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

[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.]