The next morning, Mio showed Asuna the doll that was a Cat Azusa, in which died down, turning back into a stuffed animal. Asuna was shocked, as she said, "Oh, my god… What is that?"
"Apparently, last night, Ritsu spied on Nodoka, only to find that two girls invaded her room. This cat tried to kidnap her, but…"
"Where are they now?"
"Ritsu is with Nodoka, all for protection. And as for the girls, I have one of them. The other was a chinchilla… but… she was beautiful. If you don't mind, Miss Kagurazaka, do you know of this?"
Asuna held the doll and said, "No. I don't. But it could be the reason why Ayaka and the others were abducted… maybe turned into dolls, like her…"
"You don't know of it?"
Asuna shook her head and said, "I'm sorry. But I have a hunch that someone tried to hurt her. Besides, she isn't one of ours."
Mio said, "Yeah, now that you mention it… She reminds me of another girl… I wish I knew who."
XXXXX
Meanwhile, outside the courtyard, Megu, the woman in a sheep's mask, appeared by a motionless and sleeping Mugi-Nyan, the same chinchilla girl in shiny gray fur. She was sitting by the tree, passed out. Megu nudged at her, as Mugi woke up. She turned to her, as Megu spoke in a quiet voice, "You failed your master."
Mugi nodded, "Azu-Nyan. She's gone."
Megu said, "Recover her… I will take the one you failed to get."
Mugi said, "Yes, ma'am."
Megu added, "Also, we don't want her to be very sad… seeing that her Azu-Nyan is gone. That's bad."
She poked her belly, and Mugi squeaked like a stuffed toy. Mugi ran off, as Megu disappeared into the forest.
XXXXX
Nodoka was walking down the courtyard, as Ritsu was following her. Nodoka noticed her and asked, "You know, you don't have to follow me, all the time."
Ritsu explained, "You're in grave danger, Nodoka. Those two girls… they…"
"Your friend told me. Those girls abducted those poor classmates. But why?"
"Perhaps. But it is a mystery… Who would do such a thing to your friends? Was there another person that was considered your friend?"
"Haruna Saotome. She works in Library Island, too. I was just heading there."
"COOL! We haven't a minute to lose!"
Nodoka instructed, "Miss, if you don't mind, once we get to Library Island, please try to be quiet."
Ritsu smirked, "Yeah, yeah. But I cannot bear to lose you."
As they walked together, Megu heard the whole thing, from behind the tree. She giggled, as she went to Library Island, in a very swift manner. She knew of a shortcut to get there.
Minutes later, a girl with long green hair and her school uniform was at the counter. Megu appeared from the window, as Haruna heard a noise. She breathed heavily, as Haruna sobbed, "AH! Whoa… Who are you?"
Megu said nothing. Haruna looked into the eyes of her sheep's mask, as they were cold and icy. Megu went forward, as she spoke, "Nodoka Miyazaki?"
"Oh, no. Haruna Saotome. How do you know of her?"
Megu went closer, as she adjusted her mask. She grabbed her wrist and whispered, "Run."
Haruna shrieked, but Megu removed her mask. Then, everything went black.
XXXXX
Ritsu and Nodoka arrive in Library Island, as Haruna was waiting in the counter. She was standing in a blank stare, with her eyes all blank and trance-like. Nodoka approached her, as she asked, "Excuse me, Haruna… But I'm in complete danger. If you don't mind, would you stay by me, in Library Island?"
Haruna spoke, "Oh? and who is this girl?"
Ritsu introduced herself, "I'm Ritsu Tainaka. I'm from Tokyo, and I'm assigned to protect Nodoka from weird beings. Tell me, Miss Haruna…"
Haruna replied, "There was a kidnapping, for five girls. That is all."
She walked off, walking slowly and stiff, as Nodoka was concerned, "Poor Haruna. She's not herself, lately."
Ritsu replied, "Well, she'll be fine. We're in need to have every girl here safe… except for Ayaka, Makie, Yue, Fei Ku, and Kaede. They're all excluded, since they're already gone."
Nodoka sobbed, "NO! You cannot be serious… Don't say it that they're dead!"
Ritsu replied, "Oh, sorry, man…"
She whispered, "Lycopene…"
Nodoka shrieks a bit, as Ritsu laughs. She said, "She's easier than Mio. But I have to protect her, not scare her to death."
She ordered her to follow her to a secluded area in the library, as Haruna was by the wall, with her face in front. She remained motionless, as Megu suddenly appeared. She was in her white sheep's mask, as she whispered to Haruna, in a foreign tongue. Haruna suddenly shimmered in a dark energy, as she started to transform.
Meanwhile, by a lone bookshelf, Ritsu looked around, as she viewed each bookshelf, in hoping to find any suspicious girl that wants to abduct her. But no luck. Nodoka was safe, for now.
"Thank god. I was hoping this place isn't for any danger. But imagine," Nodoka replied, "A girl, trying to hurt me… not like that chinchilla and kitty."
Ritsu replied, "I never knew that the chinchilla was so beautiful. And that she is actually a stuffed animal."
"Oh, I don't think she is…"
A shadowy figure appeared, as it approached closer to Nodoka.
XXXXX
Mio, in Asuna's room, offered to help, as Asuna said, "If it's a darker power, perhaps a pactio will help you."
"A what now?"
"It's a magical power that gives you spells and abilities. My teacher, Professor Negi, will only control you, for this one. Allow me to take you to him."
"Uh… yeah. Does it hurt?"
"Oh, no sweat it, Miss Akiyama. If what you are saying is true, then who knows the danger that we'd be in, if this kitty girl wanted me and Bookworm. Also, I'll be by your side."
"That's fine… but how do I know that you're using magic for this?"
"Well, I, too, can learn pactio. If I told any civilian with NO magic, Negi would be punished by the Magic Society. But since Shichimi and Motsu taunted at Negi, continuously, and that all of the students in Mahora have the pactio, and not to mention the kidnappings, those two are forbidden to go near Negi, until it blows over."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but what's the punishment?"
"Well, first, you lose all your magic, and you turn into an animal. Negi was caught, and he was turned into a chupacabra. But luckily, he shared the entire class the pactio spell, and was reverted to normal. Shichimi and Motsu tricked him to kiss Yue in public, and they were punished for it. They were forbidden to talk to the Magic Society, due to many false alarms, and that Negi is the son of the Thousand Master."
"Ouch." Mio shivered, "A goat-eater? That's so… sick…"
Asuna laughed, "As if. Don't worry. Shichimi and Motsu were not seen, since that moment. Come on. I'll introduce you to him, and then we'll find your friend. She needs that pactio, too."
Mio agreed, "Okay… But will it hurt?"
Asuna sat up and left with Mio to find Negi.
XXXXX
Meanwhile, in Library Island, Haruna was walking to the bookcases, whistling a haunting tune. Ritsu whispered, "What was that?"
She was walking slowly, as she whistled "Curry Nochi Rice" in a slow tune. Nodoka shivered in fear, as Ritsu looked from behind the bookcase. It was Haruna, and she was dressed as a blue penguin. She ducked down and whispered, "We have to go…"
Nodoka asked, "Oh?"
She smiled, "OH! It's Ha-!"
Ritsu covered her mouth and dragged her away. She whispered, "Idiot… She must be brainwashed…"
Nodoka asked, "Brainwashed? As a cute penguin?"
Ritsu huffed, "This place gets weirder…"
She said, "Follow me…"
POOF!
She transformed into a lion, as she growled, "AW, GYP! Why did I become a lion, again?"
Nodoka said, "Uh, you are a male lion…"
Ritsu sobbed, "But I'm a girl! I shouldn't have a mane!"
POOF!
Nodoka transformed into a seal, as she giggled, "Oh, wow…"
Shichimi and Motsu appeared, as Motsu spoke, "Run, while you can. We cannot interfere in Negi's business… in a good way."
Ritsu cried, "WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HELPING US?"
Shichimi said, "Because, we already know what's going on, mya. Please, head to higher ground, while we stop this lifeless toy penguin."
Ritsu asked, "Toy? Like the kitty girl?"
She and Nodoka ran for it, as Nodoka cried, "WAIT! Where are we going?"
Ritsu ducked into an air vent and opened it. She and Nodoka, still in their small animal forms, ran down the path. Ritsu said that the transformation will be only for a while, but they have to hurry. A blinding light appeared in front of Haruna, as she spoke, "Who goes there? Play with me…"
Motsu and Shichimi ran off, as Motsu screamed, "BAD IDEA! BAD IDEA!"
They disappeared into the vents, following Ritsu and Nodoka. Megu approached Haruna, as she halted her. Megu whispered to her ear, as Haruna bowed, "Yes. I obey you. Show me."
Megu and Haruna walked together, as they went to find another girl. They chose to save Nodoka for later.
XXXXX
Back outside, Ritsu and Nodoka were back to normal, as Ritsu panted, "Man… I'm staying away from those stupid stuffed animal machines, when I get home…"
Nodoka sobbed, "What's gotten into Haruna?"
Ritsu replied, "Beats me. Why was she dressed as a penguin? NO! Here's an ideal thought – WHY are YOU a SEA LION?"
Nodoka blushed, as she looked away. She said, "Uh… funny story… But I can't explain, in front of them."
Motsu smiled, "You can tell her. It's just that we can't talk to Negi Springfield, anymore."
Ritsu asked, "Who's Negi Springfield? Is he the one behind this?"
Motsu shivered, "No… He's innocent. That girl in the chinchilla and the kitty, from earlier, they are controlled by her and her cute lamb. The girl in the sheep's mask, she's that girl's slave…"
Nodoka asked, "Whose? Evangeline?"
Ritsu cried, "WHO? Hold on!"
Nodoka ran away, as Ritsu cried, "NO! YOU IDIOT! YOU'RE GOING TO GET CAUGHT!"
She growled, "Damn it…" as she sprinted after Nodoka, who was heading to Evangeline's home in the forest.
Shichimi sobbed, "They left again, mya. How are we going to tell them it's not the vampire?"
Motsu said, "They'll know. The girl listens to me, too, but I am still heartbroken by my daughter's kidnapping…"
He remembered Makie's voice, as she spoke in his head, "Daddy… Let's play, Daddy… ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha… Come on, Daddy~! Let's go for a jog!"
Motsu started to cry, as Shichimi sighs in disgust.
Mio & Asuna arrived in Negi's office, as Asuna greets him, who is a boy with red hair, a green suit, and small bifocals. Asuna asked, "Excuse me, Professor Negi?"
Negi said, "Oh. Asuna…"
"Yes. Hey, listen. A girl knows your secret, and we need her to do a pactio."
"HUH? Oh, bugger… What did I do?"
Asuna jeered, "I'm kidding, Negi. But she does need a pactio. You know about the others being vanished?"
Negi said, "Yeah…"
Mio replied, "Uh… Asuna… Is that a homeroom teacher? He's just a kid."
Asuna said, "Believe me. He is, but he's very smart. And why do you think he has magic, at a young age?"
Negi explained, "NO! Asuna, let me explain it to her."
Mio responded, "Uh… No, thank you… I, uh, changed my mind. I should find Ritsu and go."
Asuna locked the door in the room and barked, "Oh, no, you don't!"
Mio sobbed, "ASUNA! WHY?"
Negi asked, "Does she know how to perform a pactio?"
Asuna said, "Sadly, no. But, would you do the honors, since I don't know how?"
Negi replied, "Alright."
He sent forth a summoning circle, as he and Mio were in the circle. Mio asked, "Okay… so that's step one… now what?"
Asuna replied, "Don't look at me."
Negi said, "Chamo's not here, but I can explain it fully to you. You see, once you are in the circle, I am giving you a special contract, which states that you are my partner. But in order to give you the powers, I must kiss you."
Mio was shocked, as she screeched, "KISS?!"
She was frightened, as Asuna complained, "Miss Akiyama, it's fine. It's not like a first kiss or anything. Think of it as a special contract signing, if you want to save the school from dark forces."
Mio said nothing, as she was petrified. Asuna asked, "Hello? Earth to Akiyama… Huh?"
Negi asked, "Is she-?"
Asuna said, "You know, I think she's either shy, stupid, or just scared stiff."
Mio grew nervous, as she was in a conundrum, thinking that she'd kiss Negi or not. Asuna told her it's okay, but she couldn't respond.
Meanwhile, in the dark room, Haruna was being dragged in by Megu, as Mugi nodded to her. Haruna was limp and motionless like a rag doll, still in her penguin suit. Mugi was ordered to get Nodoka. Megu stayed, only to keep her company, before her leader comes in.
The girl appeared, as she asked, "Megu-Chan… Who's she? That's not who I wanted…"
Megu said, "We have company…"
XXXXX
Back in the forest, Ritsu and Nodoka arrive in Evangeline's shack. Nodoka knocked at the door, as Ritsu was panting crazily. She moaned, "Geez, Nodoka… Why did you make me run around, through the forest?"
Nodoka said, "Those girls… They wanted to hurt us. And I think Eva knows how to fix it."
She knocked on the door again, but no answer. The shack was empty, as Ritsu asked, "Is she there?"
Nodoka tried to open the door, but it's locked. They looked inside, as Eva was not here. Nodoka asked, "Oh, no…"
She was scared, as she saw a shine of green eyes in the shack. She gasped, as Ritsu looked inside. She cringed, "No… DEMON!"
She shrieked, as Nodoka held on. The green-eyed figure approached the window, as Nodoka and Ritsu are scared.
To be continued…
