[Age Regression, Teasing, TF]

"When is she going to wake up, Vanessa? We don't have all day. If we don't hurry, the others might just find us."

"They won't find us. I made sure of it."

"Thank you, Elsa. Now, let your Elder Sister put the finishing touches on our newest sister. Then..."

A pulse of life started to echo from the substance gathered in the tube in front of three Monsters. Resonating with the amulet that was currently hanging from the dark-skinned machine, prompting her to grab it and hold it tight. Hoping that this would actually succeed.

They were Noble Red. Alchemists, and former parts of the Bavarian Illuminati. Thanks to the abuse that had been piled their way, and the general dislike for non-humans, the three had decided to run away. But not before grabbing a bit of tech that would help them. Tech that was now being put into good use.

"I still can't believe you actually managed to find Gungnir of all Relics. Wasn't that meant to be that damned Finé's ace in the hole?" The Vampire at the Machine's side, Miliaarc, stared at the tube that currently had a featureless AlcaNoise currently floating around inside it. The substance that had given it form continued to resonate, which was why it had taken such a form. Noise being generated by the impure melody.

"It was." The Machine noted, as she carefully stared at the amulet in her hand. Vanessa, the leader of their little trio, was betting a lot on this. If this panned out, not only would they be stronger than the rest of the Illuminati barring their top brass, but they'd also be able to stand against Finé. In case that eternal woman decided to get in their way.

Elsa, the youngest of the trio, gazed at the AlcaNoise. Watching it slowly grow more and more human, turning pale as the noise pattern stretched out into a cape that wrapped around the human figure. A human figure that looked younger than her. "Vanessa, it's working..!" The pink-haired Werewolf said, glee and surprise filling her eyes. She genuinely didn't imagine that this would work. Considering their last few attempts to make the substance resonate..!

Vanessa smiled. Indeed, it was working. Making an AlcaNoise-Relic Hybrid that would serve as their youngest sister... It was a very difficult task, considering how fragile AlcaNoise could be when exposed to combat with those that knew how to deal with them. But it was a risk she was willing to go through with. Because it meant that they wouldn't be nearly as alone as they had been.

Though there was something that was beginning to worry her slightly. As far as she knew, this process would produce a bald child that needed to be groomed into a proper role. However, the long red locks that had begun to grow from the AlcaNoise-Hybrid's scalp were strikingly familiar. Where had she seen those locks before? Could it perhaps be... No, it shouldn't be. There's no way...

The hybrid slowly opened its eyes, and all it could see was white. White, and three signatures. She didn't know who those three were. But she knew one thing. The last thing she remembered...

"Noise... Noise..!"

That's it. That's what she remembered. How she went down skewering Noise for the sake of saving a young girl. A young girl that unfortunately ended up too injured to survive. And since she barely had enough time to survive either, she used her Superb Song to wipe the rest out and leave her partner alive.

"NOOOOOIIIISSEEE!"

The tube that the hybrid was kept in burst open, sending both Miliaarc and Elsa flying, with Vanessa quickly extending her Colliders to keep her rooted. It seemed as if the Relic hadn't just resonated with the substance. Rather, something within the Relic had managed to slip inside and alter the hybrid.

And she recognized that girl. Amou Kanade. The redheaded half of Zwei Wing. She had seen them perform once before. She had taken Elsa and Miliaarc to one of their concerts. She knew that she was secretly part of one of Finé's plans, but to see her reincarnate through Gungnir..!

"Noise... NOISE! I'LL KILL 'EM! I'LL KILL 'EM ALL!" Kanade screamed, only for her body to tremble as she tried to call upon her weapon. It was like... It was...

The reborn Kanade slowly took a look at herself. The fact that she was naked didn't really bother her as much as her current size did. She was like a child once again. Only physically, however. Her mind still remembered everything. Not only that, but she was distinctly pale. As if she had been dead. Which... Well, given her memories, she really had been. Which just served to make this even more confusing than it already was.

"What in the hell?!" The redheaded girl shouted, quickly grabbing ahold of the noise-like cloak she wore. Only then did she notice the much larger Machine that was standing in front of her. And how tightly she held... A pendant? A relic? Given how her heart throbbed against her chest, she... She had Gungnir! "Hey! Give that back!"

Vanessa stared at the much smaller Kanade, as a blush slowly worked its way onto her cheeks. "Adorable..." She muttered in a hushed tone, as she kept her hand firmly wrapped around Gungnir. "To think that you would be reborn, Amou Kanade..." She said, not really able to control her own sense of astonishment.

"What about it? Give that back! I need it so I can kill Noise!" Kanade shouted as she ran over and quickly started to jump up towards Vanessa's hand. She wanted her trinket back. It was hers! Heeeers! She wanted it back so she could transform and... and...

Kanade paused for a second. Not because she was overwhelmed or anything. But because she noticed the cloak she was wearing. And the pattern on the back. And the fact that it felt like her fingers were a lot more potentially destructive than they once were. It was like... It was like she was a Noise! That, and there was a skull printed on the inner side of her cape. Like she was a... What was it called?

"Why would the undead try to kill that which can never truly die?" Vanessa said, before sighing sweetly as she dangled that amulet right out of Kanade's reach. "Amou Kanade. Do you not understand what you are? What have you become by being revived?" She asked, all while watching Kanade try to jump for her amulet again. As if she thought that she could really reach it. Despite the fact that it was clear that she just wouldn't be able to.

"I've become some sort of Noise! Probably because you guys are just as bad as the Noise!" Kanade cried out, as she tried to leap up and grab the amulet. And she actually did manage to jump slightly high enough to clasp her hands around the amulet..!

Causing Kanade to instantly grow back to her original size. But it came with a few caveats. Namely the fact that she was currently wearing a big skull on her head, and her usual outfit had been replaced with what essentially amounted to a skull bikini. Both of which left Kanade speechless, speechless enough to have the amulet snatched from her. "H-Hey!"

"You're a Monster now, Kanade. Not just a Noise, but a Monster. Just like us." Vanessa said, as she pocketed the amulet. Just so the girl couldn't get to it.

"A powerful one too, 'cause that hurt like hell." Miliaarc had finally managed to pull herself away from the wall after that explosion of energy slammed her into it. "I guess you're... A Skeleton? Really, that simple?" She wasn't the most knowledgeable about the kind of Monsters that she and her fellow Monsters had become. She was more concerned with them surviving and living frugally.

"Lich." Elsa concluded, as she came closer to Kanade. Smiling a little, as they almost saw eye to eye. Even if Elsa was slightly taller. "I'm Elsa. I'm very happy to meet you, Kanade! I loved your songs!" Honestly, this was like a dream come true. She had kind of dreamed about being sisters with Zwei Wing, so to see one of them in the flesh... It was just so delightful!

"W-Well, that's good to h- Hey, wait a minute, I don't need to hear about that crap!" Kanade was almost left a little bashful as she got the compliment, before she focused on what was really important. "I don't want to be a Lich! Give me that back, so I can figure out a way to fix it!" She shouted, as she started to reach for the amulet in the oldest girl's pocket.

Only for Miliaarc to grab her and have her thrash around in her arms, prompting the Vampire to laugh. "For a Symphogear, you're awfully easy to deal with. Maybe we should find a way to turn the others into girls your size!" She was far, far too amused with this. She could probably dribble the girl, and she wouldn't be affected!

"Let go! Let go let go let go!" As much as Kanade's mind was still the same as when she had passed away, her younger body made her act a lot brattier. Or maybe it was just because she had always been a bit of a brat. Came with having no real parents growing up...

Miliaarc didn't let go. But Vanessa did stop her, pulling Kanade from her hands and letting her rest within her arms. Carefully patting her on the head. Carefully. Slowly. Making sure that she was comfortable.

"I'm sorry. I didn't expect that this was how things were going to go." Vanessa's voice was filled with as much truth as she could muster, as she carefully kissed the new Lich on the forehead. "I want you to have a happy life, Kanade. I truly do. We do all of this to live a happy life ourselves. But... We didn't expect you to be pulled back to life by using Gungnir. So... Until the day that we can all live as a happy family. I have to ask that you help us. Just for a little bit."

Kanade glared at the dark-skinned Machine, huffing as she tried to reach for that amulet. But she couldn't reach. And not only that, but there was a certain kind of warmth. Despite Vanessa's metallic body, how it had been completely and horrendously modified... It wasn't actually cold. It was warm. Soothing. Nice and... relaxing.

"...I don't wanna help." Kanade muttered, as she rested her head up against that chest. "I just wanna... I wanna see Tsubasa again. I want to see how she's doing... But if... If she rejects me, then..." She wasn't willing to join them. Not without making sure that she couldn't return to her friend. Her dear friend and other half.

"Oi, don't just-" Miliaarc was about to raise a stink. She didn't like others getting preferential treatment. She didn't like it when Elsa got it, and the fact this new kid got it also annoyed her. But she was quickly grasped by one of Elsa's tail-claws, shutting her up and keeping her from interfering.

Vanessa kept on gently stroking Kanade's head. Slowly but surely caressing her and rocking her back and forth. "You're a Monster now, Kanade. An outcast. That means... There's a good chance they just won't accept you. But if they don't. Then you are always welcome to return. And if you want... We can try our best to turn her into one too. Then you two could be together. Forever."

Kanade would've threatened her if she had made that suggestion at any other time. But right now, deprived of her other half, it wasn't sounding too bad. Especially since it would only be a last resort. For now, she'd rest her head against Vanessa's chest, and just...

Try to sleep a bit...

---

"I wonder... I wonder if she's actually going to recognize me?"

The evening after she had been reborn in this Monster body, this Noise Hybrid form that left her with certain kinds of strengths that she wouldn't normally have had... It was a somber one. Not just because she was starting to come to terms with the fact that she was a Monster, but also because...

Well, what were the chances of Tsubasa actually knowing it was her? Elder S- Vanessa had taken her amulet. Just to make sure nothing went wrong with her having it. They couldn't afford to have her suddenly malfunction due to being too close to Gungnir. So she was stuck in this young form. Stuck wearing nothing but a cloak wrapped around her for modesty. Now, she just hoped that Tsubasa would pick up. If not, then...

Kanade slowly stroked a ball-shaped Noise that she had made using the remaining ashes in the stadium where she had perished once before. She was surprised that the place hadn't been cleaned up and renovated yet. But at the same time, she could understand why. The old man was always busy trying to save people.  He was probably concerned with wiping out Noise first, and then-

"You! What are you doing, throw that thing away!"

A knife grazed her cheek, and a familiar looking blue-haired girl came running towards the stage. Dressed in her Symphogear... Armed with the power of Ame no Habakiri..! Just seeing her was enough to raise Kanade's spirits, her heart bouncing all over the place.

There she was. Kazanari Tsubasa. Her other half. Her beloved Tsubasa. The other part of Zwei Wing. And the one she had given her life to protect. And yet... And yet she didn't recognize her. If anything, she thought that she was a threat, just because of the noise in her hands.

"It won't hurt anybody." Kanade said, as she carefully stood up on the ruined stage. Slowly but surely letting her hair blow in the gentle evening wind. "Just like I wouldn't. It's been a while, hasn't it, Tsubasa?" She said, trying to get through to her. trying to make her understand...

Tsubasa tightly gripped her katana as she watched the young girl stand on that stage. She... Was she Kanade? No, there was no way. She had a cape that had the same texturing as a Noise. And she held a Noise. And even if she ignored those, the skull on the inside of her cape... It was foreboding. Like she had just stumbled on somebody that was meant to be dead.

"Don't use that name! You're not her!" Tsubasa wasn't in the mood to play games. Especially not when it revolved around her departed partner! In an instant, she quickly made her sword grow, the blade glowing with blinding energies as she began to swing it. Like always, she stuck to the simple and effective [Blue Flash] for ranged combat!

Kanade's eyes widened, as she quickly started to roll out of the way. Unfortunately, leaving the cute roly poly Noise behind as she gasped and panted. She felt a lot more agile than she did when she was bigger. But she was nowhere near as powerful. At least, not in that way. "Tsubasa! It's me, seriously! Stop attacking!" Alright, no use trying to be vague and mysterious. That girl had so much trouble with the subtle stuff like that too, better just stick with the basics!"

"No! You're a Noise!" Tsubasa screamed in return, running towards the stage. Slashing and tossing out [Blue Flash] after [Blue Flash]. She wasn't going to let this girl keep using Kanade's face. She wasn't going to let her act like she could just do something like that, when she was nothing more than a filthy noise! First they killed her, and now they took her face!? Unforgivable!

The Lich did her best to dodge around the slashes, crying out in pain as she was forced to take a couple of them. They hurt. And yet she quickly regenerated the damage. As long as Gungnir wasn't damaged, she wouldn't be damaged either. And since Elder Sister held it...

Well. It was completely reckless. It was positively super stupid. But this was Tsubasa she was dealing with. Once she got a thought into her head, she didn't let go of it until she was completely embarrassed. Or she died. And the latter was something she didn't want to do. So instead, she'd have to go for the former route. And the best way to do that was to just... Well!

Tsubasa swung her blade once again, sending another [Blue Flash] out. And just like before, the powerful swing went straight through the Noise. Before long, the Noise would be wiped out. And she would never have to see them abuse Kanade's face ever again.

At least, that's what she thought. Then the Kanade Noise slammed straight through the slash without much damage, the young girl screaming as she ran at her other half. "TSUBASAAAAA!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, as she leapt straight towards the Symphogear. So there was no way that she could possibly avoid looking closely at her!

Tsubasa tried to slash the small noise gremlin at point blank range, but she just ended up getting a faceful of tiny terror instead, slammed straight onto the ground courtesy of the pint-sized brat. Coughing and gasping as she was forced to rapidly exhale in response to that violent slam. All while she was made to stare straight at the girl, already fearing what might happen if she touched her...

And yet, the Noise didn't really move once she was on top of her. The Kanade Noise just sat there. Gasping. Panting. Crying..? Why would she cry..? She was... A noise... Wasn't she..? Or... Wait, could it be... No, there's no way that she could actually be... But at the same time, why else would it cry..?

"Tsubasa, you idiot... Why'd you have to keep swinging at me like that?!" Kanade cried out, the tears finally starting to roll down her cheeks. She couldn't stop herself from sobbing. She had finally gotten back to the girl that she loved. Even if she was on top of her in a rather awkward looking position. "You big meanie... You stupid, stupid meanie..." Definitely not helped by her current childishness either...

"W-What? You've got a noise cape, Kanade! I thought you were really a Noise! I thought that you were just using your face against me instead of being the real thing!" Tsubasa did her best to try and defend herself, all while narrowing her eyes a little. "Besides, why would I remember you as a kid, when I remembered you for your... y-you know."

Kanade paused. The tears stopped falling. And then a vein popped open on her head. "What!? You remembered me for that of all things!? Tsubasaaaaaa!" She shouted, rapidly and harmlessly hitting her friend on the chest. Her flat chest, which was just as flat as Kanade's own at the moment.

"It's not my fault you ended up with bigger ones! I was always envious of them, how could I not remember them!?" Tsubasa cried out, not at all hurt by the constant bonking and bopping of her chest. If anything, it just made her all the more upset. "You were always flaunting them around too, while not really caring about them! Uncle really rubbed too hard off on you! Because you'd go around without anything covering your chest like it was a totally normal thing!"

"It IS a totally normal thing! So what if I had big boobs?! That doesn't mean you can just swing your sword at me like I'm some sort of enemy!" Kanade was still upset. Because of course she was. Those [Blue Flashes] had hurt! Even if she regenerated from them due to her nature as a Lich-

That was when Kanade stopped. And she just looked at her hands, softly hugging herself as she started crying again. "I wanted you to remember me for how cool I had been, you know..." She muttered, turning her head slightly. "Now I'm just a stupid, tiny Monster. And a Noise too, just to make it worse..."

Tsubasa watched Kanade's emotions pivot on a dime. She... She really was the girl that she had loved lots. In every single possible way. Which made her heart ache. Because she had hurt her. Because she had... No. She wasn't going to let this feeling take root. She knew how to deal with it. She knew just how she could make it all turn around, and she could make Kanade happy again.

Kanade sniffled, right as she got hugged by Tsubasa. That prompted her to blink and sniffle a little more. "D-Don't you realize how dangerous that could be..? If I touch you in the wrong way, you'll... You'll be..!" She was nervous. Afraid. Positively terrified at the thought of making her partner disintegrate into ash...

"I didn't know you could sound that worried, Kanade." Tsubasa said, hugging the small Lich tightly. "I don't care if you're a Monster. Nor do I care if you're Noise, Kanade. I know it's you. Not somebody trying to use your face against me. Not a fake. You're the real deal. And that's why... That's why I'm going to make sure that we stay together. So you can be as nice and as happy as you need to be. So we can be happy together, just like we were when we were Zwei Wing."

Kanade's tears ran down as powerfully and as intensely as waterfalls, as she sobbed incredibly loudly. All while clinging to Tsubasa. "TSUBASAAAAA!" She screamed, so happy that she wasn't rejected. She was so, so happy... Even if she was this small, even if she was a Monster..!

She finally got to be together with Tsubasa again. Even if she was like this, she was just happy to be with her again. And she'd do anything to stay with her. Just so it could last forever. Just so they could stay together...

"Tch. She got a happy ending."

Miliaarc muttered as she watched the duo from afar. Having helped Kanade get her in the first place, scoffing and gagging as she watched them reunite. Way too sappy for her tastes.

"And yet, that's what we want as well." Vanessa said, as she quietly uncloaked. Sending a shock and a shiver through the Vampire in the process. "Perhaps if you went close to them, you could get introduced to the Symphogears. Finé's plan may be a thorn in our side, but her pawns don't seem to be terrible people."

Miliaarc stared towards the two girls hugging it out, before gagging again. "No way. I ain't doing that." She said, before cracking a grin. "Besides. If I left you and Elsa behind, then would two really be able to handle it? I bet you two would break down and start crying the moment I left, that's the kind of girls you are!"

"Ara." Vanessa chimed, as she slowly rested her head on the palm of her hand. "If I recall correctly, you tried to run off when you were younger. And you got lost, so you cried out for me to help. Are you sure you wouldn't be the one to end up homesick?" She took great delight in teasing the Vampire. Especially since she had such a tendency to be a pain in her neck due to her personality.

Miliaarc trembled and grit her teeth before turning into a single bat. "Screw this. I'll be back at base. Don't be late, Elsa's cooking tonight!" She shouted, as she flapped her tiny wings to try and save some face and not be too embarrassed near Vanessa.

Vanessa chuckled, all while watching Kanade enjoy a happy, if confusing ending. "Amou Kanade. We'll meet again. And I'd love to hear your story. And perhaps so much more than that..."

The Monster left her hopes behind, to descend back into the shadows. All while leaving the Lich to her Happy Ending. As part of Noble Red, she deserved it.

And with Tsubasa at her side, Vanessa was sure of it. Kanade couldn't be happier...