Kamar-taj, Planet Earth…
As the master of the mystic arts and a veteran sorcerer who had spent centuries fighting and protecting the planet from the so-called 'impossible beings' that came from other dimensions, the Ancient One, revered as the Sorcerer Supreme and leader of the Masters of the Mystic Arts, had long believed that little in this universe could still faze her.
And yet, on this day, that belief was broken to pieces.
What she had assumed would be a simple meeting, albeit with 'aliens,' something she had done more than once before, had instead overturned her sense of reality. The silence that came between the three of them grew unbearably heavy, until the Ancient One closed her eyes and directly meditated from her seat, hoping to calm her mind… and perhaps gather the pieces of her broken common sense.
Watching the venerable Sorcerer Supreme escape—ahem, meditate—Nanoha couldn't help but offer her a sympathetic look. As someone who had already accepted her fate of marrying a man who casually spoke words capable of bending someone's sense of reality, she could only offer silent consolation to his latest 'victim' and hope that even with their broken worldview, they might still go on to live their lives to the fullest.
And for her, despite only knowing Noah and spending time with him for just a few weeks, Nanoha could already say with certainty that she liked him. The way he shows how much he cares for her, for Fate, for Hayate, for Lumine, and Sirin. Then there's his way of showing affection, with how he would unconsciously blurt out words that made them, along with his other partners she had yet to meet, melt completely, which made their knees nearly give out.
He also always thinks about what is best for the future, not just for them, but for everyone he could reach. And that made Nanoha understand why her future self had chosen him over every other man in the universe.
Even now, with the current issue of the Infinity Stones, he actually doesn't need to bother chasing down the rest of the stones. As long as he protected the stone the Collector had entrusted to him, anyone who dreamed of becoming the 'god' of their universe would never be able to do as they pleased. But because she knows that Noah is also considering the lives of those who will be affected if the stones fall into the hands of the people with malicious intent, he stepped forward to ensure that the other stones are in safe hands.
Besides, Noah was only speaking the truth; with the power and abilities he already possessed, he did not need to rely on external artifacts to grow stronger.
Albeit the power of the Infinity Stones is undeniably rule-breaking and dangerously tempting. With the ability to control time, space, and reality, to command the Mind and the Soul, or to wield an endless source of raw power that could bend the universe to one's will… any of it would be enough to drive most people into greed.
But for him, it was simply unnecessary. If anything, the Infinity Stones would only become a burden rather than an advantage.
Since anyone could use them without restriction, possessing them would only paint a constant target on his back, attracting those who wished to seize the power of the stones for themselves.
That same understanding was precisely why the TSAB was willing to stand beside Noah. They were able to see this part of his character, and they also trusted the significance of his title as a Jedi.
With him at their side, they could truly feel secure, confident that neither the worlds under their protection nor the wider universe would be placed in danger.
It was also one of the reasons they wholeheartedly supported the Aces in pursuing a relationship with him. Such a bond would form a lasting connection between the TSAB and Noah, who is a Jedi and, by extension, the entire Trailblaze faction.
Perhaps feeling a bit uncomfortable with the tense atmosphere around them, Noah glanced at Nanoha with a pleading look. She immediately recognized his 'I-think-I-did-something-bad-again' expression and found it far too adorable. With an angelic-like smile, she reached up and patted his head affectionately.
Noah blushed and gave her a weak glare in response, but that only seemed to amuse her more.
Their simple moment was broken by a long, heavy, deep, suffering exhale from the Ancient One. The couple stops whatever they are doing and turns toward her, finding her pressing a hand to her forehead, with her brows furrowed together in clear exhaustion.
"…I must admit, Mr. Noah," the Ancient One muttered tiredly, "what you just shared baffles me. In fact… it may have broken everything I thought I understood until now."
"Ah… I'm sorry?" Noah said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head as his expression turned apologetic.
The Ancient One sighed once more before raising her head to meet both of them directly.
"Mr. Noah, while I don't know how much of what you said about your abilities is truly accurate," she continued, "I can at least believe your sincerity when you told me you have no interest in the Infinity Stones… at the moment."
She stopped for a brief moment, her expression growing more serious. "I do know the locations of three of them. However… before I share that information with you…"
She looked at Noah directly in the eyes.
"I must express some of my concerns," she said in a grave tone. "We may have come from a 'rural' part of the universe, but I do have some understanding of the nature of Force-sensitives. I know that Jedi can become Sith. That even those devoted to the light can fall to the dark at any moment."
"Huh…? T-that's—?!" Nanoha's eyes widened at the Ancient One's words. She tried to speak, to cut in and deny her, but Noah gently took her hand, stopping her.
"…Noah?"
He shook his head with a soft smile, silently asking her to let the Ancient One finish speaking, before turning his gaze back to the woman before them. The Ancient One gave a small nod and continued.
"I do not know the man named Noah Alden," she said, her expression remaining tight. "I have no reason to place my faith in your promises or your words alone. Nor do I have any assurance that you will never take interest in the Stones in the future, even if you do not fall to the dark side of the Force."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Especially with the immense power you already possess… power which I am certain you are still deliberately holding back. If one day you took an interest in the stone's power and gave you the power to truly control the entire universe… then no one would be able to stop you."
Hearing the Ancient One's accusations toward Noah, Nanoha glared at the Ancient One. Her earlier sympathy turned to anger. Her hand clenched tightly in her lap, mana erupted from her, the sudden pressure splashing outward.
The entire Kamar-Taj shook, with a few students collapsing from where they stood, and even some of the seasoned masters stiffened or fell to their knees, completely overwhelmed by her power.
Far away above the planet, aboard the Hyperion, Lumine, Sirin, Hayate, and Fate have the same expression as Nanoha. Their auras exploded in unison, overlapping into a single pulse of power that spread across space and was immediately picked up by the planet's observation systems. AI-chan, Chrono, Yuno, and the others panic for a bit and become alarmed, uncertain what these powerful women might do next.
"How can you say that to Noah?" Nanoha's voice was void of its usual gentleness, her raw emotion bleeding through every word. "You said it yourself... You don't know anything about him. Our sweet, wonderful Noah… to speak as if he'd fall to the dark side of the Force, or use those stones for something cruel… —I-I…!"
"Nanoha!" Noah moved instantly, stepping in and holding her shoulders before she could lose control. "Please hold yourself!"
"Master!"
"Master, are you alright?!"
The doors to the room burst open as Wong rushed in with another man and several more Masters close behind.
The Ancient One raised a hand toward the people who had rushed in. "I'm fine… our conversation simply became a little tense," she said, trying to reassure them. Even so, her voice carried a faint tremor. She hadn't expected that Nanoha would act rather heavily.
'Ah… love truly is a powerful force, ' she thought to herself as she watched Noah pull Nanoha into a gentle embrace to calm her.
"How could she say something like that to you?" Nanoha whispered, gripping his clothes. "How can anyone say those things and expect us to accept them?" Her voice quivered with hurt and indignation.
Noah's expression softened as he held her close, one hand rubbing slow, reassuring circles against her back. "Nanoha… her concerns aren't without reason," he said to her gently.
"She's just worried about what could happen if she shared what she knew too easily. The value of what she knew could either save the universe… or doom it."
He let out a small, wry smile before continuing. "And I know myself well enough to admit it, how 'dangerous' I could be.... So what she said is all valid reason."
"No! That's wrong! I can't accept that!" Nanoha shook her head fiercely. "You're a wonderful person, Noah! You're our loving husband-to-be!! Someone who only wants what's best for everyone and the universe! How can she twist your concern for the safety of the universe into something like that?!"
"Nanoha…" Noah murmured, his voice heavy with emotion.
But suddenly, before he could continue speaking, everyone inside the room—no! Everyone across the entire solar system felt something immense make their presence known. From the Ancient One, Wong, the other Masters in Kamar-Taj… to the civilians on Earth, heroes and villains alike, criminals, mutants, politicians, scientists, aliens, gods, even animals, every single living being on this planet felt it.
One by one, they all looked up.
The familiar blue sky was no longer there. In its place, the vast, starry void appeared filled by countless silver rails, stretching endlessly towards the far and beyond, branching in every direction and connecting everything until the distant corners of the universe.
And at the very center was a single, indistinct silhouette obscured by dark, heavy shadows, but everyone was somehow able to understand just how overwhelming the figure's presence was. Instinctively, all of them knew it: whatever that being was, they possessed power far beyond what humanity could ever comprehend.
It was an existence that their small lives were never meant to be and will never be able to grasp.
"...So this is what the gaze of an Aeon feels like?" Chrono murmured aboard Arthra. His voice trembled, caught between awe and disbelief because for the first time in his life, he was able to witness even the shadow of an Aeon's presence. Beside him, Amy reached out and held his hand, unconsciously trying to seek his warmth.
Back at Kamar-Taj, surprise appeared on Noah's face, yet his arms never loosened around Nanoha. Keeping her secured within his arms. Nanoha, on the other hand, stared at the being who appeared in pure awe, her grip on Noah tightening instinctively.
"Lord… Akivili?" Noah whispered in complete disbelief. "But… why?"
The being that appeared to Noah had called was Akivili, the long-deceased Aeon of Trailblaze. They let out an intangible sound that carried no form, no understandable language. And yet, images appeared within everyone's minds, translating those formless words into something they could somehow understand. Then, just as suddenly as they came, they also left once the visions faded, leaving everyone behind in silence.
Once everything finally returned to normal, Wong and the other Masters collapsed onto the floor where they stood. Their strength had left them entirely, letting out a huff as if they had all forgotten how to breathe. The Ancient One was lucky enough to remain seated, sparing herself the embarrassment of joining them.
"J-just… w-who was that…?" she muttered, her voice barely holding it together.
Noah let out a small sigh before he answered. "That was the 'god' the faction I belong to follows. Akivili—the long-deceased Aeon of Trailblaze."
His words sent another wave of shock through the room.
"Deceased?!" A dark-skinned man in a green-colored tunic demanded as he struggled to stand back on his feet. "Are you mocking us? If what you're saying is true, then what was the being that appeared before all of us?!"
"Mordo, calm yourself," Wong said firmly, placing his hand on the man's shoulder. "I know you're shaken, but you need to get a hold on yourself."
Mordo flinched, realizing what he had done. He took in a deep breath, followed by another, trying to put himself together.
"…My apologies," he said at last. "I lost myself for a moment."
"That's understandable," Noah replied with an understanding smile. "Anyone would have reacted the same way."
Mordo nodded, visibly calmer.
"As for how Lord Akivili was able to appear," Noah said with a wry smile, "all I can say is that it's the wonder of Their Path, the Trailblaze. Even if they're separated by time, or by life or death… as long as someone remains connected to those ever-growing, ever-expanding silver rails, with the power of Trailblaze, they can bridge that gap and still show the universe that they once existed."
"…That's your explanation?" Mordo muttered, his mouth agape, staring at him.
Noah laughed lightly. "Here's some friendly advice from the Geniuses of the universe: Never try to comprehend the Aeons. They're far beyond what we mortals were ever meant to understand."
The room went completely silent after that. The objections and protests, they all wanted to blurt out... faded as they heard Noah's words. Because deep down, everyone knew that he was right. Trying to grasp the will of higher beings was nothing short of arrogance.
"…So that's why Master Agamotto never tried and warned about trying to pry into the nature of the Aeons when he came to know their existence," the Ancient One said softly. "They truly are not something we should meddle with."
She took several breaths before raising her eyes to Noah. "Mr. Noah, as that being—Akivili's envoy, I am willing to place my trust in you. That is when END descends… You will make the right choice."
Raising her hands toward the medallion at her neck, she formed a series of hand signs. The eye at its center slowly opened, revealing the green gem within.
"This," she said, "is the Time Stone, the Infinity Stone that governs time itself."
Noah's expression tightened. "VA…"
At his call, a golden cube materialized beside him, floating at shoulder height.
[Scanning the suspected Infinity Stone's Imaginary energy signature…] Void Archives reported. [Decoding pattern using recorded authorities from the Imaginary Tree… A match was found. Traces of the Path of Finality's 'power over time' were detected, showing a close correlation with the stone's Imaginary energy output. Conclusion: the Infinity Stone has been positively identified as the Time Stone.]
Hearing the report, Noah gave a small nod and loosened his hold on Nanoha. She pushed herself slightly within his arms, creating just enough distance for them to face the Ancient One, but still she never truly stepped away from him.
"Thank you for informing us," Noah said with a small smile.
The Ancient One nodded her head and closed the Eye of Agamotto, the green glow from the Time Stone fading as the medallion shut. "As for the remaining two Stones… one is currently in the hands of this world's governing body. The last stone will soon appear once its wielder descends on the planet, together with an invasion force."
At the mention of an approaching invasion, Noah's eyes hardened. 'So this mission won't end peacefully after all.'
He turned to Nanoha and gave a small nod. She understood immediately.
Raising her hand, Nanoha summoned a holographic screen. Chrono appeared within it, already standing in his admiral's uniform.
"This is Captain Nanoha Takamachi of the Special Task Force Keystone Hunt," Nanoha reported, straightening her posture and adopting an authoritative tone. Any trace of her earlier emotions was sealed away behind her military-like discipline. "Jedi Knight Noah and I have confirmed the location of the Time Stone. It will be logged under the codename Medallion Eye."
"It is currently in the possession of the leader of a minor faction on Planet Earth, codename Marvel, classified as Non‑Administrated World #616. The current holder is to be flagged..... as Safe. No immediate intervention required."
"Another Stone is under the control of a state authority and will require further reconnaissance before we determine whether retrieval is necessary. The final Stone is believed to be in the hands of a potential hostile wielder, with a high probability of triggering an invasion event."
[Copy that, Captain Takamachi.] Chrono replied without hesitation. [Updating records—Medallion Eye confirmed secure.]
[We will begin intelligence gathering on the Stone held by the state. Once sufficient data is collected, we will determine whether to maintain observation or initiate recovery.]
Chrono let out a small exhale before continuing. [The final Stone will be flagged For Recovery due to the wielder's projected hostility. Jedi Knight Noah Alden, do you concur?]
"…Affirmative, Admiral Harlaown," Noah replied evenly. "We cannot allow the Stone to remain in the hands of someone who could bring instability to the universe."
[Understood.] Chrono straightened and saluted both of them. [Preparations for a potential invasion will begin immediately. Thank you for your work.]
As the screen faded away, Noah let out a heavy sigh. His thoughts immediately went to what lay ahead—government-held Stones, a hostile wielder, and the threat of an alien invasion. One possibility after another surfaced in his mind as he weighed their options.
Nanoha tightened her grip around his arm. Startled, he turned to her, and the moment he caught her gentle smile, the tension in his chest eased. He returned it slowly, squeezing her hand before leaning in to press a light kiss to her temple, a silent thank-you. She blushed faintly and mouthed back, Any time.
With her encouragement, giving back his confidence, Noah turned back to the Ancient One.
"Thank you once again for telling us all of this," he said sincerely. "As you've heard, we'll begin making our moves regarding the other two Stones. As for the Time Stone, please keep it, just as you've done for the past hundreds… perhaps even for thousands of years."
"…Hmm," the Ancient One replied, giving a small nod.
Noah and Nanoha stood, preparing to leave Kamar-Taj.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Noah said, offering his hand to the Ancient One. "We truly appreciate it."
Her expression softened as she rose and accepted his handshake. "And thank you for coming," she replied. "This meeting has… enlightened us more than I expected."
She then turned toward Nanoha, noting the faint trace of displeasure in her flat expression. With a small bow, she spoke gently. "Miss Nanoha, I apologize for offending you by speaking so carelessly about someone important to you."
Nanoha responded with the same gesture, bowing her head slightly. "For Noah's sake… I'll accept your apology," she said after a brief pause. "And I apologize as well for letting my emotions and my power get the better of me earlier."
The Ancient One smiled faintly, relief visible in her eyes.
Seeing the tension finally ease, Noah let out a relieved sigh. "Then, Ancient One, Mr. Wong, Mr. Mordo and to all of you, the other Masters," he said respectfully, "we bid you a good day. Until we meet again."
With that, golden light enveloped Noah and Nanoha, and in the next instant, they vanished, teleporting away from Kamar-Taj.
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