Episode 05 - It Was A Small Wish (Part One)
At the supermarket, Hayate is shopping for dinner ingredients with Shamal. She remarks that everyone's been spending a lot of time out of the house lately, to which Shamal somewhat nervously agrees. Hayate says she doesn't mind if they have things they'd rather do, adding that she's used to being by herself. Upset to hear Hayate say this, Shamal reassures her that everyone is only temporarily busy, and things will go back to normal soon. Changing the subject back to dinner, Hayate says that her new friend Suzuka will be coming over to join them tonight.
Over the downtown, Signum arrives to find a TSAB containment barrier sealing off the area where Vita and Zafira were surrounded. Inside, Nanoha is trying to persuade Vita to talk to her, with little success. As they argue, Signum manages to break through the barrier with her sword and lands nearby. Realizing a fight is unavoidable, Nanoha and Fate tell Chrono and Yuuno not to interfere. Nanoha squares off against Vita, Fate confronts Signum, and Arf faces Zafira. Chrono, noting that the Book of Darkness doesn't seem to be present, tells Yuuno that its master should be somewhere nearby; the two of them split up to search while the others fight.
As the battle progresses, the Wolkenritter realize that Nanoha and Fate, with their upgraded devices, are now at least a match for them. Outside the barrier, Shamal arrives, carrying the Book of Darkness, but unlike Signum she lacks the magical power to breach it... at least on her own. Zafira tells her telepathically that the battle isn't going well for them, and suggests she use the Book, but she is reluctant to expend its power. Before she can decide what to do, Chrono appears behind her, weapon pointed at her back, and demands she surrender.
A moment later, a man in a face-concealing mask appears out of nowhere and attacks Chrono, hurling him aside. Confused, Shamal asks who the man is, but he just tells her to use the Book of Darkness to destroy the barrier. When she hesitates, he points out that they can always replenish the used-up pages later — but if the Wolkenritter are defeated here, they will lose everything. Reluctantly, Shamal opens the Book of Darkness, telling her fellow knights to protect themselves and prepare to retreat. The masked man turns to face Chrono, telling him to stay still for his own safety.
The other Wolkenritter disengage from the fight and retreat, warning the protagonists to protect themselves as well. Moments later, Shamal casts a spell from the pages of the Book of Darkness. Fire and lightning pour down from the sky and strike the barrier, shattering it and temporarily blinding everyone. When their vision returns, both the Wolkenritter and the mysterious masked man are gone.
The Wolkenritter return home to discover that Hayate gave up waiting for them and went over to Suzuka's house. When Shamal calls her with frantic apologies, Hayate says she's not upset, and tells them their dinner is waiting in the fridge. Afterwards, Shamal and Signum discuss the masked man who helped them. They aren't sure what to make of it, but agree that they have to complete the Book of Darkness as quickly as possible.
Back at their base, Amy briefs Nanoha and Fate on the upgrades to Raising Heart and Bardiche. Chrono, meanwhile, is worried by his observations of the Wolkenritter. For one thing, he's puzzled why they'd want to complete the Book of Darkness, pointing out that it isn't a controllable power source like the Jewel Seeds. According to all records they have on the Book, it's only capable of being used for one thing: pure destruction. What's more, the fact that the Wolkenritter seem to be personally motivated bothers him. He explains that the four knights are actually magical, artificial beings created by the Book of Darkness. They protect the Book and follow their master's orders without question... and they aren't supposed to be capable of anything more.
Tropes
- Artificial Human: Chrono reveals that the Wolkenritter are this.
- Blank White Eyes: Nanoha acquires these a couple of times when Vita insults her.
- Chekhov's Gun: Shamal name-drops "Signum's falken", telling Zafira that only an attack of that level could destroy the TSAB's barrier. Sturmfalken is Signum's ultimate attack spell, which we will eventually see in episode 12 — where, indeed, she destroys a high-level barrier with it.
- Friendly Enemy: Signum and Fate seem to be quickly moving in this direction. Zafira is also starting to show grudging respect for Arf. Even Vita finally deigns to properly introduce herself to Nanoha, although when she learns Nanoha's name she grumbles that it's too hard to remember.
- Grew Beyond Their Programming: Chrono is worried because the Wolkenritter appear to be showing signs of this... and he has no idea what to make of it.
- Mysterious Protector: The masked man appears from nowhere and helps the Wolkenritter avert defeat, for reasons unknown. The Wolkenritter accept his help (not having much choice), but clearly don't trust him. They are right not to.
- Talking Is a Free Action: Subverted twice. Chrono gets the drop on Shamal as she's telepathically talking to Zafira, but is himself ambushed as he reads her the TSAB's equivalent of Miranda Rights.
- Tempting Fate: In her fight with Vita, Nanoha fires a cartridge-boosted spread of at least a dozen magical projectiles. Vita just puts up a shield and scoffs, "Are you stupid?! There's no way you can control all those bullets!" A moment later she discovers to her shock that yes, Nanoha can — as her shield starts cracking under the assault.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Chrono's squad of TSAB troopers, who were surrounding Vita and Zafira at the end of last episode, are nowhere to be seen in this one. The only clue is an offhand remark from Shamal that Bureau mages are maintaining the barrier over the area.
