Sound Stage 04 (a.k.a. Episode 27) - The Blue Sky *
A few months after the conclusion of the Jail Scaglietti Incident, the Forwards are training while Vice, Zafira, Ginga and Vivio undergo routine medical checks. Subaru and Teana suddenly discover they have a three-day vacation coming up; since they haven't made any plans, they decide to visit their families' graves. They're both surprised to learn that their family grave sites are in the same facility: Port Fall Memorial Garden, in Elusia on the west coast.
Verossa drops in on Hayate for a chat. She tells him she feels like a failure in spite of their victory over Scaglietti, saying she wasn't an effective commander and didn't make any real difference in the final battle. Verossa tells her she should take it easy and not stress so much.
Genya meets with Chrono and asks about the situation at Central HQ. Chrono says the TSAB wants to implement some major reforms in the wake of the revelations about Regius. He says it would be nice if the Navy and Ground Forces could become more cooperative, but that's a tall order. Genya says that even though the world is at peace now, there will always be new threats in the future, so the TSAB should take this opportunity to improve itself.
Coming off duty, Caro and Erio go to the Central Detention Facility to visit Lutecia. They have been seeing her regularly since she was taken into custody, but she has some news to share with them. Her sentence has been decided: an ability limiter will be placed on her and she'll go to live on a remote frontier world. She tells them that she might not be allowed to leave there until she's an adult, or even later. But she has other news too: her mother Megane is now awake, and will be her legal guardian. She tells them that Megane came to see her, apologized for being absent for so long, and promised to stay by her side forever. As Erio and Caro leave, Lutecia thanks them for saving her and the others, for coming to visit her, and for being her friends.
Nanoha, who also has some vacation time, takes Vivio to visit the Saint Church-run Sankte Hilde Magic Academy. They are met by Schach, who explains the school's structure to Nanoha while some other children show Vivio around. It doesn't take Vivio long to decide that she wants to study there.
Subaru and Teana take a road trip by motorbike to Port Fall Memorial Garden. They discover that their family grave sites are quite close together. They pay their respects to their and each others' families. Addressing her brother and parents, Teana says that she's waiting for the result of her exam to qualify as an Enforcer's aide, and adds that her marksmanship is improving. Subaru tells her mother that she and Ginga have been trying out both Revolver Knuckles, but neither of them is able to use them together as effectively as Quint could.
At Riot Force Six, Hayate and Vita come home and fall asleep together. The other Wolkenritter arrive back later, and Signum calls the detention center to talk with Agito. She shows Agito some pictures she took of Zest's grave. Then she asks if Agito has decided what she wants to do after she gets out. Agito says she needs more time to decide. Hayate, having woken up, sticks her head into the call to say hello, and Agito thanks her for sending clothes in her size. Hayate invites her to come and visit when she is released.
Back in the detention center, the Numbers (Cinque, Sein, Dieci, Nove, Wendi, Otto and Deed) are also discussing their future. Cinque says that even though she's cooperating, she probably deserves a similar sentence to the other older Numbers, adding that she doesn't expect to be completely free in her lifetime. Dieci and Sein express similar sentiments, but Nove says that even if they're on probation they'll eventually be allowed into the outside world. Cinque tells the youngest four note that they'll be released first, and asks them to come back sometimes to tell the rest of them about life outside.
Meanwhile, Fate, Caro and Erio have a call with Lindy, and make plans to spend their upcoming vacation together. Lindy asks about the children's future career plans. Caro tells her that she's reapplied to the Outlands Environmental Protection Corps, and Erio says that he will be joining her there. The two have decided that they should stay together because they work so well as a team.
The Stars members return from their vacation. Shortly after resuming their duties, Subaru and Teana are called into Hayate's office. Hayate informs Tea that she passed her Enforcer's aide exam, and has been approved to become Fate's assistant. Then she tells Subaru that she's been scouted by the Special Rescue Corps for a position in land and sea disaster relief. Subaru says she'll consider the offer. As they leave, Teana congratulates her, but Subaru is pensive about the fact that their new assignments mean she and Tea will be separated from each other.
The four Forwards meet up to prepare for morning training, but Subaru wants to pick up some first aid equipment first, so they head over to the infirmary together. When they get there, the door is open; Shamal is talking to Nanoha inside. Shamal says that Nanoha's use of the Blaster system during the battle has caused her damage that will take a long time to heal, and she recommends taking at least a year off active duty. Nanoha has none of it, pointing out that even if she does, they can't be sure this kind of damage will heal in any case. Besides, she says, there are things she needs to teach the Forwards while they're still together. She thinks Teana is ready to learn Starlight Breaker, Subaru can improve her ACS and Buster techniques, and there are things she wants Erio and Caro to learn too. Shamal tells Nanoha that she's a terrible patient, and adds that she must never stop believing that she'll heal completely. Nanoha promises that she'll recover no matter what, because Vivio is depending on her. Then they hear the outer door close; Shamal wonders if somebody was just there...
The Forwards arrive at the training ground, where Fate, Vita and Signum are already waiting. Vita wonders why the four seem downcast, but Teana says it's nothing. Nanoha shortly arrives and they begin their training. Hayate, Shamal and Alto watch from a distance; Alto says the Forwards have become so strong that they should be able to pass the A-rank exams easily. Hayate says that's not quite true — they don't know it yet, but Subaru, Teana, and Erio are going to be allowed to skip straight to the AA-rank test, and Caro will be granted A+ rank.
As they practice, Subaru, Teana, Erio and Caro all think about what they've learned from Nanoha and the others, and resolve to continue growing stronger, now and into the future.
Tropes
- And Zoidberg: When Nove tries to reassure Cinque and Dieci, she adds "oh, and Sein" as an afterthought. Sein is not amused.
- Bittersweet Ending: This episode is a lot less upbeat than the wrap-up in episode 26. Lutecia and the Numbers all say that they're facing long sentences and aren't sure when they'll be free, if ever. And Nanoha is revealed to be dealing with long-term magical damage from her use of the Blaster system.
- Cast from Hit Points: Shamal tells Nanoha that using the Blaster system, along with everything else she did in the final battle, has reduced her linker core's magical output by 8%. It's uncertain whether this damage is going to be permanent or not, although they do hope it will heal eventually.
- Contrived Coincidence: Teana's and Subaru's family grave sites are not only both in the same facility, they're in the same part of it, quite close to each other.
- Deadpan Snarker: When Verossa tells Hayate she could use a break from work, she remarks that hearing such advice from perpetually-taking-a-break Rossa is not very convincing.
- Framing Device: The Sound Stage starts and ends with Fate composing an email to Subaru and reminiscing about the events herein.
- Interquel: Except for the Framing Device, this Sound Stage takes place during the time period covered by episode 26 — either before or during the Time Skip to spring.
