What's up my readers! May I just say that I am very happy that you like me, you really like me! Or, at least, you like my writing. Thank you for the reviews! I have solved the mystery of where you all went the last few months, and may I just say that I will never again publish a new chapter, or story during college finals EVER again. I won't forgive you for not reviewing during that time, because it's not your fault. Good grades, and higher education will get you everywhere in this world. Oh, and money helps a lot too. If my stupid truck would just stay fixed, I'd be right there with you, scrambling to write a final paper, or cramming for that final exam. Luckily it's fixed, for now. And some day, when I've got the cash, I will re-enter the realm of teachers and dumb college students; the latter of which are quite prevalent where I live year round; and I will emerge victorious with a degree in my hand, and a license to teach. All future English, and writing students beware, I will not show mercy on those who butcher my native language. For those that do not claim English as their first language, I will extend clemency…to a point.

All right, moving on. A little update for any who might be curious about my life. Took a trip last weekend to a city called Fargo and went to a drag show with some friends and my sister in the nearby city of Moorhead. Took 3 hours to get there, and had to drive straight through a wildfire! It started in the median and crossed the freeway into the ditch on the other side. It was so hot I felt it through the car door. My sis and I figured that some idiot ignored the wildfire weather alerts and threw a cigarette out the window. Anyway, the drag show was fun, except for this one queen who didn't bother to memorize any of the words in her songs. She was older looking, so in my opinion she really ought to pack it in cuz she's not getting any younger, and her lip syncing isn't getting any better either.

Well, that's about it for my intro. This chapter sets the stage for the action sequence in the next one. Just try and remember to REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW! A Few words, or even just one is all I ask.

I don't own Negima?!

And now, without further gilding the lily, and with no more ado…

Chapter 6

While all that was happening outside, Konoka was rushing forward towards what she hoped was her destiny. When the doors closed she slowed down a bit, taking in her surroundings. The first room she walked through was the entrance hall. A long, high ceilinged room with suits of armor lining the walls every twenty feet. At the end of the hall was another set of doors with doormen on either side. They saw the young woman approach and bowed their heads before grasping the handles of their respective doors and swinging them wide.

"Oh, thank you." Konoka said as she walked through the opening. She emerged at the top of a grand, two-way staircase that led into the main hall where the party was being held. What she saw took her breath away. A grand orchestra was seated in a balcony, currently playing a waltz. Many people, both men and women lined the floor of the hall, dining on the delicious hors d'oeuvres the prince's butler had arranged for in the market earlier that day. Most of the people eating were fat nobles the king and queen always invited to their parties, whether it was to reinforce the strength of trade relations, or for continued peace between kingdoms. However, the main body of guests were in line to get into the adjoining ballroom. Hundreds of young ladies, all dressed in their best gowns, all waiting for a chance to dance with the prince and dazzle him with their grace and sophistication. Konoka's stepsisters were among them, near the beginning, edging ever closer to their goal. Ayaka was ready to show him her infectious laugh, minus the snorting that she had constantly fought to keep down in practice. She had yet to manage a laugh without a snort, though. And Asuna was fighting to keep her nails off her skin. She got itchy when she was nervous, but she was doing her darnedest not to scratch. Meanwhile, their mother was attempting to flirt with the butler, an older gentleman named Takahata, in order to move her daughters up to the front, but she was having little luck.

The prince was in the middle of the dance floor, obvious unimpressed by the women he'd met so far, and eager to get these dances out of the way. Konoka could tell since he kept continuously signaling the orchestra to speed up the songs, and urged his butler to move the girls along quicker. Konoka took a close look at him. He was quite handsome, tall, with long two toned black and red hair drawn back in a ponytail, and a charming smile. He was dressed in a tailor fitted white tuxedo and white shoes, and the air of royalty rolled off him in waves. It was now Konoka's stepsister's turn with the prince, and Ayaka shoved Asuna out of the way, and was led by the butler onto the dance floor and into the prince's arms. They began dancing, and Ayaka began laughing at everything he said. It was awkward, and ended quickly enough when her snort made its appearance known in a rather violent fashion. She couldn't stop it, and the butler came to Nagi's rescue, dragging Ayaka out, but then leading Asuna in. The dance began well enough, but Asuna started to itch real bad and she just couldn't stop scratching. She denied it, when asked about her strange movements, and then attempted to woo the man with awful poetry. When he didn't seem to appreciate it, she got angry, and her violent true self appeared. The butler intervened before it could get physical, and her stepmother's quest for a royal bank account was squashed. As they went off to pout Konoka began to descend the staircase. Across the room the prince looked longingly toward the exit, when he spied…the hottest thing he had ever seen in his life. He walked away from his dance partner mid-twirl and she spun across the floor uncontrollably before falling into a chocolate fountain. Shoving his way through the other dancers, he made it to the bottom of the stairs where he waited for her to finish her descent. When she made it down, he spoke.

"Hello there, doll face." Konoka stared in shock. That was not what she had expected a well brought up prince to say. "What's a hot, sexy little thing like you doing at a snobby shindig like this?" He swiftly put his arm around her shoulders and brought her the rest of the way into the party. She had no choice but to go with him. They began to walk around, Nagi proudly displaying her like she was some sort of trophy, when he didn't even know her name. After introducing her as much as one can introduce a person they don't know, he dragged her onto the dance floor where he twirled and dipped and spun her until she was dizzy and sick. Then he twirled her right out the door and into the courtyard…

It was about that time that Setsuna walked into the main doors, down the same long hallway, and was let into the room with the giant staircase. But she didn't bother trying to take anything in. All she cared about was finding Konoka. She did, however, notice that the grandfather clock that sat in one corner of the huge room read 11:45. Had it really taken her so long to get in there? Well, that didn't matter, she had a mission. Using the staircase's height to look over the whole party, it quickly became apparent that neither Konoka, nor the prince were there. And there was only one other exit that was open. She quickly bolted down the stairs and dodged her way through the main throng of people. She made it to the open door and peered out into what looked like a courtyard. What she saw made her turn crimson in anger. The prince had Konoka pinned against a tree, and was attempting to kiss her, while feeling her up. She had begun to think that Konoka was allowing it, until she heard a whimper.

"Stop, get off me…Someone, help!" Without a second thought Setsuna charged out the door and into the moonlight, her sword appearing in her hand as she ran. Her eyes were blazing with fury as she grasped the back of the pristine, white fitted jacket and yanked with all her might. Nagi was caught completely off-guard and spun, not unlike his former dance partner, twirling uncontrollably through flower beds until he was flung head over heels into a patch of bushes that sported thorns that were quite sharp. Nagi yelped and screamed like a girl, but Setsuna ignored him. Her focus was solely on Konoka. She swiftly took in Konoka's disheveled appearance, her state of disarray fueling her anger towards the perverted prince.

"Miss Konoka, are you okay?" Konoka couldn't seem to answer. Tears tracked their way down her face, and she was shaking slightly, clearly in shock. Setsuna noticed the prince making his way out of the thorns, and swiftly placed herself between him and Konoka. The prince came storming over, small spots of blood dotting his clothing, and scratches marring his face.

"What the hell was that for, you little bitch?! How dare you interrupt a prince while he's with his girlfriend?!" His fists were clenched in anger, and he was breathing heavily. Setsuna was not deterred.

"Girlfriend? She's not your girlfriend. You just met her less than an hour ago."

"Look, you little spazz, she came here just like all the other girls, to try and marry me. And the way she's dressed, she was asking for it, so why don't you just mind your own business and get lost!" He shoved the girl aside, attempting to get at Konoka again, but before he could take two steps Setsuna was again between him and his target. But this time, she held her sword out in front of her.

"Miss Konoka is my business, ya dirty squeakin' perv!" She turned to look at the terrified girl. "I love her, with all my heart. And I will not allow you to sully her honor!"

Konoka's eyes cleared of the shock after hearing those words. "Oh, Setsuna. I love you too." Setsuna smiled at her princess, before turning back around to address Nagi once more. She slowly unsheathed the sword and got into a fighting stance.

"I, Sakurazaki Setsuna, do hereby challenge you to a duel for the fair maiden's hand. You're goin' down, asshole!" Nagi could not believe this little punk's audacity. She really thought she could take him on. It was ludicrous! He was the finest swordsman in both his, and his cousin's realms. There was no way he could be defeated by a mere woman. He smirked at her determined face arrogantly.

"Very well then. If that is what you wish. I accept your challenge. We shall meet, sword to sword, in battle in five minutes time." With that said, he walked back into the party, calling on Takahata to retrieve his rapier, then glancing at the grandfather clock to read the time. 11:50. He smirked arrogantly once again. He'd show this little girl that royalty was not to be trifled with.

And that's a wrap! So, what did ya think? I bet you just can't wait for that next chapter, can ya? Oh, leaving cliffhangers sure is fun! And all you guys gotta do to get to the action is REVIEW! Oh, and if anyone's waiting for the last chapter of my first multi-chapter story, "Paparazzi Poetry" I've nearly finished it. Looking back, I realize it's nowhere near as good as this story, but I think it deserves a decent finish. I owe it to one of my favorite characters, Kazumi Asakura. Her English voice is a bit too Valley Girl for me, and she's also more of a girly-girl, but I like her just the same. So be on the lookout for that, if you're interested. Well, I gotta attempt a quick 4 hour nap before my shift starts, so have a good one and Peace out, Readers!