AN: Alright, it's time for a new story! I'm sure you're all excited about that. I'm still wondering where exactly this story is going but I guess I'll figure it out as I go. I tend to do my best writing on the fly anyway. So, without further a do, here's the first chapter to Safe and Sound.

Disclaimer: I do not own Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha.

Safe and Sound

"We'll be together forever, Nanoha."

The skies were ablaze with magic. War had reached their home. For Nanoha, this was the first large-scale war she'd be directly involved in. It was frightening, but not so much for herself, but for her family. Vivio, now at age 17, was old enough to be part of the battle. She thanked her lucky stars that Hayate had pulled strings and had her placed anywhere other than the front lines. A frowned immediately marred her pretty face. Her daughter may be safe, but not her partner, her lover, her wife, her everything, she was not. Fate was out in the front lines. She was the first to engage the enemy. She could be one of the first to possibly fall.

It was a terrifying thought that she would not be able to help even with how close she was.

"Hey, don't lose your focus." Vita chided. "We need you to be at the top of your game. If we stop them today, we'll be able to push them back and win this war."

"Right." Nanoha nodded determinately. She was right. Her mind couldn't afford to be anywhere else.

She looked back at the city she'd called home for most of her adult life. It was eerily empty. The vast majority of the city had been evacuated weeks ago when the rebel forces began to show signs of breaking through the defense around the planet. It wouldn't be long until they would reach the town. For a few minutes, tense silence filled the area.

"They come!" Vita yelled.

In an instant, the silence was shattered. The skies filled with beams of magic and screams. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Nanoha wondered if Fate was okay. Time was lost in the fury of battle. Nanoha had no idea how long she and her fellow comrades defended their home. Although Vita had told her to keep her focus, Nanoha was finding it harder and harder as she witnessed enemy and allies fall. Was Fate all right? Were her friends okay? She wished she knew. It was in that one moment of distraction that the attack came from her blind spot.

"Watch out!" Vita screamed in horror.

Nanoha saw it coming but could not move. Her barrier went up too late, the force shattering through her half made shields. She closed her eyes and waited for the hit, but it never came. Instead, a familiar pair of arms encircled her followed by a scream of pain from a voice she knew all too well. Her heart froze in fear. Opening her eyes, she was greeted to a sight that would haunt her for the rest of her life. Fate had shielded her from the blast.

Tears fell from cobalt eyes.

Fate smiled. Even in her state of near death, she smiled at the woman she'd given her life for. A shaky hand rose to wipe the tears from her love's eyes.

"Tears don't suit you." Fate rasped.

"Fate…chan."

"I'm sorry," Fate's smiled became regretful. "It looks like I'm breaking my promise to you."

"Don't say that! You're going to be fine!"

"Please tell Vivio I'm sorry too. And to Hayate-chan, Signum, Shamal, Vita, Zafira…to everyone."

"Please, stop! Please…" Nanoha sobbed into the blonde woman's shoulder.

"Nanoha, I'm certain that even with my unnatural birth, I was born for you and only you." Fate coughed. She knew her time was running out. " I was born to love you in this life and the next."

"Fate-chan, Fate-chan, Fate-chan!" Nanoha screamed. She couldn't be losing her. Not now. Not like this. "Please, don't say good-bye!"

"Thank you for loving me, for giving me a wonderful family…for saving me. Thank you for everything. I love you Nanoha Takamachi Harlaown."

She was gone.

"Fate-chan?" Nanoha gently shook the now slumped body in her arms. "Fate-chan?"

Nothing.

"Hey, wake up Fate-chan. You can't sleep in a place like this." A hallow laugh followed. "What would Vivio think if she heard her Fate-mama fell asleep in the middle of battle?"

Still Fate did not stir. Nanoha only cried harder. She was gone. Taken in an instant. Her Fate was dead.

"FATE-CHAN!"

A pink light engulfed everything.

"Fate-chan!"

Momoko Takamachi heard her daughter's anguished scream and rushed to her youngest side. The scene before her was becoming far too frequent for her liking.

"Nanoha?"

"M-Mama?" Her nine year old sobbed.

Momoko sat at Nanoha's bedside and pulled the younger girl into her embrace. Nanoha cried freely into her mother's chest. Momoko stayed by her side until her tears were exhausted and she'd fallen asleep. It didn't take long. Nanoha had been getting very little sleep from the continuous nightmare that plagued her. They seemed to be happening more and more often. She tucked her daughter back into bed and kissed her forehead. Upon returning to her room, she spotted her husband, Shiro Takamachi, sitting awake.

"Again?"

"Yes."

"Is she alright?"

Momoko slipped beside him. Shiro pulled her into his arms, giving whatever comfort he could.

"As well as she can be."

"It's the third time this week."

"I know." She bit her lip. "What more can we do? I feel so helpless."

Shiro was unsure. When this all began, it wasn't so bad. When their daughter turned 9, she began having these dreams about being a magical girl. At first they thought it was just her over active imagination. Then she began to give names to the dream girls that were supposedly magical girls like her. One in particular she seemed to be fond of. However, a few months ago things changed, Nanoha began to have one recurring dream, one where a blonde haired woman died in her arms. At first they thought it was just a nightmare brought on by watching too many violent movies, but the dream persisted. They tried to figure out more about the dream, but Nanoha could only tell them that the woman, Fate, died saving her in her dream. When asked why she found this so sad even though it was only a dream she responded with:

"I don't know."

They weren't sure how or if they could help. How did one control dreams?

"All we can do is be by her side and give her all the love and support we can. This nightmare can't last forever."

"I hope you're right." For her daughter's sake, Momoko wished the nightmares would pass soon.

In her room, Nanoha shifted uncomfortably, she reach out to one side of the bed, instinctively looking for something.

"Fate-chan…" she mumbled as she fell further and further into slumber.

An: Yes I know this is extremely short for what I usually write, but this is only an intro. The next chapter will definitely be longer and give you a set up into what kind of world the cast has been reborn into. Anyway, reviews are always appreciated so, you know, leave a comment if you can.