yuuno hugged her back, relieved she hadn't hit him. "I'm glad you're okay, too."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Does this mean you won't hit me?"

Arisa smirked and pulled back, lightly flicking him on the nose. "Maybe. I might be tempted if you don't make Nanoha and Fate into honest women, you know?"

Yuuno blushed. "Uh..."

"Or maybe I'll just flirt with you and see what they do." Arisa smiled sweetly. "They wouldn't hurt me, after all."

Yuuno sweat-dropped and shook his head. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't. Arisa, I have nothing against you, and, wow, you've grown up, but I'd rather they not get upset and blow something up."

Smiling, she got into the limo and helped him and the baby bags he was carrying into the car, before shutting the door, the car rolled forward towards the house.

Inside the limo, Nanoha shivered slightly and smiled at her first two friends. "Thank you, it was a lot colder outside than I thought it was." They shook their heads, smiling.

"It's okay, we just out of the movie theater." Suzuka smiled brightly as she looked at the dozing Alicia. She blinked as it seemed like Alicia wasn't dozing, but starting to wake up. "There was a new American movie in and Arisa had wanted to see it."

"Oh, quiet you," Arisa rolled her eyes and looked down at the baby boys, both of them started to squirm and move around slightly in the car, "you wanted to see it too."

"Which one?" Nanoha asked as the limo stopped in front of the mansion.

Arisa shrugged. "Honestly, I can't remember the name of it. It was very interesting, though. The plot was about a young man, who had fallen in love with his best friends who were both female." She winced. "Didn't end well."

Suzuka sighed softly as their three friends suddenly stiffened and gave Arisa funny looks. "Honestly, I doubt that it would happen for you three. Don't worry, it's not like what you have." Maybe, Suzuka didn't know what those three had, she just didn't want to see them upset.

Arisa grimaced and nodded. "Sorry, but you did ask." She pointed a finger and Nanoha and waggled it back and forth as the group got out of the limo and walked into the mansion.

Yuuno paused at the door and smiled at Nanoha and Fate. "Go on," he said. "I know this is a girls only thing from here." So saying, he stepped inside, just long enough to put the baby bags down, nodded to the two girls inside and stepped back out.

"Are you sure?" Fate frowned. "We don't have to..."

Yuuno kissed Fate gently before he turned and kissed Nanoha as well; he was smiling when he pulled back. "I'll be fine," he promised. "I'll find Shiro-san and ask him to show me around. You need time alone with Arisa and Suzuka, it's been a long time."

Inside, Suzuka sighed. "You know, now they're going to ask why we watched that movie."

Arisa shrugged good-naturedly.

"Just call us, Yuuno-kun, if you need anything." Nanoha smiled softly, though she honestly did wish he would stay. Can't convince you? She thought to him.

Yuuno shook his head as he walked down the steps, communicating to the both of them. No, it's alright, I needed your dad to show me something in town anyway. I promise I'll see you two later today, Nanoha. Your brother still owns your childhood house, right?

As far as I know. Nanoha smiled to Arisa as she and Fate took off their jackets, revealing that Nanoha was wearing a long-sleeved green shirt and Fate was wearing a light yellow short-sleeved button-up shirt; the four women walked into the living room, where they could un-bundle the babies and let Arisa and Suzuka get a better look at the three.

We'll meet back there, okay? Yuuno said as he walked out of the gate and down the street. I promise, I just need him to help me get something, that's all.

If you say so. He could still hear the worry in Fate's voice.

Arisa sighed as the two began to un-bundle their babies. "Look, I didn't mean to rattle you guys up."

Suzuka nodded hastily as she helped Fate get Alicia unbundled. "Yes, we were just curious as to what the movie-maker thought a three-person relationship was like." She sighed heavily. "People around them didn't support the relationship, it wasn't good." She paused as she got Alicia down to her baby clothes. "Oh! She's so beautiful!" The purple-haired woman gushed and gently, very gently, picked up the little baby. "Oh wow! Green eyes, huh?"

Fate smiled and nodded. "Yuuno's eyes. I was hoping for them, to be honest."

Meanwhile, Arisa was helping Nanoha with Sora and Isamu; Sora was perfectly content to keep still, but Isamu, having woken from his nap, was already groggy and curious about his surroundings. "Oh, jeez," Arisa laughed, grabbing him gently as he wriggled in her lap, trying to get away. "this one's a handful."

Nanoha giggled softly and nodded. "Yeah, Isamu can be."

"I can see why you named him courage, though." Arisa smiled at her, acknowledging the play on the little boy's name, Nanoha shrugged it off, she had no idea that Isamu was going to be like that.

Nanoha giggled, but after a moment she couldn't resist asking. "How did the movie portray the relationship?"

Arisa fidgeted as she adjusted Isamu in her lap. "Well, the three wanted to try it, make it work, but the first girl, her parents were totally against the idea, since they wanted their daughter in a single relationship or none at all. The second girl, her friends couldn't get behind the idea and started leaving her. The guy had nearly nothing to begin with and those two were the only reason that he actually did anything in his life."

Suzuka nodded as she played with Alicia, the little girl squealed happily and tried to get the woman's fingers as they tapped her on the nose and then went to her belly, tickling her lightly. "In the end though, they ended up being alone, all alone and sad, moved apart and the guy... He ended up committing suicide at the end." She shook her head as she leaned back into the couch she was sitting on. "Too, too tragic."

Arisa cleared her throat, lightly flicking Isamu's nose and getting him to focus on her hand so he'd stop moving around. "It was... all right, I guess. Kind of hard to watch knowing you two had such a good relationship with each other and with Yuuno."

"You went anyway."

Arisa nodded at Nanoha. "We, okay, I, was just curious as to seeing if it would work out, considering that there had to be a lot of problems with such a relationship..." She shook her head. "It wasn't good. Nanoha-chan, Fate-chan, believe me when I say that if I had known how it would have ended, I wouldn't have gone to see it." There was sincerity in her eyes, that caused the two to smile at her softly.

"We know." Fate said, looking at Arisa, but keeping her daughter in her field of vision. She might have trusted and liked Suzuka, that didn't mean that she didn't worry about her baby girl all the time though. "I understand."

Suzuka, noticing Fate's look, laughed. "Fate-chan, I'll be careful with her. I promise."

"Okay." She didn't look away.

Amused, Nanoha turned to Arisa, who was gently tickling Isamu and making him squeal. The blonde blinked when she saw Sora. "He's awfully calm."

"It takes a lot to get him started." Nanoha chuckled as he started to doze again. "So, Arisa-chan..."

"Yes?"

"When you called, did I offend you? You hung up so suddenly..."

Arisa shook her head, chuckling softly. "Ah, sorry about that..." She had honestly forgotten about that, since it was a little over a month ago.

Nanoha, apparently hadn't, which was why Arisa loved her so much. "Well, to be honest, Nanoha-chan, I... It just surprised me, that's all."

"So you hung up?" Nanoha gave her a weird look as Arisa giggled nervously. "Why? You know I'm not one to judge someone by their relationship with other people."

Suzuka giggled softly as she tickled Alicia more, the girl was squealing and kicking her legs up and down in delight. "Nanoha-chan, not all of us announce our romantic relationships to everyone."

Nanoha just shrugged. She wasn't offended, she knew she was pretty open. It just came naturally to her; she couldn't resist whenever Fate and Yuuno were around.

"Speaking of relationships, where did Yuuno go off to?" Arisa asked. "I still owe him a few honorary future husband hits."

"He needed to see my dad about showing him something." Nanoha said softly. She looked at Arisa and smiled as an idea came to her head. "Actually, Arisa-chan... There's something I need some help with myself, later on."

Fate perked up. "What is it, Nanoha? I can help."

Nanoha turned to her and laughed nervously. "It's okay, Fate-chan, it's been so long since we were last here that I just need a quick reminder where things are, that's all, plus I wanted to make up for not being around Arisa-chan and Suzuka-chan for so long."

"Oh?" Arisa blinked, raising a brow. "Well, I have a lot of free time, so whenever you're ready, Nanoha."

Nanoha smiled at her, and looked at her boys. "Well..." She looked at Fate, who shook her head softly. "Well, we'd either have to leave them here, with my mom or take them with us..." She trailed off, looking at Arisa, who's eyes lit up.

"We're totally going to take them with us." Nanoha blinked and smiled at the expressive and happy attitude in her friend's eyes. "I know a lot of the neighborhood mothers will just die to see the kids they saw growing up having kids of their own."

The other three women started to giggle at the imagined look on the faces.

--

Yuuno wasn't quite sure how he was supposed to do this. He knew traditionally that a man would ask his girlfriend's father if they could get married, but Fate didn't exactly have a father and Shiro had already made it clear that he approved of the relationship.

He figured the next step was to propose, but he didn't exactly know how to do that, either. He'd never proposed before.

Which was why he was immensely relieved when Shiro opened the door at his knock. "Yuuno," the older man greeted, and Yuuno saw the surprise in his eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Wanted Fate and Nanoha to have fun." Yuuno resisted the urge to squirm and suddenly wished Chrono was there. He was Fate's brother, he was close enough to a father, wasn't he? "Um, Shiro-san, do you think you could help me out?"

Shiro blinked. "With what?"

"Well..." Yuuno took a deep breath. "I went back to the cafe and Momoko-san said you went to check on the house and dojo, make sure that everything was alright."

Shiro nodded, smiling. "Yeah, just making sure that it's taken care of since we moved to Mid-childa, it looks great. I'm proud of him. So, Yuuno, you avoided my question."

"Ah, sorry." He chuckled, fidgeting as the wind blew his hair around. "I... I was thinking about proposing to Nanoha and Fate... Asking them to marry me, but... I don't know how to." He slumped, finishing lamely.

Shiro blinked again; his eyes softened even as he smiled. "Ah, yes, I remember doing that with Momoko."

"Were you scared?"

"Only to death." The older man laughed softly. "What do you need help with?"

"Ah... Only finding a place that won't heckle me for getting rings for the two loves of my life." Yuuno chuckled nervously at the man's look. "I do love them."

Shiro couldn't resist the laugh. "That would be hard to explain, wouldn't it?"

Yuuno nodded and tried not to shiver.

"I might know a few places that won't ask." Shiro smiled at Yuuno. "And, I'm glad."

Yuuno blinked as he heard Shiro say that. "Glad?"

"Because my daughter has people like you and Fate looking after her." Shiro shook his head slowly. "I was worried about her."

Yuuno smiled slightly. "Nanoha has a bad habit of pushing herself too far," he murmured.

"I know that better than anyone." Shiro chuckled. "I know she'll never stop doing it, but at least I know now that she has a family to come back to, so hopefully she'll think twice before passing her limits."

Yuuno nodded as Shiro grabbed a jacket, locked the door and walked with him. "Even if not for myself or Fate, she'll at least keep herself from getting too hurt because of Sora, Isamu, Vivio and Alicia." Yuuno knew that, he could accept that. At least Nanoha had mentioned that she had been planning on taking time off to raise Vivio before this had happened.

Nodding, Shiro patted Yuuno on the back as the two walked to the older man's car. "Huh, my car is still here." He blinked in surprise before shaking his head and getting in. "But, Yuuno..."

"Yeah?" The younger blond asked as he buckled himself in and closed the door.

Starting the car, Shiro was pleased to note that it still worked like it had when he left. "She'll always have you, Fate and your children, all of them, on her mind first, even when taking the field and fighting against a powerful enemy. The first thing on her mind, even if it's just something that's below the surface will be that she has to finish her job and come home safely. She knows that she has people waiting for her." He smiled as he drove the car downtown. "And, that's a large difference than what she had before. Friends might have been waiting for her before, but family's a bigger draw than friends are."

"You think so?" Yuuno was genuinely curious.

"No. I know so."

Suddenly Shiro stopped the car and narrowed his eyes at something in front of him. Blinking, Yuuno looked around, not able to see anything, other than a red light. "What's wrong?"

"This light's red." Yuuno blinked at Shiro. "I swear this thing has a mind of its own. Every time I try to get through here, the light is always red."

Seeing the utterly convinced look on Shiro's face as the light turned green, Yuuno had to laugh softly. "A light with a mind of its own?"

"Just watch, we'll come back this way and the light will be red when we get here too." Shiro chuckled as he shifted lanes. "I know it doesn't but it seems that way. I've been gone for months and it still seems to know that I'm coming through."

Yuuno smiled sheepishly. "The few times I was ever off planet before I confessed to Fate and Nanoha, we used to have the worst traffic heading out. We'd be sitting on that ship for hours, and eventually I'd get so bored that I'd push my feelings aside and call them."

"Oh?"

"Yep. The minute we started talking, the ship would move, but by then we were so into it that we didn't stop until I got to my destination." Yuuno chuckled softly. "Saying goodbye was the hardest part."

Shiro nodded as he found a parking spot in a rather large parking lot. "I know how that was. Back when I was dating Momoko before we got married, it was always hard when work called and said that I needed to be gone for more than a few days." He sighed as the two got out of the car. "Let me tell you, if Momoko wasn't so enamored with me, we wouldn't have gotten married. It was hard those first few months." Shiro and Yuuno crossed the street, heading for a corner jewelry store.

Nodding as they walked in, Yuuno sighed. "It was hard for Nanoha, Fate and myself as well, a lot of pressure from our bosses." He could have done a lot without that pressure.

"I heard about that." Shiro nodded.

"Yeah. It was part of the reason why I wanted to leave... I didn't want them to feel pressured. I was convinced they were lovers and wanted nothing to do with me, at least beyond friendship. I didn't want to be used against them like that." Yuuno sighed.

"For what it's worth, Yuuno, they seem really happy with you."

"Thanks." The blond man smiled as Shiro patted him on the back.

"Welcome." A short dark-haired woman in a blue dress-suit smiled at the two. "And what can I do for the two of you today?"

Shiro smiled. "Well, Yuuno here is in a rather interesting spot. He's in love with two women who love him back. Any suggestions?"

At that, the woman couldn't resist giggling.

"Well, this is an interesting situation, this doesn't happen too often." The woman smiled. "So, are you planning on proposing to both?" She suddenly wagged a finger at him as he nodded to her. "You should know that marrying more than one woman is illegal here." She shrugged. "Well, it's none of my business. Let me show you some engagement rings."

Yuuno blinked, several times. "You... Took that well..."

"You kidding? Last week a guy came in asking for six engagement rings. Someone asking for two is no big deal." She smiled as she got behind the counter and pulled out some rings. "So, why don't you explain what kind of women they are?"

Yuuno smiled at that. "Well, Nanoha is... she's so strong. She always wants to protect people and support them, even if it means pushing herself past her limits, and she never likes to admit when she's having a problem or needs help, which can be a little frustrating for Fate and I." He laughed. "Fate's much calmer, very sweet and motherly, but she's just as determined to protect her loved ones and she's always so supportive no matter what."

"Sounds like two incredible women." The woman said softly as she looked carefully at the rings, before picking up a gold and platinum band, a purple gem in the middle. "This... This one seems more fitting for your Fate..." She trailed off, before settling on a gold ring, a green gem in the middle that sparkled brightly as the light hit it at the right angle. "I don't know, this... This seems to feel like something that would fit what you described your Nanoha to be like... What do you think?"

Yuuno swallowed. Hard. "They're beautiful," he murmured.

Shiro laughed. "You okay?"

He nodded, taking a deep breath. "It... I don't know, I just feel really, really nervous."

The woman chuckled softly, smiling at him. "Don't worry, sir, I see it all the time, what you're feeling is very normal."

"R-really?"

"Yes." The woman chuckled again. "And to be fair, sir, I don't know you all that well, but you seem like a very sweet man. Don't worry."

Yuuno smiled at her in thanks as she took the rings and started ringing them up. "Now then, I'll need the sizes of their fingers."

Yuuno blinked a few times. "Huh? Sizes?"

The woman smiled softly. "These are just display pieces after all. It will take a little time, but I need to know their sizes for accuracy. After all, when you propose and the ring falls off or doesn't fit, it would be very embarrassing, wouldn't it?"

Shiro laughed at the look on Yuuno's face. "Don't worry. I'll help out, okay?"

Yuuno nodded as he and Shiro managed to figure out the finger sizes, thankfully the woman had a reference guide to help them out.

The woman nodded and made a quick call. "It will take a little while, if you want to wait..."

"I think so... Can we pay now?" Yuuno asked as the woman nodded and started ringing up the rings, causing Yuuno's eyes to widen slightly. "Wow, that... That's a lot more than I thought." Not that he couldn't pay for it, having the foresight to exchange his money on Mid-Childa for Japanese yen.

At that, Shiro couldn't help himself. He started laughing. Yuuno was just too much like he had been when he'd decided to marry Momoko.

"Thank you, sir." She smiled as she took his money and gave him some change back. "Please, just sit down and relax. It will take awhile."

"Thank you." Yuuno and Shiro did just that.

(---)

"Oh... Oh my! Is that... Nanoha-chan? Oh wow! You've grown up so much!" An older lady, with shoulder-length grey hair, some wrinkles from age, smiled as she saw Nanoha and Arisa walk into the mall.

"Miyazaki-san?" Nanoha blinked, smiling as she saw the older woman. "How are you?"

"I'm doing well. I'm surprised you remembered me, after moving away after high school." She smiled at Nanoha kindly. "Oh... Are those... Those little babies..." She put her hands on her hips and gave Nanoha a stern look. "Don't tell me that you went and had two babies and don't know who the father is."

Nanoha couldn't help the nervous laugh. "I live with their father, Miyazaki-san."

"Ah, good." The older woman nodded, satisfied, before she knelt down to look at the twins. "Well, they certainly are handsome little devils."

"You can tell their boys?"

She laughed. "The clothes kind of give them away."

Nanoha chuckled softly. "I'm glad." She pointed to the one that started squirming and held his arms up. "This is Isamu, Miyazaki-san, and his quieter brother is Sora."

She chuckled and looked at Nanoha, who nodded softly as she picked up Isamu gently. "Oh wow, he's a little cutie, isn't he?" She smiled and looked at the baby, who giggled and squealed happily.

"He's lively." Nanoha smiled. "I swear, he never slows down even for a minute."

Miyazaki smiled. "Well, you know what they say about the curious ones."

"They become great adults?" Arisa guessed.

"They get in the most trouble." Miyazaki gently rubbed Isamu's head. "Courage, eh? I hope for your sake he doesn't live up to his name, Nanoha-chan."

Isamu smiled guilelessly and gurgled happily. He loved the attention he was getting.

Arisa giggled softly and patted Nanoha's back. "Oh, don't worry, Nanoha. I'm pretty sure that Sora will either keep him in line or go with him to make sure that he doesn't get hurt."

Nanoha pouted at the two softly as Miyazaki sat down, the kind older lady smiled at the younger woman. "You two make it sound like my boys are going to be a complete handful just before they start school."

Arisa rolled her eyes. "Nanoha, knowing you, those boys will be handfuls before school. You'd better double-check your ships before going on missions."

Miyazaki laughed and looked down at Sora, who was still asleep. "And he's still so quiet," she murmured.

"He takes more after Yuuno-kun."

Isamu made his displeasure known that he wasn't being played with by grunting and kicking his legs up and down, getting a laugh from the older woman, who went back to teasing and tickling the boy's belly. "He demands attention."

Nanoha laughed softly. "If we put him on the carpet at home, he's perfectly content to roll all over the room. We have to make sure that we don't lose track of him."

Arisa giggled. "You'd better keep a sharp eye on him when he gets old enough, Nanoha."

"Yeah, that or hope Sora and Alicia are with him all the time!"

The older woman looked up curiously at that. "Who is Alicia?" she asked.

"You remember Fate-chan?" Nanoha asked, smiling softly.

The older woman blinked and thought about it, before her eyes widened. "Oh! That cute blond girl that was your best friend? I heard she moved back home. How is she doing?"

Nanoha smiled, nodding. "Fate-chan's doing fine. Yes, she did move home, she's visiting here with me. Alicia's her little girl."

"Ah, I see." Miyazaki smiled. "So she's with a man, as well? Or did she...?"

"No!" Nanoha yelped, blushing. "Fate-chan also lives with Alicia's father."

"Ah, that's nice. Is it anyone I know?"

Arisa blinked and wondered if maybe she should start reaching for Isamu as Nanoha cleared her throat awkwardly. "Ah... Alicia's father is Yuuno-kun."

The older woman stared at Nanoha, completely stunned. She didn't even notice as Arisa grabbed Isamu from her arms, taking the baby and stepping back. "She has a baby... With the same man as your children's father?" She frowned softly. "That doesn't seem like any qualities of a good man that I've ever heard of. What kind of man gets two women pregnant?"

"You haven't met Yuuno-kun." Nanoha struggled to control herself; she could see the apprehension in Arisa's eyes, and she didn't want to scare her boys.

"He's really a very nice man," Arisa added nervously. "A bit slow on the uptake, but he's... very loyal and loving."

"Maybe I haven't, but I've never met a so-called good man that openly has relations with two women at the same time. What the heck goes on in that country you moved to anyway?" Miyazaki just couldn't believe this, nowhere on Earth would something like happen normally.

"It doesn't have anything to do with where I live," Nanoha said sharply. "To be honest, even on Mid-Childa my relationship with Yuuno-kun and Fate-chan is considered a little unusual."

Arisa put one of her hands on Nanoha's shoulder. "Hey, come on... Let's go." She said softly, giving the older woman a sharp look herself. "You knew that this was going to happen."

Nanoha nodded and took her baby carrier, holding Sora, who seemingly woke up at his mother's distress, and walked into the mall, Arisa holding Isamu, following her a moment later.

"Nanoha, calm down, please?" Arisa said as she caught up with her childhood friend. "Don't mind her. Some people just can't handle the thought of you with two people, that's all."

"I know. It isn't a normal relationship. I just..." Nanoha sighed. "I can't help it, Arisa-chan. I don't want to hide what I feel for Yuuno-kun and Fate-chan. They both make me so happy that I can't hide it or feel ashamed of it even if I tried. Is that wrong?"

Arisa shook her head as the two continued to walk down the mall at a slower pace. "No, no it isn't Nanoha-chan, it's alright that you feel that way, but there's a lot of people who can only see a healthy adult relationship as a man and a woman." She shook her head, she was so glad that she didn't look at relationships that way herself.

Nanoha nodded quietly.

In Arisa's arms Isamu blinked, then squirmed and kicked, making soft whimpering noises, reaching for his mother. Arisa laughed softly, getting Nanoha's attention. "Check it out," the blond said. "He doesn't like it when he can tell you're upset."

Nanoha smiled softly and held out one hand to rub Isamu's belly softly. "Thank you, baby." She smiled gently as Isamu seemed to calm down. "Don't worry, mama will calm down now."

In the basket, Sora started squirming and whining, raising his arms up and wanting attention himself.

Nanoha laughed, stepping to the side so she could lift Sora up into her arms, put the baby carrier on the ground and cuddle him close. "What's with you two, huh?" she whispered. "You don't like seeing your mama upset?"

"Such mama's boys." Arisa chuckled as she handled Isamu over to Nanoha, both hugging and cuddling their mother, pawing at her chest with their hands and opening and closing their mouths. "Uh... I think they might be hungry too."

Nanoha blushed, looked around and sighed as she saw a restroom to the side. "Arisa-chan..."

"It's okay, they need to eat, I'll watch your stuff." Arisa smiled as Nanoha bowed in relief and left the area quickly.

The whole situation amused Arisa, to be honest. She'd always suspected at some point that Nanoha would have to choose between Fate and Yuuno, and in general the main support had gone to Fate in that area. That she'd ended up with both had been strange, but not completely unexpected.

Blinking as her cell phone rang, Arisa fished it out and opened it. "Hey, Arisa here."

"Arisa-chan." Suzuka's voice was breathless, as if she'd been laughing. "Fatec-chan and I are going out for a little while, so don't be upset if the house is empty when you come back. Noel-san convinced Fate-chan to leave Alicia with her and Falin-san, but you should see the look on her face..."

Arisa faintly heard Fate yelp a protest.

"I'll... Take your word for it." Arisa sweat-dropped heavily. "So, Suzuka-chan, just what are you guys doing?"

"Ah! That's a secret!" Arisa blinked as Suzuka giggled through the phone.

"I knew I shouldn't have let you watch that anime." Arisa grumbled softly.

"Oh, come on, it's fun."

"It was, until you tried casting a Dragon Slave." Arisa rubbed her forehead. "Just promise me you won't loan that to Hayate-chan or Nanoha-chan." She had heard that those two liked big explosive spells, the last thing she wanted was for them to emulate some of the magic used in that anime.

Suzuka giggled again. "As much fun as it would be to see those two trying to cast a Dragon Slave, I'll have to pass on it. Fate-chan and I are on a mission."

Arisa looked back towards the bathroom, but didn't see Nanoha appear just yet, "what kind of mission?"

"A secret one. If I told you, you might tell Nanoha-chan."

"Fine, fine..." Arisa rolled her eyes. "Just take care, Suzuka-chan."

"I will. Oh, and Arisa-chan..."

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell Nanoha-chan, okay?" Arisa could practically hear the grin in Suzuka's voice. "Fate-chan wants to surprise her."

"Fine, I won't tell her... Sorry, looks like I'm needed, so, talk to you later, Suzuka-chan." Arisa heard her friend speak an affirmative as she turned off her phone.

Floating towards her, white wings and all, was the little gem Raising Heart as it floated out of the bathroom. "My master requests that the diaper bag be given to her."

Arisa nodded and grabbed it from the under-side of the stroller, she didn't need to ask just what Nanoha would need it for. "Those boys are messy, huh?" She asked as she picked up the bag, before moving to the bathroom. She took three steps, stopped, grabbed the stroller and pulled it after her.

"Yes. Sora, Isamu and Alicia do make large messes for beings their size." Arisa couldn't help but giggle softly at the way Raising Heart was talking.

"Is something funny?"

"No, no." Arisa swallowed her giggles. "They're just young, Raising Heart. It's how they're built until they get older."

Raising Heart flashed in what Arisa assumed was agreement or understanding, she honestly couldn't tell. Amused, she pushed the stroller inside. "Nanoha, I brought the stuff."

"Thanks, Arisa-chan. Sorry."

"Hey, no problem."

Arisa stepped back and would've gone back to her old spot, but she tensed up when she saw Miyazaki coming her way.

Raising Heart seemed to float near her, uncaring if she was seen by people. Still, looking closer, it didn't look like Miyazaki was looking for a fight, she seemed rather sullen as she walked her way. "Arisa-chan..." She trailed off seeing the floating device next to her shoulder. "I know that I probably don't have the right... But is Nanoha-chan in there?"

"She's taking care of her baby boys." Arisa said, still tense and narrowing her eyes slightly. "As upset as I am, I can only imagine that she's worse off. If you had insulted her, she would shrug it off, but you insulted the two people closest to her."

The older lady sighed and nodded softly. "I can't say that I support such a relationship. I won't. But... Is she happy?"

"My master has never been more relaxed or happy in her entire life." Raising Heart spoke up, causing the older woman to nearly jump out of her skin.

"Ack! It can talk!"

"Yes." Raising Heart said in the closest approximation of a smug tone it could get.

Panting, Miyazaki put her hand over her chest, trying to steady her breathing. "I... See..." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Arisa-chan, tell Nanoha-chan that... As long as she's happy, that's all that matters." She smiled softly as Arisa blinked at her in confusion. "I'm old, I'm set in my ways, you young people today all have your own ideas about happiness and what makes a family."

"That... Was awfully fast..." Arisa muttered softly, blinking as she saw sadness creep into Miyazaki's face.

"My... My eldest daughter met a man that I didn't approve of, but she was in love. She ran off with him, had a family, without my approval. That was years ago and I didn't know about the family until a few months ago, to be honest." There was genuine sadness in her features, it made Arisa's heart ache.

"Oh..." Arisa honestly didn't know how to react to that. "I see..."

"Alright, Arisa-chan, I'm... Miyazaki-san..." Nanoha blinked, several times seeing the older lady standing there. She held Sora and Isamu, both against her chest, closer to her.

Seeing the way she was holding her twin boys, Miyazaki sighed heavily, the look was similar to what she would have imagined her eldest daughter to look like if she had been there holding twins. "...I'm sorry, Nanoha-chan. Such a relationship, it was just so shocking to me. I'm just an old fool that's too set in her ways to accept something like that so easily."

Nanoha hesitated before nodding slowly. "It's all right, Miyazaki-san. I understand. I just..."

The older woman smiled sadly. "I know. It didn't upset you that I made such an assumption about you, it upset you that I made an assumption about the people you've chosen to be with."

"How did..." Nanoha blinked in confusion.

Miyazaki chuckled and nodded to Arisa. "You have a great friend, Nanoha-chan. When your children grow up and find someone that they love, support them fully, it will help in the long run."

"Ah..." Nanoha blinked again, still confused. "Thank you, Miyazaki-san."

Miyazaki nodded and turned away, pausing. "You know, I think I might give my daughter a call today after all," she said after a few minutes. "What more do I have to lose at this point?"

Watching her leave, Nanoha turned to Arisa, who was blinking a few times. "What was that all about?"

"Her stubbornness cost her the chance to see her grandchildren years ago..." Arisa sighed heavily. "I think she wants to try and open up, she's just really scared."

"Oh." Nanoha shivered slightly; suddenly, she was glad her parents and Lindy had been so eager to accept her relationship with Fate and Yuuno. She could've lived without Momoko and Shiro if she had to, but it wasn't something she wanted to do.

"So." Arisa smirked. "Why'd you drag me out here, anyway?"

"Well..." Nanoha put her boys into the stroller and the baby bag that was on her shoulder underneath it again as she pushed her boys out, Raising Heart dropping into her coat pocket silently. "I want to propose... To Fate-chan and Yuuno-kun..."

Arisa's eyes sparkled. "Oh really?" Seeing her nod, Arisa grinned at her friend. "Great! I know just the place, Nanoha-chan." So saying, Arisa nearly dragged Nanoha and her boys through the mall until they got to a large jewelry outlet there. "This is where my dad went when he got rings for mom."

"Really?" Nanoha was surprised, the store was well-lit and decorated but small.

"Yeah. Dad says it has a great selection, and its small size makes it easier for you to find what you want." Arisa grinned. "So, what brought this on?"

"I wanted to marry them shortly after we found out about us being pregnant... But with how long it could take to plan it out." Nanoha trailed off, shaking her head and smiling at her boys, both of which were looking around, gurgling happily as they looked at all the shiny things. "We didn't want to risk having the wedding just before our babies were born."

"Understandable," Arisa murmured, and laughed as Isamu pressed a tiny hand against the glass. "What's up, little guy? You like the shiny things?"

Heck, even Sora was cooing curiously, kicking his feet as he looked at the rings and jewelry on display.

A sales clerk came up to the two ladies, smiling softly. "Hello, ladies, what can I do for you?" He asked, trying to ignore the babies in the cart. Though, if he was honest, he could say that it was easy enough to ignore, with two very pretty women in front of him.

Arisa saw the look in his eyes and had to resist the urge to smirk. Suddenly, she wondered how good the chances of Yuuno walking it right now would be. "I'm here with my friend," she said, motioning to Nanoha. "She's in a rather interesting situation, being in love with two people who love her back."

He smiled. "Well, that sounds unusual, but if anything it means she needs two rings instead of one."

Nanoha nodded, smiling softly. "Yeah... A man and a woman, can you help?"

Chuckling, the man nodded, though he was disappointed, such a lovely woman was taken already? "Follow me." He was suddenly VERY envious of the lucky bastard that managed to land someone like her as a future wife.

Arisa giggled. "I think he likes you," she whispered to Nanoha, who simply shrugged in reply.

Now that he knew she was taken, the man noticed her boys. "Well, now, you two are cute." He grinned as he saw what had caught their eye. "Like the shiny stuff, huh? Remember that when you're old enough to start dating."

Nanoha rolled her eyes at hearing that. "Even if they could understand you, they aren't going to be dating until they're at least fifteen, if then."

"What about Vivio, she's a lot older than they are." Arisa giggled. "You might have more trouble keeping her from dating people." Seeing Nanoha roll her eyes, Arisa smirked. "Just watch, six years from now, she's going to find someone very interesting and start chasing that person through hell and high water just to be with them."

Nanoha snorted. "With any luck she'll be as dense as I was. It'll make my life easier."

Arisa laughed. "Don't count on it!"

"Might I show you a selection of engagement rings then?" The man smiled, though he grimaced slightly from the little hand prints that Isamu left behind on the glass.

Nanoha nodded and pushed her babies away from the shiny stuff, making them both start gurgling and grunting as they kicked their feet up and down.

"Pay close attention," Arisa whispered playfully. "You never know when you'll be in here one day helping Vivio pick out a ring!"

"Stop giving them ideas." Nanoha muttered as she looked over the selection of rings. There were so many, of various sizes, colors, gems, metals... "That one." She pointed to a gold band with a purple gem in the middle. It fits Fate-chan so much..." Since Fate loved black and purple more than any other color. Looking more, her eyes settled on a simple gold band. She didn't know why, but the thing was simple and it just seemed to fit Yuuno so well for some reason.

Arisa noticed what Nanoha had chosen and nodded her approval. They were both simple, but they fit Fate and Yuuno well, respectively. "You make this look so easy."

"Nyahahaha... I can't explain it, those two just seem best."

The man smiled at her. "Sounds like she knows exactly what her lovers are like. Now then, do you have their sizes?" When Nanoha shook her head, he pulled out a reference book for her to look through. "Take your time."

After she found the correct sizes, she pointed out and the man nodded, ringing up the total for her.

Nanoha stared and shook her head softly. "Wow... More than... Arisa-chan?" She blinked as Arisa put down a credit card for her. "I can't..."

"You're my best friend, Nanoha-chan." Arisa winked at her. "Just think of this as an early wedding present."

Nanoha smiled sheepishly. "Thank you, Arisa-chan."

"Hey, no problem." Arisa pushed the credit card towards the man, who took it. "It's not so expensive here, plus this gives me some practice."

Nanoha blinked a few times. "You have someone in mind?"

Arisa winked at her as she got her card back, signed the receipt and stepped back. "I'll tell you when I propose." She giggled softly. "I'm going to wait until after you're married." She narrowed her eyes slightly. "I better be invited, Nanoha-chan, or there will be hell to pay."

"Nyahahaha..." Nanoha laughed and hugged Arisa. "Of course. I won't forget this time."

"Good." Arisa smirked at her.

Continued on the next part...

[Nanya01]

Part 2

Spoiler for Proposal - PT II:

(---)

Fate looked around the very, very upscale jewelry store as she and Suzuka walked in. It had a cozy, though very upscale feel to it. "I'm not used to such places." She admitted, blushing slightly.

"Sorry." Suzuka giggled. "But this is the best place I know. Dad said he brought Mom here when he decided to propose to her."

"I see..."

"And Fate-chan, stop fidgeting. Alicia will be fine. Noel-san and Falin-san are very good at what they do."

The blond nodded, sighing heavily. "I know, I know that they're good. But... I don't like leaving my baby girl alone very often. I want her to know how much I love her at all times." It wasn't just that, she wanted her daughter to feel the same love that she had wanted from her first mother. She couldn't deny Alicia that.

Putting a hand on her shoulder, Suzuka shook her head. "Fate-chan, you have to let her have some breathing room. And she does love you, she knows that you love her too. I can see it in the way that she always is watching you, even when other people are holding her. She's always looking at her mother more than the person giving her attention."

Fate sighed again. She knew that was true, but more than anything, she wanted her daughter to know she loved her.

"Fate-chan." Suzuka patted Fate on the shoulder gently. "You're a wonderful mother, to Alicia and to Isamu and Sora. Don't worry so much." She smiled. "So, what made you decide to do this?"

"I love them both... I want to marry them both..." She smiled, her eyes misting up. "And, mostly, I want our children, all of them, to have a place that they can call home with a loving father and two mothers. And that's why I want to marry them both."

Suzuka laughed softly. "And let me guess, Nanoha-chan and Yuuno-kun were moving a little slow?"

"Maybe a little." Fate chuckled softly as they went to look for engagement rings. "I had to wait until they were both asleep to get measurements."

Suzuka blinked and chuckled softly. "Sounds like you, for some reason." She shook her head, signaling for a clerk to help them.

"Well, hello there." The clerk, a young man, put on his most radiant smile when he saw who his customers were--even if he had a girlfriend, he never missed a chance to seize up others. "What can I help you both with today?"

"I'm looking for two engagement rings." Fate said, smiling pleasantly at him, her red eyes were neutral to him, but friendly enough. "I know the sizes that I need, but I'm not sure exactly what to get them, just yet."

Seeing the look in Fate's eyes, the man wisely chose not to ask or comment. "Very well," he said with a friendly smile. "Follow me."

Suzuka let out a low whistle, impressed. "Way to go, Fate-chan," she murmured.

"I've had practice." She whispered to Suzuka softly, mentally smirking as she looked over the rings in front of her. "That's a lot of choices." She muttered softly, looking over each one carefully.

"My dad said it was pretty easy when he had to choose." Suzuka stepped closer, studying the rings curiously. "He said he just thought of what Mom was like, and picking one became easy."

Fate nodded and looked around, before stopping on a gold ring, a small, but bright, green gem in the middle that sparkled brightly as the light hit it at the right angle. Picking it up, she nodded and looked for another ring, before settling on a gold band with platinum edges to it. "Nanoha and Yuuno... These fit them." She said softly, smiling as she looked at them.

Suzuka smiled. "Very nice," she murmured. "Pretty, but simple. It fits them, Fate-chan."

"Think so?" Fate smiled at the purple-haired woman, who nodded at her. "Okay..." She held the rings to the man and pulled out a sheet of paper, handing it to him as well. "Here are their sizes."

"Alright, just sit tight, this might take a little while." He smiled at her softly.

As the man went to work, Suzuka chuckled. "I'm still impressed," she murmured. "You shut him down before he could even make a comment or ask why you had two lovers."

Fate blushed softly at the praise. "I don't like it when people hit on me. I have two people I'm very happy with, I'd rather not have any others." She said as the two of them made their way over to some chairs and sat down, waiting on the order.

"Bad experience?" It wouldn't surprise Suzuka to know Fate had been hit on by others, even if she was taken. She was very beautiful.

"I had to go undercover a few times and some men would always try to "spend the night" with me." Fate grumbled. Sure, they might have been good-looking, but they were all creeps.

"Ah..." There were plenty of good men out there, of course, but sometimes they were amazingly hard to find. "Yuuno-kun and Nanoha-chan musn't have been very happy about that."

"Most of it happened before we got together, so they don't really know." Fate shrugged and leaned back, sighing softly. "I had to get really good at developing a "you-might-be-very-good-looking-but-I-am-not-interested-in-you" look very fast." Some of those assignments had been hell.

Suzuka smiled and patted Fate's back gently. "It'll be okay..."

Fate nodded, smiling, she knew it would be, she just had to wait a bit more, and then... Well, she was actually extremely nervous. Not that they'd say no...

Who would she ask first?

"So, are you going to ask them both at the same time?" Suzuka asked.

Fate blinked a few times and looked at Suzuka, who was smiling sheepishly. "I... I hadn't thought of that. Thank you." She smiled at her long-time friend.

"Don't mention it." Suzuka smiled happily.

---

Yuuno didn't know whether he was relieved that the whole trip had been a laugh to Shiro or a little annoyed. Since he was generally a nice guy, and he liked staying in one piece, he decided he was relieved as he waved goodbye to his future father-in-law and headed back to Suzuka's house, saying every prayer he knew.

Still, it didn't take long for him to get to Suzuka's house, which he didn't know if he was grateful or not for. Taking a deep breath, he walked to the gates and pressed the call button.

"Hello?"

"It's me, Yuuno Scrya, I'm here to see Nanoha Takamachi and Fate Harlaown, are they in?"

"Ah, Yuuno-kun! It's me, Falin, just a moment." He smiled as the gate opened up.

"Thanks, Falin." He said as he walked past the gate and towards the house.

The younger maid came out to greet him, giving him a friendly smile. "You're just in luck, they came back only a few minutes ago."

Yuuno laughed sheepishly. "Mom said I always had the strangest timing."

Falin laughed at that. "Well, they were asking about you, but you should be safe for awhile since Fate-chan's fussing over Alicia."

Yuuno blinked at her as she took his jacket and led him to Fate and Nanoha. "Did something happen to Alicia?"

Falin shook her head. "Other than leaving her with us for a couple of hourse, no." She smiled as recognition dawned in Yuuno's eyes. "I take it that she gets worried often?"

Yuuno nodded, smiling softly. "She hates leaving Alicia alone, it's pretty hard on her, I think. She just wants to be around her children at all times."

Falin chuckled. "I'm far from offended, Yuuno-kun, and neither is my sister. We've done this before. We know how mothers can be." She gave him a friendly smile.

"I see..."

"Though you would probably appreciate having the two of them alone for what you want to ask, right?"

"How did..."

She pointed at his hands, where he was holding the ring boxes. "You may want to hide those a little better if you're going for a surprise." She smiled and leaned closer to him. "They'll love them." She whispered. "Just don't lose your nerve."

Yuuno swallowed. Hard. "Thank you."

Falin smiled, pulling back as Nanoha and Fate came into the room. "I did nothing," she said innocently when she saw the looks she was getting.

"You were awfully close to him." Nanoha said, her eyes slightly narrowed.

"I was fixing his collar." Holding back laughter, Falin gently toyed with Yuuno's shirt collar. "There. All straight." She patted him lightly on the shoulder, humor gleaming in her eyes.

"Thanks, Falin." Yuuno smiled as she nodded and left the room silently.

The three looked at each other nervously, all of them holding something in their hands as they tried to collect their thoughts now that they were together.

Who should I ask first?

What if they don't like the rings?

I've never been in such a situation before, what do I do?

Should I go first? Last? I can't stand this.

Those were the thoughts that crashed through all three of their heads at the same time.

"Yuuno-kun, Fate-chan..."

"Fate, Nanoha..."

"Nanoha, Yuuno..."

"Will you marry me?" The three said at the same time, blinking as they realized that they had the boxes in their hands and open, revealing the rings to each other.

From outside the door, Falin couldn't contain herself any longer and collapsed into soft giggles, thankfully keeping quiet enough so she wasn't heard by the nervous trio.

"What happened?" Arisa hissed as she and Suzuka stood in the living room. "Did they...?"

Falin nodded, grinning. "At the exact same time."

Suzuka and Arisa both started to giggled hard. "Oh... Oh wow, that's priceless!" Suzuka said with a laugh.

Looking up from where she was giving the three infants attention, Noel smiled softly. For some reason, she really wasn't surprised. Looking back down, she smiled and tapped each baby very lightly on the nose. "Well, it seems your mommies and daddy just did a very silly thing together. If you find someone that you like in the future, you shouldn't try to hide it, otherwise they'll never know how you feel."

It was weird, it was almost like all three were hanging on every word she spoke. Oh well, they couldn't understand her after all.

"So..." Suzuka giggled. "How do you think they'll react?"

Arisa smirked. "Wait for it..."

Back in the room, the three were staring at each other, before there was a collective sigh of relief from each of them.

"You know..." Yuuno started, chuckling softly as the situation crashed down on him.

"...We really are..." Fate continued, laughing slightly.

"A bunch of idiots, huh?" Nanoha finished, giggling. "We all wanted to surprise the others and we all got rings... Fate-chan... Yuuno-kun..."

"Nanoha..." They both smiled at her.

"I think," Fate smiled at them both. "I think this means yes?"

The two of them nodded. "I think the real question here is... When should we have the wedding?" Yuuno asked them both softly.

"Well, you know..." Nanoha smiled. "We're on Earth right now... and it wouldn't be too hard for Lindy-san to bring Vivio down... with Chrono-kun and Amy-san, and everyone else."

Fate nodded. "Mom's been saying she wants to visit Japan again. She hasn't had a chance to since Hayate asked her for help."

Yuuno scratched his head slightly. "I hate to bring this up, but... Don't these things take some time to plan and everything? And, who would we find that would be willing to be a priest for us?"

"I know someone!" Suzuka all but sang it from outside the closed door.

Nanoha groaned, why was she not surprised. "Alright, come on... In?" She blinked as Suzuka, Falin and Arisa practically burst through the door. "Now, Suzuka-chan, who do you know?"

Suzuka grinned. "An old family friend. He's done a lot of marriages for our circle of people, and he's very open to the times and all kinds of couples."

"That's good." Fate smiled at them. "The question I have is, when are we going to have the wedding? I think Nanoha would want her brother and sister there for it, and they're gone for a month."

Nanoha frowned. "I haven't heard from Onii-chan and Onee-chan for awhile now, actually."

Yuuno chuckled softly. "They've only been gone a couple of days, Nanoha. They'll be fine." At least he hoped so, they could take care of themselves, but if there was magic involved, well, he just hoped that it was only a rumor.

"Besides, if anything happened we would've heard about it by now," Fate said, trying to soothe the brunette.

Nanoha sighed and nodded, before smiling. "Well, then... Arisa-chan, Suzuka-chan... Will you do us the honors and help us get this wedding planned out?"

The two nodded in agreement with her.

[Satashi]

Originally Posted by deathcurse

.....

OMG, I love it! I like how Hayate's sympathetic but still wary, and the circumstance of the trouble is just...wow. Fate choosing to die, and all the consequences of that action...absolute yay

:3 Happy you liked it. I just randomly came up with it last night while playing Civ 4 lol

Originally Posted by spawnofthejudge

Awesome premise, Satashi! Not so hot about the title, but I'm so hooked on the narrative, I barely care. Looking forward to many particular scenes that have formed in my head about this.... ... ... ...

... if you don't do them, I might . Please continue!

Title needs to be changed. I was suggested AlternativeS by Saint X, I think I'll use that.

XD well, great minds think alike, and story ideas can be thought of by two different people Feel free to do whatever you want to. ^_^

Originally Posted by SulliMike23

Man, if I were Fate I'd be devastated by all this too.

I always pick on Fate it seems...

Well, everyone, it's that time again...

Chrono: To draw panties on the natives in National Geographic!?

Yuuno: No you fool... Time to take over the world!

*sing* They're Chrono and Yuuno, yes Chrono and Yuuno....

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

More like this.

"They're Chrono and the Rat-"
(Hey...)
"Yes Chrono and the Rat-"
(HEY!)
"One is a Genius... The other we yell SCAT!"
(What?)

"They're mainly left alone"
"Thanks to Y Chromasomes"
"They're Chrono..."
"They're Chrono and the RAT RAT RAT RAT-"
"RAT!"
(Come on now!)

"Before each night is done"
"Their plans will be unfurled"
"By the dawning of the sun."
"They'll sleep with all the girls."

"They're Chrono and the Rat"
(OI!)
"Yes Chrono and the Rat!"
(Where are you-)
"They've got rear to tap."
"It's easy as that!"

"To prove their manly case"
"They're playing every base"
"They're Chrono..."
"They're Chrono and the Rat Rat Rat Rat!"
(I'M NOT A RAT!)
"RAT RAT RAT RAT!"
(IT CALLED A FERRET!)
"RAT RAT RAT RAT!"
(DO YOU HEAR ME?)
=SCORE!=

(I give up...)

[Nanya01]

Aaaand... Just before I take off for work...

New Days is up on FF.Net now.

Monsterous sugar chapter will make your teeth rot!

[itanshi1]

Originally Posted by Satashi

Snip

Awesome premise ^^ I look forward to more.