[there they were, the two of them situated in the chapel, a big brother and his younger sister. however something was different here, the familiar redhead was that of a child, a much younger version of what others would be used to. she was crying against her brother, clinging to the front of his suit. after she was finished crying battler patted her head, reaching into his pocket and he pulled out a key.]

Are you listening Ange? Take good care of this.

[the key itself was mystical looking, rather large in size and it had a chain with it too, like a necklace. he put the key around her neck, explaining to her that it was her necklace, that she would need to use it to make her own decision.

of course, she didn't have a clue what battler was saying, that he was telling her to take care of this key. he gestured for her to leave with him, and she remembered that earlier he mentioned he would finally tell her everything, so she questioned where they were going, she was certain he was about to tell her everything here and now.]

On that day, on that island.... what happened?

Weren't you about to tell me, onii-chan?

Oh I will. I'll tell you the story and let you listen... However, it might be the kind of thing you can't really feel if you just hear about it from someone else.

....What do you mean...?

What you really want.... isn't to know what happened on that island on that day.

[it was true, she simply wanted to go there, to see everyone. ange muttered that she wanted to go back there, battler smiled and he said he knew that already, which was why he was inviting her back to that day, back to October 4th, 1986. she would go back to see everyone, be with her parents, the cousins, it would be the one place she's ever wanted to go to. she asked battler if she could stay there forever, if after the conference ends if she'd have to leave and go back.]

Not exactly, that decision is yours Ange. You have to decide for yourself.

I don't want to leave. I'll be with everyone forever, I'll stay with my family. Even if you tell me I have to head back.... I'll stay on Rokkenjima.

[battler, with an amused grin, told her that she was free to make whatever choice she desired. however, there was one more thing.]

You don't need to listen to anything I tell you. You're free to decide however you like. .....However, if you're a good kid, and if you can trust your big brother....

...If I can...?

Then believe everything I tell you.

I'll..... believe you.....

[and with that.... the eighth game was destined to begin. the game battler created just for ange.]

Today, you're seeing Rita standing in the middle of a coliseum - it looks like she's gone through with her bid to fight. The place looks spectacular, ancient marble and stone forming an image of a classical Roman structure in a world where Rome never existed. The din of the crowd is deafening, and the announcer is raising everyone's fire even further, the grin on Rita's face only helping his cause. "Well, it just keeps getting better! Now, it's time for the main event! Allow me to introduce... the current and undefeated champion of the coliseum!"

( Oh, what the hell!? What are you doing here? )

"What did I just say, damned knight? I will not bow to your demands just because you say so!" The ground at her feet darkens with a spell circle that seems to suck in light, before everything starts to shake, Rita losing her spell and the crowd starting to panic. She hears... something in the distance, before creatures she's never seen before swoop down toward the arena from on high. The emcee seems to be trying to work it into the act: "What do we have here!? Has someone arrived to steal the spotlight from the stars of the show?"

Flynn stands, all trace of intent gone. "It seems another power has stepped in. We have to get everyone out of here. Please, escape now, and let the Knights take care of-"

"NO!" It comes out as a roar, the spell circle appearing again. "I don't care what happens, I'm the strongest damned mage here, and I'm going to prove it, whatever it takes! Spread Zero!" She knocks one or two of the unknowns out of the sky, but before long she's drowning in Combatmen, along with whatever else came through the gate. "Dammit... there are too many for me to take alone, and who knows how long it'll take Flynn to get back into the city with his backup..." Grasping the duck charm she wears around her neck, unaware she's already being recorded, she shouts to the air, "If any of you can hear me, I need help! I refuse to die here because the damned community wanted to mess with me at the wrong time!" Spells fire off left and right, but she's getting overwhelmed, fast.

((Rita will be using her blastia to review comments while she fights, but anything that isn't urgent will be replied to some time later when she's not neck-deep in trouble.))

Most of you seeing this, as Chrono appears on the screen against the cold background of space through a window, will register that he hasn't looked this angry since he's first appeared on the community. Regardless, he's here, and he's got a bone or three to pick. Throughout his upcoming speech, he's barely keeping the rage down, and failing spectacularly in places.

"Good day, community. I've got a few things on my mind, and if you're all right with it, I think I'm going to vent a little. Fair warning, there are some things in here that aren't pleasant, so if you don't listen to anything else I have to say, I've got one thing I want to touch on after all this - all of this is related to our current crisis, though, so if you don't mind... I have a story to tell. One that's about to shape Terran history, if a lot of things don't go very, very right.

( I want to tell you a story. About an artifact, and a family. And a little girl whose life was torn apart, in the name of dimensional space. )

"The Bureau is about to begin formal combat operations against the Book of Darkness on Unadminstrated World #97. While the terms are a little different, consider this a declaration of war. All available forces or allies are cleared for participation in combat operations, and... we're clear to use the Arc-en-ciel if we need to. We will not let what has happened to so many other worlds happen to this one. To that end, I've got a few declarations." Chrono's tone and vocabulary seem to shift into something more official; as it happens, there's a formal recorder picking this up for formal drafting of orders and documents.

"One. Effective immediately, Admiral Gil Graham is placed under arrest for conspiracy to cause a dimensional dislocation, manipulation of a restricted Lost Logia, the attempted murder of Hayate Yagami, and a number of other charges I will take the time to dig through Bureau regulations for when I don't have a crisis to fix. He will be tried by a military tribunal when time permits me to testify. While I wish I didn't have to do this, his position as my mentor and a close family friend will not save him from justice.

"Two. Effective immediately, the Time-Space Administration Bureau places Hayate Yagami of Unadministrated World #97 under protective custody and watch. We're going to place a permanent station there to enact such watch, until such time as she is able to defend herself. Said watch will be staffed by Bureau personnel to include myself, provisional clerk Fate Testarossa, civilian collaborator Yuuno Scrya, and, at her option, another civilian collaborator I will not name, but who knows very well who she is. A post will be constructed near the Uminari prefecture of Japan, to enact local protection more readily. Myself and my mother, Admiral Lindy Harlaown, are in charge of this watch; questions, concerns, and requests should be directed to either of us." His voice is hard as he moves on, and he's speaking in what can only be described as the tone of a commander leading his men to war.

"Three. The Asura will be returning to Terran space as soon as possible, in the interest of protecting Unadministrated World #97, locally known as Earth, from the known danger presented by the Lost Logia presently known as the Book of Darkness. Combat operations will be conducted as needed to protect the citizens of Earth. Support is being provided to forces participating in operations, and permission is granted for assets outside the Bureau to join combat operations. Operations are expected to conclude upon the destruction, termination, or other cessation of resistance of the Book of Darkness. The Device identified as Durandal has been seized from Admiral Gil Graham, at his request, and will be used in operations according to its design principles. The projected maximum duration of this operation is the end of the locally-observed calendar year. I am personally in charge of this operation; questions, concerns, and requests should be directed to myself, and will be answered as soon as possible, in the order they are received."

Chrono reaches for something offscreen; there's a click and a loud beep. Continuing in a less-severe voice, he adds, "I am doing the best I can to make sure that what happened last time - where I had to turn away help, as much as I wanted it - won't happen this time. If you can make a good-faith promise that you're not going to destroy the planet in the process of helping us save Hayate, you're in. Every resource I can bring together for this, I will have. I have lost too much to this damned book. I will not lose anyone else. If there are questions or concerns, I'll take them now; I've got a lot to do, but you all are the reason so much of this has been possible. I owe all of you a large debt, and if there's anything I can do to help you after this is all over, name it, and I'll see what I can do. In case I don't get to say it later, thank you for everything you've done for us.

"Hayate, if it wasn't clear - we should probably talk soon about what this all means. The rest of you... if you'd like to help, let me know. Thank you for your time." The feed clicks off without further comment.

And as a last thought before he returns to business, locked to Nanoha: "I mentioned you two or three times in there - when you get time, I'd like to discuss our battle plan."