Episode 02 - The Storm of Battle, Once Again
Talking on the phone after school, Suzuka and Alisa discuss Fate's anticipated return to Uminari. They're excited at the prospect of finally meeting her in person, and consider how best to welcome her.
At that very moment, Fate is confronting the mysterious hammer-wielding girl, Vita. Introducing herself as an acting TSAB mage, she demands Vita's immediate surrender. Vita scoffs and retreats into the sky; Fate tells Yuuno to look after Nanoha, and gives pursuit. Yuuno explains to Nanoha that they tried contacting her after Fate's trial ended. When they couldn't get through, they discovered Vita's magical barrier over downtown Uminari, and rushed to the scene. He adds that the crew of the Arthra is standing by to support them.
In fact, the Arthra's crew is attempting to get a visual lock on the battle, but Vita's barrier is blocking their efforts. Based on their readings, they realize it isn't Midchildan magic, but some entirely different type.
Fate engages Vita, who continues to prove a difficult opponent. Arf arrives to support her master, and the two eventually manage to place a bind on the smaller girl. Before they can do anything, however, Arf senses a new threat approaching. An instant later Signum, clad in ornate clothes and wielding a large sword, appears and drives them both back. She loads a magical cartridge into her sword and attacks Fate with tremendous power, slicing Bardiche's shaft in two and sending Fate hurtling to the ground. Arf, meanwhile, is blocked by the arrival of Zafira, now in humanoid form. Signum frees Vita from the bind, although the other girl is alarmed to realize that she's dropped the Book of Darkness.
Seeing these new enemies arrive, Yuuno leaves Nanoha inside a protective healing field and goes to help Fate. She tells him to work with Arf to try and teleport everyone outside their enemies' magical barrier. As he gets to work, she repairs Bardiche and heads back up into the fight, glancing down at Nanoha along the way and smiling.
Meanwhile, Hayate is cooking dinner alone at home when Shamal calls to say she's out shopping and will be a bit late. In fact, Shamal is watching the battle, dressed in her own elaborate outfit and holding the Book of Darkness.
As they re-engage, Signum compliments Fate on her tenacity, but says she's no match for a Belkan Knight. She introduces herself and her sword Lævatein, and identifies her group as the "Wolkenritter" note . The battle continues raging, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.
Yuuno and Arf report that Vita's barrier is preventing them from teleporting anyone in or out. Sensing Nanoha's frustration, Raising Heart advises her to destroy the barrier using Starlight Breaker. Telling the others to transport to safety as soon as it's down, Nanoha steps out of Yuuno's protection field and begins charging her spell...
...and freezes, as a disembodied hand suddenly pierces through her chest. Shamal has opened a dimensional portal and phased a hand into Nanoha's body to seize her linker core, the source of her mana. Shamal opens the Book of Darkness, and pages begin to fill with writing as Nanoha's magical energy pours into it. With her power draining away, Nanoha forces herself to step forward, points Raising Heart upwards, and fires off Starlight Breaker with the last of her strength. The spell blasts through Vita's barrier, shattering it, and Nanoha collapses unconscious.
With the barrier gone, the Arthra is finally able to establish visual contact. The Wolkenritter beat a hasty retreat; Chrono and Amy try to track them, but to no avail. Just before they vanish, however, Chrono catches a glimpse of the Book of Darkness — and reacts with horrified recognition.
Tropes
- Determinator: Both Nanoha and Raising Heart are determined to finish casting Starlight Breaker to destroy the Wolkenritter's barrier, although the latter is smashed half to pieces and the former has an arm phased through her chest draining her mana.
- Took a Level in Badass: Yuuno is far more competent in battle here than he ever was in the first season — effortlessly defending against Vita's attacks while simultaneously trying to reverse-engineer her magic. Keep in mind, this is the same opponent who just defeated Nanoha.
- Villain Respect: In contrast to how Vita met all of Nanoha's questions with obstinate silence, Signum compliments Fate on her skill and courage. She then politely introduces herself and her weapon, and allows Fate to do the same.
- Wham Shot: After Nanoha stops in shock, we get reaction shots from the others before the camera slowly pans to reveal Shamal's disembodied hand protruding from her chest.
