New York City, Planet Earth…
After lunch, Noah and Nanoha strolled through the city like curious tourists. Nanoha clung to Noah's arm as they walked, clearly making her claim known. A simple, unmistakable declaration to the other women—those who had been eyeing him like hungry hyenas, waiting for even the smallest opening.
Noah, on the other hand, didn't mind her actions at all. In fact, he welcomed it. When he noticed other men glancing at Nanoha's way, attracted by her gentle beauty and innocent charm, he simply sent them a polite smile. One that carried just enough pressure to make them reconsider their life choices. He'd already lost count of how many he sent away.
"So, Noah," Nanoha asked, tilting her head up at him, "do you have any idea where we'll go to gather information about the other stones?"
"Hmm… to be honest, I don't," Noah replied.
"Ehh…?" For a brief moment, Nanoha's smile wavered.
"Well," Noah added lightly, "I'm just happy being able to go on a date with you, Non."
"M-mou…! J-just what are you saying?!" Nanoha blushed and rubbed her cheek against his arm, a bright smile blooming across her face.
Their flirting didn't go unnoticed. The people around them—those who had been considering their chances with either of the two—felt like they'd been punched straight in the gut by the sheer amount of sweetness on display.
"Tsk… stupid couple."
"…How nice."
"I want someone to say that to me too…"
"…I miss my wife."
"Lucky bastard…"
"Riaju, explode!"
The murmurs followed them down the street. Noah ignored them completely. Nanoha, still lost in her own world, never noticed at all.
[…You do remember that both of you are still on a mission, right?] Chrono Harlaown's exasperated voice came through the communication earpiece hidden in Noah and Nanoha's ears.
[Ehh? I think it's fine, though. It's really sweet!] Amy Harlaown, Chrono's wife and assistant, chimed in immediately, sounding far too pleased with herself.
[…Noah, I think you have a death wish.] Yuuno Scrya's tired voice followed. [You do realize there are still four powerful women here with us, right?]
[Noah… aren't you enjoying your time with Nonon a little too much?] Lumine's flat voice cut in.
[Nonon! You are clinging way too close?! This is a clear violation of the Noah-Flirting Pact!] Sirin shouted.
[Sii is right, Nanoha-chan!] Hayate Yagami added loudly. [You're making me jealous—EHEM! You are currently on a mission! Please focus!]
[…I still think that as an Enforcer of the Bureau, I'm the one best suited for investigation missions.] Fate Testarossa Harlaown muttered, pouting audibly.
"Hahaha…" Noah let out a weary laugh, a bead of cold sweat forming as the voices of Lumine, Sirin, Hayate, and Fate overlapped.
"Hm? What are you all saying, Lumi, Sii, Hayate-chan, Fate-chan?" Nanoha replied smugly, finally snapping out of her own world. "This is just the result of a fair battle between us, right? Didn't we all agree on that?"
[Kuuu…!] A collective groan came from the other four.
—-
Let's set aside the rom-com shenanigans for a moment. As amusing as they are, Noah and the others are, like they said, was in fact, on a mission to gather information on the remaining Infinity Stones.
To understand how things reached this point, it would help to rewind time for a bit, back to Noah's meeting with Taneleer Tivan. After the battle, the Collector gave up his ownership of the Orb, stating, rather bluntly, that it would be far safer in Noah's hands than his own.
Noah deadpanned in response, remarking that Taneleer was simply passing the incoming headache to him. The Collector only smirked, offering no denial. With a sigh, Noah accepted the Orb anyway. As further compensation for saving the Museum, Taneleer provided him with the exact coordinates of the planet Coruscant.
Realizing that Coruscant was only a few jumps away, Noah decided it would be wise to learn as much as possible about the other stones. Knowing their locations, even roughly, would at least give him peace of mind and confidence that if someone attempted to misuse them on a universal scale, he could respond immediately.
Afterward, Noah, Lumine, and Sirin went to Midchilda to drop off Yuuno, who wished to report everything he had learned to his organization: the Time-Space Administration Bureau, more commonly known as the TSAB or the Bureau.
That decision marked the true beginning of everything that followed. When Noah and his group formally met the TSAB higher-ups, his presence alone changed the tone of the room. To them, a living Jedi was not merely a legend, but something bordering on myth. As a result, they placed immense trust in his words, almost to a fault.
That was how he met Chrono Harlaown, newly promoted as an Admiral of the Sailing Force, the TSAB branch responsible for trans-dimensional expeditions, and Hayate Yagami, who had just taken up the role of Commander of the ground forces.
Noah and Hayate almost immediately got along with each other…. Maybe even too well, as their easy banter quickly slipped into light flirting… which promptly earned Noah a sharp pinch from both Lumine and Sirin.
As the meeting went on, the TSAB treated the matter of the Infinity Stones with utmost seriousness, officially flagging it as urgent and a top priority. A special task force was formed soon after.
Chrono was appointed as the overseer of the mission and would be directly joining Noah and his team to gather information on the stones. He accepted without hesitation, requesting that the TSAB's most elite mages, the 'Aces', be assigned as well.
Hayate, sitting beside Noah at the meeting, raised an eyebrow at Chrono's request. She was, after all, one of those very Aces. Under Chrono's command, she was appointed as his executive officer, and together they formally assembled the team by bringing in the remaining two Aces: Nanoha Takamachi, who is currently a captain of the Air Force and combat instructor. And finally, Fate Testarossa Harlaown, Chrono's sister and also a top Enforcer of TSAB.
Chrono also insisted on including Yuuno, whose expertise in sealing techniques, barrier magic, and archaeology would be invaluable. In addition, Hayate's family, the Wolkenritter, along with several other outstanding mages, were called in to support the operation.
Once the team was assembled, they gathered aboard Noah's Hyperion to discuss their plans. That meeting was what led to the current situation, one that began the moment AI-chan appeared before Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate.
Like when Noah and the others had first discovered Hyperion, AI-chan also showed an uncanny fondness for the trio, as if she had known them for a long time. Watching AI-chan smolder the three with affection, something finally clicked for Noah. It was the same reason he'd felt himself naturally drawn to Hayate during the meeting… and to Nanoha and Fate the moment they met. Perhaps, as Void Archives once told him, they might be part of the Twelve Keys.
While the three were distracted by AI-chan's enthusiasm, Noah turned to Lumine and Sirin, asking what they thought. They understood immediately why he was asking. They, too, had felt it—a strange sense of familiarity with Hayate, Nanoha, and Fate, despite meeting them for the first time. It was as if they'd known each other far longer than made sense.
After that, Noah asked the three of them directly what they had felt when they first stepped onto Hyperion. Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate exchanged glances before turning back to him.
"…Would it be strange if I said I feel like I've lived on this ship before?" Nanoha asked his a stiff smile.
"Same here," Fate said, her expression tense. "I feel like if I walk straight down that corridor, I'll reach the elevator going to the bridge, and behind that is the armory."
"…Oh god… so it's not just me," Hayate muttered, holding her head. She looked up at Noah, Sirin, and Lumine. "This is honestly scary, but… just like them, I feel like there's a lever near the captain's seat. A small control panel where we will inject our spells to use Hyperion's main cannon to fire the same spell."
"Hayate-chan…" Fate swallowed hard. "I can even imagine Nanoha-chan shouting Starlight Breaker as she wipes out entire legions in a single shot."
"…Is it bad that, as the person involved, I actually feel the urge to do exactly that?" Nanoha admitted, her smile strained.
Chrono and the others exchanged confused looks, clearly thrown off by the reactions of the Aces and Noah's group. Seeing no way around it, Noah explained the origin of Hyperion and AI-chan, along with the interference of Future Kiana in the past, which for them was the present timeline. That was when Void Archives appeared, filling in the rest: the Aces' role in their lives, and the importance of the TSAB to the Astral Express.
[Miss Nanoha, Miss Fate, and Miss Hayate are the surrogate mothers of Captain's daughter, the Princess of Trailblaze, Vivio Takamachi Alden.] Void Archives stated. [The TSAB, meanwhile, is our key ally during the height of the Aeon War and the battle against the END.]
"Wait—WAIT!!" Hayate burst in, cutting straight through the explanation. "Mothers?! Daughter?! With Noah-kun?! Then why does the child only have TAKAMACHI in her name?!"
Nanoha, still reeling from the revelation, snapped out of her daze. "T-that's right! If the three of us are her m-mothers, why does she only have my surname along with Noah-kun?!"
[Because it was Miss Nanoha who was together with the Captain at that time when he first found our princess.] Void Archives replied evenly. [The princess grew attached to you first and remained with you most often, since Captain and the rest of the Express crew were usually on the frontlines fighting the END's entropy forces.]
"And then?! AND THEN?!?!" Hayate leaned in, grabbing Void Archives with both hands.
"Hm! Hm!" Fate joined her, leaning forward as well, eyes locked on the floating golden cube.
[…At first, Miss Fate served as the princess's godmother, while Miss Hayate was her magical instructor for Belkan magics.] Void Archives continued. [Later, as your bond with the princess deepened, she began calling each of you 'Mama.']
"Kyaaa~!" Hayate let out a small, embarrassed squeal.
Beside her, Fate held her blushing cheeks. "…I-I see…"
"VA, does Vivio-chan see us as her mother as well?" Lumine asked, her tone suddenly serious.
"Lumi?!" Noah turned toward her in shock.
"Quiet, Noah. This is VERY important," Sirin added, matching Lumine's seriousness.
"Even you, Sii?!" Noah protested.
[…As Captain's partners and wives, of course, the princess considers all of you her mothers.] Void Archives replied, his voice noticeably weary.
"Then we're fine," Lumine said simply.
"Hmm." Sirin nodded in agreement. "No 'war' needed to be declared."
"WHAT?!" Noah asked in horror.
"…This situation is so confusing," Chrono muttered, pressing a hand to his temple.
"Thank you for saying what all of us are thinking," Yuuno replied, his voice tired.
Even the Wolkenritter—Hayate's family—were left visibly stunned by what they were hearing.
"I never expected to hear something like this in my long life," Shamal said, still in disbelief.
Signum and Zafira both nodded in silent agreement.
"…I joke about Hayate being single all the time," Vita added after a beat, "but I really didn't expect to eat my words like this."
"To be honest, I think it's very romantic," Amy Harlaown said cheerfully. "It feels like they were fated to meet."
Chrono glanced at his wife, then let out a long sigh. "Alright. Let's ignore this for now and go back to what we actually came here for."
"Thank you!!" Noah said, grateful to Chrono's timely lifeline.
"Since we apparently have an Intelligent Device… from the future," Chrono continued, ignoring Noah's worship-like stare as he turned to Void Archives, "can you tell us what you know about the Infinity Stones?"
[Please, Admiral Harlaown. As a Divine Key who accompanied the Captain through galactic wars, I find it insulting to be compared to a mere Intelligent Device.] Void Archives protested. [At the very least, treat me on the same level as a Lost Logia. That is what you called me in the previous timeline.]
Chrono blinked, then stared blankly at the complaining artifact. Beside him, Yuuno snorts, earning an immediate glare in return.
[Unfortunately, I do not possess any additional information on the Infinity Stones beyond what you already know,] Void Archives explained. [In the previous timeline, our efforts were focused almost entirely on preventing civilizations from being wiped out—either by clashes between Aeons or by the forces of the END.]
"…I see," Noah said, crossing his arms. He is already thinking about asking for help from the Geniuses like Herta or Screwllum.
"Then, VA-san," Reinforce Zwei, Hayate's Unison Device, asked carefully, "do you at least know someone who could help us obtain more information about the stones?"
[I do.] Void Archives replied without hesitation.
"Ehh—you do?!" Noah blurted out.
"Who is it?" Lumine asked immediately.
[The Kaleidoscope. The Wizard Marshal himself—Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg.] Void Archives said plainly.
At the sound of that name, Noah, Lumine, and Sirin all winced. None of them had forgotten Zelretch's previous prank when he had casually hijacked the Inteyvat network and linked it to Noah's homeworld. Noah was grateful to him, yes, for giving him a chance to be reunited with Masha, Sylvia, his family, and friends… but that didn't stop a sense of caution from creeping in.
"…Alright. Hypothetically," Noah said slowly, "let's say I agree to asking him for help. Do you even know how we'd contact him?"
But before Void Archives could even reply, a flash of kaleidoscopic light burst into the room. A single piece of paper fell in front of Noah, which he caught instinctively.
He read the contents and blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then his expression went flat before becoming completely lifeless.
His eyes and expression died.
"Noah?" Lumine gently tapped his shoulder.
"Ehh? Noah-kun? Darling? Dear? Husband?" Hayate boldly leaned forward, waving her hand directly in front of his face. "Are you okay?"
Seeing his complete lack of response, the five girls exchanged worried looks. Nearby, Chrono and the others look at each of them, utterly confused about what was happening.
"Shamal! Hurry and check my husband!" Hayate shouted. "I don't want to become a widow right after I meet my hubby!"
Hayate's Knight of the Lake, the Healing Hand of the Wind, approached with a wry smile and began her diagnostics. Then… she froze.
"Ah… he stopped breathing…?"
Lumine, Sirin, Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate blinked.
A second later.
"WHAT?!"
Shamal immediately cast healing magic on Noah and began pressing against his chest, trying to get him to breathe again.
"W-what should we do?!" Fate cried.
"F-Fate-chan, l-let's calm down first!" Nanoha said desperately.
"NOOO! WE JUST MET! DON'T LEAVE ME!" Hayate wailed.
"L-Lumi! Wh-what just happened?!" Sirin panicked.
"F-first, let's see what Noah just read!" Lumine said quickly. She snatched the paper from his hand, and together the five of them leaned in to read its contents.
[Dear Noah, my favorite Trailblazer,
Congratulations on finding all of your twelve wives! And this time, you managed it peacefully and with far less bloodshed than in the previous timeline. You even manage to pick up that shaman priestess and that genius witch as a bonus! Now all that's left is to make things official with that loli principal, after all, a Captain without a Theresa is no Captain at all!… and while you're at it, feel free to kick Otto out of his seat and take over Schicksal. Ahahaha!
Oh, right! About your current predicament. Visit the planet at these coordinates. You'll find three of the stones there. What happens next is up to you. Trust your instincts. Believe in the spirit of Trailblaze!
And most of all… entertain me more.
Your ever-supporter,
Zelretch.]
And with that, just like Noah, the five of them died from the inside.
—--
Now back in the present, using the coordinates Zelretch had provided, Noah led both the Hyperion and the TSAB ship Arthra to the designated planet to investigate the three stones Zelretch had hinted at.
Although the civilization living on the planet was fairly advanced, they had yet to leave their home planet and begin fully colonizing their star system. Still, both Noah and Chrono chose to proceed carefully. They decide to station both ships on the far side of the planet's moon, hiding them from the planet's observation systems.
[…I'm never playing Rock-Paper-Scissors with you again, Nanoha-chan.] Hayate grumbled, teeth clenched. The other three agreed.
[There, there, Hayate-chan. It's okay. You'll get your chance next time.] Reinforce Zwei said gently, trying to console her.
[I agree with Hayate-chan… You're really strong at luck-based games, Nanoha-chan.] Fate added, clearly sulking.
[…Why does it feel like Nonon's position is on the same level as Kii's? Is it because she's the first mother of our child?] Lumine muttered, pouting.
[Kuuh! If we'd settled this with a magical duel instead of Rock-Paper-Scissors, it would've been me beside Noah—not Nonon!] Sirin complained loudly.
"Hm? I don't think it would've made much difference," Nanoha said smugly, pressing herself closer to Noah's arm. "If we'd used a magical duel to decide who'd be with Noah to handle the first contact, I don't think I would've lost to any of you."
[Heh… both of you got some nerve saying that, Nanoha-chan, Sii. But don't get too confident. I don't think I'd lose either.] Hayate replied proudly.
[Same here.] Fate nodded. [I'm confident in my own strength. I can match any of you in a fight.]
[Sii… just because you rank higher than me in the crew's power ranking doesn't mean you're actually stronger.] Lumine shot back sharply.
Seeing the five powerful women on the verge of going to war with each other, Chrono let out a deep sigh.
[Haa… let's get back to the topic. Noah, what's your plan for getting any information about the stones?]
"Well, ever since we arrived on this planet, I've been using the Force to try and get a sense of the stones' location," Noah replied immediately, grateful for Chrono stepping in. "Unfortunately, I haven't been able to detect anything. Most likely, the stones are sealed inside some kind of containment vessel, like how the Reality Stone was hidden inside the Orb, hiding its presence."
[I see… so we're basically blind for now.] Chrono crossed his arms, already thinking about how to break the deadlock.
As the conversation turned serious, the five girls reluctantly set aside their rivalry and listened as Chrono and Noah continued.
"Well," Noah added, "even if I couldn't locate the stones directly, I did sense someone who might be able to help us."
[....So that's the reason you took Takamachi out for that stroll in the city, huh.] Chrono said. [You are waiting for them to approach you.]
"You truly are worthy of being TSAB's Admiral," Noah replied with a wry smile. "You're right on that. Since earlier, while Non and I were on our date, I had been lightly spreading the Force along with my own Imaginary energy across the city."
"Eh?! Really? I thought you were just doing that to scare off those people who kept trying to approach us?" Nanoha asked, genuinely surprised.
"That's part of it, my dear Non," Noah replied with a smirk. "I wanted them to understand that no matter what they do, they won't be able to take you from me. At the same time, I was also baiting people who tend to know a little too much about most things."
"Geez, Noah… just what are you doing?" Nanoha huffed, though her cheeks were faintly pink and her smile was unmistakably bright. "Making it sound like someone could actually take me away from you~."
It was clear she only heard the romantic half of his explanation and filtered out the rest.
[…]
A heavy, ominous silence settled over the communication line.
'This guy… how can he flirt while casually baiting people?!' Chrono thought, his cheek twitching.
"And judging by this," Noah added with a smirk, his eyes looking directly at their front, "it looks like my efforts paid off."
Nanoha followed his gaze and spotted three figures in monk-like robes approaching them. They met halfway, and the chubby older man at the center stepped forward.
"Greetings, travelers. My name is Wong, a sorcerer of the Masters of the Mystic Arts," he said, bowing his head slightly in greeting.
"Hello, Mr. Wong. I am Noah, a Nameless of the Astral Express," Noah replied with equal respect, extending his hand.
Nanoha released her hold on Noah's arm before stepping forward. "And I'm Takamachi Nanoha, a mage of the Time-Space Administration Bureau. It's nice to meet you."
Wong accepted Noah's handshake and nodded politely to Nanoha. "I hope our world has not been… disappointing to you."
"Ahaha, not at all," Noah said with an easy smile. "As a Nameless who walks the Path of Trailblaze and has visited many worlds, I can honestly say this one is still full of wonders I'd love to see."
"Noah's right," Nanoha added warmly. "My home planet is actually very similar to this world, so being here feels strangely at home."
Wong's expression softened, and he gave them a small, appreciative smile. "Then please, follow me. Our master—the Ancient One—is already expecting you."
With a nod, Noah and Nanoha followed Wong and the two accompanying sorcerers toward the Sanctum. At last, their mission was finally moving forward.
======