Ever notice that when I really want to I update really fast? Whoa… crazy. Well here we are at the conclusion of a great many things, yet don't think it's done yet, we still have a bit more ground to cover until we see the final comclusion! Stand by and let's hope I get through this without some sort of unexpected death ruining the story aye?
Disclaimer: Negima! doesn't belong to me, neither does Connor, Moro, or other OC's that might appear. I do however own Masayoshi and half of this storyline… which is slowly going to my favor since I've been uploading so rapidly I'm forced to use my own ideas! Whoo me!
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Messed Up
Masayoshi fell to the ground, his sword disappearing into a magic circle. He coughed twice and lifted his head to look at Connor. Masayoshi looked horrid, his eyes were dull, his hair was messed up, his band that kept his ponytail in place was somewhere near the base of the tree, his long hair now hanging an inch away from his shoulder. Masayoshi raised his hands shakily above his head, the universal symbol for surrender.
Connor looked at Masayoshi with a bored look on his face, "Wasn't too much of a fight you put up Masayoshi. Here I expected you to do something amazing." He cracked his neck on both sides and stood victorious.
Masayoshi laughed wearily, "I guess I'm a pushover without my book huh? I can't even remember any incantations… my pen already ran out of magic, looks like the win is yours… I'm dead." He made his hand in the shape of a gun and held it to his head, pulling the "trigger" and thus losing his life. "Of course… I guess technically I've been dead for quite some time…"
Connor rolled his eyes, "Enough with the sentimental crap, tell me why you suddenly decided to betray me."
Masayoshi shrugged, "I got a bad tip… someone said you had my book. I guess I just overreacted…"
Connor sighed, letting the tip of his sword hit the dirt, "What the hell would I want with your bloody book!?"
Masayoshi shrugged, "Oh I don't know… if you knew just a fraction of what that thing is capable of I'm sure you'd understand…"
Connor laughed, "Alright alright, looks like we've got ourselves a deal!"
Masayoshi looked quite confused, as any person in their right mind would be, "Deal? I don't recall a deal…"
Connor shook his head, "If I can somehow do something to get your book back… I want a wishe."
Masayoshi looked at Masayoshi in disbelief, "Do I look like a genie to you?"
Connor shrugged, "At the state your in, I'd think you'd be begging for my help. Besides, better than three wishes… I'm just asking for one… enough for me … to get what I want."
Masayoshi sighed in defeat, "If you can get me my book back… I'll give you your damned wish, seeing that I've failed here… I suppose doing a few other things won't be much of a problem…"
-
The red robed man slammed his fist into the arm of his chair, his eyes glinted in slight anger, "Damn!" but he quickly regained his composure, "Masayoshi… you're a fool… but it is no matter… you still have more missions to do for me… and those you shall not fail…"
-
Elia hit the wall, her head was pounding from strain, she tried to focus her mind on the task, but all she could think of was her possible death, and the horrible realization of why Serac could fight her. With every passing moment all she could think of was how many people she's failed.
Elia bowed before a large council, beside her where many other people, just like her, in a great long line. On the far end, smiling like a fool, was Masayoshi, he looked different than he did back then, his hair was short, his glasses were clinging on the end of his nose, no worries in the world. Farther down the line from Elia was Sho, his heart untainted, his mind at ease. Elia herself was smiling, oblivious to their future, a future of servitude, murder, countless sins, all for the sake of humanity's survival.
She opened the book, but Elia couldn't read the writing, her vision was fading, she couldn't go any further… Elia stared up at Serac, she tried to beg for mercy using her thoughts, but it seemed as though something was blocking her out from even being able to attempt such a thing, "Er… you… you win…"
Serac looked at her and reached down, Elia's eyes flared open, she could see the coldness in his eyes as he reached down to deliver the death blow.
"You are the saviors of our future, mages with great power, you are the ones unbound to the ties of fate, you are no longer bound to the laws of man, yet you serve as man's servant, if you fail, you will be nothing more than a simple shadow, history will never recall you, no one will remember you. Fate itself no longer holds anything to you, this is both a great prize and a great loss, no longer will you enjoy the pleasantries of a normal human life, yet you can do all but destroy the ties of fate… you simply do not exist."
Elia felt a cold wave of realization wash over her; of course I'm going to die… killing me won't affect a blasted thing… I don't exist… I simply don't exist… Elia's sight faded out, leaving only a merciless black pit that was once held her soul.
-
"Could you please stop hugging me? I think I'm going to pass out quite soon… yes very soon." Jessica whispered to Konoka.
Konoka was looking out the window of the train, a wide smile on her face, "Setchan! Look! You can see the forest! Waa? Who's that?" Konoka pointed at the far edge of the forest, from her sight, there were two cloaked figures running at extreme speeds toward the school.
Setsuna quickly went over to Konoka's side, "What's the matter Konoka-ojou-sama?" Konoka didn't have to answer. Setsuna opened the window and dived out, ignoring the cries from Konoka to come back. Setsuna quickly unsheathed her prized Nodachi and ran, the two figures looked ghastly, they couldn't have possibly be human, they both had large black cloaks, with hoods that created a shadow over their facial features, their entire body was covered in some sort of fading white bandages, as though keeping them together. As she neared the two creatures one turned abruptly and sprinted toward the train, keeping its body almost parallel, it was as though the legs were trying to catch up with the torso.
Setsuna, without a second thought, ran after the one that turned, she could see its face now; it was the face of a gaunt, haggard human male, he was pale, as pale a corpse, his nose was straight and pointed, his eyes were blue, but they shone yellow, there was no expression on his face other than sheer determination. As he ran toward the slowing train, Setsuna caught the glimpse of a thin sword hidden beneath the long billowing cloak. She grit her teeth and jumped towards the man, but as she neared the man he quickly dodged by jumping to the right.
The man faced her, his face showing something between a trance to man who has just recently been woken up. He looked at her, and that was it, he didn't motion toward his sword, which now since he's stopped moving Setsuna recognized the blade to be some sort of rapier, a weapon used in swift and deadly striking techniques, Setsuna has never trained to fight against something like that. The man's eyes shone, not with fear, not with anger, it seemed as though something behind that man's eyes was moving. He quickly drew his rapier and pointed it at Setsuna, "Your time is at an end. None but the righteous few shall live on in the haven." His voice was airy and it sounded strained, as though being forced to say such things.
Setsuna snarled and prepared her sword, but before any of the two managed to even take a step forward, a strong gust of wind swept through the open street. Setsuna thought it was an enemy trick so she quickly tried to reach the man and interrogate him, but to her horror, the man was dissolving like a pile of sand in a tornado.
The man sheathed his sword, "Fate has conspired against you." His voice faded as his body slowly disintegrated.
Setsuna stared at where he was, and sheathed her sword, her face a mix of fear and confusion. She looked to where the train was stopping and bowed to the emerging Jessica and Konoka, "I apologize… I have been unsuccessful."
Jessica waved her hand, "No worries, even if you did catch up to them I doubt you would have killed one. I've heard about them, they're remnants of the old Angels."
Konoka's eyes widened, "You mean the ones that were on the news? The guys that were killing everybody a few weeks ago?"
Jessica nodded, "Bingo! But as you might have noticed, those guys aren't too normal; I suspect they're just magic puppets…"
Setsuna and the others looked at the place where the man last stood, nothing left to possibly vouch for his existence. She then looked in the direction of the school, wondering if Negi knew if anything was going on.
-
"Oblivious!" Negi smiled, "Can anyone give me an example of something having to do with the word oblivious?"
Makie raised her hand, shouting, "Ooh! Ooh! Pick me Negi-kun!"
Negi smiled and nodded his head, "Makie-san."
Makie stood up, "Oblivious is like when someone likes you and you don't realize it, you're oblivious!"
Negi nodded, "That's good! Anyone else?"
Yue raised her hand, "Oblivious such as being blinded from the facts."
Negi nodded, "That one's good too… does anyone have one pertaining to their lives?"
Fuka and Fumika raised their hand, "We know! We know!"
Negi looked at them, then slowly nodded.
"Oblivious is like eating chocolate pudding, even though you think it's vanilla!"
Most of the class laughed, most everyone knew about the girls' sweet tooth. Negi laughed as well, not forgetting the amount of money he paid for their ice cream once.
Asuna raised her hand, a cunning smile on her face, however, before Negi even called on her, she answered, "Oblivious is like how people don't believe in magic."
Negi paled, whereas most of the girls laughed, Nodoka, Yue, Kaede, Ayaka, Evangeline, Chachamaru… and all of the girls that knew about magic, laughed weakly, except for Evangeline and Chachamaru, they simply remained silent.
-
Konoka flipped open her cel lphone, "I'm going to tell grandpa that we're back! Hopefully we can go on like nothing happened. Right Se-tsu-na?"
Setsuna coughed once, "Erm… yes of course Ojou-sama. Hopefully… everything… will…" her eyes became sad as she looked toward the old ruined clock tower.
Konoka frowned and hugged her guardian, "It's OK… it's fate… no one can fight fate…"
-
"So you're telling me to fight fate!?" Masayoshi looked back to normal, obviously nearly bishounen mages have a spell that makes them look back to normal whenever they want.
Connor nodded, the two were now walking down the path back to the school, "That's not a problem is it? I mean that is technically your job."
Masayoshi shook his head, "You idiot! That may be my job, but my bosses carefully follow the paths and they know exactly what will happen if I do anything, everything is a plan! Telling me to do this… this is insane! Even if I am successful, the effects on the present, now, would be… er… I don't know… and that's why it's dangerous!"
Connor laughed a bit, "Wow, didn't think it'd be this difficult! All I want you to do is find a way to save Asakura from dying. Jeez, Negi saved me and he didn't do any of this crap."
Masayoshi rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah… and it's because of that this is all happening…"
Connor looked at him, 'What's that supposed to mean!?"
Masayoshi sighed, "I was supposed to kill Negi a long time ago to prevent him from doing this… I tried to stop him… but… then now that you're here… I'm supposed to kill you, but I already failed that mission, so I have to think of a different way to fix all of this…"
Connor shook his head, "Well… tell me if you think of anything OK?"
Masayoshi nodded as the school began to get closer and closer, it was just after noon, yet that fight in the forest felt like it was pitch black night, perhaps they were fighting for an entire day…
-
The red robed man turned from his "show" and faced the newcomer, "Welcome Serac of Fate, to my humble abode."
Serac looked around, seemingly interested, "I fear your welcoming party has partied herself out."
The man shrugged, "Such is the use of a pawn, now I know that you're allowed to harm the one's not under fate's laws."
Serac shook his head, "The girl is connected to fate, just like the rest of you. You believe you are untouchable, yet so long as you meet another human being tied to fate, you've entangled yourself bit by bit."
The man sneered, his eyes shining in anger, "You're a blasted fool! I'm helping you! Fate has lost control over humans, I'm just trying to help..."
"Fate regain absolete dominance over man again?" Serac finished.
The man nodded, "Yes, to simply… you knew what I was going to say?" his face was suddenly fixed in fright.
Serac nodded, then vanished. The torches on the walls flickered as though a breeze went by. The red robed man frowned and touched his brow, but then smiled, "No matter, if Fate tries to take me, it simply means war."
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Well well, seems that everything is coming together! Now here's something I have to ask you, as the reader, you all have a voice, so please review or PM me to tell me OK? I can finish the story in about… three to four more chapters, I already have an outline set up with everything I want on it, and I'm sure I can piece it together in about three chapters, four if I try. But I'm sure you guys want a story that reaches at least 20 chapters right? Or is that too long? Well just review this and tell me what you want, and don't tell me "Whatever you think is best" because that'll just irritate me! From your heart, do you want me to wrap the story up, or would you rather see me throw in a few non-plot orientated chapters? Whatever you guys want.
I want to try to finish around the same time True Serac does, because when someone reads his story and finishes, they'll go "ah well that was a great story, too bad it's over… oh what's this? Some guy named Master Masa Random wrote a sequel too? Might as well check it out!" see? Aren't I a genius?
Slight Translations/Explanations:
Um… nothing… I think.