Finale

[lil_tanuki]

It's reached critical... I don't think it will last much longer...

The book has reached critical.

[Hayate turns her head, looking sickly and pale. Her breathing is ragged and shallow and her family is there, trying not to show more emotion.]

I'm sorry I don't think I can hold on everyone... It'll be all right. The device needs magic but if we make sure it won't absorb magic then...

But if we get the book as far away as possible... [She coughed, collapsing onto her back.] I suppose I should send these gifts out.

It's the 23rd. Sorry everyone.

====

The clock is counting down the minutes to the eve of the 24th. Further and further it's going. Hayate is pale, her breathing shallow as the book hovers there, glowing and sucking as much of her power away. It's time... for massive derailment.

Comments

[coolblueiceman]

"No. No, no, no! Hayate, we've come too far...!"

He's not even sure he's going to get a response; either way, he's about as pale as she is, and he starts to bark orders to the bridge around him. "We're almost back to Earth... Amy, redline the engines! We're going in hot! Everyone, battle stations! I'll brief you on the way!" Punching a button, an alarm began to blare across the ship, and Chrono's face was set in a grim expression.

"Hayate... hold on just a little longer..."

[lil_tanuki]

"Chrono...?" Oh what's that voice? It was him wasn't it. Why... she felt so sleepy all of a sudden as she struggled to remain aware.

"I'll... try..."

[coolblueiceman]

"It'll be all right. We're coming, Hayate."

He slams a fist into the bridge's wall in frustration; raising his voice and muting the feed, he keeps shouting orders. It's hard, knowing someone he considers a friend is literally slipping away from him, and no matter how fast he pushes his crew, that fact won't change. The most he could do was hope that they'd make it in time.

[lil_tanuki]

Hayate is doing her best to hang on, coughing and trying to keep it together. There's little she can do right now and her head was pounding, as she tried to listen to everyone who was calling her name.

[alldevouringabomination]

[OH CRAP.

Kirby has seen too many things go down to not realize what this means. He immediately gets on his Warp Star (with a bag of objects still on it) and immediately tears off towards Castle Dedede.

Time to hit the books.]

[lil_tanuki]

[While this is going on, Hayate is whimpering, her body feeling like it'll give out at any moment. She's feeling awful, and her cheeks were flushed and her skin clammy.]

[alldevouringabomination]

[It's not before Kirby gets there, and witnesses Hayate's state.]

Aaaaauuu!

[He'd give you a Maxim Tomato if he thought it'd help. :(]

[lil_tanuki]

[Turning her head, Hayate smiled at him as she reached over and patted his head.] Hi there...! Thanks for coming by.

[alldevouringabomination]

Ooo.

[You're welcome - I mean, Kirby's worried about you!

All he can offer right now is his company.]

[lil_tanuki]

It's okay, I'm ready for this really.

[alldevouringabomination]

[Kirby hopes you're right. This is gonna be a doozy.]

[pinkbefriendingbeam]

Hayate-chan!?

[lil_tanuki]

Nanoha-chan.... sorry... I think I'm getting closer now... can you come over?

[pinkbefriendingbeam]

Yeah. I... I'll be right there.

[ She doesn't know if she's going to be able to keep herself from trying to murder that stupid book, but well, she'll definitely be there for her friend. ]

[lil_tanuki]

Thank you.

[Leaning back on her bed, she looked up at her hands. Why did they seem so small and frail now? Why? She was never scared of dying alone anymore, not since the Desertrian incident and yet...]

[pinkbefriendingbeam]

[ It takes Nanoha what feels like forever, but eventually she makes it to Hayate's hospital room.

And doesn't even say a word as she fights the urge to fling herself over to the bed, instead moving closer to the other girl and wrapping her arms around her in a hug. ]

[lil_tanuki]

[Wow it's getting crowded in the room. And yet Hayate rests her hand on Nanoha's shoulder and pulls herself into a hug with her.]

I'm sorry... but I can barely hold on. It hurts so much...

[pinkbefriendingbeam]

It's... it's not your fault, Hayate-chan. You... it's not like you asked for the book or anything like that.

[ And even if she did, it still wouldn't be her fault anyway. ]

[lil_tanuki]

I know... It's just scary. Here I am, at the end of my rope. I can feel its grip on me. I don't know what to do anymore...

[She hugged Nanoha tighter, tears leaking from her eyes.]

[pinkbefriendingbeam]

I... Hayate-chan. Just... don't give up. There should still be time. We can figure something out!

[lil_tanuki]

Okay... I'll hold on for as long as I can... [More hugs sounded good right now, even if she could feel the book pulling on her chest, even deeper than that.]

[pinkbefriendingbeam]

[ Nanoha doesn't say anything else. She knows that she needs to be strong for Hayate, but really, all she wants to do now is break down crying.

She hopes that Yuno, Chrono, or someone on this community can figure out something to save her friend in the next few seconds that won't destroy the world but... that would be some sort of miracle, wouldn't it? ]

[lil_tanuki]

[It would be. It just all started with a small wish after all. Hayate hugged her back, sniffling as she did so. It felt really like everything was going wrong.]

karen will now be concise

[oceanicbutterfly]

HAYATE?!

Re: karen will now be concise

[lil_tanuki]

Karen-nee... I'm sorry it's... the book is taking everything now. I don't know how long I'm going to last...

Can you come and see me?

[oceanicbutterfly]

I'm on my way.

[She already was. Think, think. What would Nozomi say at a time like this?]

You're going to be fine. I don't know how yet, but it'll work out somehow. I won't accept any other outcome.

[That was... perhaps a bit too Nozomi-like, actually.]

[lil_tanuki]

Okay. I'll hold on for you of course.

[She wanted to be okay, she really wanted it so much. And yet this was scaring her.]

[oceanicbutterfly]

[And witness the rare Karen tacklehugcling.]

[lil_tanuki]

[Oof! And Hayate oofs as she hugs Karen. Was she this small of a girl? She looked so frail now.] Karen-nee...

[oceanicbutterfly]

[All the more reason to hold on tight.]

Hayate-chan. It's always so good to see you.

[lil_tanuki]

It's the same for me I... [Karen was the first person she encountered and bonded with. Her love for her was definitely strong and with that, Hayate started to cry into her shoulder.]

Karen-neeeeee!

[oceanicbutterfly]

Shhh. It's all right.

[It's not all right at all, but Karen doesn't want to cry. She's supposed to be the one everyone else can rely on, right?]

[lil_tanuki]

I... I just wish everyone will be happy. I want everyone to be happy I just... [More nuzzling into her shoulder.]