Hello all! By now I've lost all track of how long it's been since I last did anything for any of my fics, but after a long and grueling marathon of Writer's Block, I've come back with something I can be proud of, just in time for the New Year.

I AM rather disappointed that I never got a suggestion from any of you fine people for something for Negi to do in this chapter. Did I not make the hints in the last chapter clear enough? Well, regardless of such, it took me a long time and a lot of mulling things over to come up with this performance of an update.

I also got my first smart phone recently, and a couple of the games I got into early on turned me into a bit of an addict, but I've deleted both, started with one that's a little less addicting, and I'm on the road to recovery.

I hope you enjoy it, and will forgive me for my very long absence.

Updated and edited for errors and additional details: 1/19/2014

The Show's Over!

"But Professor …" Setsuna complained again. "Must I really wear this?" Negi had clad her in a rather sexy looking outfit to assist in his "magic show." It featured fish-net stockings, white high heels, and a sleeveless tuxedo-pattern top with a solid black bottom that left her belly button exposed, and she was now wearing her hair down. "It's so ... revealing! I feel so dirty …"

"Well, the cat-eared maid costume stored in your pactio card doesn't really suit the part," Negi smiled at her, a trickle of blood running from his nose where she had slapped him only seconds earlier. "And besides, the beautiful assistant should look the part, and you do look stunning. Besides, would you rather wear that sleazy underwear from the Mahora Budokai?"

"Who told you about that?!" she cried, slapping him again. "That's … not the point," Setsuna blushed deeply, trying to cover herself. A Shinmei student dressed like some exhibitionist. If any of my classmates were to see this … If Konoka were to see this … I would die of embarrassment! "I'd rather wear a nice black suit like you," she complained, indicating the black suit Negi was now wearing, having used magic to alter the fabric of his suit to look more like a showman. "At least give me back my bike shorts!"

"Now, now," he said gently, draping his cloak over her shoulders as he started leading her towards the Dershlits' front porch. "It'll just be for a little while, I promise. Once I give the signal, you're free to change clothes with your pactio card."

"But what about exposing magic to the mundanes?" she pulled the cloak around her body. "Aren't we supposed to be avoiding that?"

"I think we're past the point of no return as it is," he sighed. "The best thing we can hope to do here is some damage control. If they think what I'm doing is parlor tricks, then that's probably best. Remember, this family is supposed to be a little bit … as our friends would say, 'super-duper-freaky-deaky-crazy-in-the-head.' If we can keep their minds focused on us and not the others, we can take them by surprise and win this thing. I think we're in luck … I don't sense Tsukuyomi around right now."

"But why wouldn't she be here?" Setsuna put her right hand to her chin in thought.

"Fate must be giving her a hard time somewhere," Negi surmised after a moment. "He must be pretty upset with her using his minitras in her scheme, though he doesn't show it."

"Yeah, that boy never shows his emotions, even when he laughs," she smiled, remembering the last time she saw the young albino boy laugh. "Anyway, time is running out. We've got to get in that house."

"You're right," Negi check his watch again, flipping a red candy drop into his mouth and biting down. "20 minutes left. Should be enough for what I've got planned. The preparations are complete, so let's go!" From within the puff of smoke, he whirled his staff off his back and flipped it into the air, guiding it with his mind until it hovered outside a closed and boarded-up window. As the smoke cleared, with a look of absolute confidence on his face, Negi strode up to the front door and rang the doorbell.

"Tick-tock, tick-tock," Nora repeated to herself quietly as she paced back and forth in her basement, not taking her eyes off Carly. "Just 20 more minutes until midnight. In just a short time, Carly, you and your friends will belong to me … forever and ever and ever and –"

"You'll never get away with this, Nora!" Carly yelled defiantly. "I swear I'll see you rot in prison forever and ever and ever!"

"Oh, I'm never going back there, Carly. NEVER!" her captor screamed in a voice that sent shivers down Carly's spine. "My mistress promised me that if I do as she says, I'll never have to worry about prison for the rest of my life."

"You realize that could mean anything, Nora," Carly sensed an opening. "What if she's planning to just kill all of us when she gets what she wants?"

Nora stopped pacing and looked up. "What are you saying?"

"Think about it for a second, Nora!" Carly struggled to stay calm and level-headed. "What has that crazy, violent girl got to gain from keeping you alive? You're only a tool for her. A pawn. Once she has whatever she wants, what use for you will she have?"

Seeing a smidgen of doubt appear in her captor's eyes, Carly decided instantly to push further. "What do you say, Nora? Get me out of here and I'll help you. I'll get your sentence reduced, I'll get you out of the country. Just let me down and you'll never hear from me or my family and friends again."

"And let you leave my life forever?" Nora echoed in a low voice. "NEVER!" she shrieked again. "That's the last thing I want," she licked her lips. "Worry not, Carly. I won't let anything happen to –"

DING-DONG

"Oh!" Nora nearly jumped. "I think there's someone at the door," she looked at Carly with a mixed look of elation and mocking in her eye as she raced up the stairs. "I wonder who it could be?" she practically screamed.

"Ooooh noooo," was all Carly could say as she heard what felt like her only remaining hope run across the upstairs room to what must have been the front door.

As Negi heard activity on the other side of the door, he signaled for Setsuna to prepare herself. Sounds like locks clicking. This one is cautious. "Showtime," he whispered as a little window in the door opened and he saw Nora's dirty and disheveled face for the first time.

"Who are you?" Nora asked him barely above a whisper. "I WANTED SAM AND FREDDIE!"

"Good evening, ma'am. Nora Dershlit, I presume?" he asked with a polite smile.

"Yes," she said after a moment. "Who wants to know?"

"Well, my name is Negi, and I'll tell you exactly why I'm here. You see, Nora, Sam, Freddie, and Spencer are on their way, but ran into a bit of a snag when their train … blew up. They will be here soon, but to make sure you don't get lonely, they asked me to come and perform for you until they arrive."

Blew up? What is that girl thinking? What about our deal?! Maybe Carly was right … "Perform?" Nora echoed his words. "What are you, a dancer?"

"Better," he grinned, extending a hand toward her, a thornless rose appearing in his hand. "I'm a magician, the thing that every birthday party needs, but you've never had at yours. Am I correct?"

Nora gasped. "How did you know that?!" she demanded.

"Because I'm magic," he bowed grandiosely, "and if you'll allow me, I'll give you a birthday show you'll never forget!"

"Hmm," she paused to think. "Okay, come in," and as she opened the door, she glared at him. "But I'll have my eyes on you!"

"Certainly, my dear," he said smoothly as he placed the rose in her hair. "Oh," he said, looking around the room. Most of the furniture around the living room was either in disrepair and pushed off to the side or covered in dirt and cobwebs. "Are you alone in the house tonight?"

Nora's eyes shifted slightly, but Negi pretended not to notice. "Yes, she had to go and … pick up my dad."

From prison, no doubt, Negi thought. "Well, more magic for you then," he took off his cloak and tossed it into the air. Like someone else was wearing it, it glided once around the living room and landed neatly on the coat rack hung on the wall to his left. As Nora looked on in amazement, not missing a beat, Negi crossed to the dining room table and expertly removed the tablecloth without jarring the old, dirty glass candlesticks sitting atop it. "Because whenever Negi performs," he draped it over Nora's head, and after taking a vial of ink from his jacket and drawing a circle around her feet, he whipped it off her to reveal a shiny pink party dress, "someone smiles!" Seeing Nora's shocked and delighted expression satisfied him. This means I'm doing it right, and with any luck, she'll forget about the time limit. I figure, the least we can do is give her a good time before we send her and her family back to prison.

"Now we won't be able to do much with all of this furniture taking up so much space in this room." With a wave of his arms, as if invisible hands had pushed it, the dusty and dilapidated chairs moved to the right side of the living room to rest against the wall.

"How did you do that?" Nora said, as if short of breath, looking herself over.

"Ah, I could tell you, but a good magician never reveals his secrets, my fine young lady," he smiled as he snapped his fingers. Instantly, the entire house went black.

"Hey! Who turned out the lights? What was that for?" Nora almost shrieked, but Negi didn't listen.

After a few moments, he called out, "NOW LET THERE BE LIGHT!" and snapped his fingers again. Immediately, the house was lit again, this time, more dimly. As Nora looked around, she saw that candles were floating throughout the house, lighting every nook and cranny of the dusty and dirty Dershlit home. "Well, it's clear this house hasn't been cleaned in a while. Let's fix that, shall we?" He wriggled his fingers. "Now blow, gust of wind!" Flet une vente. Flans saltatio pulverea. As if an invisible gust of wind had swept through the house, all of the dirt and grime that had built up in the Dershlits' absence was blown through the air and out the windows. The house wasn't sparkling clean, but it was a significant improvement. "Not bad, eh?" Negi scratched his nose. "That was my first time doing that trick. I'm glad it worked."

"What if it didn't work?" Nora dared ask.

"The whole house would have been wrecked," he winked at her.

Nora didn't know whether to be grateful or suspicious of this strange man.

As she listened to everything from outside, Setsuna shook her head. How does he do it? Somehow, Professor Negi never fails to amaze … or disappoint, depending on who's with him or against him. As she thought this, a light breeze blew through the neighborhood. "Brr," she shivered. When is he going to bring me into this? I want to just get this over with and put some damn clothes on!

"What's going on up there?" Carly thought out loud from where she hung. "I wanna know! What the heck is he doing, some kinda magic show?" He's supposed to be saving me! she thought, struggling against the ropes binding her.

"That's ten minutes he's been gone," Spencer checked his watch. "Time is running out."

"I say we just bust in there, butter sock swinging!" Sam said for the second time, still brandishing the old sock, swinging it around her body as if preparing to hit an imaginary Nora.

"No, Sam," Freddie told her for the second time, pacing back and forth. "We should trust Negi. I think he's our best bet. Say you bust in there, swinging your sock, and Negi's plan is ruined, resulting in Carly being hurt. What'll you do then? This isn't about you having your fun!" He turned to look at her, only to get struck by the flying sock right in his solar plexus.

"Oops, my hand slipped," she said very insincerely. THAT was fun.

"You're … a really bad liar," he said, gasping for breath.

"HEY! STOP MESSING AROUND!" Chamo jumped up and slapped her cheek with his small furry hand. "You can't afford to hurt your own friends. Negi's signal could come at any time. You have to be ready! Now stop wasting your energy, all of you. Just sit down and shut up until I tell you to act, all right?!" he was nodding his head with his eyes closed, as if talking down to a naïve child, but Sam grabbed him around his middle.

"You're not giving the orders here, rat," she threw him ten feet across the sidewalk.

As he flew head-over-tiny-heels, Chamo's eyes opened wide. Flipping over three times, he landed lightly on his feet. "That's the signal! Everyone get inside the circle, join hands, and squeeze in tightly. Trust me and do as I say!"

"All right, come on you guys," Spencer stepped inside the circle. When he saw their hesitation, he held out his hands. "Come on, do you guys wanna save Carly or not?"

Freddie stepped forward, still massaging his gut. "I'm in," he said decisively, taking Spencer's hand and hesitantly extended his hand to Sam. "Come on, Sam. Carly's your best friend. Are you gonna give up on her?"

Sam immediately stepped forward and grabbed their hands, both men cringing slightly from her angry grip. "If you ever say that again, I'll rip your head off, Benson."

"Welcome back, Sam," Freddie smiled. Hope Sam washed her hands today, he thought, already knowing he was probably wrong. And with bated breath, the three friends squeezed into the confines of the circle as tightly as they could and waited.

"Well, well," Negi said, taking out his pocket watch. "It seems I'm almost out of time. Sam, Freddie and Spencer will be here any minute. However, but before I bid you adieu, I will show you one final trick, an act so special, you'll never forget it for as long as you live!"

"Yay!" Nora applauded, now quite mellowed out from the series of incredible feats she had seen.

"First, though," he clapped his hands together. "I'm going to need some good wood." He crossed to the window and looked out. "That fence ought to do the trick." He stretched out his hands and in seconds, board after board of a white picket fence soared through the window and came together to form a large box in the center of the room, big enough to hold several people. "Here you see a normal box, just assembled right before your eyes. No trapdoors, no windows," he opened the door so she could clearly see inside, and as he turned his back to close it, he put a finger to his forehead. Setsuna, come in now.

"And now," he said at last, "with the help of my lovely assistant …" he gestured toward to door and in walked Setsuna, clad in the sexy magician's assistant's outfit he had given her, smiling as genuinely as she could, "our grand finale!" As Nora's eyes diverted to gaze upon Setsuna, Negi quickly turned and with his own blood, drew another hexagram inside the box, identical to the one he had drawn outside, and closed the box before Nora looked back. "If you would kindly step inside my dear?" he held the door open for his student and she walked inside. "Don't worry. It'll be over in a few seconds," he whispered in her ear as she passed. "After that, feel free to change clothes."

When she was safely inside, he closed the door behind her. "And now, at the count of three, I will open the box, and my lovely assistant will have vanished, leaving something very special in her place!"

"Ooh, what is it?!" Nora squealed. "Is it a big birthday cake?"

"You'll see," Negi grinned. Please work! He took a deep breath. "Right then!" he held out his arms on a downward slant, aimed at the base of the box. "ONE … TWO … THREE!" A bright light began to glow from inside the box, and with a loud POOF and a puff of colored smoke, the light disappeared. "Are you ready for your big surprise?" he asked her with a big smile.

"Yes, YES!" Nora could barely contain her excitement. "Let me have it!"

"Okay, then. One … two … three!" and he pulled the door open wide and Sam, Freddie, and Spencer stepped out to stand at Negi's side, each holding some sort of object and looking none-too-happy to see her.

"WHAT THE HECK!" Nora cried out in shock. "What is this?"

"I'm sorry, but," Negi said with closed eyes and a solemn look on his face holding out his hand. His staff broke through the window and spun neatly into his outstretched palm. "The show's over."

"GET HER!" Sam shouted and all three charged at Nora.

Translation:

Flet une vente. Flans saltatio pulverea - Blow, gust of wind. Blow forth, Dancing Dust (The Dance of Wind-Blown Dirt spell)

I hope you've all enjoyed my most recent work. I may have made it a little bit more ... theatrical than I needed to, but I wanted to do something nice and entertaining for my first update in months.

I would appreciate any comments or words of encouragement. Going for my Master's at NYU and looking for a job keep me very busy. Your reviews and comments are what keep me going more than anything else!

I wish you all a happy holiday season, and a Happy New Year!