"R" Aces of the Skies

Chapter 25

----- Inside the Arthra, Cafeteria -----

Nanoha, Fate and Arf were having a rather peaceful meal as they await any news from the main bridge until suddenly a very familiar voice filleds the place.

Alicia: Fate-chan! I'm home!

Arf: Alicia-chan!

Fate: Onee-chan, welcome home.

Nanoha: Alicia-chan! Nevada-kun!

The very first thing the boy did was to run straight for Nanoha, giving her a rather hard tackle hug knocks both kids to the ground.

Nanoha: Awww geez, Nevada-kun! You do realize you're more heavier than I am right?

Man's Voice: Well, well look who's finally back from her big adventure.

Minako look to where the voice came from and to her surprise, her father was there, kneeling down with open arms.

Minako: Papa!

The little girl immediately runs to him, giving the man a very warm hug which she always loves to do.

Alicia: Hey, where is Hayate-chan?

Fate: Oh… ummm…

Nanoha: Well you see…

----- Infirmary -----

Inside the ship's infirmary, Hayate lies on the bed, eyes closed and surrounded by her dear knights and Reinforce.

Reinforce: As expected, the damage is far more serious. The protection program stopped, but the basic structure is still the same. I, the main source of the Tome of the Night Sky, will soon create a new protection program and start to go out of control again.

Signum: As expected.

Shamal: You can't restore it?

Reinforce: It's impossible. The Tome of the Night Sky has been erased from me, its supervising program.

Zafira (Wolf Form): As long we don't know the original form, there's no way we can restore it.

Signum: That's right. Is master Hayate okay?

Reinforce: There's no problem. I won't encroach on her further, and her Linker Core is also functioning normally. Her disabled legs should heal soon, as well.

That places a lot of relief on the knights, knowing their master has finally gotten better and no longer in risk of dying.

Shamal: I see. Well then, we should say that it's good.

Signum: Yes, there's nothing to regret.

Vita: Since it doesn't have its protection program, it's easy to completely destroy the Tome of the Night Sky. As long as we destroy it, it won't ever go out of control again. But in return, we will get erased.

Signum: I'm sorry, Vita.

Vita: Why are you apologizing? I don't mind. We all knew this might happen.

Reinforce: No, that's not true. You all will stay. I'm the only one who will leave.

----- Cafeteria -----

Alicia: She… passed out?

Nanoha nods, with Nevada still hugging close to her like a very affectionate pet.

Nanoha: Yeah, as soon as Amy-san told us that you and Nevada-kun are tasked with going to whatever place it is the black Bydo went to destroy the protection program, Hayate-chan suddenly collapsed afterwards.