Yikes. It's been almost a year since I did an update to this. I get really bad about things like this. Sorry about the delay, but I hope you enjoy the latest chapter of Achieving Dreams.
Negi yawned as he folded his newspaper on the airplane. He looked at Konoka out of the corner of his eye and smiled. It had been three weeks since the wedding and Negi was happy they had planned their honeymoon for the entire summer break. It had only taken a week for Konoka to break the petrification spell that had been cast on Negi's village so many years ago. As usual, Konoka had worked herself too hard, insisting that she heal everyone as soon as possible. On more than one occasion she had passed out from using too much of her magic, causing Negi nothing but worry. The villagers had insisted on keeping Negi and Konoka there for two weeks, each one of them wanting to take the time to thank Konoka personally and in their own way. Negi grimaced as he thought of all the things they had sent back to Japan and wondered what everyone there would think of it.
During the two weeks they had stayed, Negi had barely left Konoka's side. In preparation for this, since he knew Konoka so well, Negi has researched a spell that allowed Konoka to use his magic, which had sped up the healing process tremendously. But they had specifically saved two people to be healed last. Stan-ojisan and Anya's mother. Anya had arrived on the final day of the healing and Negi could tell she had been worried to death over whether or not Konoka could heal everyone. Negi smiled to himself as he thought back to that day.
Anya had walked up to the door of the warehouse where everyone had been kept, wringing her hands nervously. She hadn't been to the town yet and hadn't been able to reach Negi or Konoka. What if they had been able to heal her? What should she say? Or worse, what if they hadn't been able to do it? Anya wasn't sure she could take the disappointment again. How many times had people promised to heal them, but never succeeded? Over a dozen times, at least. But then again, this was Negi and Konoka. If there was ever any two people who could do miracles, it was definitely those two. Anya sighed nervously and pushed open the door to the warehouse.
A loud shout greeted Anya, cheers of her name being shouted as people rushed forward, hugging crying in happiness to see her. Tears of joy rushed down Anya's face as she saw so many friends and people she knew. She hugged many of them, each time searching the crowd for her mother's face. After a few minutes, she head a loud whistle and the crowd parted in to two sides. Down at the end of the warehouse stood Negi and Konoka, with two final statues. Negi smiled and nodded to Konoka, then both took a step back. Konoka began to chant the spell as Anya walked slowly towards them, her steps increasing in speed as the spell slowly caused the stone to melt away. By the time the spell was complete, Anya was in a full out run, tackling her mother who looked around in surprise.
"What? What's going on?" She asked, confused as Anya hugged her tighter, crying in to her chest.
"Mom! You're back! You're finally back!" Anya looked up at her mother's face, tears streaming down her own. "It's me, Anya. Do you recognize me? It's been a long time"
Negi hadn't seen much more of the scene after that. He had turned away and watched as Konoka had healed Stan-ojisan. He had nodded to Stan and the two of them had walked away. Konoka stayed behind, smiling as she watched the two of them.
"Stan-san. It's been a while."
"Over a decade, from the looks of it. You were just a brat the last time I saw you. But it seems you've grown up a bit. Are you the one that healed us?" Stan asked as he looked at Negi, fully taking in the physical changes Negi had gone through.
"My wife Konoka, actually. She's been working hard for eight years so she could bring everyone in the village back."
"It seems you found yourself an amazing woman, then. Going to these lengths to help out others. Especially one's she's never met."
"It's the way she is. If she can help someone, she'll push herself to the limit to do what she can for them. That's one of the reason's I fell in love with her." Negi smiled warmly as he looked back to the large crowd, several of them fawning over Konoka. The two of them stood, watching the crowd until Stan broke the silence.
"And? Did you ever find your father?"
"I went to the magical world a long time ago to find him. A lot of things happened there. While I still want to find him, it's taken a back seat. I nearly lost a lot of important people to me thanks to my selfishness. All the things that happened, made me realize that it's more important to live for today and the things around you rather than to live for a possibility and the past."
Stan sighed to himself and reached inside of his robes, pulling out his pipe. He leaned back against the wall and lit it. He puffed the pipe a few times then looked over at Negi.
"I wish I could have been around to watch. You've grown up in to an amazing young man."
I know this chapter focused a lot on Anya, but I want her to get her happy ending. Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope you review.
Sincerely, Marcus Kalden.
