MAGICAL GIRL LYRICAL NANOHA:
ALTERED COURSE

CHAPTER ONE:
Door to the Other Side

The observer hung silently in the emptiness of space, a geosynchronous orbit ensuring that its soulless gaze remained locked on the desolate landscape of the lost grounds. Nothing could escape its gaze, or its reach. One command, and it could obliterate anything that tries to escape from the wastes. But for now, it waited, and watched, observing the single point in the mountains… waiting for the command to strike.

Down on the planet below, a single, non-explosive missile embedded in the stone ground spoke to the inlanders gathered around it. The viewscreen within its casing gave a static-y, but nonetheless captivating image of the smug gentleman in a black suit.

"… and while I have you all together, there's a little present I wanted to give you," he said amicably, his smile on the snowy screen a sharp contrast to the fear and anger that screwed up the audience's faces. "It's not much, really, but it comes from the sky, far, far away."

The man's smirk grew a fraction of an inch wider. "I hope you enjoy it."

The screen cut out as the women among the group began to panic, and up above, the observer was finally given the command it had been waiting upon.

In an instant, an electronic signal traveled through the machine, and the H.O.L.Y. Eye moved into action—panels opened up underneath its chassis, extending the fangs that would strike down the wastelanders within the lost ground. It opened up the solar panels upon its wings, gathering up the energy needed to rain down destruction from the atmosphere as it locked upon the now-dormant missile.

"That bastard, he's gonna hit us from up there!"

"What're you waiting for! We hafta get out of here!"

Underneath the atmosphere, the strongest among them had decided that fleeing from its wrath was not an option.

"You gotta be kidding."

"Not a chance. I'm staying right here!"

"I'm not gonna RUN AWAY!"

The ground and missile disappeared in a flash of light, consumed by golden and silver power as the fangs of the H.O.L.Y. Eye lit up within the vastness of space, and fired.

The roar of the azure beam erupted all around the lost grounds as it punched through the atmosphere and pierced the clouds, boiling away the air as it came crashing down on the two men. They roared their defiance and met it head-on—the twin rays of gold and silver smashed into it, and a crown of blue light exploded at the top of the mountain, spreading out for all to see. The shockwave was seen and felt for miles as rays of light lanced out, spinning as the two powers fought for dominance. Mountaintops were sheared off in neat lines, and the waters evaporated underneath its heat as it cut into the ocean.

Miles away, in an imposing tower of science and metal, a little girl cried and lifted her hand into the air, dreaming of the two heroes that raged against the satellite that hung above them all like the storied blade of Damocles.

"Reaction is confirmed."

Within a room showcasing wealth and power, the silver-haired gentleman smiled and removed the green-gray spectacles upon his face, tossing them away in glee—his goal was finally within reach.

"That's it! It's the Door to the Other Side! It's opening the Door to the Other Side!"

The H.O.L.Y. Eye could no longer withstand against their power—but that was all right with the machine, which could only do as it was commanded. Below, the lost grounds felt another shockwave as the two men held their ground and fought back, pushing the baleful azure light back into the sky, lifted up on wings of gold and silver, and the massive rainbow portal that exploded beneath their feet. As the satellite gave up, its power depleted, it was content—its task had been complete, just as the gentleman had wanted. Now, years of planning had finally come into fruition.

He sailed through the blackness, his pale face split in a grin of delight.

"Thank you gentlemen, this is the moment I've been waiting for!"

It was a relic, a memory from an age that was all but forgotten. More than machine, but less than a person. But it still lived, and now, as it hung silently in the air, almost forgotten, its heart beat could be felt within the dislocated space of the city. Yet for all its beating, waiting for someone to claim it, it stood forgotten as the two young girls struggled against one another, their power and their words unable to reach one another.

"Fate-chan!"

The tiny gemstone, the Jewel Seed, Serial Number 19, could wait a bit longer. It had waited for millennia, longing for someone to take hold of it and make their wish known to it. Millennia in darkness, waiting since the days of Al-Hazard. As the kind third-grader turned her words upon the child with the sad eyes… It could wait a bit longer.

But not forever.

The reverie of the two girls was broken as the orange-furred wolf cried out in anger at them. "Fate! You don't have to answer that!" she bellowed, staring up at the two children. "You don't have to tell anything to a little brat who's lived her life surrounded by nice people!"

The words stung Nanoha Takamachi, and her voice failed her as the familiar raged on, her words full of fury and pain.

"Our primary objective is to capture all the Jewel Seeds!" Arf yelled. The girl with the sad eyes shut everything else out of her heart, and brought her weapon up to bear.

"Nanoha!" the ferret called out, worried. They couldn't lose sight of what they had to do! The Jewel Seed was still laying in wait, waiting for one to claim it!

Fate Testarossa turned her cold gaze down upon the street, upon Yuuno Scrya and the crystal hanging silently over the fractured asphalt of the street, and charged down at it, with the white-clad mage quickly following after her.

The Jewel Seed's heart beat as they closed in. It could be felt throughout the city.

But it didn't know what to do when it felt the two devices converge upon it, striking one another at an angle. It felt both of their wishes, both of their wants and desires. But it was too much, even for this wondrous jewel from an age long dead.

Sound was destroyed as the Intelligent Devices cracked and the might of the Jewel Seed roared across Unimari City and all of time and space.

He was in a magnificent world of light and color, yet the gentleman in the black suit could only look within himself and rage as he pondered the events that drove him to his destitution and his refinement. It had left him empty, hungry for something more—a hunger that no food, no base desire could ever satisfy. How he had longed to fulfill his desire! That wretched boy who had had everything, while he had been left with nothing… now the tables had been turned.

He had passed through the Door to the Other Side.

It was here, he would finally find the power to satisfy his unrelenting thirst. Light was building up behind him, and he could feel it, calling out to him. He laughed as he turned to face it, and the crystallized form of the Other Side appeared before him, curious at this newfound visitor that had wandered into its realm.

He forced himself forward, taking in its magnificent body of black flame and otherworldly bone. "I knew I would find it!" his demented laugh echoed through the eldritch realm. "This is it! This is the power! The power I've been looking for all this time!"

The being was bathed in that wonderful light, and as he approached, it lifted up its white-clad hand, ready to strike. His hand lifted up to meet it.

"Don't be afraid now," he soothed, smiling at the frowning, impassive face of the crystallized form. His gloved limb sank into the white hand, and he felt a startling sensation of burning heat and icy cold. He pushed forward. "We're not enemies, you and I—"

The Other World rocked as something horrible passed through it, a silent scream that twisted the passage of prismatic light about in a violent storm. He halted, his hand slipping from its form as something else called to it. The crystallized form spoke, an unearthly, melodious cry like that of song of a whale. It echoed throughout the other side as it was pulled away by the dimensional tremor.

The gentleman could only scream his rage and shock as the power slipped from his fingers. "No! After this long I won't be denied! This can't be happening to me!"

The world twisted and pulled at him, ignoring his indignation and fury. He was swallowed up into the light.

The little girl gasped as she felt his rage echo throughout the Other Side.

As suddenly as it had appeared, the building storm of the Jewel Seed broke, sending its power hurtling into the sky, dispersing the storming clouds up above in a frightful manner. The two girls came plummeting down as they regained their ability to see, blinking red and violet eyes to dispel the spots swimming in their vision.

Nanoha quickly regained control of her flight and stabilized, twisting her body around and aligning herself upright. Her boots hit the ground gently, and she gave a breath of relief before looking up. What had happened?

Fate also landed easily, having regained her senses at the same time. She made a quick check of her Device, and in a broken voice it gave its confirmation, she nodded and allowed it to revert its form. As Bardiche settled down on a niche in her glove, she looked up to see the Jewel Seed rise up from the crater. She'd only have one chance now—she hunched forward and launched herself, hurtling through the air at it.

Nanoha gasped as light broke around the gemstone. In an instant, she knew something was wrong. "Fate-chan, don't!"

But the other mage had saw it too. Prismatic light, like that of a rainbow, was expanding in points behind the Jewel Seed, like holes in reality. Her feet struck the asphalt once more as she slid to a halt.

Tendrils of a prismatic mist spun about and converged on one another as the rift widened. Motes of blackness settled around one another, and in moments it began to take form. All four beings present gasped in shock as an adult man clad in a crisp black business suit materialized before them. Soon the transformation was complete, and they looked upon a surprisingly youthful face framed in slick, silvery-gray hair held neatly back by curiously pointed ears.

The man was smiling, but Nanoha felt no warmth from it. It couldn't reach the cold, rage-filled eyes set in his face. As Yuuno raced up her skirt and onto her shoulder, she stepped back fearfully from those monstrous eyes.

The man stared down at the blue Jewel Seed that floated before him, and he cocked his head curiously. After a moment, though, his grin widened imperceptibly.

"So, this is what called me here, away from that spacious world," he said, his voice amicable in tone. He brought a gloved hand up, never touching the Jewel Seed, but it moved with him, raising up to eye level. Fate froze in her stance, eyes narrowing, unsure of what to do. She could feel how tense the air was, and in the corner of her eye, she could see her familiar also freezing up, waiting for an opportunity to strike but unsure if she should take it.

"How interesting," he said. "How very interesting that this tiny little thing can hold so much power…"

He lifted up his other hand, bringing it level with the Jewel Seed, lifting it up into the air. And then, he closed his hands around it, causing everyone's hearts to stop.

Blazing light erupted from his hands, but in an instant he had let go, and not out of fear. He was laughing! His laughter echoed in the city, and as the Jewel Seed's light blazed, they saw more of that alien mist spreading out from it, being sucked into his mouth.

"Stop!" Fate yelled.

"What the hell are you doing!" Arf demanded.

The man ignored them both, focused entirely on the power that he was now devouring.

Nanoha and Fate watched in horror as the Jewel Seed's light began to dim. The suction of that prismatic mist accelerated, disappearing into the man's open mouth.

Arf transformed, going from a fearsome wolf to a beautiful and angry woman with wolf ears and a bushy tail. She launched forward and swung a gloved fist at the interloper.

The light was extinguished and the Jewel Seed was gone. Arf's fist crashed uselessly against a rainbow wall as the man licked his lips and smiled.

"Damn you!" Arf roared, smashing her fists against the barrier over and over. Her gloves exploded, blood from her knuckles splashing and sizzling away against it. "What the hell did you do!

The man turned his gaze upon her, and the familiar froze on the spot. He gestured with his hand, and the barrier suddenly exploded, throwing her back. "All I did was fulfill some of my hunger. I must admit, that little thing was quite satisfying. I'll have to find more."

Incensed, the wolf-woman's eyes narrowed, and she bristled. She launched herself at the man once, howling wordlessly as mana formed over her fist, and she swung for his head. The man closed his eyes, sidestepping her attack effortlessly. Snarling, Arf spun around, energy crackling in her hand as she flung it him. Once more he avoided it within a single step, and brought up an open hand, forming another circular shield of rainbow light to halt her follow-up punch.

"You have such spirit, to wield this curious power of yours with such passion!" he exclaimed, looking delighted. Arf's eyes snapped open at the look in his eyes. "I guess I'll take that power too."

Arf gasped as she felt something within her slip, followed by a jolt of pain. The orange light around her fist dissipated as the interloper opened his mouth again, filled with that horrible prismatic mist. The little ache she felt within her suddenly bloomed, spreading through her and filling her with pain even as her outer extremities felt like they were fading.

She screamed, and his eyes danced in a sadistic light.

He suddenly halted, stepping back as in a split-second, a golden blade cut through the air where he was, only millimeters from his face. The blond-haired girl landed between them as Arf fell back on her rear, gasping and twitching, and she pivoted and swung again, the energy scythe forcing him back further.

The interloper was about to smile again when he looked up, feeling the rush of energy only moments before it would've struck. A barrier materialized once more, catching the pink wave of energy with a thunderous crash. He frowned, not realizing the other girls would've had this power as well. His grin quickly returned as the blast died out, sending the smoke cloud swirling about him.

The redheaded girl had aimed her staff at him, the intense look in her face set in relief by the glow of the wings of light emanating from her weapon. "Who are you?" she demanded. "Why are you after the Jewel Seeds?"

"My name?"

A corona of rainbow light flared around him for the briefest of moments, and green-gray spectacles slowly materialized on his face as he looked straight at Nanoha, still smiling.

"My name is Kyoji Mujo."