The Scramble [Complete]

[Nanoha Takamachi]

The thought of trying to escape towards one of the other gates did pass through Nanoha's mind, but it didn't take long to banish the idea entirely. As the two groups closed in on the fountain, it was becoming clear that they were here to talk, not to fight. Envoys of some kind, or leaders, with a large escort. Regardless, it was obvious that trying to get away on foot wasn't an option; as she watched one rider broke off towards the green skinned woman and, after a brief pause, the lady became to head back toward the fountain.

For there to be two large groups such as this, seemly organised, this Lost Logia must have been active for some time indeed. Nanoha wondered what the likelihood of meeting anyone she'd recognise from the TSAB record in this strange place would be. It was possible that other poor souls had been trapped within this pocket dimension too. All the more reason to locate the Lost Logia itself and seal it.

As the riders, one group on their horses and the other on hover bikes (what quaint forms of transport the latter ones were), neared the fountain, Nanoha decided that observation was the best bet here to begin with. See whom they were, what they were like, and what they came to talk about. She also suspected they were here to parley with, to recruit, to befriend the newcomers to this strange land. Most likely, their haste was to beat the other side to the fountain. Or at least not be the last one there. It didn't take long for her musings to be proven correct.

The events that followed were bemusing, bizarre and sometimes exasperating to Nanoha. She kept her silence, knowing that others would ask more questions that needed, and just watched the proceedings. Ganondorf, in his tall pompous demeanour, made a speech that Nanoha could respect but rang hollow to her. Two more newcomers appeared, one of them apparently more decisive than the rest of the group had shown to be; for he had chosen who to go with almost instantly. The other, a man of insane appearance and even more insane behaviour had managed to have himself become the first one to not get to make a choice. Although, she thought wryly, he did make the choice in an indirect kind of way. Some of the others made their choices, one side or the other, or even to go off alone into another portal. Samus had wasted no time after considering the matter for a bit, and strode over to stand with the man called King Bradley. There was a look in her eyes that Nanoha barely caught a glimpse of before her visor became opaque again. Something akin to regret, perhaps at what little choice they really had here. Did they venture out into a world they knew so little of, alone, or go with one of these two warring, hateful, factions knowing that they truly could not be trusted. It was a choice that Nanoha regretting being forced to make, but she nodded gentle to the suited woman as her helmet turned and looked her way for a moment.

But the one thing that made her exasperated, was the actions of the young robot Blues, whom she had taken a quiet liking too. He reminded her of many friends, and her dear Vivio. Though with a more male rashness to him, perhaps a product of whatever dark blot there was upon his past. Nanoha watched as he walked up to the stern looking man with the curious helmet, and provoked him with the destruction of one of the hover bikes. Much to her relief, no additional scene occurred, but Blues wasn't going to make himself any friends doing something like that.

With a sigh, Nanoha decided it was time to step into the oratory battlefield herself. The two men who seemed so content to glare at each other across the open ground held no interest to her, and she decided it would be best to speak with their more moderate counterparts. She stepped forward towards the hulking green skinned creature, curiously similar to the one that had appeared with the rest of the group at the fountain, and calmly held the gaze he turned towards her as she held out her hand in greeting.

"Hello there, I am Nanoha Takamachi, Major in the Time/Space Administration Bureau. Whom do I have a pleasure of greeting?"

She heard a faint laugh behind her, the helmeted man having a private joke all to himself. Normally she would ask what was so funny, like she would with her trainees, but it was already painfully obvious. These two sides were enemies, and each would find humour in their own way.

The tall creature stared at her quietly for a moment, then enveloped her hand with his and they firmly shook. She could tell from his face that he was surprised to feel that her grip was just as firm and unrelenting as his own. There was much to be found from the act of such small gestures and despite the calm focus etched across his face, Nanoha knew this to be a man of honour just from this alone.

"You can call me Thrall, known as the Warchief. I serve King Aragon and help protect the people that gather in Camelot, the land through the portal behind us."

There was a pause, as they released each others hands, and Nanoha looked Thrall up and down. She had no doubt he meant his words; a creature of honour and strength as he had no cause to lie to her.

She took a step back, and gave the Warchief a gentle bow before she spoke. "I must regretfully decline the kind offer you have made us, Thrall, for the time being. I seek knowledge and understanding of this place, for I know what it is that has created this dimension. I will come visit your Kingdom, but first I feel the most logical place for me to begin my search is the land with technology most akin to my own."

Nanoha waited a moment for his response, and was unsurprised at the sharp nod her gave her before turning his attention to the others who had yet to make up their minds. Hopefully they would get a chance to converse in the future, she found the creature intriguing.

Turning, Nanoha walked back towards where Blues stood, still glaring at the helmeted man. Gentle placing one hand on his head, she started at the unmoving man before her. His features were coarse beneath the helmet, and his body was clearly one used to the physical punishment of strike arts based combat. If the speed at which he had dealt with that odd man was anything to go by, he would be a formidable opponent. There was something about him, though, his look and the words he had said to Blues. A cold, hard, angry man stood before her. A man who pursued a justice that only he could truly see, never asking and only taking. She gave him a small smile, as empty as she could bring herself to make it, and tapped Blues on the top of his head with some sharpness. It rang, like there were hollows inside between all the whirring machines that he was comprised of.

"Now, now, Blues. You really shouldn't just blow stuff up to make a point to the man. It's a little rude, don't you think? Besides, there are ways of getting that sort of thing across that are much more potent." She flashed him a smile, and a wink, while Raising Heart whirled around her arm and flashed in a way that seemed almost mischievous. The robot looked like he was doing his best to bend his static features into a scowl, but turned away from Dredd and watched as Nanoha walked on towards the man who called himself King Bradley.

"King Bradley, was it? I am Nanoha Takamachi, Major in the Time/Space Administration Bureau." He could see a brief expression of impatience cross his face; he was obviously listening when she spoke with Thrall, but was too polite to cut her off. "I understand, by the look of your men's equipment, that your 'Empire' has some advanced technology. Is this purely technological, or do you have mages like myself?"

The king frowned at Nanoha for a moment, before quietly extending a hand towards her. "I'm sorry, Major, but I'm afraid I don't quite understand. Mages like yourself?"

Nanoha, smiling, took the hand he offered and shook it, a little firmer than she did Thrall's, and started deeply into his only eye. "Why, this sort of Mage."

In one smooth movement, she released his hand and swept her other out in an arc away from her. "Raising Heart! Please."

Standby, ready.

Now that Raising Heart's Axel Mode had been shown to function correctly, the transformation took barely a second. In a flash of magenta light, the rune circle appeared beneath her feet, and her barrier jacket shimmered into place around her. Raising Heart, in a growth quicker than lightning, shifted into the the staff, sliding gentle into place within the grasp of Nanoha's outstretched left hand.

I am a Mid-Childa/Belkan hybrid Intelligent Device, designation 'Raising Heart', designed to assist my master to the best of my capabilities in the formation of magical castings, data collection, information warfare, and being a classy lady.

With such a sudden display, the Imperial troops standing closest to Nanoha and Bradley had raised their weapons straight at her. The king raised a hand carefully, waving their weapons away. He surveyed Nanoha's changed appearance, and her Device, with intense curiosity before he finally spoke. His voice was soft, wrapped in the every familiar yet obnoxious tones of diplomacy. "I see, Major Takamachi, that you are more than you first appeared. We have people you might find some kinship with, but our technology is mostly a... Different breed to your own."

There was a pause, a silence broken only by the rattling of weapons being lowered. Nanoha could see Dredd glaring at her out of the corner of her eyes, but he hadn't moved his body even an inch. Clearly he wasn't overly concerned about Bradley's life; the king must have his own hidden surprises too.

"I take it you are interested in coming with us, to join the glorious Empire, Major? You will surely find yourself comfortable and with purpose among our people. If technology is what you are used to, then our lands are the best place for you to reside."

Nanoha stared down at her device, hoping that her decision would be the best one in the long run, then turned her face back upwards to stare straight into the king's one good eye.

"I will come to your Empire, Bradley, but do not expect me to join it just yet. If I may be so discourteous as to speak plainly, then I will tell you what I desire. I will travel to your world, and I will visit your libraries- I assume you have them- and I shall learn what there is to learn there. Then I shall visit the Kingdom, and there I shall do the same. Perhaps, once I have seen what you are both like from the hallowed halls of learning and knowledge, I will decide which one I prefer to join. Until then, I will be just as I am, as will anyone of these people here who choose to join me."

At that last line, she looked back at Blues and nodded gently. She hoped he would come with her, even if for a while, in an attempt to perhaps find himself a virtuous goal in life. She looked across at Samus, standing not far away from herself and Bradley, and gave her a curt nod as well.

If he was irritated by her flat refusal to become another member of his Empire, King Bradley did not show it. He smiled pleasantly and nodded, turning and gesturing towards the portal he and his forces had entered this White plain- this Nexus- from.

"By all means, Major Takamachi. I promise you and any with you shall find haven within the streets and towers of Coruscant. Our libraries are open to all. You will, I know, find our land to be the best the Omniverse has to offer."

She ignored his polite gesture, and walked on past. She may not have made any friends today, but until she had reason to trust these people, that was something she would worry about in the future. Hoping that Blues and, perhaps others, would follow suit she strode off in the direction of the portal to Coruscant.

Alone again, as she first had been, a one of her kind among people who were unable to see what she truly wanted to offer: just plain old friendship.