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Chapter 12: The Twins Reunited

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Chapter 12: The Twins Reunited.

A few days later, Ami awakens in a warm cabin. A golden retriever lays next to the bed in which she is in. She stares across the room at a very well built man with a long beard. He is tending to the fireplace, making sure it is warm enough inside. The dog starts to bark lightly at Ami, realizing that she is awake, the man turns his head and stares at Ami.

“Ah! You are awake. Glad to see that I wasn't too late.” The man brings over a cup of warm Pine Tea for Ami.

“Where... Wait! Where is my sister?!” Ami starts to panic, but the man calms her down, at least for a moment.

“Ah.. I thought you two might have been twins.. Don't worry about her, she is sleeping in my guest room right now. She has a very nasty wound.. I'm surprised she is even breathing.”

“How is she?! Is she alright?!”

“She is stable at least. My knowledge of herbal treatments is keeping the wound from getting infected. However I'll have to travel into town with her.. to get her-”

“She can't leave. She is far... too weak to endure the harsh cold... I was on my way to Snowmelt when.. our wagon broke down.” Ami fibs a little, but the vast majority of her story is true. “She needs urgent treatment.. I... I don't know what to do...”

“Hmm...” The man peeks into the room where Mami is sleeping. Occasionally she moans from pain. “I could go into town, but I'll be a few days. The blizzard isn't bad, but it will slow me down for sure.”

“Please... I... I failed her... I don't want her to die!”

“...” The man looks at Ami, who is tearing up. She puts both of her hands on her face as she cries, unable to determine what she needs to do. “C'mon boy!”

[Woof?] The dog follows the man as he puts on his heavy winter gear.

“Huh..?” Ami looks up at the man as he was about to exit the cabin. “What are you..?”

“I'm going to town to get a doctor. I'll inform him exactly what that girl needs and what her situation is. I want you to keep an eye on her while I'm gone.” The man explains to Ami, as she wipes away her tears. Her sadness turns to joy at the man's kindness.

“T-thank you...”

“Mm. It is our duty to look after each other out here. Feel free to eat something if you are hungry, I'll be picking up some extras on my way back with the doctor. Hopefully the blizzard will be over by then so we can make it back quickly.”

[Woof! Woof.] The dog turns around, walking up to Ami and sitting in front of her. He seems to want to stay with her.

“Haha! He has just only met you and wants to stay. Well, I'm off. I'll be back in probably three to four days. Hopefully sooner.” The man exits the cabin, the quick gust of cold air chills Ami to the bone. It quickly dissipates as Ami peeks into Mami's room.

[Woof!] The dog walks into Mami's room and stares at Ami when he gets to the bed. Ami walks up to the bed and looks down at Mami, her face tightens up every so often.

“... I think the war... is over for us... Don't you think so too?” Ami grabs Mami's right hand as she speaks to her. “I don't know how long it will take... for you to recover... Your friends must be worried about you...”

[Whine] The dog seems to sense Ami's emotions and puts his paws onto the bed. Ami glances over her right shoulder at him, he probably isn't even a year old, yet is incredibly intelligent and obedient. Ami pets his head and he lays down in front of the bed.

“... With us out of the war.. I guess its up to everyone else and the Blue army... to stop their advance. At least now.. they can't abuse me to gain territory.... Nor can they harm us anymore...” Ami pets Mami's forehead as her face tightens once again. “Where is that serum...? Ah!” Amazingly the vial that had the new serum was undamaged in her fall. She raises the covers and using what knowledge of first aid she has, changes Mami's bandaging and applies another dose onto the wound.

The effects are definitely showing. Mami's blood loss is slowing down, combining the serum with pure pressure applied by the bandaging and the herbal treatments the kind man did for her. She realized she didn't even ask him for his name.

“There... that should do it for now... until he gets back... All I can do... is delay the inevitable...” Ami rubs Mami's forehead and puts the covers back over her to keep her warm. She exits the room and closes the door. The dog remains nested next to the bed, by Mami's side.



As the days turn to nights the blizzard still continues on, but it is starting to ease up. Ami sits in front of the fire one night with the dog by her side. Behind her the door suddenly opens and as she turns around she sees that the man has returned, with a doctor. Her face is filled with happiness as the man approaches her after directing the doctor to Mami's room. The man presents Ami with multiple things; two sets winter gear, which is a heavy coat with fur lining, boots with fur lining and gloves; two sets of casual clothing to wear besides their armor; and a hatchet.

The last piece intrigied Ami, as she wasn't sure why she received such an item. The man explains to her that while he would love to let them stay, it would be best that they went to his back-up cabin a little further West. The back-up cabin was a little smaller, but it was perfect for two people.

“I'll teach you the ways of living in this harsh wilderness so you may survive. At least you and your sister can leave. This hatchet will be all you will need to bring to the cabin itself. Everything else is stored there, a stove, a small stockpile of firewood and the like.”

“.. I understand. I'll do what ever it takes...” Ami gladly takes the hatchet and holds it in her right hand.

“.. Such a determined little girl... she couldn't be older than 14 yet she is... Hmph.” The man mutters to himself. “Well, I'm going to go with the doctor. You just wait here, okay?”

“..Alright...” Ami sulks. However she understands that it might be best that she doesn't see Mami right now. The man pats her on the head and smiles just before he leaves. “Ah.. wait! Before you go... what is your name? I.. forgot to ask... last time you were here...”

“Alwyn Stealey. Pleased to meet you...?”

“Ami... Ami Futami. My sister's name is Mami Futami.”

“Hmhm, such wonderful names. Fits for being twins. Now that the introductions are out of the way.. I must see to your sister that she gets a swift recovery.” The door opens and he enters, closing it behind him. The dog walks up to the door and sits there for a few moments. Turning around he returns to the rug in front of the fire and lays there. Ami can only hope and pray, as she patiently waits for that door to open once again.


“Hmm... This wound is pretty severe.” The doctor checks her heartbeat and lifts the covers.

“It as I told you. I'm surprised she is still alive... The girl in the other room, Ami, must of really took care of her sister to keep her from dying.”

“Agreed. She definitely doesn't seem to have nerve damage, as she can feel pain.” The doctor notices instantly, as Mami's expression tightens for a brief moment as he lifted the covers. “I brought multiple blood types with me, just to be sure. Lets get to work..”

“What do you make of her armor? It isn't something I've seen before...” The man curiously asks, as doctors and nurses alike see many, many patients.

“It isn't any design I've seen before. I can tell you this though, it definitely isn't of Red nor Blue. Probably a personal design, as both this girl and uh.. Ami right? Both of them have this armor design. Although to be honest, I'm not worried about that. I'm more worried about saving this poor girl's life.” The doctor opens one of the bags he brought with him and puts large bottles of blood onto the desk with labels telling which one holds what type.

The doctor and the mountaineer work well into the night, tending to Mami's wound as best they can. After determining her blood type, B, it was much easier to treat her. Using specific medicines that work the best with the B blood type. Upon completely stopping the bleeding, and making sure none of her vital organs were severely damaged, the doctor stitches up the wound on both sides. He takes clean bandaging and wraps it around Mami's core. He puts the covers back over her and packs up his materials.

“I thank you for coming out here and such short notice.”

“Don't worry about it. I have to tend to those in need. Besides... there is something about this one... that seems.. different.”

“Hmm?”

“Ah.. don't mind me. Just me rambling on.” The doctor glances over at Mami before he leaves the room with Alwyn. “... She has some.. crazy healing speed... Even before I arrived here, she was already healing. I wonder...” The doctor mutters to himself as the door opens and he takes a step out into the living room. Ami is sleeping in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. Alwyn places a blanket over her and escorts the doctor back to Snowmelt.



Over the next few days, Alwyn teaches Ami the basics of surviving in the wilderness. Gathering firewood, foraging for what little wild edibles there are, and most importantly taking care of yourself. After showing Ami the cabin just about two miles to the West, she picks up on the teachings fairly quickly. So fast in fact, that she moves Mami into the new cabin on her own only four days after her treatment. She still hasn't awoken from her coma, but Ami feels that it is only a matter of time.. but Mami refused to wake up.

Days turn into weeks. Weeks turn into months. It has currently been over 3 months since the Siege of Knaerwood Palace and the Red army now sweeps across the continent. Including the Southern portion of Seiyolia, dangerously close to where Mami and Ami are currently hiding. Ami had to sit on the outskirts of the forest and watch the troop movements for Snowmelt, leaving Mami alone during the mornings. One morning, Mami starts to stir and her eyes slowly open.

“..Where... where am I? Am... I dead...?” Mami sits up straight and feels around her core. The stitches are still there, but eventually will deteriorate. “... I'm.. alive...?!” Mami looks around the room, a faint spark flies out from the fireplace. A small fire was lit earlier in the morning, just to keep the house warm enough while Mami was alone. In the corner of the room are Mami's Katanas, neatly sheathed and sitting there in the corner. Just as she was about to lift the covers to investigate, the door opens and a quick breeze of frigid air fills the room. Luckily for only a few moments.

“Brr... I don't think I'll ever get used to this cold... but at least the Red army doesn't seem to want to risk freezing to death to gain more land...” Ami pulls down her hood, after she puts her shield and sword down she takes off her winter gear and places it on the table. Not noticing Mami stare right at her she walks up to the fireplace and puts two small logs into the fire and pokes it with a metal poker to ignite it. “There we go... now to check on Ma-” She turns her head and notices that Mami is staring directly at her. The two stare at each other for a few moments before Ami rushes over to her side. “Mami?! How are you feeling?! Are you alright?”

“Hey, take it easy... I'm alright...” Mami pets Ami's head as she starts to tear up. “Thank you... I guess we are even now, huh?”

“I... I seriously was beginning to think you would never wake up... After so long...” Ami wipes her tears away and looks into Mami's eyes.

“How long.. has it been?”

“Almost four months... the war isn't over yet but...”

“.. They won huh?” Mami pouts.

“..Yeah. They currently control the entire continent minus the frigid North and... the Green Country. The Pykith Morass is one dangerous natural barrier... Can you stand?”

“I... think I can...” Ami gives Mami room as she carefully stands up. Just as she was about to fall over, Ami catches her and helps get her balance back. “Thank you... my legs are almost completely numb...” Ami sets Mami down on the floor, Mami sits down on her knees.

“Just take it easy... How is your wound?”

“I don't feel any pain.. just... ugh...” Mami holds her left hand over her face. She is drowsy and can barely stand. “So... what about Rin and Nanoha...?”

“... I don't know. I couldn't bring you to the Knaerwood Palace because... I was afraid... I'm sorry...”

“... I see. I hope she is alright... and that Miku and Len are okay as well...” Mami braces herself as she slowly stands up, this time she doesn't fall over. She surrounds herself in black mist and emerges moments later in her blue and black casual clothing. “So.. where exactly are we...?”

“Uh... I think we are about eight or so miles from Snowmelt... we aren't that far away from town.”

“I see... So we are pretty far away from anywhere...” Mami sulks for a few moments, but Ami tries to cheer her up to no avail. Mami glances over Ami's shoulder and takes note about the shield and sword. “So.. you can still use the Shadow?”

“I... can definitely feel it. I was unable to purge the whole thing but... I have complete control over it now. I just.. don't have all the fancy abilities you do. I can only jump higher and move a little quicker. That heavy shield and sword doesn't help that much either.. but I've got used to it.” Ami explains her situation with the Shadow.

“I see. That is good to hear. I... You have no idea how proud I am of you...” Mami finally cracks a smile.

“Eh...? Proud..?”

“M-hmm-hm! You have grown so much... It makes me so happy.” Mami pets Ami's head for a few moments, until the silence is interrupted by a stomach growl. It was Mami, who instantly blushes when Ami starts laughing.

“Hahaha, just wait here. I'll go make some food.” Ami leaves into the kitchen and starts cooking some food. The twins share a meal for the first time since Ami obtained the pendant, over 800 years ago.
*READ PLEASE*
Alrighty, my week long break is over. I feel much more refreshed, finished Valkyria Chronicles and got started on my first playthrough of iMAS2. With the power of a wiki I am.. not a complete idiot. Anyway! Onto the story!

Chapter 12 marks the beginning of Arc 2, in this Arc we will follow the Twins primarily in their quest to attempt to bring peace to the Continent. A quick overview of what is to come.

The Red Army will be referred to as the "Imperial Army" quite often. Details in the story.
The pace picks up. Technological advances and many other things influence this. (This is fantasy after all, not Medieval.)
The Shadow becoming more relevant.
The Tower of Alaenohana will be mentioned in this Arc.
Nanoha's role as a support character is enlarged.
Rin is shifted to a support character for the time being. Details as to why will be explained later.
More detailed terrain features and story telling.
More broad range of supporting characters that appear only a few times, just to give the feeling that people have faces.
Explore the Continent! Sadly I'm not good at drawing maps, and I don't have funds to ask for a commission. I highly doubt anyone would do it for free, so.. yeah.

No themes again this time. Didn't really dig for any.

Chapter 1: ruuj0.deviantart.com/art/Chapt…
Chapter 13: Coming Monday.

Stage in Preview: :iconamiamy111:
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