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).
Chapter One: Reunion with Destiny
November 25th. Mid-afternoon.
"Hmm…this is actually quite good," Yue remarked in her generally bland manner. "Would you like to try some, Nina-san?"
"C-certainly not! That gaudy ice cream…I don't understand your tastes…."
"Those two are actually getting along well now, aren't they?" Arika remarked cheerfully.
"Yes, despite what they're saying, it certainly seems so," Shiho agreed. "Although, you know…it's nice we finally have a day off and all, but I would have preferred to have had the 22nd off…."
"E-enough of that!" Nina snapped. "Don't blame me! I would have preferred to see the final match live, myself, but at least we were able to watch the replay!"
"Oh!" Arika said. "Is Nina-chan finally admitting to how much she enjoys it all, too!?"
"W-what? N-no! W-well, it's certainly interesting, but it's not like I was obsessed or anything…." She stopped and shot Shiho a deadly glare before she could even approach. "And don't you even start anything, you!"
Shiho stuck her tongue out at her as Erstin did her usual timid best to be peacemaker. "It was pretty amazing though, wasn't it?" Irina said. "The way Kalan used all those strange powers and spells, countered everything Aiden could do…even fashioning that great magic circle under his nose without his realizing! It was magnificent! It might not have been the original Kalan, but it was just as good…no, I'm sure of it! It was better than the original! He's just so extraordinary…." She paused and considered. "We still don't know who he is, though. His reincarnation? His son?"
('His son….') "By the way," Yue suddenly put in, "Kalan Lockeheart did get married, it seems."
This suddenly bought all her companions' attention. "What? I've never heard anything about that!" Nina gasped.
"Yes…I've heard rumors, but that sounded very certain," Shiho remarked. "Tell me…where did you get this information, Yuecchi?"
"A-ah…w-well…I think I just heard it somewhere…."
To her surprise, Shiho did not press the matter. She smiled her almost wicked smile at Yue, but, instead of moving in to use her talents to find out the truth of the matter, she simply turned away. "I see…."
('S-somehow, I'd rather not say…but according to the information I got from the top-secret Avalon and Grandall archives through my Orbis Sensualium Pictus, Kalan-sama did indeed have a son, who should be around 15 years old, our age….')
8-8-8
Kain, Nodoka, Ami, and Mai walked together through the streets of the city, the three girls wearing glasses of inconsequence and fake cat ears and Kain with his hood pulled up over his head. They were taking in with pleasure the continued sights, sounds and smells of the Festival. With the end of the tournament, they were in light hearts and good spirits about their future fortunes. "Ah!" sighed Mai happily. "At last we can go back to the real world!"
"But," Ami put in, "before that, we have to find and retrieve Yue…."
"It's all right," Kain assured her, smiling at Nodoka reassuringly as well. "We'll get her soon…I promise…."
"Y-yes…." ('Yue,') Nodoka thought. ('Is she really all right…?')
"In any case, where are we headed?" Mai demanded.
"The arena…there's a few last things I want to take care of with Richard and the rest of Dolnegus' representatives…."
Mai sighed. "Unh…I had hoped we were finished with them…."
"We are, there's just something I've been thinking about…."
Suddenly a disturbance from a group up ahead of them caught their attention. "Yue-san, you're getting that ice cream all over your cheek! As a HiME, that is disgraceful!"
"Ah, my bad…."
"Don't lick it like that! My word…."
One of the voices pricked Nodoka's mind, and she stopped and looked towards the group. She spotted the small girl in the blue-green dress with the massive purple hair in giant pigtails, with the broad and poorly-concealed forehead. She stared, her eyes widening in shock. Yue, noticing the attention on her, stopped and turned that direction. "Yu…e…?" Nodoka breathed.
"Eh…?"
Obviously, Nodoka's reaction attracted the attention of her comrades, and they all turned to stare at Yue. Before anyone could say anything more, Nodoka dashed over and threw her arms around the other girl, embracing her desperately. "Yue! You're all right!" She finally withdrew, but didn't release her hold on the girl. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. "I was so worried…I'm so glad you're okay!"
Yue stared in shock, but a name came unbidden to her lips. "No…do…ka…?" Then she stopped and shook her head as she tried to either dislodge or summon forth this idea that had suddenly arisen in her.
Ami and Mai also came forward quickly, Ami sighing in relief, Mai looking more concerned. "Yue-chan!" Mai demanded. "What on earth's going on!? If you were here, shouldn't you have contacted us!? Kain's done nothing but give us some vague assurances that you'd be all right…."
"U-u…uhm…" Yue began.
"Yue, what have you been doing all this time?" Nodoka babbled, too excited to stop. "And…what's with this uniform…?"
"E…er…w-who…exactly, are you…?" Yue finally managed.
This finally brought Nodoka up short. "…Y-Yue…?"
"So…you know Yue-san?" Nina suddenly demanded, stepping forward and, slightly more possessively or sternly than perhaps she should have, separated Nodoka from her amnesiac friend.
('What luck…is it good or bad?') Kain thought, staring at the group from the back. ('Meeting her here…she still can't remember even Nodoka, but….')
Ami stepped forward. "This…is Yue, isn't it? You called her that yourself…."
"It's rather bold of you to suddenly embrace random strangers on the street," Shiho said. "Might we, perhaps, know who you are, and how you think you know our ace HiME, Yue-chan?"
With those around her distracted, Yue began to look around to take in the rest of this group of strange people…and her eyes looked past those in front of her and settled on Kain. Her eyes widened and her face flushed in recognition. ('T-that's…!')
Irina, Arika, and Erstin, confused, finally hurried forward to join this meeting. Irina glanced at them all in confusion, then her eyes widened as her memory was suddenly pricked. "N-Nina-chan! Those guys are the wanted criminals we're supposed to watch out for…!" she called.
('Oh, damn…') thought Nina.
Arika started. "W-what!? You mean, allies of that boy from the other day!?" Roaring, she started to charge in. "Stay away from Yue-chan!"
"Oh, dear," Shiho muttered as Nodoka and the rest stepped back in surprise and brief fear.
Arika leapt at them. Mai stepped in front of Nodoka and summoned a quick shield to repulse her. "Hey, now!" she began crossly.
Arika immediately jumped back up and leapt at Mai. Irina pulled a wand and chanted. A shimmering series of magical rings appeared around Nodoka, encasing and capturing her. "There! One captured!" she exulted triumphantly.
To her surprise, Kain suddenly strode up next to Nodoka and, with a casual touch of his hand, shattered the imprisoning barrier. Irina stared in shock. ('W-what…? My best magic, that imprisonment spell, broken so easily…!?')
Arika glanced that way in surprise after Mai repulsed her once again. "You…you're the one who hurt Yue-chan!" She leapt at Kain.
To the surprise of all, Nina intercepted Arika, grasping her in a headlock from behind and throttling her to the ground. "Arika! That's enough! This isn't the time or place!"
"Nina-chan, what are you doing!? These people are the ones…!"
"Enough! We shouldn't…!"
The two continued wrestling, Arika fighting back fiercely and getting caught up in her new opponent, grappling and punching at Nina far more fiercely than she should have, and Nina desperately trying to subdue her, both now oblivious to their great shocked audience—both HiME and White Wings were all staring in shock.
Kain stared, and finally sighed. ('Well…if we're going to bring her in, now is as good a time as any….') He raised a hand and snapped his fingers. Suddenly Arika and Nina were pulled apart and left hanging in the air, thrashing futilely against the force that now held them. They stared at Kain in shock. "W-what…!?" Arika began.
"That's enough," Kain echoed Nina. "If you're friends of Yue, then there's no need to fight us, or each other. You should stop this foolishness…there's no point in any of it. And if you can't relent…." Suddenly Kain let a portion of his power flare out, blossoming briefly into those curious wings of his, arising from his shoulders. "…You'll have me to deal with. Now, since we're causing a scene…we should find somewhere more private to handle this situation." Then, with another snap of his fingers, this time from the other hand, an opaque shield of magic arose, obscuring them all, and then it vanished…and all ten of them along with it.
8-8-8
A short time later, they were gathered at a café table far from the site of the altercation. Kain was seated on one side of the table, with Nodoka and Ami on either side of him. Across from them, Yue was seated between Nina and Arika. Shiho sat at the side of the table, while Mai stood behind Kain and Erstin and Irina behind Yue. Here, finally, Yue's condition was related to her friends. "What!?" Mai demanded in shock. "Lost her memory!?"
"B-but…how did such a thing happen…?" Nodoka wondered.
"W-well, I-I…" Yue attempted, staring down at the table.
"A-ah…" Arika ventured with trepidation. "A-actually…i-it's my fault…." And she related the first unfortunate encounter between the pair three months previous.
"I see," Ami remarked. "So you accidentally fired off a forgetfulness spell…yes, the timing coincides quite well with the incident at the Gateport. There can be no doubt."
"Then…it really is you, Yue!" Nodoka said in relief, tearing up again. She reached across and took Yue's hands in hers. "Yue…I'm so glad you're okay! Now we can all go back to Japan together! I'm sure if we go back, your memories will come back! Don't you remember me? I'm Miyazaki Nodoka! I'm a fellow member of the Library Exploration Club! We're always together…!"
"One moment, please," Irina suddenly said, bringing Nodoka up short and causing her to withdraw. "Aren't you getting a little bit ahead of yourselves? This is Yue Yumemiya, a HiME, proud student of Garderobe Academy! What proof do you have that this is really the same Yue-chan you know!?" She turned to Nina. "C'mon, Nina-san, why don't you say anything!? They're trying to take Yue-chan away without any proof! And…by saying she's one of them, they're saying that Yue-chan is one of these criminals!"
"Hey now, we told you…!" Mai began in exasperation, but she was stopped short in surprise as Nina held up a hand.
"It's all right, Irina," she said with a sigh. She reached into a magical pocket. "Haven't you figured out yet that they're quite telling the truth about everything?" She pulled forth a paper and laid it on the table…the list of the bounties for the Gateport Incident, the original, not the one that had been edited (with Yue's picture removed) and shown to the HiME when they began their duties in Orimus. There, with the rest, was the same Yue they had all come to know so well.
Yue stared at it. "That's…me…?"
"Yes, it is," Kain said finally. As they turned their attention to him, he produced Yue's card from his cloak. "This is the card of my disciple, my student, my friend, Ayase Yue. Yue has her own copy of this…which she's already used to speak to me…isn't that right, Yue?"
Yue stared, flushed and lowered her gaze from him. "Y-yes, it is…" she managed.
Arika was staring from face to face during all this, quite shocked by this odd turnabout. "B-but…why…all of this…?"
Shiho smirked, and finally said, "So…you are really Kain Lockeheart, then? This rumored son of Kalan Lockeheart? As well as the same man who, as 'Kalan Lockeheart', just became co-champion of the Kalan Lockeheart Cup?"
Kain glanced shrewdly at the girl and nodded. "Yes…that's correct." He turned his gaze back to focus on Yue, but glanced briefly at each of the HiME. "Since we're here now, it's better to get this all out. I am Kain Lockeheart, the son of Kalan Lockeheart. I am the English and Homeroom teacher of Mahora Academy's girl's middle school class 3-A, club advisor for the American Cultural Research Society, leader of the White Wings. Ayase Yue is a member of all of these, and our important companion. I'm grateful to all of you for taking such good care of Yue for us…but she is one of ours, and it will soon be time to go back, and we'll have to take her with us. With the responsibilities I hold as her teacher, I have a duty to see her back home, regardless of the state of her memories."
Shiho and Nina seemed calm in the face of this, but the rest of the girls were quite shocked. "E-eh…EEHHH!?" Irina cried. "You're…the real son of…and you're…the tournament…!"
"I-I suppose this means…I'm not from this world, am I…?" Yue asked wistfully.
Kain smiled slightly. "Yes," he said. "You come from Earth, the same as the rest of us. Still, I'm both surprised and pleased that you've fit in so well here…with the situation being what it is, I can't guarantee we'll ever be able to return to Arcanus Myrror, but perhaps you'll be able to return to Garderobe eventually if that's what you want. But first we have to go home. Hopefully, as Nodoka says, your memory will return once we're back at Mahora."
"B-but…this is so sudden…" Arika muttered. "I mean…I wanted Yue-chan to get her memory back and all, but…to think she has to go away…."
"I'm afraid that's the case," Kain said. "I don't want to seem callous or domineering, but it's what has to be. I'm already well acquainted with your 'child' president, Mashiro Kazahana, and if we call her to us now, I'm certain she'll tell you herself."
"W-with Mashiro-sama?" Erstin wondered.
'Nina-chan…there have been a few magical disturbances. Are you in the company of a young man named Kain Lockeheart?'
Nina jumped as the voice of Mary-Katherin came suddenly into her head. 'Y-yes…what's the matter…?'
'Oh, good…listen, this is very important. It is important that you keep that boy safe until I get there, and not let him fall into the hands of the Governor-General Kurt Gödel!'
'T-the Governor-General!? B-but what is he…?'
"Oh, dear me…isn't that the princess of Wind Bloom, Nina Blan de Windbloom herself?"
Nina started again, the telepathy fading, and all turned to stare. The man hailing them was tall, thin, dressed in quite formal and expensively regal attire, with medium-length, carefully-groomed silver hair and a pair of oval glasses. He was flanked by a small boy with wild red hair, carrying a sheathed sword, and two warriors in heavy platemail armor. Nina stared in even greater shock, her eyes widening. ('T-this is…Governor-General Gödel!?')
Gödel glanced slyly Kain's way. "…Oh? And who is this boy? I could swear that I've seen him somewhere before…."
('What is going on…? It was complicated enough that we just met them, but now, that obscure warning…and here he is in the flesh, the appointed governor-general of the reborn city of Orimus, Halteese Senator Kurt Gödel…!')
Nina steeled herself and, standing, gestured at Kain to stay silent. She addressed herself to the senator. "Your Excellency…forgive me, but I was under the impression that, for the duration of the Festival, the only active military forces in the city were to be the HiME, as agreed upon by the International Council…?"
The man lowered his eyes demurely. "Ah, you see…it's a little embarrassing, but the truth is, I've always had a frail constitution, ever since I was small. I'm afraid I can't even walk in public safely without an escort…."
A full dozen guards seemed almost to appear behind him. "These are, you could say, my entirely personal bodyguards! Please, pay them no mind."
('W-what a completely bald-faced lie!') Irina and Yue thought together.
('The Governor-General…') Kain thought. ('I saw him at the opening ceremony…and also in that video of Aiden's….')
Nina leaned back and whispered to Erstin, "Take him and get him out of here." As the girl hastily began to comply, with Arika and Irina instinctively helping her to try and gather Kain and his friends and herd them away, she tried to call the governor's attention. "And? What does the oh-so-frail Governor-General want with a few young, humble HiME and their friends?"
"Ah, well, you see…it is the strangest thing…I heard that there were some young HiME who were causing some sort of fuss, fighting amongst themselves…raising such a ruckus…."
Nina began to flush, but she managed to keep her poise and her control. "What are you talking about? There certainly were no such incidents to my knowledge…."
"Ah, I see…then the deviants I've captured in these photos couldn't possibly be yourselves, could they?"
Now, the particular Japanese tradition, inherited from the English, was to put its children and teenagers in traditional, staid school uniforms, and the girls in particular in short skirts for their uniform. Despite…nay, we should say, for obvious reasons, because of this, the writers and artists of anime enjoy having such young females fight in their school clothes, and for some reason the females involved rarely think of the views they give to the males around them. In this case, Nina had little choice but to attempt to restrain Arika while both were dressed in their equivalent HiME uniforms, complete with their own short skirts…and somehow Gödel seemed to have acquired a particular array of shots of the two in 'action', with several that were particularly mortifying to Nina. It was all she could do to keep from screaming upon seeing them, but still, her response to the senator was rather shrill: "Certainly not!"
"Ah, is that so? That's certainly a relief! Imagine the scandal that would follow if it became known that our valiant warrior-maidens were fighting amongst themselves without care in such a fashion as to expose their unmentionables to the innocent menfolk of the city…. I suppose that I have no choice but to reproduce this evidence and distribute it widely so that the impersonating perpetrators can be caught…."
"W-w-w-w-wait!" Nina began, reaching new levels of shrillness.
"Now then, joking aside," Gödel suddenly put in, pocketing his evidence and turning his attention to the as-yet-undeparted Kain. "As I was saying before…I believe that the young man over there…I believe I've seen him before…." The man made very exaggerated thinking postures and noises, crossing his arms and tapping his temple with his finger, even cupping his face with his hand after a few moments. "Where could it have been, I wonder…? Let's see…that international listing of wanted criminals? No, no…that can't be it…."
Yue slipped up next to Nina. "This could be bad, Nina-san," she whispered to her. "There's clearly something deeper under this…."
"Yes…that message from Mary-Katherin-sensei earlier suggests the same…."
"Ah, yes!" Gödel suddenly exclaimed. "I remember now! Why, I do believe that you are the son of the legendary hero who saved our world! Or perhaps a different description is in order: Orphan son of the Queen of Calamity, the witch who destroyed her own people: Aeli Valencia Kanna!"
This declaration brought the group up short. They stared in shock. ('O-of course...') Nodoka thought, ('we all heard what we suspected…that Aeli-san was really Kain-sensei's mother…but…Queen of Calamity…?')
Kain's stare was soft and curious, but not overly burdened with expression. Kurt Gödel focused on it. "…I'm surprised, Kain-kun," he said. "A revelation of this magnitude, and you do not falter an inch? Impressive…."
"What are you talking about?" Kain murmured back. "I already heard about it. However…that epithet you've given her is another matter." Power began to flow from Kain, the sudden fierceness of it stunning and pushing back those around him. "Tell me what you mean…depending on how you answer…I won't let you off lightly, even if you are a former member of the Red Wings…."
"…Oh? So you've heard about that, too…I may have to revise my estimation of you a little…."
"Enough. I already told you…explain yourself…."
"Stop right there!"
Heads turned in surprise as Mary-Katherin came marching up, dressed in her Robe with the Triad behind her, also dressed for battle. "That's quite enough, Governor-General Gödel. You have no right to arrest this boy at this moment."
"M-Mary-Katherin-sensei!?" Arika gasped in shock.
Gödel smiled at her. "My, my, Mary-Katherin Black…who said anything about arresting? Although…if you think that this boy is someone dangerous, someone in need of arresting, perhaps I should take care…after all, he is the fake 'Kalan Lockeheart' who defeated even Aiden Rylack! Why, with my frail constitution, he could break my body with perhaps even a simple glare…."
'Do not rise to his provocation, Kain Lockeheart!' hissed the voice of MK in Kain's mind. 'It's you that he's after! He wants you to turn to violence, so he'll have an excuse to take you into his custody! This is a very dangerous man…it's probable that he's even part of the group that set your White Wings up as fugitives in the first place! He may be an even more terrible enemy than Pakrov Eminus!'
"My, my…" Gödel suddenly murmured. "Dear Mary-Katherin…those are some rather irresponsible things you're saying…or, rather, thinking…. Might I ask upon what evidence you base those claims? It's a good thing you aren't saying them aloud. That could cause no end of trouble."
MK started. ('R-real-time telepathy interception…!? How…!?')
"Dear Miss Mary-Katherin…could I ask you to stand offstage like the side character you are?" Thus summarily dismissing the HiME, he turned back to Kain. "Now, Kain-kun…I had the pleasure of observing your match. I must say I was impressed…amazed…awestruck, even! Your talents are astonishing. I could praise you all day! And yet…what do you plan to do with all that power and ability? Return to a peaceful country and live in comfort as a simple schoolteacher? We can't have that, can we? No, no…far too boring. With that power of yours, Kain-kun…you could save the world…."
Kain stared silently at Gödel, pondering not his words so much as his intentions in general. ('I know this man traveled with the Red Wings…but he was but a boy then, younger than I am now. After twenty years, what kind of man has he become? What's he trying to get at? And…what…Mary-Katherin here said about him…might it be true…? Kamo, Aiden…they didn't seem to trust him….')
Seeing that Kain was content to yet remain silent, Gödel continued in the throes of righteous dramatization, "Or perhaps you would simply trounce the young Eminus and leave it at that? No, no, that is simply not enough. Far too petty for one such as yourself. Those with power have a responsibility to the world. Your honorable father spent a full five years after the war doing what he could for the greater good…and yet the world is still full of the outrageous and the unreasonable." He stopped his dramatic posturing and stared carefully at Kain. "…Surely you agree…? You could help to ensure that the tragedy that befell a certain village does not repeat itself. You have inherited a legacy from your father before you, and you now have the power to live up to it. It is your duty to live up to it! Do you not see my reasoning? As the son of the celebrated hero, as a man who has gained fame in the arena, and as the last remaining heir to the world's oldest family, this is your duty…. Yes, your mother herself may be shrouded in infamy, but the noble blood of the Takiva Empire itself is in you. That blood, the blood of the founders of this world, flows through your very veins, and that marks you as its rightful heir. Do you understand what that means? Your value is, frankly, inestimable. You have the power to rule over this entire world. How about it, Kain-kun? Won't you join forces with me? If you do, half of this world can be yours…."
Kain stared at Gödel. Then he shook his head and smirked. "Really? Who on earth are you trying to impress? The qualities of 'the blood of the founders of this world'…those are just what the Obsidian Star sought to use to make this world theirs. Are you trying to follow in their footsteps? You know the name of Eminus…you want to set me up as the conquering hero? You would have me save this world and then become its Hero-King? Or perhaps, more correctly, you would set me up as the world's savior, and be puppet-king while you pulled the strings from behind the scenes, doing with this world as you will. I don't know what delusions of grandeur you have, what megalomania you suffer from, but my destiny, my legacy, and what I do with it, are mine to decide. I'm not a naïve child for you to manipulate, and I don't take kindly to your attempts to do so. I want nothing to do with your vision…so I suggest you simply leave. Do you understand?"
Kurt sighed. "Ah…I hoped we would come to an understanding. I'll have to take that as a 'no'. In taking over the world, you could save it, you know…but I suppose a child cannot understand such things. In that case, perhaps I should just arrest these four young wanted ladies here, as would be expected of a man of my station…."
"Why, you…!" Mai began in anger.
Kain's power snapped out even more fiercely, nearly paralyzing all around with the wind it whipped up. "Just try it," Kain seethed. "You have done nothing for my mood. Right now, I don't care who you are…if you raise a hand against my friends, I'll break you in pieces."
A stray pebble, blown by the wind, impacted against Kurt's right cheek as he stared delightedly at Kain's demonstration. He reached up with a finger and picked up a bit of blood from the small wound. "Ah," he said brightly. "I suppose this makes my actions self-defense. Now I am free to exercise my power as I see fit."
"Don't you…!" MK began.
Gödel gestured. "Be gentle with him," he instructed his armored guards as they moved forward, readying their massive spears and shields.
As they moved towards the young man, a golden flash suddenly blasted through the soldiers, scattering them all…and leaving them quite defeated. All eyes turned to stare at the new arrivals. Behind were two men, a young man with messy brown hair and brown eyes in a long white coat, and an older man with a white beard but no mustache dressed in a formal blue suit. In front of them, by far dominating the scene, was a beautiful blonde woman in shining, ornate armor, a royal red cape lined with thick white fur, and a large pompous golden crown of the most royal décor. In her hand was a shining golden sword. "That's quite enough," Artoria said boldly. "Even you should be aware, dear Kurt-kun, that raising your hand against a member of the royal family of Avalon, especially here, at this Festival of Peace, is a most improper breach of etiquette…a virtual international incident. You can't possibly want that on your résumé, do you?"
Kurt adjusted his glasses. "…Whatever are you talking about…? This boy…."
"This boy is Kain Dremmond Lockeheart, the son of Kalan Dremmond Lockeheart and Aeli Valencia Kanna…my cousin. As my cousin once removed, Kain Lockeheart is my last living relative." She held up a hand behind her, and Orlandeau stepped forward and placed a scroll in it. With a snap of her wrist, Artoria unfurled the scroll. "I haven't had a chance to announce it publicly yet, what with the tournament taking everyone's attention, but I have already officially adopted Kain Lockeheart as a member of the royal family of Avalon, a member of the Pendragon line, and the sole heir to my throne."
"I haven't heard anything about that," Gödel protested. "That cannot be official…."
"It has been ratified by my own Court Archmage and two of my Knights of the Round, and witnessed by the signatures of two recognized monarchs, Emperor Peony Upsalla Malkuth IX of Grandall, and King Sargon Blan de Windbloom of the kingdom of Windbloom, as well as two of your own senators of Halteese and the President of Garderobe Academy. This is quite official." She handed the scroll back over her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Kurt-kun, but you've been outmaneuvered. You have no recourse here for any action…not here, in your own city, in the midst of this Festival of Peace and Celebration. You have already caused quite a fuss here over nothing…do you really think that, if this incident is brought into the public eye, that your actions will pass muster? Particularly if a deep investigation of these matters is conducted…?"
Kurt fell silent. Artoria continued, "Well, if you feel this child has insulted you somehow, as his legal guardian and his liege lord, I must take responsibility for his actions. If you wish a duel to regain your honor, I will take it in his behalf. What do you say, Kurt-kun? Do you think, after this time, you've progressed enough to make a satisfactory opponent for me…?"
Kurt sighed and finally spoke. "Well-played, Artoria-san. Very well. I will withdraw for now. Kain-kun…I shall at least leave you with this." He stepped forward and handed a letter to Kain, who accepted it carefully. Then, as his guards slowly began to pick themselves up, he turned on his heel and departed, and his escort followed him.
Artoria watched him go, then turned a small smile on the remaining members of this incident. "Well…I think we've attracted quite enough attention here for now. We should leave. Riviera?"
A woman stepped from behind the knights, a young woman with silver hair tied in a long side-tail, dressed in a black sleeveless top with a short white skirt and long black stockings. "Of course, your Majesty," she agreed easily, and raised a short rod above her head. A flash of light enveloped the group, and a moment later they were all gone.
8-8-8
They reappeared inside a great hall, resembling the entry chamber of a mansion or castle. "Thank you, Riviera," Artoria said, then turned to the confused visitors. "Welcome, all of you, to my little estate here in Orimus…the one gifted to me for the duration of this Festival. You're all my guests for today…thank you all for your hard work. You all handled an extremely difficult situation quite well."
Their attentions turned to her, and Nina spoke first. "W-what was that all about!?" she demanded. "You…you are Queen Artoria Pendragon, Queen of Avalon, are you not!? W-what was the Governor-General going on about…and t-this boy…." She pointed at Kain. "Is he really…all those things!? Son of Kalan Lockeheart…son of the last Queen of Kanev…heir of Avalon…and even that same Kalan Lockeheart who won that tournament…!?"
Kain coughed into his fist. "Co-won," he corrected. "We tied, officially. That Kalan no longer has any need to exist. Yes, Nina-san, I am all those things, it seems…although the heir of Avalon was also news to me…." He glanced over at Artoria.
The woman smiled. "We'll save that for later…it was something we prepared for just this situation. Whether you accept it or not is your choice, but for now, it is a useful shield to protect you." She nodded to the group. "Again, for the day, you are my guests; stay with me here today, dine with me, and rest well here tonight." Then she turned and started up the stairs and away.
With the Queen's departure, the spell of shock and concern that had been gripping the group for so many long minutes finally dispersed, and the HiME, in particular, began to chatter all at once.
"Why did we have to deal with that?" Nao sighed. "Really, what a bother this turned out to be…."
"I don't think I've ever seen such a frightening assembly of monsters," Chie murmured.
"We're out of that," Akane agreed. "We don't have to worry about this anymore…."
"My, my," Shiho said. "Wasn't that exciting?"
"I-I could think of another word for it," Irina muttered.
"W-what's going on…?" Arika muttered. "I-I mean…Yue-chan is…and this Kain-san is…and the governor guy…w-what's this all about…?"
Yue and Nina glanced at Arika with almost pitying expressions. MK sighed and stepped forward, clapping her hands in the usual 'teacher needs attention' fashion. "Now…thank you all for your efforts this afternoon. As her Majesty said, you handled a trying situation quite well, under the circumstances." She turned to the red-haired young man, the only male left in the chamber after the departure of the Queen and her knights, and bowed. "Kain Lockeheart…it's an honor and a privilege to finally meet you."
"Thank you," Kain said humbly. "And I must thank you for taking such good care of my friend and student all this time…all of you…."
"S-so…it's true, then…?" Arika said. "These are…Yue-chan's friends…? And…she'll be leaving us…?"
"Well, what did you expect?" Shiho answered her sharply. "Yue-chan was only to be kept as a member of our school until she regained her memory or she could be returned to her rightful place…right, MK-sensei?"
"Yes…that was the agreement made with the President," MK agreed. She turned to the girl in question. "You were interrupted before, Yue-chan…but what do you think about this?"
Yue was silent. This was…so different than what she had thought it would be. She had imagined…she wasn't quite sure what. In a way, this boy, the person she had been looking for…everything about him was even more amazing than she had imagined, but for herself…she had hoped, expected, that something magnificent would happen, that her memories would come pouring back…but nothing. She felt something…feelings, vast and deep and yet unidentifiable, about the young man…a strong sense of comfort from the girl called Nodoka…but they were not memories. The thought of leaving this life that had been so fulfilling and meaningful, and returning to a world that was…was alien, was so very daunting. "W-well…I-I…."
"I think now is a hard time to think about things like that," Kain suddenly said. "Yue…is hardly in the right mind to make any good decisions after all the shocks of today. We're here as guests of Queen Artoria, after all…we might as well enjoy her hospitality and not worry about any of that for a while."
MK smiled. "Yes, that does sound reasonable. Come along now, all of you…if we're going to enjoy dinner with her Majesty, we should probably get ourselves freshened up beforehand." She pointed at a waiting maid and began to herd the girls towards her. The maid led them through a side door and out of sight. Yue cast one last glance towards the remaining four children before she disappeared from view.
Ami watched her go, then glanced at Kain. "So…you knew about Yue, Kain-sensei?"
Kain nodded. "Yes…I've seen her once before, the day the Obsidian Star started that big fight with us in town. She was a HiME assigned to put down the disturbance…it was very brief, as I just had to escape from her and her friends. Later on, she contacted me through her card…and admitted that she had amnesia and didn't remember anything. It was just curiosity that had led her to contact me." He returned her calculating stare. "What do you think we should do in this situation?"
Ami shook her head. "I don't know. We can't leave her…but we can't ask her to come with us if she doesn't know anything."
Mai looked at Kain. "Isn't there…anything we can do for her?" she demanded.
Kain sighed. "I…don't know. You remember when you first learned about magic? How I threatened to take away your memory? It's the same thing here…as much as I've progressed in magic, it's all in meta-magic, forces, things that could help me fight my enemies. I have not been able to study things like that yet…it takes more than a knowledge of magic, it takes the knowledge of the operation of the brain, to use such magic without harm. If she really lost her memory as the result of a miscast spell by a novice, it's an even more tenuous situation. We could perhaps, either one of us, simply undo the spell, reach in and pluck it out…but I have no way of knowing how that might affect her in the long term. If Mashiro Kazahana still hasn't done anything for it…I wouldn't like to risk my chances. We'll see…we still have time before we have to leave. I'm sure we'll be in contact with Yue for the foreseeable future. When the time comes…we can ask her how she feels. If she wants to chance it, perhaps we can try something. Until then…we'll just have to take care of her as best we can."
Mai sighed. "Yeah…I suppose so…. So then…what about that letter that K…that the Governor-General gave you?"
Kain held it up and inspected it. "Yes…let's see about this letter…."
He opened it, and his three friends gathered around to inspect it. It was the traditional video-letter of the magic society, and so an image of Kurt Gödel appeared in the air above the letter, and it began to speak.
'Well, Kain Lockeheart-kun, how are you? If you're reading this letter, that means my attempts at negotiation failed. I wonder, though, if you really understand what you're resisting? Do you realize what you should even be fighting? Here comes the question: Which of the following is your true enemy? A) The mysterious organization plotting to destroy the world? B) The unknown enemy who took your father from you? Or… C) The perpetrator responsible for burning your village and changing your life forever…? A) is the future; B) is now, and C) is the past. If we're being honest, you're not very interested in A)…B) seems to be what occupies your attention. At least at first glance. But isn't C) what really consumes you? Isn't that why you gained that amazing new form of yours to begin with…? It's all right…a little revenge is everyone's right, who has been warped by some misfortune.
'Ah, but how do I know about all this…? Well, Kain-kun, isn't the perpetrator of any crime the one who stands to gain the most from it…? And~ that's all the hints you get! If you want any more, you'll have to meet with me!'
Kurt's jovial, careless smile took on a more calculating look. 'Yes, I'm still confident that you, at least, would want to meet me, Kain-kun. And so I'm extending an invitation to you! On the night of the winter solstice, near the end of this marvelous Festival, I will be holding a grand ball at the Government-General Building! This invitation is a great honor, you know! Ah, and of course I am extending the same invitation to all your lovely little lady friends. I will prepare dresses myself. Please contact me with regards to measurements and means of collection.
'So, you still won't come along? …No, of course not. You have a duty to protect your friends, after all. Perhaps I should throw in a little extra incentive. I swear I will not lay a finger on any of the female students under your care. Furthermore, using my powers as Governor-General and administrator of this Festival, I will remove your names from the wanted list and retract your bounties. Incidentally, this pardon cannot be extended even by such individuals as Queen Artoria Pendragon, the President of Garderobe Academy, or senators like Ricardo and Chrysant. I swear upon the Gods and my honor that I will fulfill all this.
'So, how about it? Still not convinced? Dear me…how about this, then? If you do intend to descend to the surface to use the Gate of Orimus to return home, I will escort you there with all 18 of the warships stationed in Orimus under my command. Will that be sufficient? Particularly considering that, if you refuse my invitation, they will pursue you like the wanted men you are.
'Kain-kun…I hold almost all the information that you desire. Yes…I think I will answer whatever questions you may want to ask. About your father and mother…and about the secrets of this world. If you wish to find the answers, then come to me.
'Oh, one more thing! If you do decide to come, I ask that you come as the gladiator, Kalan. I'm sure the guests will all be thrilled to see you, after all.'
Finally the long-winded man left off, and the image winked out. All three girls looked up at Kain. Nodoka radiated her almost usual nervousness. "K-Kain-sensei…t-this is…."
"It's almost certainly a trap," Ami cautioned him.
Kain smiled. "No…it is a trap. Definitely. However, he's right…I really do want to meet with him and ask him some questions…though perhaps not the ones he suspects."
"So, your solution is to walk right into it?" Mai smirked. "You know, the day after that is when we're planning to make off through the Gate. Wouldn't it be best just to ignore him and head back?"
"Heh. Perhaps…but there are just too many opportunities. Don't worry…I won't do anything stupid like insist on going alone or whatever. I've resigned myself to your help. So, we'll all go together…and if Mr. Kurt Gödel really has a trap set to try and catch us, I'd like to see him try to take out our force…."
Mai giggled. "I guess that's true, huh? Well, you better call Momo or someone and let them know we're going to be detained for the day…tomorrow we'll have to let everyone know what's happened…."
Kain stared off into space. ('So a new player has entered our stage…well…let's see just what cards this arrogant Governor-General is holding….')
F I N
Author's Note: Character Introduction: Kurt Gödel
Now we're in another adjusted but highly Negima-based mini-arc, the arrival of the villainous Kurt Gödel, whom we'll get to in a minute. As if Kain didn't have enough concerns, now the previously silent Governor-General of the reborn city has taken very particular notice of him. As usual, my scene is largely the same with several key differences.
First, of course, is the reunion between Yue and her friends—in the original, just Negi, Nodoka and Asuna. This was particularly heartfelt for Nodoka before because they believed she was being held by Cosmo Entelecheia…because of the fact that Asuna was actually held by Cosmo Entelecheia but had been swapped for Shiori/Luna, the party assumed that the two Ala Alba badges were the missing Yue and Anya, a part that drove me crazy, as I've probably mentioned before—Yue's actual missing badge went completely unnoticed! And after they rediscovered Yue, they never even thought 'What's that other badge they've got, then?' I mean, really! Because of the more knowing and powerful behind-the-scenes characters I've got working here of course, Yue's fate is…well, actually still kept in the dark, but at least they've been assured of her safety. Also, her clueless friends in the original starting attacking the 'criminals' once they recognized them, and Negi was forced to halt the fighting by, naturally…stripping them all naked, of course! The fight in mine was dialed back because of smart and quite aware people like Nina and Shiho. Also, of course, I am tossing all senseless nudity as well, although it made the scandalous photos taken by Gödel all the more troublesome to the lady student mage.
And, of course, the meeting between Gödel and Kain was broken up by my more extravagant side cast. Artoria put a swift end to the potential clash between the two…an encounter I just so wanted to do, once the significance of the relationship I created really sunk in for me (since a long time ago, but still). In the original, Negi lashes out at Gödel…and is taken out swiftly by his Shinmeiryû swordsmanship. Although I do understand the logic behind this sudden 'weakness' in Negi as Gödel chops him up and did consider the same potential problem for Kain with how I had made him, I decided against the conflict here because the Saber interference angle was so much cooler.
After the attack, Negi was saved by Tôsaka, who learned that Gödel might have learned of Negi's identity because of him and felt guilty about it. When Rakan shows up—delayed (Aiden, of course, rather) until next chapter in mine—Tôsaka reveals his awe of the famed former slave gladiator and begs an autograph of him. Amusing as the scene was, and somewhat endearing in its way, it has no place in my reworkings, but it was worth mentioning.
Now, Kurt Gödel has already been partially introduced, since I hit most of the important Red Wings events in that flashback. I've had him and knowledge of him sitting on the back burner for a while…do a search for him in Act 7. An orphan picked up by the Red Wings in the war, as Aiden will explain next chapter, he was talented and brilliant and obsessed with learning from Eishun, which he finally did. He is very pragmatic in his actions, and wishes to save the world—but he's buried most of his sympathy so that he can do whatever is really necessary to bring it about. He wants to use Kain to accomplish his ends. He is virtually no different in the original Negima.
As a true master, a genius, of Shinmeiryû, he has skills that allow him to cut anything he wishes or ignore what he doesn't, particularly spirit-like creatures, and so an overconfident and angry Negi turned out to be no match for his swordsmanship. Kain would have had nearly the same problems, although, given the time to think about it, he'll be more than ready for the real confrontation.
Oh, and perhaps my biggest change was the decision to stretch out the time…even more, really. I'm not really sure why; it just seems logical to me. In Negima, everything in the Festival took place over just a few days, really, but for me, this had to be a big event running its course over the end of the year. In that case, the 'magical culmination' of the Festival would have to be a significant seasonal or astrological time, such as the Winter's Solstice…ergo, the big dance/celebration at that time period, just prior to the attempt to return home. Thus my party has more time to sort through things as they prepare for their return…and as the finale of the Magical World Arc approaches.
This Act 14 will be the final settings of the stage before the final battle in Act 15…and 16. We'll see how much I stretch….
Well, let's move on with it. Let's get this party sorted!
