Disclaimer: Why must I do this? I don't own Negima.

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The warm arms encircled her, and Catherine knew she was safe.

"Hey Birdy, aren't we a magnet for trouble?" Oh no, she knew that arrogant voice. It was Nagi. He pulled away with a lopsided grin.

"Sorry I didn't come sooner, and then could have saved your dress Birdy." Catherine looked down to see her torn bodice; Nagi could see her breast bindings. She pulled her arms to her chest to cover.

"You know Birdy, for someone who's eleven, you're pretty developed."

"Well, I'm on my eleventh year."

"You're ten?"

"I'm turning eleven soon."

"Ten is still ten, Birdy."

"Why do you call me Birdy?!"

"Because Birdy is less formal than Catherine. Don't you have a nickname?"

"Nickname?"

"You know something you're friends called you, something short for Catherine."

"I didn't have any friends, I was too preoccupied with my medical and dance studies."

"Dance?"

"I was taught ballet for a long time. Father said it would make me more desirable to men."

"Didn't make any friends through that?"

"Why are you questioning me, and could you lend me a shirt or something."

"No I don't think I will." She stared up at him with a half-panicked look.

"I'm kidding, sheesh calm down." He pulled off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders.

"What changed your mind? If you had it your way you would have 'dumped me on the side of the road'." He shrugged.

"I don't know. You're weak and they need to be protected."

"Weak?!"



"Yeah, you need protection." Catherine sprung from the ground with a determined look on her face.

"Teach me to fight Nagi!" He blinked.

"What's with you Birdy?"
"If I learn to fight, I would be able to protect myself." She insisted.

"Well if it will get ya out of my hair." He smirked at her.
"But, you will have to learn to keep your clothes on Birdy." She blinked then realized the cloak had fallen off. She quickly pulled the cloak on again; blushing.

"You're kinda weird, you know as rich girls go. I expected you to be more self-centered."

"I don't like being what I am. I don't like living in a world where I don't know where I stand with people."

"You don't like being rich?"

"Heck no. If I had a choice, I would like to be a mortal healer."

"Really?"

"What?"

"I would expect you to be selfish."

"I would expect you to have graduated Magic School."

"Ah Touché." She smirked pulling his cloak over her tighter.

"I think I have come to respect you more Birdy."

"Thanks, I think."

"Come on let's go back to camp, I'll see if we have any clothes for you." He offered his hand, which she took with little hesitation. She no longer the dove kept in a gilded cage, the door was open and she was ready to fly.

--

Princess: Yeah her name is Catherine Dove one of the two known descendants of the Life Mage a fictional character who had his head severed before he could save himself. He created the amulet that she wears around her neck, it protects the wearer from demos and spell and summons etc. I based Catherine's appearance on Nekane, WHO IS HIS COUSIN, NOT SISTER. I assumed that Negi's cousin and uncle were related by his mother (never specified, for all we know they could be), where I got the idea that Nekane and Catherine would have resemblance.