Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit fictional story, a FanFiction based on Ken Akamatsu's Negima. I do not own Negima, or most of the other characters included in this work, excepting where it is stated in the author's notes. It is not intended or presented for any commercial profit or personal gain; it is simply a story written for personal fulfillment and presented for public enjoyment, and as an honest homage to the fine story conceived and written by Ken Akamatsu, as well as all the other (innumerable) works that find place herein (and their authors).
Chapter Twelve: Falling Star
Kenjirô groaned and sat up. "Thanks, Kagome-chan," he muttered, rubbing at his disappeared wounds. "You're a lifesaver…literally, of course." He glanced over at the scene that dominated the eyes of those assembled—everyone had arrived now. Jade and Archer and Tear and Rin and Mei, Kazumi and Erika, Hinagiku and Momo and Delryn and Kiami and Akari, Shiho and Rei and Ami and Nina and Arika (who all certainly caused a ruckus in the background) and all the rest of them. Kenjirô briefly took in them all, then turned to watch as Kain and the Prince began their face-off. "Well…so the big damn hero shows up just in time. He mopped the floor with Eminus just like that? And now, the Prince…." He grew quiet and concentrated on the battle.
8-8-8
The Prince began to stride forward, drawing his sword. Kain reached into his cloak and pulled his own sword, and started forward to meet him. When there were only a few meters left between them, they leapt in, blades clashing. Kain danced around, swinging his sword in one hand while the Obsidian Prince met him with a swift two-handed style reminiscent of kenjutsu. They played, neither playing the aggressor for more than a few seconds; Kain would press in, striking quickly, then pull back, and the Prince would move in, striking hard, and Kain would retreat before the advance, deflecting the force away.
"Well…not bad," the Prince smirked. "Your resolve is stronger than before. You're trying hard, aren't you? I like that. The harder you struggle, the more delightful your pain is…."
"You're one sick creature," Kain murmured in reply. "You're really just like a demon yourself, aren't you? Well, this time, you're going to be disappointed…in a lot of ways."
He locked blades and pushed forward, calling on more of his energy. The wings flared out from his shoulders as he flashed in. The Prince was pushed pack, but, snarling, he began to wrap more dark energy around his own blade and came back in. The blades flashed as they clashed, sparks flying and energy blasting from every connection. Kain swung his weapon three times, each time was parried, but then leapt in the air over a savage counter-swing from the Prince. Kain turned over as he sailed over his foe's head, again bringing three quick swings down, but the Prince, turning to follow him, again parried every strike. Kain hit ground and came in again, and the duel continued.
Kain leapt forward in a thrust, but the Prince stepped aside and brought his sword down in an overhead chop. Kain's sword bent back acrobatically to catch and hold the blade, and then Kain spun, twisting his foe's sword away and then slashing as he turned. A light cut grazed the Prince's side as he fell back. Hissing in anger, he came back in, his ferocity redoubled.
Kain matched the blows, increasing his own intensity to avoid being beat back or beat down. Finally their two blades met, energies pulsed…and Kain's sword snapped, the blade flying off its hilt and away. Kain's eyes widened in shock.
Crowing with victory, the Prince raised his sword and again brought it down in both hands. Kain dropped his hilt and reached out, catching the sword with his bare hand. Again energies strained between the two physical forces and the two magical powers they wielded, but Kain seemed to be holding the blade without difficulty. "Blast," he muttered. "That's pretty sad. It wasn't an artifact, but I was rather attached to that sword. I fancied it might become an heirloom one day, just like my cloak. Well…maybe that was a little presumptuous of me to think." He glanced up at the Prince, who was staring at him in shock. Then he raised his other hand and released a blast of energy that threw the Prince back.
Kain curled his right fist and a beam of magical energy shot from it, forming a new mana sword for him. "Well, if swordplay is no go, I guess it's back to what I do best." He leapt in, swinging.
Two slashes were parried, but then Kain gestured, and darkness rose up around the Prince, obscuring and then covering him as the Gravity Magic formed. He slashed it apart, but Kain was no longer there at his front. He nimbly turned to block the strike from behind, repulsed Kain, and then made an exaggerated slash, sending a blade of rending darkness out towards his foe. Kain blocked the attack with his sword and was forced back before he was able to swing through and scatter it. Then he leapt high into the air, raised one hand, and formed a lance of magical energy. Wordlessly, he hurled it down towards the Prince.
The Prince jumped back and out of the way as the great spear collided, blasting up stone and metal from the terrain around, and then looked up to see Kain still in the air. Kain gestured, and a swarm of small blade-shaped points of light appeared in the air around him. He spread both hands, and they came racing in at the Prince. A quick chant and gesture from the Prince conjured a field of darkness that spread out, snuffing the energy, but as soon as it faded Kain was behind him, swinging his mana sword. The prince turned to match it, and the swordplay resumed again.
Until Kain suddenly leapt back, banishing his sword and raising his hand above his head again. A new pulse of energy formed. Kain launched the misshaped missile, and the Prince answered by extending a pair of fingers. A black surge of energy snaked out, meeting Kain's attack and struggling against it. Then Kain gestured, and tendrils of energy erupted from the ground around the Prince. They twisted into the air and then came down towards him, fast and bristling with energy. They hit all around him, exploding. The darkness holding back Kain's first missile winked out, and it went streaking into the attack's center.
The smoke cleared as a shadowy shield flickered into view, leaving the Prince unharmed…but as it faded, Kain was suddenly there, in front of him. Before he could mentally react, Kain placed a hand on his chest. "Microflare," he whispered, and a blast of energy immediately threw the Prince away and into and through several mounds of damaged equipment, to leave him in the middle of a huge piece of rubble.
Kain watched serenely as a surge of power burst forth from the shattered machine, casting its pieces everywhere and revealing the Prince once again. Kain stared mutely, emotionlessly as the Prince returned his look with savage daggers. "How?" he rumbled. "What the hell has happened to you? You should not be capable of this. No matter how much power you have, to wield it so easily…against this body…it's not possible!"
"Funny you should say that," Kain murmured. "You know what? You're right…no matter how strong I am, the boy Kain Lockeheart would never have the heart to raise his hand to injure his own father…his own flesh and blood that he's chased and yearned for since he was able to form coherent thoughts. That Kain could never stand up to you. But you fixed that yourself. Remember?" Kain smiled almost grimly and put his left hand to his chest. "You gave me a demon's heart…an Infernal heart. You planted this dark thing inside of me so that it would corrupt me. Well, it worked. I am still Kain Lockeheart, to a degree…I feel those emotions. I feel the pain and regret and horror over fighting my own father. But because I am now so much Infernal, I can put those emotions away to a corner of my mind and direct my body with pure logic and reason, with my most heartfelt desires to the forefront—to do what I need to in order to save my own life, to save Mai, to save all my friends here…and both of these worlds, no, even all seven of them. Byakuya was right. You are nothing in power right now. That sentiment was the only thing holding me back. Now that I can subdue it, you're no challenge to me. You're weaker than Eminus…the full one, or his Remnant over there. It's over, my dear Prince. Now, will you force me to destroy you and my father out of vindictiveness…or will you try some other method of self-preservation? Because if you won't give up my father's body, I will destroy it and you with it. It hurts to even think about…but I know he would prefer that himself to letting you destroy these worlds and rule over what comes after."
The Prince growled in rage and impotence…and Yayoi and Valeria suddenly took up stances in front of him, leaping into the path. Kain glanced askew at them as they brandished their weapons. "…Really, what do you think you're doing? Do you really think you can stand in my way right now?"
"Whether or not we have the power doesn't matter," Valeria insisted. "We have dedicated ourselves to this cause…we have to see it through. Our honor demands no less. Even if it costs our lives, we will stand in your way."
"Kill us, if you can," Yayoi agreed quietly. "We have to protect our Prince."
Kain stared at them. The Prince suddenly began to chuckle, low and quiet. Then he raised his head, a savage smile on his face. "Well…it seems I still have a trump card to play. You did well, Remnant. I always wondered about your little playthings, but they have been of use to the Obsidian Star…and now your efforts will truly bear fruit, as they serve me in the ultimate." He stood and raised his left hand, cupping it, palm up…and the Disciples of Eminus all suddenly began to scream and clutch at their throats, heads, or chests. Several fell to their knees. From their bodies dark tendrils began to emerge, winding into the air and intertwining as they came down and coalesced in the Prince's outstretched palm.
"Hey, now!" Kain barked, and began to come forward, but the sheer darkness in the stream suddenly repulsed him, and a darker sentiment in him flared, paralyzing him. He gritted his teeth and fought to push it down.
"These have gained great power being in our service," the Prince murmured. "Now they return the favor. All their lifeforce and their magical power coming together…this shall give me the means to break you, Kain Lockeheart…."
Eminus stared out at the scene emotionlessly. He glanced at all the faces of his disciples, contorted in agony as they slowly died. And he made his decision. He put a hand to the ground and murmured an Obsidian Phrase.
Suddenly eighteen statues dominated the Obsidian side of the room. The gathering life energy froze and dispersed, gone. The Prince sagged as his spell was interrupted by its lack of targets and he looked up in shock. "W-what?" He glanced over at Eminus and his eyes widened. "You! What have you…!?"
Eminus returned his stare without emotion, without apparent fervor or concern. "They are mine," he said simply. "I'm sorry, my Prince. I gathered them for my own whims. I did not save them so that they could be sacrificed to you."
"You traitor!" The Prince hurled a blast of energy at Eminus. It struck, and he was blown in half, his lower portion disintegrating away, and his upper torso flew back, hit the ground, and bounced pitifully several times. The Prince stared at his work, panting, his rage still boiling out and combined with his fear and despair….
"Big mistake," Kain murmured from right behind him. He started to turn, but Kain lashed out, striking him in the face.
Two more hits to the face followed, then a jab to the stomach, then another left hook to the face. The Prince reeled under the blows. ('H-his fists, so heavy…was even Kalan Lockeheart's fist this strong…?')
One more strike took the Prince in the face, nearly causing him to sag, but as he fell, Kain grabbed his throat and hoisted him up. His sword had fallen from his grasp, and he clutched futilely at Kain's wrist with both of his hands. The pendant that adorned his neck flopped pitifully before Kain's eyes.
Kain turned his gaze to it and let all his superhuman faculties focus on it. He grasped it in his other hand. "So…this is the source, then?" He tore it from the Prince's neck and crushed it in his hand.
The Prince gazed down in anguish. "No!" he cried, then gasped as if struck by a heavy blow, rolled his head back, his eyes rolling even farther…then his eyes came closed and his head slumped back to the side. A darkness visibly lifted off of him and went swirling into the air.
Kain released his hold and the body of his father came falling forward, into his waiting arms. He flashed back to his comrades and laid Kalan down in their midst. "Dad," he murmured quietly, looking over the man.
A rumble caught his attention, and the breathless audience all turned their gazes up to the ceiling from whence it came…and stared in shock as the darkness coalesced, grew, and manifested as a huge black eyeball, with a small piece of white, a yellow iris, and a dark pupil in its midst. It turned its massive gaze down at them, and a terrible inhuman voice boomed at them. "You insects resist me to the last…you do not even grasp the power that you oppose. I had thought to meld the worlds with some measure of kindness, but you have forced my hand…if you wish to see the true might of the Obsidian Star, then you shall!"
Black portals began to open instantly in the air above them, all around the eye, and massive creatures began to emerge. Great demonic shapes bristling with energy from all sorts of elemental and non-elemental magics manifested and looked down at them. Kain tensed. ('This is bad…he's opening gates directly to the Star. This is bad, in a lot of ways…wearied as we all are, we just don't have the firepower to deal with this right now….')
Then suddenly several blasts of energy came from above and behind them, wiping out a good portion of the growing fleet. The eyes turned upwards…and saw a collection of tall figures standing in a hole in the wall far above them. They, gazing down on the scene, were figures they recognized.
"Hey, Kain-kun," Takamichi said. "Looks like you've been doing all right…but why not let us have a turn, now?"
"We've come to help," Meia agreed.
"They are so arrogantly crossing worlds," Kurt muttered. "This will only make things worse, regardless…."
"Then we should cease prattling and exterminate them with haste," Byakuya rumbled.
"We're on the same page there," Aiden agreed, cocking two pistols. "Let's get started."
Artoria raised her sword. "We're ready."
"Hey, count me in." All eyes turned as Jynx suddenly appeared and alighted next to the Queen, Eishun at his other side. "Been a long time since I really got to stretch my legs."
Artoria broke first. "Well, it's about time. Welcome back."
"Yes, yes, reunions and 'pleased to meet you's can wait," Alyssa murmured, stepping up next to Takamichi. "We have work to do. Miyu?"
"Yes, Alyssa-sama." Miyu, already activated at full power, readied herself to join the fray.
Kain stared up in delight…and then started as Kalan opened his eyes and sat up. "D-Dad…?" he began.
Kalan glanced around, glanced at Kain, then smiled. "Hey, Son. Yeah…it's me. Wish we had more time to do this properly. But like they say, we have work to do." He stood…and then suddenly swept up the white cloak from off Kain's shoulders. "Let me borrow this again for just a minute." He pulled it over his own shoulders and reached inside, removing a small sword that Kain recognized. Then he flew up into the air towards the other Red Wings.
"Well, now the gang's all here," Aiden remarked with a smirk. "You look pretty roughed up."
"Big reunion party," Jynx murmured. "Why not one more?" He manifested his scroll and unfurled it. "C'mere!"
It disappeared in smoke as he activated it…and Gato was revealed. "Hey, all of you," he said with a sad smile. "Been a long time." He turned to the task at hand. "Now that we're assembled…let's move in."
"Red Wings, reunited one last time," Kalan declared. "Let's show these kids how we do things!"
One more swordsman suddenly joined them in the air. Kôtarô smiled up at the awaiting enemy. "Forgive my intrusion…but let one more old hand join this glorious battle."
And 'the kids' watched in awe as it happened. Meia, firing beams and whips of light from her ring, tore through the enemies. Takamichi and Gato flattened packs with their iaiken kanka strikes. Eishun and Kurt used their Shinmeiryû techniques to rip through the enemy forces. Saber cut down swathes with the light of Excalibur. Jynx, using Gravity and Fire magic separately and ensemble, blasted holes in the enemy ranks. Aiden mowed down waves with his constantly-shifting variety of hand guns. Byakuya's Bankai laid waste to them. Alyssa summoned minions to match her foes while Miyu ran helter-skelter through their ranks. Kôtarô cut down foes with relish. And there was Kalan in the center of it all, perhaps far from 100% but still not looking at all like a detriment to the cause. It was almost literally like watching a collection of elite players all working together in an action video game. Kain took it all in with rapt attention and fascination, exulting in seeing these heroes he'd grown to cherish at work in the flesh, so engrossed he hardly noticed as Kamo finally came alighting on his shoulder for a better front row seat himself.
"But why does it look like it's still not making much of a difference?" Chisame muttered.
Indeed, as easily as they seemed to be mowing them down, the enemies were being replaced just as quickly. There seemed to be no end to the portals from the Obsidian Star.
"It's just too much," Ami noted, scanning the scene in her visor. "They all…they have an entire world to draw from, and with the power of the Crystal Throne, the key, and its occupants, the Prince has more than enough power to channel it all here. At this moment…even if our side has the advantage, it really doesn't look like we can win…."
"C-can't we do anything?" Nanami demanded.
Kain actually smiled. "No, 'we' can't do anything. But there's something that only I can do. I was almost reluctant to, but there's no other way." He turned his eyes up past the 'Prince' towards the very top of the chamber. Then after a moment of staring, he suddenly boomed out: "Tokiha Mai. By the power of our contract, I adjure you—cease granting your power and control to the Obsidian Star. Cease and desist all activity of this nature."
And, with a ripple in reality that seemed to have some sort of strange, cascade effect, the portals all stopped, staggered, and winked out. What minions had been summoned didn't immediately vanish, but it didn't matter much as they were swiftly cleaned out by the veteran Red Wings. Although little more than a massive eyeball at the moment, the Prince seemed rather disconcerted at this action.
But not for very long. With another roar of rage, he released a new pulse of energy…and the world around them shifted. Everything melted away, save the Prince, the Red and White Wings and their allies, and the Crystal Throne above. The chamber of the Obsidian Palace dissolved, and they were instead in a pure black realm without any stars or lights in the sky, but eerie red glows from unknown sources in the distance. There was ground under their feet, a black, diseased, and unnatural surface that bespoke of a dead world, and somehow all understood in a moment—the Prince had taken them all to his original home, to the true 'Obsidian Star'.
"On every turn, I am beset. On every step I am hounded and hindered. I had found something unique and ultimately valuable, a chance that comes along once in a hundred thousand years…and you insist on denying it, even at the cost of your own lives! Very well, then! If I cannot have your worlds in perfection, I will merge them all with my home in an instant, that it may alight anew and burn for another millennium or so! Then I shall just go in search of another magical world to consume. Your efforts to preserve your own worthless planet have merely doomed a thousand more to destruction in the far future!"
"Nonsense," Byakuya retorted. "A wounded beast on its last legs may thrash and growl, but die it must." He waved his hand, sending his Bankai in on the eyeball.
But a pulse of energy resisted the attack, scattering the million blades, and a massive form suddenly arose from the ground, a creature with a torso and tiny mustachioed face that didn't properly belong to a head, with no lower body and two massive arms emerging from its sides. It wielded a great spiked club the size of a skyscraper in one hand, and as it forged its way out to stand protectively in front of the Prince, the mad demigod continued, "Go, Miroku, my arm and my wrath! Crush them all!"
"Now what?" Miki muttered. "Really, what is with this? A multi-stage final RPG boss? Does it ever end?"
With a soundless roar, the strange guardian swung down that massive club. It collided with the ground as the heroes scattered, and just from the impact the youths on the sideline were all sent flying. They screamed in various pitches in fear and shock, but suddenly, to a man (or young woman, mostly) their flight was interrupted and they were all cushioned safely in a bubble of magic as Kain rose into the air in their midst, an enormous magical field radiating out from him in a size that encompassed the entire party.
Lina looked on it with surprise. "What is this, some kind of Mega Ray Wing?"
"The same principle, yes," Kain replied negligently. "A massive field of Essential Air that serves as a flying device and protection for everyone inside it…really nothing more than just a giant version of your Ray Wing spell." He frowned, watching as the tiny figures began to assault the great monstrosity without appreciable success. "Still, this is difficult…I have to use this to keep everyone safe, but while it's active, I can't help out with that thing…."
"Isn't it a bad sign if you have to help monsters like those?" Chisame muttered.
8-8-8
She floated in a colorless, featureless sea. After so much pain and fear had dominated her, the peace was…gratifying. The peace…was just what she wanted….
"Are you satisfied with this?"
The girl looked up at the figure standing over her…little more than a girl herself, seemingly just out of her teens, with long hair whose color was difficult to discern in the ambience, but her robe was of a brilliant white that was almost dazzling. "Are you satisfied?" she repeated in a voice that was almost familiar.
The girl hesitated. "…I almost…don't know what that means…."
"Then you don't know who you are, you don't remember what's important. Think hard. Think back. Who are you?"
The girl considered this. "I'm…not sure. Is it all right…for me to know? Is it proper…for me to wonder?"
"Of course it is. You're free, for now. Nothing is binding you any longer, and that is why I'm able to come meet with you. So wonder all you like. Ask yourself. Answer yourself. Who are you?"
"…I am Mai Alusia Hairen Takiva. No, no…I am…Tokiha Mai…."
"Yes. Good. And now that you know yourself, Tokiha Mai, you can do anything you want to do, anything you need to do. What is it that you want or need to do right now?"
"…I promised….to help him. To help all of them. I need…to fight with them. I want…to go now…to go see…."
"Yes. Then go."
8-8-8
Even Alyssa was repulsed and thrown back as the great monster swung its club. "Ridiculous," she muttered. "To be facing something like this…it's like facing old Ruby Eyes in our home plane. The very avatar of the Obsidian Star, manifested against us…."
Suddenly a blast of fire and rage behind the beast caught all their attention…including Miroku's. The gargantuan turned and looked at the relatively small figure opposing it. Mai hovered in the air, adorned in her most amazing Takiva battle dress and her rings. Next to her was the brilliant white phoenix, its wings flaring and blasting flame. "What!? Impossible…the Crystal Princess can't resist my power! She cannot use my powers against me!"
"Kagutsuchi is not yours," Mai murmured. "It's a side effect of what you did, not from your powers. When you created me, you tied me to many magical worlds so I could be the means of ruling over them. Kagutsuchi is my friend, born from that connection." She raised her hand. "Go, Kagutsuchi."
The firebird roared, then powered up and released a fireball that dwarfed anything it had used before. Miroku flew into the air to try and intercept the blast…and it blew through the titan and even the eye itself, and the Prince screamed as the fire consumed him. Cursing and venting his rage, the Obsidian Prince passed into the long night.
Mai watched the Prince disappear inside her flame. Then she lowered her hand and turned to Kagutsuchi, raising her other hand to pat the beast's side. It turned and cooed at her. She whispered quiet thanks, and the beast vanished away.
As the great audience stared at her, she turned her head up toward the crystal high above. She extended a hand towards it and made a grasping motion, and in response to this the key-like staff came flying from the crystal, spinning rapidly until she caught it easily in her grasp. She raised it above her head and activated it, and there was a ripple in reality…and then they were all once again in the tower at the top of the Obsidian Palace, looking as ruined as it had been when they left.
Kain immediately let his friends and companions down, and then looked up to see Mai descending slowly towards him. He moved to meet her, reaching her as she alighted upon the ground about ten meters from the collected group. Mai reached out with her free hand, and Kain took it in his opposite, interlocking the fingers and matching palms together, then wrapped his other hand around the pair. "Mai…you're safe. No, we're all safe…thanks to you."
"Thanks to me? Thanks to you…and everyone."
Crying in delight, most of the class came charging up after them, and Kagome, Hinagiku and Momo were all in the forefront, tackling Mai and forcing her to withdraw from Kain. She laughed as she accepted their attention, and, somewhat bemused, the Red Wings came down and watched from a more discreet distance.
"Well, I really hate to interrupt this touching reunion and victory moment," Chisame said, cutting through the hubbub. As everyone turned to her, she continued, "But seriously, someone has to be a voice of reason, and the first thought is this: we've won and all, but what about the Obsidian Star's plot? You, uh, beat the Prince and stopped the ritual, but everything can't be hunky-dory here…."
"That's right," Kurt said, striding forward. "Even now, things are too close. The worlds are still heading towards destruction. In a matter of months…no, perhaps weeks, what we've prevented here will just be repeated. We must reverse that flow, or everything we've done will be for naught…."
"And how do you suggest we do that?" Hinagiku demanded hotly. "From what you were suggesting before, Mai has to be the one to sacrifice herself to fix that problem! I won't hear of it! There's got to be another way!"
Kurt sighed with a bit of exasperation as he pushed at his glasses. Before he could begin, however, Mai suddenly said, "It's all right, Hina. He's right. I'm the only one who can." As all eyes moved her way, she turned suddenly and leapt up onto one of the leveled masses of twisted metal that afforded such a surface, and stared up at the crystal. "Now that the threat is over, I have to return to the Crystal Throne so I can set the paths of the worlds back in order."
Kain leapt up behind her. "Mai…" he began.
But suddenly Kalan arrived and spoke, cutting off his son. "No, Mai. Not you. It can't be you."
Mai turned to him in surprise as Kain leveled a cool, thoughtful gaze his way as well. "Kalan…" she began. Then she pressed on: "But, it has to be! This is…what I was made for. Before, that was a curse, but right now, it's the only choice. The only hope the worlds have now is through my power…after all…it was my fault in the first place…."
"It's not your fault," Kain objected. "The Obsidian Star…."
"Created me for this purpose, used me to do it, yes, I know. I wasn't a person to them, nothing but a tool to get it done…but still…you must know, too, Kain. You understand it all better than anyone. You know that it has to be me."
Kalan smiled. "Yes. He does understand it, I think. Better than you do, in fact. Better than anyone here, even. But not better than me." As the children turned to him in surprise, he continued, "I repeat: not you, Mai. You can't afford to. Right now, you don't even know who you are. Are you Tokiha Mai…or Mai Alusia Hairen Takiva?" A scowl crossed Mai's face, and she opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came forth, and her expression shifted suddenly. Kalan smiled sadly and shook his head. "No, you're not sure. After what they've done to you, you're still trying to get a grip on your identity. They couldn't kill off Tokiha Mai, but she was severely repressed…enough to let the Crystal Princess unveil her full powers against her own creators. There was enough Tokiha Mai to resist them…thanks to Kain. But if you go in there now, the only way you'll even know how to fix it is if you go in as the Crystal Princess. As Mai Alusia Hairen Takiva. And if you go in there in that identity, in your condition, Tokiha Mai will be lost forever. I can't let that happen."
"Y-you'd rather let the worlds be destroyed!?" Mai protested. "You, of all people, Kalan!? I'm just…one girl…that sacrifice…."
"Isn't yours to make." He jerked his head back towards the remaining Red Wings, including Gato, who lingered still. "Gato sacrificed his life for yours already. Takamichi gave so much. Jynx, Aeli, and me, too, and all of them…we wanted you to have a normal, happy girl's life, to be a real person, not just a weapon of the Obsidian Star. Things aren't ideal…maybe they never can be. But at least there has to be hope that you can one day know your own happiness. Therefore, I will take your place in the Crystal Throne." He reached out and took the staff from Mai's hand.
Stunned, Mai did not resist as he gently pulled the item away, but Alyssa suddenly demanded, "Is that really the solution, Kalan? Can you operate a world-controlling device?"
Kalan turned a wry smile Alyssa's way. "I'd pay good money to get the full story of why you're here, Alyssa, but I guess that'll have to wait for a while. Yes, Alyssa, I can. I am Kalan Lockeheart, after all. And the Obsidian Prince inhabited my body for fifteen years. That wasn't a one-way street. I know as much about the Crystal Throne, the Obsidian Heart, the Key and all the rest as anyone does, as anyone could with any amount of time to study it. I'm not built for it…I can't do everything…but for now…to give back the time that's lost…I can take that place temporarily. How long…well, we'll see."
Tears were running down Mai's cheeks. "But, Kalan," she protested weakly, fighting to keep from breaking down in sobs. "Kain! He's been searching for you all this time! He's been trying to save you! And here you are, it's finally happened, and…and you're just going to run away!?" She turned to Kain, who was still staring, emotionless, thoughtful. "Say something, Kain! Beg him not to do it!"
Kain did not reply, but Kalan finally focused his attention on him. His sad smile returned. "Yeah. Sorry, Son. Here we've finally met, but I haven't given you a how-do-you-do or anything…."
Kain suddenly surged forward, embracing his father. Kalan was initially surprised, but it broke quickly, and he returned his son's embrace—clumsily, with one hand holding the massive key-staff. "I have to do this," he said quietly. "You know that too, don't you? And why?"
"Yes," Kain replied in equal measure. "And don't worry; I understand. Better, maybe, than you know. About all of it." Then he withdrew and nodded. "It's enough, for now. I'll see both of you soon enough. That knowledge alone…that is far more than enough."
Kalan's smile was more affectionate and warm this time, and he swept the cloak back off his shoulders and handed it to Kain, who re-donned it. "From now on, that's yours. You've earned it, I think, in every way." Then he turned back to Mai, leaned in, and whispered something to her. Her eyes widened in shock, then she sighed, nearly a cry, and nodded resolutely. Kalan withdrew and tousled her head, changing her expression and eliciting a slight glare.
Only Kain was close to them. If he heard what was whispered, he gave no indication.
Kalan's gaze swept over the youths that were staring in awe at him. He smiled grimly. "Well…friends of my son, and friends of my friends. Take care of him while I'm gone." Then he turned back to the Red Wings. "Gato…."
"It's fine," Gato said with a smile. "I'm a phantom who is already gone. But this phantom was pleased to have had one last fight beside you. Just take care of her, now…that's all I ask." And he faded away.
Kalan looked over the rest of them. "Goodbye, all of you," he said softly. "Thank you for everything. Until we meet again."
"You cad," Alyssa suddenly seethed, but with surprising good humor in it. "You have so much to answer for, and you're just running away? Well, not like I can stop you anyway…."
Kalan smiled at her. "Don't worry, Alyssa…all our debts will be settled soon enough." He gave an impish salute, and then flew off into the air. He hovered in front of the crystal and put his free hand out to it. "I'm coming," he whispered, and slid inside the massive stone.
Inside the crystal was a pseudo-world, a sea of nothingness, devoid of texture, feature, or color. But a form was there, curled up, sleeping deep inside it. Kalan swam lazily through the magical void and stopped next to the body. He reached out and touched a shoulder. "I'm here," he murmured.
The figure stirred, and Aeli opened thin her eyes. She glanced up at Kalan and a smile crossed her face. "I knew you'd come," she murmured.
"I've come, but not to bring you out yet," Kalan replied. "We both must sleep a little longer…and then we'll be free. And then, we can finally see our son's real face…together…."
8-8-8
The whole chamber had seemingly held its breath as Kalan departed. Then the crystal itself slowly started to fold in on itself, and in a moment it was gone. After it vanished, a huge sigh nearly in unison, a breath of regret and sorrow, escaped the audience. "Is…that it?" Izumi muttered. "That…doesn't seem like a proper ending, right? Kalan-san…."
"Well, we can't do anything about that now," Miki said. "In any case, it's over, right? Shouldn't we be going home now?"
Kain shook himself awake, then shook his head. "It's not over. Not quite yet." He leapt down from his perch and walked across the floor, picking his way through the rubble and debris, searching. Finally he found what he sought, and kneeled to look closely at the crippled, ruined form of Pakrov Eminus' Remnant.
It was not to fetch his students' cards that he came to the boy, as Kamo had used his own powers and authority to reclaim them upon his arrival at the scene, off-camera while Kain was doing the fighting. Instead, he considered the former Obsidian servant as the golem turned his own eyes toward the victor. "So, Kain-kun," he murmured. "You are the victor here…you achieved it all, just as you said you would. What would the victor want with a cast-off piece of detritus like myself?"
Kain did not answer immediately. After several seconds, he posed, "Why did you turn your disciples to stone? Why did you turn against your master then?"
"Why…? Who knows?" Eminus looked away. "It is as I told my lord. I…simply did not save them to be his sacrifice. I didn't want to see them used that way. That is all. I was already used up and worthless. There was no point in my existence anyway, so I did one thing for myself." He looked back again. "Is this some form of your pity or sentiment?"
"Pity, certainly not. Sentiment…perhaps. I won't forgive you for what you've done. I won't try to save you, as I know it's pointless; with the Prince gone, with the Star destroyed, your life is at an end regardless, and all altruism aside, it's not worth it to try and save you by tying your life force to another power. But I do feel…that this ignominious end is a bit too much for you. So…."
"Spare me any more of that, Kain-kun," Eminus murmured. "It is as you say…you cannot forgive me, and that is only proper. But if you have any sympathy towards me, I have only one request of you. Nothing else matters…but…."
Kain nodded before he could finish. "I understand. I will take care of them, Eminus. I feel they, at least, have some good that can still be done."
Eminus smiled slightly. "Thank you. That is enough. It was…a joy, to fight you, Kain-sensei. Tell me…do you believe in reincarnation?"
A smile touched Kain's lips. "Well, honestly, religion is something I've always tried not to even think too much about. Too many questions. But…really, I was raised as a Western Christian, so at heart, no, I don't think that reincarnation is the proper destination or purpose of a soul."
"I see. That's too bad. Right now, I would very much like to believe in reincarnation." He glanced past Kain at Nodoka, who had tentatively approached during this exchange while all others held a wary or respectful distance. Then he looked at Kain again. "I would like to think…that if I came back in another form, if I met you again…we could be friends…don't you think that would be nice, Miyazaki Nodoka?" The girl started, then nodded slowly, hesitantly. Eminus smiled, a true, wistful, emotional smile, small but earnest, and then he turned his gaze away and stared straight above at…nothing, really. "Ah," he breathed. "If only I could have tasted that coffee…one more time…."
And then he fell to dust and blew away.
Kain stared after him just a moment. Then he rose slowly to his feet and raised a hand above his head. There was a pulse of energy, and the stone figures in the chamber returned to being flesh and blood. They gasped in shock and collapsed practically as one body, some full to their faces but most managed to keep themselves on their knees, at least. As they shivered in their recovery and looked around to try to make sense of their situation, Kain rose slowly into the air and settled onto the highest mount currently within reach.
"Disciples of Eminus," he intoned, calling their attention. "It is not without regret that I inform you…that your war is over. The Obsidian Star has lost, and has been destroyed. Your master, Eminus, is dead—not by my hand, but by his own lord, the Obsidian Prince, in return for defying him. There is no need for further hostilities…and your master asked, with his dying wish, that I take responsibility for you, so I shall. I am claiming you as my prisoners of war, to be detained at my discretion until I find places for you, to recompense the world you sought to destroy. But your rehabilitation must wait a short while, as I can't stay long. As prince and heir of Avalon, I am remitting you into the custody of Queen Artoria Pendragon, to keep you until such time as I can carry out my promises." He glanced around at the room, at the defeated youths, at his students, at the Red Wings—most especially Artoria—and the others about, especially the representatives of the various nations. "I trust there shall be no objections?"
The declared prisoners stared up…but then bowed their heads almost in unison. "Well, what can we say?" Winfield chuckled for them all. "It's pretty clear just in looking around what our situation is. I can speak for us all, Kain Lockeheart…we surrender into your care."
"I'm sure you'll have no objections from us," Jade sighed. "I know it's mostly the formalities, but right now, I think you can skip those. Goodness…we just saved the world…I can scarcely believe it…."
"Some of these niceties are necessary to keep me sane with all this going on," Kain replied glibly. "My mind is on fire right now, and if I don't control the blaze, my head with combust with it." He turned to Artoria, who smiled and nodded her assent to his requests.
"Then let's get out of here." Kain hopped back down. "I hate to run, but I think our window ought to be closing, too." He raised his hand, and the Gate came down from above, resting on the ground in the midst of the chamber. A few more gestures cleared out space, sending any debris around it flying to the deserted corners of the room so everyone could have an unobstructed view—and path—towards the portal.
Most of the class began to clap, whoop, and cheer, but Kain smiled at them in wry amusement. "Don't celebrate too early," he warned them. "That may have looked impressive, but operating it is another matter. This I haven't been able to practice before, so I'm kind of…."
"Don't worry about it, Sensei! We'll take care of it!"
The class recoiled in surprise as Caria appeared from practically nowhere…with Yuki by her side. Caria held up a device triumphantly, a small key-like object. "Tada! This is my Mahora Gate Key, which I used to get Alyssa-chan, Miyu, Higurashi-sama, and Mr. Black here to join us! Of course, it was easier those minutes ago, because our worlds were already being joined in the apocalypse brought on by the Obsidian Star's ceremony, but in the hands of someone with the proper skills, it'll open this Gate enough for all of us to return home!" She handed it to Yuki.
Yuki took it easily, then turned toward the Gate. Kain looked at her carefully. "Yuki-san…where are your glasses?"
Yuki turned back to stare at Kain, then a slight expression of alarm actually spread over her face as she put a hand up to it, near her eyes. "Oh…I forgot to reconstruct them…."
Kain stared at her in bemusement and said, "Well, no big loss…I was never much of a glasses fetishist myself. Ponytails, now, would be another matter, but that's neither here nor there."
Yuki (and all the other girls, now, most of them calculating) stared at Kain, and Yuki said, "What is a 'glasses fetishist?"
Kain shook his head and waved the question away. "Never mind," he replied. "You may proceed."
Yuki stared a second longer, then turned and pointed the key like a remote control. Her mouth moved at supersonic speed as she chanted at equally supersonic speed, and then the Gate burst alive, a bright white light obscuring the actual architecture and creating a sphere that surrounded it.
"Well, with that, it is time, and past time," Meia sighed, smiling slightly all the same. "Our long journey is ended. Are we ready to go home?"
Takamichi smiled and turned to the rest of the Red Wings with a nod. "I've got my duties as a teacher back at that school. It was good to see you all again…especially you, Kurt. Stay out of trouble, you hear? I'll be back to check on you all soon enough, I'm sure." He glanced over at Jynx. "Do you have to return, Jynx...?"
"I'm free," Jynx said with a smile. "I came here because my regeneration finally finished, so I'm golden. And I think I'll stay over here on this side, if it's all the same. I have a lot of catching up to do, after all…."
"Well, this crisis created freedom for me, but it's almost over," Alyssa muttered. "My freedom hasn't come yet, so, like it or not, I have to go back. Let's go, Miyu." She reached up toward the robot.
"Of course, Alyssa-sama." She scooped up the little girl.
Yue stared at the Gate, then turned to her friends behind her. "Minna…."
Nina, scowling, strode up to Yue. Then, to the surprise of all, she embraced the shorter girl. Just as swiftly, she withdrew, then turned around imperiously, folding her arms. "There! Go on, then! A HiME can't keep her friends and classmates waiting! You have a dignity to uphold." After pausing, she glanced back over her shoulder and added, "And don't even think of running away! You won't receive my forgiveness or that of my kingdom if you don't come back to finish your HiME education!"
"Yue-chan!" Arika wailed, embracing her next. "I'll miss you! You were the best roommate ever! You have to come back, all right!"
"I will…I will come back, I promise…."
"Well, then we'll be waiting," Shiho said, approaching and taking her hand. "Go on, then, make the most of it, and make sure you get the rest of your memories back. And," she added, leaning close and continuing in a whisper that was loud enough for most around to hear, "Don't let anyone take that delicious teacher of yours away! Fight hard for him and make him yours, no matter what underhanded tricks you have to pull!"
"Th-th-th-th-that's…!" Yue shrieked, red-faced, frozen stiff.
Nodoka, too, stared at the Gate, then at Kain, then Mai, then Yue, and finally back to her Fairy Tail comrades. "Um…Lucy-san…Erza-san…Na…."
"Miyazaki Nodoka!" Erza suddenly shouted, causing the girl to jump and commanding attention from the room at large.
"Y-yes!" Nodoka shrieked.
Erza's clothing and armor melted away into light and reformed just as quickly as she engaged her Requip. She was now dressed in an elaborate, showy armor with a regal cape and a tabard, a spear topped by a Fairy Tail flag in her hand, an armor her other companions recognized as her 'Farewell Fairy Tail Armor'. Still speaking like a drill sergeant, she cried, "Anyone leaving Fairy Tail must remember these three rules! First, you must never, for the rest of your life, reveal tactics that could prove to be a danger to Fairy Tail! Second, you must never contact past clients for personal gain! Third, though our paths may have diverged, you must continue to live out your life with all your might. You must never consider your own life to be of little value, and you must never forget about your friends you hold dear!" She thrust the spear towards the sky. "Let the Fairy Tail sendoff begin!"
"All right!" Natsu crowed. He leaned his head back, breathing in, then began to spit a torrent of fireballs into the sky, which flew through a small hole that had been opened in the ceiling and burst into great fireworks-like blasts. Nodoka stared in awe through her tears.
"Nodoka! And all of you as well!" Erza continued. "Be safe…and make sure you come back to see us sometime."
Momo was moving towards the Gate as well. "Momo-san…are you sure?" Ami asked. "You just became a lieutenant for the Soul Society…."
Momo smiled at her. "Yes…but for now, my duty is still with our class. And if they do need to recall me, it's just as easy to do so while I'm on Earth as it would be here. Let's go." She turned and leapt towards the light.
Izumi, Riza, and Miki were whooping on their way towards the gate, and Akari watched them with trepidation as Kiami and Hikaru also began to take the route. "W-well," she said, turning to Delryn, "it looks like it's time to go…so…."
"Right. So let's go." And Delryn started blithely past her.
"E-eh?"
"Hey, Del!" Aiden called. The boy turned to his father, and the man continued, "Are you sure?"
"Hell, yeah. Hanging with all these girls seems a lot more interesting than fooling around in your old stomping grounds over here, at least right now. Give Mom my best." He raised a hand in a mini-wave and started for the Gate again, with Akari on his heels.
Kain glanced over at Lina. Before he said anything, she saluted him with a negligent wave. "I'm gonna stay over here. Right now, it's still basically choosing one side or another for some time, and we both know I'd go stir crazy and do something outrageous if I was stuck in that boring world. Well, maybe it won't be boring for too much longer…but I'll be here, waiting. You better come back, Mister!"
"Ah?" Gourry asked, surprised. "You're not going back with them?"
"I already explained why, and I'm not repeating myself, so just shut up!"
Eishun came to Kagome, who ran to embrace him with delight. "Well, we didn't meet up until now," she said with a laugh, "but just think about it…a daddy-daughter adventure we just saw together!"
Eishun laughed. "But I'm glad it's over. I've been worried about you. C'mon…we should get going." He glanced up at Inuyasha and Shippô, who were staring at him with inscrutable expressions. He bowed. "I thank you for taking care of my daughter all this time."
"Ah, it was nothing!" Shippô said bashfully, but Inuyasha could only manage some unintelligible grumble.
Kagome stared at him a moment longer, then turned away to follow her father as he started towards the Gate, but then Inuyasha suddenly burst out, "Oi, Kagome!" As she looked at him again, he continued, "Do you really hafta go to that side? I mean, you weren't doing a bad job over here…."
"Well, yeah…I'm sorry, Inuyasha, but I can't. My home is on that side…my family, and all my friends. I have to go finish my schoolwork, too! I still haven't got all my summer homework done, and I'm not sure I'll have any time left for it!" She groaned slightly, then grabbed her head and shook the thoughts away. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha, but I can't stay. But don't worry…someday I'll be able to come back and visit you…."
"Who needs you to!? I was just thinking it might be better for you, but if you're that bound and determined, fine!" And he turned away, folding his arms with finality, and presented his back (and long white hair) to the girl.
Kagome's look was halfway between scowl and bemusement, but as she turned away she muttered under her breath, "Osuwari," and walked imperiously onward as Inuyasha collapsed to the ground with a yelp. Eishun silently observed this exchange, then continued on with his daughter.
In small groups they all began to move into the portal, all those who were determined to return to Earth—obviously, the students and faculty of Mahora, as well as Delryn, and Eishun with the rest of the rescue team. Finally only Kain and Yuki were left behind. Kain gave one final glance around to all those staying, saluted them, and turned towards the sphere of light, and Yuki followed right after him.
Luana watched it all intensely. And, perhaps out of design, perhaps on a sudden impulse, she, not far from the Gate, leapt to her feet and charged into the portal.
"Oh, no you don't!" Inuyasha cried, and leapt in after her.
And then the light winked out, and the path between the two worlds was sealed once again.
8-8-8
The demons had been dispatched, but the strange lights in the sky hadn't abated and the weather had started worsening. Seizing upon this idea, the Mahora faculty declared a storm warning and ordered the entire campus inside for safety. That at least got them out of the way….
"But if this keeps up, the danger won't be averted just by seeking shelter," Kensuke muttered. "Ho…it really looks like the end of the world…did Kain-kun and the rest really fail…?"
He cut himself off and looked up as the churning winds started to reverse themselves. They did not vanish as quickly as they appeared, but rather simply began to unwind casually, diminishing in small measure from tornado to gentle breeze before fading away. And then, above the World Tree, there was a flash. Kensuke gaped and hollered as a hole opened in the air and began to stream forth…and a whole massive collection of bodies came falling out of the hole to collapse in one disjointed pile on the ground.
With the weather cleared, curious onlookers began to emerge from their places of residence to behold the latest scene….
Which complicated matters when Inuyasha burst from the pile of bodies, hauling Luana up by her arm. "Gotcha!" he declared triumphantly. Then he looked around at the terrain in confusion. "Huh?" he asked.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried in exasperation and horror, separating herself from the pile.
Kain suddenly slammed a baseball cap down over Inuyasha's head, hiding his ears. "Welcome to Earth," he said politely to the confused hanyô and the sheepish Luana. He then turned his attention more fully to the girl. "And I don't know why you came, but I guess first thing we need to do is get you to see the Principal…."
"No need to worry; I'm here," Kensuke said, landing on his feet near them. "Oh, my…this will indeed be quite a fuss…but it looks like you've succeeded Kain-kun. No, not just you…all of you. You managed to come back home safe…and more than that, you've saved both our worlds. Welcome home, heroes!"
F I N
Author's Note: Homecoming
Well! Here we are! After all the craziness, the battles, the mysteries…it's over and done! More or less…there is an Epilogue wrap-up for this mega-Act, but the heroes have done their part. Victory, and all that!
Again, this was the point I really had to reach down my own well, for many reasons. There's probably too much to really talk about…I could go on about the Fairy Tail sendoff, the reason for bringing Inuyasha along (small blurb deserved there: because the Inuyasha in the present sequences of that anime were too amusing), Lina's staying, Mai's awakening, Kalan, the Red Wings, the heroes assembled…. But as I said, there's just too much, so I'll let the rest speak for itself.
This was the mega climax, and the rest of Negima took only twenty chapters (after going 335) to wrap everything up, and that not entirely with satisfaction. But after 16 Acts, I have four more planned to wrap up mine…and a few fairly significant adventures left, despite it all. One will be hinted at by the Epilogue, and I'll get to that when it happens. Kain and Mai have to resolve what's necessary to finish saving the world, and then…well…we'll see….
Anyway, let's get to the Epilogue, so we can close this chapter and start the Return to School Arc!