Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit fictional story, a FanFiction based on Ken Akamatsu's Negima. I do not own Negima, or most of the other characters included in this work, excepting where it is stated in the author's notes. It is not intended or presented for any commercial profit or personal gain; it is simply a story written for personal fulfillment and presented for public enjoyment, and as an honest homage to the fine story conceived and written by Ken Akamatsu, as well as all the other (innumerable) works that find place herein (and their authors).

Prologue

The crystal hangs in the air, like a sun watching over the land below it. It provides the light as well, not broiling and intense, but pure and bright, an alien but comforting presence.

This pseudo-world reflects the mind of the creature that created it—beautiful islands floating in a sky, covered with greenery, normal geography, and elements of a human city. Should any person acquainted with the world's goddess enter, they would recognize so much of the land of Mahora divided up amongst the floating islands.

And that 'goddess', rather, the Crystal Princess, sleeps within the crystal. The silhouette inside the stone is nude—she did not go into the crystal in this condition, but as this entire plane is mental, rather than physical, the lack is drawn from her mind. Perhaps it is simply the bizarre 'Japanese view of spirits' Kain alluded to so many months previously; perhaps it is a symbol and manifestation of the girl's mental state, how she has opened herself up and made herself vulnerable to everything by taking this duty upon her and entering the crystal.

And as time passes, it does not really matter to this free-floating world…even to the girl within, as she slumbers even while her power works its will upon the worlds, it does not even seem to matter….

But time does pass…and after so much has passed….

"Wake up."

There was a slight stirring from the girl within the crystal, but only slightly, barely noticeable.

"Wake up, Mai."

Mai was no longer strictly alone within this largely mental world. Finally, her eyes fluttered open and she glanced blearily down towards the sound of the voice, the speaker whose words easily penetrated the crystalline cocoon that contained her. A nearly identical face stared back—short red-orange hair, blank purple eyes, the only difference was its youth. The 'young' Mai was dressed as she always was in the dreams and visions—that elaborate black dress the Obsidian Star favored for her, that dress, for good or ill, that was so inspired from the royal gowns of the ancient Takiva Empire.

Mai's mind was numb as she stared at her youthful doppelgänger. "You're not awake yet," the youth insisted. "It's time."

"It's time…?" Mai murmured in reply. "I'm so very tired…."

"You've slept enough," the child replied. "You've done enough and more than enough. For now, leave the rest to me. It's time for you to wake up and fulfill your promise."

"My…promise…that's right…I did…promise…."

Mai slowly fell out of the crystal, sliding out of it as if it were liquid, rather than a solid structure. She collapsed almost immediately onto the nearest island, which consisted of little more than the immediate plaza surrounding the great Mahora World Tree. She knelt there for several seconds, breathing slowly and deeply. At last she glanced over as the infant floated down near her. "Leave the rest…to you?" she murmured.

"You have a life to go to. But this world can't be left alone…not now, and not ever. Now that this glorious new solar system has been made, these seven worlds all revolving around each other require a satellite to be their base, a 'sun' that keeps them following their neighboring but separate paths. Do you…understand the truth of the Soul Society's Soul King?"

Mai thought about it. It was difficult, through the haze of her sleepy thoughts, but slowly that molasses was draining away and it was becoming steadily easier. "No…I don't think I've ever heard anything about him before…."

"The so-called 'King' is not a ruler in the traditional sense," Chibi Mai explained. "When Arcanus Myrror was created, the presence of two worlds with such an influx of mana had ripples in the spiritual level of reality most mages couldn't even begin to fathom. The spirits of the dead began to be led astray and confused on their path to the afterlife, and then began to become hollows. One of the kin of Elodos, a Celestial, recognized this danger…and so he created the Soul Society, to create a dwelling place for lost spirits until they could return to the normal spirit flow. And this Celestial became the 'Soul King', transforming himself into the pillar that supported the bond and wall between mortal and spiritual planes. Even now he lives high above the Seireitei, guarded by the oldest and most knowledgeable Soul Reapers, and maintains the balance of existence simply by existing himself. And I shall likewise become such a pillar for the magic of these seven worlds."

"You…but not me?" Mai asked. "What do you mean?"

"You, or rather me, or rather both of us…created both of us. Technically, the 'me' you think I am, the original Crystal Princess, no longer exists. Nothing was lost, destroyed, or created when we were delivered to Mahora with our memories wiped. We were always Mai, even with a new name and a new life. But the memories couldn't go away for good…and in your heart, deep in your subconscious, in order to deal with the memories and feelings you couldn't handle, you created me, a representation of your 'previous self'. Of course, with the power you wield, that self-delusion became a type of reality…a reality that allowed you to use this power as you needed without succumbing to it. And now, since I do exist, I can separate myself from you…even if I am nothing but an artificial personality, your power is enough that you can leave me behind for this while leaving nothing else."

"I…see," Mai murmured. "Does that mean…I won't remember anything from my 'previous life' when I finally leave?"

"Yes. That is the one sacrifice you must make. But you will always be Tokiha Mai, and you will have all those memories—you will have your connections with your friends and classmates, with Kain, with all the rest. You can now finally begin your own life, just as they wanted you to. All you have to do…is go out to face them."

Mai nodded and slowly rose, her Mahora uniform returning to clothe her spiritual body even as she did, as she began to focus on the thought of being herself and who and where she was. "Right. I…will be going then. Thank you…for everything."

"There is nothing to thank me for…I am you. In the end, it was you who did everything. It is you…who has saved these worlds. Now, go on…and inherit the world you sacrificed yourself for."

Mai nodded again and turned away. She glanced up into the sky, and a perfect circle of a hole opened in the air, with an entirely separate space within—the true Mahora World Tree beyond it. Without another word, she leapt into the circle…and left behind the Throne of the Worlds' Core for the world itself.

F I N

Author's Note: No Wavering

I thought about many things I could do for a Prologue; usually I hit side notes and characters that haven't been seen in a while, places far from the action, tying up loose ends…but this time I felt that, after the cliffhanger I ended Act 19 on, there was nowhere to go but to stick with Mai and see this through, at least until this 'matter' is resolved. There is a lot to tie up in this final, ending Act, lots of characters still to hit and futures to see and loose ends to secure, but first…first and foremost…there is Mai….

And so the Prologue will go right into Chapter One. Away with it…!