Chapter 8: Nightmare???

Fire was burning all around. A maddened roar of laughter, accompany the crackling roars of the flames.

"Finally, Finally, I could finally make my dream come true. Hahahaha!!!"

"N..Nan...Nano..ha..Ru...run..a..way.."

"Na..chan..e..es..esca..pe.."

"Na..chan..do..don..don't..look...back.."

"Na...no..ha..live strong..."

Nanoha screamed awake.

"Mother! Father! Miyuki nee! Kyoya nii!"

Nanoha screamed while tears were running down her face. Her hands were outstretch as if reaching for something.

"Nanoha! What's wrong? Nanoha!" Zero worriedly asked while pawing at Nanoha's lap.

It took a couple more minutes before Nanoha calmed down.Nanoha curled herself into a ball and sniffling sounds soon followed.

"It's that dream again. I thought it would have stopped already." Zero worriedly growled.

"Nanoha, we must continue and retrieve them quicker that is the only way to make this all stop. Nanoha I promise that I'll find them all soon. Please keep holding strong."

A while later and the sniffling and sobbing stopped. An arm reached forward to grab Zero to pull him closer to Nanoha.

"Zero-kun, I'm sorry for being so useless. I know I should act strongly but just having memories of them makes my heartache and I can't stop myself from crying. If only I never meet those people. Would all of this have been a bad dream instead?" Nanoha tearfully stated.

"I know that I should hold strong but it aches so much and I feel so choke up. If I don't cry I feel like I'm about to suffocate to death.It's all my fault that it happened and I can't forgive myself for it."

"Stop blaming yourself. Even your parents and siblings knew better. I think they would be sad if they knew what your doing to yourself. They would want you to remember the better times with them not this nightmare you keep on repeating each time." Zero angrily scolded.

"How could it have been your fault in the first place? You were but a child back then. Indeed it was a tragedy but that does not mean you will have to keep suffering for it. How could you have known what those people were thinking? You weren't even suppose to know such cruelty."

"They were the demons and not you. You were suppose to lead a normal life but because of that stupid prophesy you were destined to experience such horrendous cruelty and fate."

"You were but a mere child. How could you have known?" Zero angrily growled.

"Zero-kun..I."

"Stop thinking about this. You have to rest for tomorrow. I will not be with you because I have to look for those missing fragments. The quicker we find it the sooner you can move on. It is our only way now."

Nanoha only nodded. She uncurled herself before closing her eyes again. It was a restless night for her.

"Don't worry Nanoha. The last two fragments are all that remained to be found. As soon as they are found, I'm sure that everything will finally be clear and you won't have to suffer such cruel reminder anymore." Zero solemnly.

They both woke up the next day listlessly. Especially Nanoha, she has a haunted look in her eyes.

"Cheer up Nanoha. You wouldn't like to show this crude face to your new friends now do you? Or do you wanna skip school today?" Zero worriedly asked.

Nanoha took some deep breaths and composed herself. Slapping her cheeks slightly to wake herself up more.

"No I have to be brave. I can't always be like this anymore for both our sakes. I have to find my courage again. I should start moving forward this isn't like me."

"I completely support you on that. So go get ready because you'll be late if you don't start preparing now."

It was then that Nanoha look at her alarm clock and realize that it was almost 6:30 am.

Nanoha rushed on her morning routines and quickly went to school barely making it on time.

Nanoha has just sat down when the classroom door suddenly opened. A navy blue haired girl entered followed by a brunette girl and stood at the podium.

"Sorry for the inconvenience. I am Kuga Natsuki, Head of Disciplinary Act of the Highschool division and this is Shizuru Fujino. We are here because we receive a report stating that for the pass two days acts of bullying have been happening and that said victim of such act is in this class. We would like to invite the victim to the student council this afternoon for a discussion regarding this matter. I hope that the victim will accept our invitation and that they will not be burdened or pressured by others to keep silent from such treatment. It is also for the betterment of our prestigious academy that such act must be quickly corrected. Thank you for your cooperation."

"Ara, Natsuki have you forgotten the other matter that needs to be announced."

"Oh, Thank you for reminding me Shizuru. I would also like to announce to everyone that a very honored guests will be visiting us next week and thus I would like to inform you guys that discipline will be highly observe for the coming days in preparation for the guests arrival. It is also why such acts like bullying and other disruptive behaviour are going to be strictly punish when caught or reported. That it all. If needed be, please refer to the school official website for more info."

"Ara, Natsuki always so strict and stiff. Our schoolmate will surely be intimidated by you."

Natsuki then placed her hand on her forehead and sigh while muttering.

"Shut up, Shizuru. Going to this classes is stressful enough. I still need to capture stupid students that doesn't seems to know what the handbook we gave them at the assembly is for. I still need to capture that stupid Nao to make her work properly too." Natsuki then sigh again.

"In the first place I told you to not give that brat authority and look what she's been doing with it. Man! such a pain in the butt."

Shizuru giggled.

"Mah mah, atleast she does her work most of the time and efficently too."

The two of them left afterwards.

Nanoha slowly lowered her head. Thinking if she should go to the student council afterward.

"Nanoha. Are you thinking of going? Those two seems reliable enough. I think you should report atleast with this those stupid brats will stay away from you for awhile. Since you seem to ignore such provocations anyway why not let them help you. I'll also have peace of mind afterwards."

"Okay, Zero-kun. We'll go after class."