Thank goodness for small miracles: whatever foul computer beast consumed most of my last chapter has not struck again. Which means it's time for another 'on-time' instalment of a Certain Holiday Season. The ball is certainly rolling, but I think we can pump it up a notch, don't you?

Just a heads up: I will be answering any questions not immediately indicative of error on my part like last I did last time. Once book 2 is complete, I'll wait a few days and then a post quick Answer update to clarify any issues. I have not ignored any questions until then, but I just want to answer them all at once if possible (And buy time to think of reasonable responses for topics I never considered).

As an interesting digression, today is alarmingly close to the one year anniversary of this story. I did start writing it earlier than I posted it, but not by more than a few weeks so either way it's a near hit. Whether you've a newer reader or you've been there since the start, I hope you've been able to enjoy A Certain Holiday Season. I know I have. And as always, thanks for sticking with me.

Chapter 18:

1:12 A.M., December 29th: The Dianoid, Main Amphitheatre

Joan was quickest to react, leaping nimbly to a clear zone. Baker and the others were hardly slower, but Touma was caught unprepared by the wave of fire blowing apart the floor beneath him. He was thrown backwards, raised hands catching and dissipating the searing shockwave that ruined much of the remaining Christmas decorations.

He felt a familiar heat as he lay on his back, and saw a rush of countless paper tags soar into the amphitheatre, adhering over every surface.

And then the roaring flames of Innocentius gushed from below in an infernal geyser.

Baker and the Summons withdrew as its red-headed master clambered up from the edge, a grim smile on his lips.

"W-what? How did you… Did you follow me?" Touma asked, bewildered as much by the entrance as his sudden shift in fortune, but Stiyl turned with a frown.

"Follow? Don't be foolish. Our infiltration was planned from the start, after we finally pinpointed this base's access point by combining 'The Domesday Map' and 'Lady London's Heart' of Bleeding Heart Yard'. And before you ask I already knew about this lift access to the stage, so this wasn't a last minute diversion to reach your position. It was merely convenient that the enemy assembled here; this isn't about you at all, in any way, shape, or form." [1]

"You're putting that awfully harshly for some reason! And wait, did you say 'our'? Does that mean me, or-"

But their conversation was interrupted as Agnes laughed, and both turned her way. "So, you've an ally now? How amusing. But the odds are hardly even."

"You're right, hag." She frowned as Stiyl chewed the end of a cigarette flickering between his lips. "And it's about to get worse."

Touma furrowed his brow, but a shrill whistle emanating from the now gaping lift between him and Stiyl caught his attention.

From the hole grew a wooden ladder, up like a rocket-propelled beanstalk. It slammed into the ceiling, cracking it deeply as it vibrated wildly.

Hanging from its many rungs was an entire invasion force. The members dropped in quick succession onto the stage below.

"G-God, that makes me queasy…" Bayloupe of New Light stumbled to the ground, holding her stomach as Floris and Lancis patted her back. But all three recovered and darted threateningly towards Daedalus, who crashed back over several rows of seats.

"Get over it." Sherry Cromwell crashed before Agnes and Songbird, forcing both to fly back as her golem formed of carbon panels shook the stage. [2]

"Are you all right, Kamijou-kun?" The Saint formerly of the Amakusan Church had somehow materialized by Touma's side, hoisting him bodily to his feet. But when another Saint skidded to her side in turn, he was protectively flung clear across the open hole.

As he tumbled and cartwheeled the newcomer spoke. "Oh my! H-hello! Ah, I-I mean, greetings once again, noble Kanzaki Kaori…" Joan took several seconds to bashfully brush down her simple cloth garments and tidy her hair, hand whipping about at Mach-speed before she fell into a fighting stance. "I told you were would have another chance to cross blades. Oh, and I hope you've been in bonne santé!"

"L-likewise… I think." The opposing Saints stared down each other with varying shades of intensity. Finding his feet, Touma he glanced at Styil's back as the magician faced down Miss Baker. "How? Where'd you all…?"
The red-headed magician flicked a thumb back over his shoulder. "That artefact is based on the symbolism of Jacob's Ladder and ascending angels: somewhat niche, but highly effective in vertical translations."

"…I can't believe I'm saying this, but its better when Index or Othinus does it."

"Then don't ask me, you dumb-ass!"

"Enough of this distraction." The woman's cool voice cut through the brewing anticipation, and many eyes turned to Miss Baker. "You are reckless to challenge us in my realm."

"This realm is magic, woman." Stiyl grinned, throwing down the butt of his cigarette. "And unlike your other power, we can deal with that."

Miss Baker's retort caught in her throat.

"Yes. We figured it out." Stiyl chuckled, as he ground the embers into the carbon tile. "You're all the same. Least that's what the research department tells us." His eyes narrowed. "Somehow, you're all Gemstone-Magician hybrids. Each and every one of you."

For a long moment there was silence. But finally their leader nodded.

"That is so."

"That's pretty monstrous, but whatever." Floris gave one flick of her blonde hair, lancing out her Steel Glove pole-arm in time with her small wings. "We'll figure out how you broke the rules later."

"Ohohoho, what an interesting spiritual item!" The Greek inventor was undaunted, and in a show of formed several blades of his own. "I see how you've combined several properties based on an unfamiliar set of traditions, very efficient, hmmm. A pity it's not made of brass, yes, so that I may wrap it around your pretty little necks once I've analyzed it fully."

"S-sister, that golem… It's huge, I'm scared…!" Across the room the small boy by Agnes fawned weakly at her dress and she laid a gentle hand on his head.

But her eyes flew like daggers to Sherry Cromwell. "You've scared my brother with that ugly construct, harlot. You will suffer dearly." The boy lurched, and the first signs of his demented flower-form emerged, thin tendrils of vine creeping along the floor.

"Shut it, *****." The magician stood fuming one the golem's lurching shoulder. "And his name is Ellis."

"S-so that mean I get to fight Kamijou Touma, the one with Imagine Breaker? A worthy foe, but I… I…?" Songbird looked to and fro, panic spreading across her features. "Why is no one looking at me!?"

"You will not win this fight, Necessarius." Miss Baker regarded Stiyl as he casually lit another cigarette.

"We'll see." A blazing sword sprung from his hand. "Innocentius."

"H-hold on! All you guys don't need to-!"

Pandemonium broke loose, and it was all Touma could do to not be consumed.

!~~~~~~~~!

1:16 A.M., December 29th: London, Park Plaza Hotel by Westminster Bridge.

The London Eye glowed, motionless but illuminated to shine on downtown London. From where Mikoto stood on top of the large building's roof it was distant, yet it still dominated the skyline.

Its magnificence did nothing to ease her annoyance.

Lotta distractions around tonight. So why did they all have to end up in my way?

Avoiding attention wasn't the problem; rather, it was her inability to not get involved in whatever disturbance she might find. Three times she'd gone out of her way as an explosion rocked the night, and three more times she'd magnetically rocketed away from handfuls of confused officers and fried crooks. It was hardly tiring, but each detour set her itching to return to her personal hunt.

She frowned, rubbing the bridge of her nose beneath her mask as she poured over her map. More police chatter poured in over her hacked radio connection, and for once it was good news. All the action's heading South? Finally, a clear shot west to the Palace. "Good. NOW maybe I can get things done."

Or so she thought. For as she pulled herself towards a nearby hospital to sling herself towards Westminister Bridge, her magnetic senses noticed something.

…Odd. Isn't that a park? Why so much metal? As she swung closer she stalled, hating her own curiosity. But soon her suspicions deepened. Cars. Lots of them, trucks, and… Crap. Well, at least their guns aren't polymer this time.

She checked her map, seeing that the broad field of snow-laden trees was indeed the Archbishop's Park. [3] A lack of fixed metal forced her to alight in a deep snow bank, but she sprinted as close as she dared before peering over a tall bush.

On the other side, in a snow-cleared field, masked from ordinary scrutiny by a screen of thick trees, was a small army of criminals.

!~~~~~~~~!

1:20 A.M., December 29th: The Dianoid, Main Amphitheatre

Scraps of brass, hunks of burning plant matter, and everything in between flashed through the air above Touma's prone body. The speed of the Saintly duel kicked up a fierce wind that blew debris about in rapid gusts of wind, but the other combatants hardly seemed to care.

It was all getting to be a bit too much for Touma to take lying down.

"THAAAAT'S IT!" He rose, powering through the stiffness in his joints. He deflected a handful of errant attacks as he pushed through the maelstrom to the nearest shape. "LANCIS!" The startled girl grasped her Polearm closely, a twitching piece of Daedalus still caught in its grip steel. "Where is Baker!"

She stared in confusion, cupping her ear. "WHAT!? I can't-!?" A heavy bronze arm burst from behind a cloud of smoke.

Imagine Breaker snaked out and battered it aside almost by instinct as he leaned closer, shouting. "I need to punch Baker! Where is she!?"

"U-uh-!?" Glancing between the wreckage of the failed attack and the boy, Lancis seemed unsure which surprised her more. "I don't know!? That's Stiyl's target, go ask him!?"

Oh. Good idea. "Thanks, Lancis-san." His heavy pat on her back surprised her even more and she leaped away, dodging another attack by accident. But the boy was already gone, striding through more cross winds as he tried to make sense of the battle.

Should be easy to find. Where's the brightest, hottest spot?

Touma crouched low for balance, straining his eyes.

He couldn't quite catch the supersonic duel of the Saints; though their speed slowed enough to avoid injuring their companions, blades and wires were still flashing in all corners of the amphitheatre.

He thought for a second he saw a small bird tumbling about in their wake, but if was buffeted by gale force winds and he soon lost sight of it.

There were also a number of Baker's toys stumbling around, attempting to assist in various fights, but from the looks of it their efforts were equal parts helpful and not. Several grappled with Ellis's thick golem legs, tearing off pieces but they were thrown at Sherry's command into the plant monster's path; Agnes cursed the obstruction aloud, riding ghostlike again within.

Enraged, she sent her brother charging across the battlefield, but a patch of fire diverted the plant creature. It careened out of control with a monstrous cry, one flailing vine lashing Joan by the ankle. Though it did no damage it slowed her sufficiently to allow several dangerous blows from Kanzaki. The Saint was pressed hard enough to force her into Daedalus's side at great speed. They slammed together into a carbon wall in a shower of tiles, but quickly wrenched free to continue the fight with unsettling stamina.

But even so, for the first time today Touma felt emboldened.

"This stupid Holiday training camp…" Floris paused as she grunted with exertion, pivoting with her Steel Glove to force the charging man of brass straight back into his ally. "Might have been good for something after all!"

"Indeed." The two were quickly rammed by Ellis's huge fist, bowling the tangled Summons into several animated toys threatening to trip up Stiyl. Sherry cracked her knuckles as her golem charged after them. "Our teamwork is acceptable now."

"Hey, you can't jump on board that as an excuse! You weren't even participating, you just yelled at us!"
"Still counts."

In contrast to the Necessarius forces, Touma watched the enemy force stumbling over one another. As if by way of proof a leafy vine snake out across the field towards New Light in a surprise attack, but it was intercepted by lashing sword of fire.

Aha! That's it! Touma took the few needed steps and brushed aside a screen of smoke to find Stiyl, sword immolating another stuffed toy. "Found you!"

The magician turned, cigarette twitching with his slight grin. "Ah. Surprisingly good timing for once."

Though caught off guard, Touma pressed his case. "Well, where's Baker!? You were fighting her, where-"

"She's gone."

"Then how is that good timing!? That's the opposite of good!" A ripped of piece of brass ricocheted at his head, but Imagine Breaker deflected it before being used to rub furiously at his head. "I need to punch her and shatter her illusions before someone gets hurt in all this craziness!"

"It'll be a minute. She's wily. I burnt up a dozen of her toys soldiers, but she vanished behind their smoke. Still, I doubt she went far. Probably hiding somewhere in this room, looking for a chance to strike. She knows her side is outmatched, even if they're all durable."

Touma clenched his fists, looking through the raging battle for the remembered decorations. "Good! Then I'm going to-" He was stopped as a hand latched onto his collar, choking him lightly.

"No you're not. We need you here."

'W-what? Hey, let go! I've gotta punch her-"

"First, this." Stiyl straightened, letting his fire sword dissipate as he grasped the confused, unfortunate boy with both hands. "Kanzaki! Ready yourself!"

"Ready!" The Saint's distant voice grew quickly closer, and Touma felt a grim foreboding as Styil tightened his grip.

And flungthe boy into the air with all his might, straight into the path of the two clashing Saints.

"AGH-!?"

"O-oh!?"

Joan's shock registered as plainly as Touma's in the fraction of a second they each had. The French Saint was in the middle of a strategic retreat, sword knocked high, but rather than striking at the opening with her long katana Kanzaki let it loose and reached for a new weapon.

Taking hold of Touma's shoulder with one hand and grasping his right wrist with the other, she slapped Joan in the midriff with Imagine Breaker before leaping away, discarded sword retrieved before it completed its first tumbling spin.

The boy collapsed in shock in Kanzaki's arms, blinking stupidly. It was all over so fast that he had barely heard Imagine Breaker's ring as it shattered Joan's ability. But he did see the woman stagger a second, hand cradling her shaking head.

"G-gah… F-feu de l'enfer, that is a strange…" She glanced up, starry eyes flickering with worry. "…T-ch! Merde! My soldiers, they are-!"

"Free." The sound of slumping bodies cut through the temporary lull in the battle. The captured magicians fell one by one, some to their knees, other straight to sleep, as they were released from Joan's control. As they mumbled pitifully behind her Kanzaki raised her sword and appraised her opponent with chilly intent. "And now we will defeat you and your allies."

"No! That's not-!" Something close to flustered panic filled the French-woman's face as she clutched her brow. "My Heavenly Persuasion needs several minutes and much concentration, so if we continue fighting… But I don't want to stop… Ah, que c'est embarrassant, even at my worst I've never lost an entire army before…"

"We won't have to. This fight will be over very soon, now that my allies are freed."

Though worried, it soon became clear Joan was more sad than angry at her opponent's words. "…So you really did not enjoy our duel. Or is it that you feel you need assistance to match me? I do not know which is worse…"

"Neither." Kanzaki's firm words cut through silence. "But this way allows me to save everyone."

"Wait, hold on! Time out! D-did you just use me like a human weapon!?" Touma staggered limply to his feet, drawing clear of their way. "I don't wanna be tossed around like a supernatural-destruction grenade! STIYL, WHERE ARE YOU YOU *******!? I've got some extra illusions to shatter!"

"I… I am sorry, Kamijou-kun, but I was convinced this was the only way. Joan of Arc is simply too much for me to overcome, especially when she still draws endurance from her victims."

The accused paled, hands waving vainly before her. "Je n'étais pas, je le jure! If I was, it was an accident, I insist! I-I must have been so drawn into the fight, I did not want it to end! Ah, merde, je suis un tricheur et une fraude!" She stamped her foot in consternation, sending up a cloud of debris.

"W-whatever it is that is upsetting you, I must warn you it is about to get worse." Kanzaki's resolve became as firm as the grasp on her sword. "It is fortunate the spell you use is so old-fashioned: it was easier than I expected to adapt it to my own use."

"…Oh? Je ne comprende…?" The Maid of Orleans trailed off in wonder as Kanzaki focused, wires whipping about her head.

They suddenly solidified in a particular fashion, and a burst of magic flowed through. A magical circle had been completed.

But what did it… "…Hey!? You guys are okay!?"

Looking behind Kanzaki, Touma saw that not all the captured, exhausted magicians were sleeping any more.

The magicians of the Amakusa-Style Remix of Church all stood, slowly drawing their weapons as life returned to their bodies.

And in turn, Kanzaki Kaori, their Saint and leader, slumped. But sword point digging into the ground, she remained on her feet.

"I-Incroyable! But you have made no connection to them, c'est impossible! How can you use my attribute-apportionment magic so easily!?"

"We already have a connection: I am their Supreme Pontiff." Controlling her breath, Kanzaki twisted her head behind her to address her revived church. "There is no time to explain. This is the worst case scenario."

"Supreme Pontiff, what are you…" The tallest of the bunch, a wiry young man with a wild hairdo, lost the grin that had been creeping across his lips. "…You're saying that's a Saint? Well, damn. And of course you're here, Kamijou." The man nodded at Touma, but was rewarded with only a blank stare. "What?"

"Tatemiya Saiji? You were here this whole time?"

"…Of course I was, you moron! Did you not see me at Christmas!? I competed in the events, was at the mall cheering on Itsuwa-san and the Pontiff; Hell, we spoke at least five times!" [4]

Touma's vapid look only soured the man further.

"T-tch. Well, whatever! We're here to save the day, so sit tight."

That claim was enough to shake life back in the boy. "H-hold on, that's-"

"Hey, don't worry, we know. You remember from last time. This's exactly the kind of thing we're here for!" He surveyed the rest of the Church, and they nodded as he hoisted his flamberge. "Right, get into position! Avoid the other fights, the Saint's our target! And adapt the spell to use the Pontiff instead of Itsuwa!"

"That's not what I-!" The stomping feet drowned him out, and they quickly surrounded Joan of Arc, with Kanzaki at their core.

The woman sighed, glumly raising her chipped brass sword with empty eyes. "Ceci est une telle déception. Is this truly how you wish to face me? Kanzaki Kaori, I thought you more proud than that. I did not use them against you in our duel. And worse, they may not survive this fight, n'est pas?"

"They will. I will ensure it."

"But how? You can hardly stand, after giving them all your strength. You are hardly a fit challenge any more."

"We'll see. Kamijou-kun, stay back. Unlike last time, I want to do this without you."

The memory of a certain underground battlefield in Academy City came to mind, and Touma finally recognized the formation the Amakusan forces were taking. But before he could intervene, they exploded into action.

Shocked by their speed Joan retreated, sword swinging lightning fast at any target she could reach.

But each foe she struck at suddenly withdrew, deep into the protective fold of the whole. She was unable to pick off a warrior to lessen the odds against her, and incredibly, the Saint was on the defensive.

Her blade a frayed and cracked mess under repeated blows, she fell further and further back under the onslaught, voice hoarse with exertion. "S-sacre bleu!? Mere ordinary soldiers!?"

"Combining our body-strengthening formations with our leader's shared strength!" Tatemiya Saiji dove in and out of range, sword just one of fifty attacks being launched. "Pontiff, get ready! You don't have a spear, but you know what to do!"

"R-right." Wobbling on her feet, Kanzaki approached the melee and turned her eyes upwards.

"Ça suffit! Enough of this!" Joan was forced into the air, leaping back and away from the sudden assault. She hung above them a moment, suspended by inertia, looking instead for where her true opponent stood.

So she missed the warning signs.

"Do it… P-Pont…" With the others, Tatemiya Saiji collapsed, strength returned to its proper home as their role finished.

Still looking, Joan realized her target had moved. She cast about as she flew back, until a strange purplish-blue light crackled behind her.

She half-spun in the air.

Directly in her path was Kanzaki Kaori, bursting with vitality and mysterious electricity.

As a holy symbol of divinity herself, Kanzaki took the place of the symbolic Spear of Longinus in Saint-Destroyer and slammed her own palm straight into Joan of Arc's chest.

A cross of lightning blossomed around them, and the amphitheatre was rocked by successive explosions.

!~~~~~~~~!

1:28 A.M., December 29th: London, Archbishop's Park

Though her first impulse had been to start playing criminal Pachinko with the massed crooks and their equipment, Mikoto had hesitated and let the night air cool her down before sneaking closer.

It had taken several careful minutes to steal close to the action, but as she crouched between several empty crates she heard a casual conversation. It was whisper-quiet, but she could creep just a bit closer to listen.

Always a bit of time to snoop, I guess. Especially since I bet HE's nearby.

"What are you complaining about?" The first figure muttered to his partner, unaware of the girl just behind their backs. "The diversions are going well: only a few local blokes got busted, and none of them can rat this strike out. We're in the clear."

"You're one of the old guard, you can tell. The Shark's gone off the deep end again. Saw him shoot a new guy in the leg for making a joke: right in the knee-cap, pow." The guard made a little finger gun and pantomimed a brutal execution, but his companion just shrugged.

"Yeah, well, he used to be like that, you remember. Way back in the day he was just blank like this, right? No emotion. Flat affect, they call it in psychology."

"Dude, are you ever going to get tired of flaunting your education?"

"Shut up. Anyway, that's the look of a Killer, through and through. He got a little more dramatic over time, you remember; after the Crown Jewel fiasco it all stared slipping, you know? Think it was all this weird stuff he keeps ranting about, making him careful? Like before?"

"Not a clue. I just hope he doesn't find out that super-girl or whatever is back, and messing with the distractions. He'll send this whole force her way, I know it! He already wants revenge on that damn Baker woman bad enough…"

Mikoto had to fight back a pleased snicker, but the next thing she heard shorted out her good humour.

"…Though at least with her we've got the hostages."

!~~~~~~~~!

1:30 A.M., December 29th: The Dianoid, Main Amphitheatre

Finally the pounding subsided.

In such a contained room, the explosions from the Saint-Destroyer spell had rebounded endlessly, shaking carbon tiles loose and forcing all other combat to a standstill. It was only after a minute that Touma was able to clear his head of the reverberations, sitting up from where he had been knocked to his backside.

He remained near the epicentre, among the still unconscious Amakusan Christians, their energy spent. So he only had a move a few feet closer to see Kanzaki through the dissipating smog, standing distraught over her fallen enemy.

"I! …I was wrong. T-truly… A stalwart blow." The Saint known as Joan of Arc coughed weakly on her back, a thin trickle of blood running from her grin. "M-Magnifique…! A-a far better death… Than my last…"

"You're not like Acqua of the Back, so why…" Though there was pain on Kanzaki's face, Touma guessed it was not from the wound her arm sustained in the attack. "That spell should not have seriously harmed you. It should only have brought you to normal human levels, like it did my hand when I struck you. You would still be a gemstone and a magician, but just lose your Sainthood! I merely wanted to restrain you, but this-!"

"…D-do not fret so, ma cherie… This is war, n'est pas?" The woman attempted to raise her arm, but her hand remained pinned under the weight of her own brass sword.

"No. No, this isn't." Breathing shallowly Kanzaki knelt, studying, memorizing the woman she had struck down. "I never… I save everyone, even those God has forsaken, even my foes! I don't want to… I-"

Whatever she was going to say, it was cut off by curt, barking laughter. Wide-eyed, the Japanese Saint said nothing more as Joan laughed through the pain.

"T-then… Have no… Fear, because… It is as I told you before." If each word was a battle to get out, Joan proved herself a fighter. To the last she struggled, proudly grinning under her starry eyes. "You cannot kill… I… Already dead…"

Joan let her eyes closed, but her smile never faded.

Touma had to look away, Kanzaki's face too painful to bear.

It carried a feeling he was all too familiar with.

"It's like she said, Kanzaki." Stiyl's voice carried across the silence, cigarette for once abandoned. "She's already dead, as far as history cares. They all were. Not even you can save her now. And they are just false-entities; nothing comes back from the dead." Though his words were cruel, Touma thought he could recognize a brief look of compassion as the Red-head Magician sighed. "For now we need to find the ringleader and prevent her next steps."

The boy blinked, realized belatedly what his words implied. Looking around confirmed his worst suspicions.

The fight was already over. He saw the pile of smouldering slag metal that was once Daedalus, still weakly steaming under the peripheral heat of Innocentius' flames. There was no sight at all of any other summons, save for dozens of severed vines and a few scorched feathers. All the pieces glowed with a strange light, as the magic that had brought them back to life struggled to sustain itself.

He felt his gut lurch.

"No… Not them all?"

"Ah, they put up a fight, but it wasn't much really." Bayloupe's shrug affirmed her indifference, shared by the rest of New Light. "They're weird, but Baker didn't create the strongest of allies. Wonder why…"

"There should be one more around, so don't let your guard down." Ellis crumbled into its constituent parts as Sherry stepped lightly to the ground, aiming a kick at an errant length of vine.

"Are they… Are they all dead!?"No... This feels wrong, why-

"Why the Hell should I care?" The glare Sherry cast him was blistering. "That witch acted like she loved her brother, but was using him like a weapon. That's the exact opposite of what I do with Ellis… I have no sympathy for scum like that, especially if they're not even alive."

"Spread out. She can't have gone far." "Stiyl let his voice echo around the chamber, still layered in his runes. "I suspect right about now Miss Baker's discovered how I modified my summoning cards."

Though still reeling, Touma weakly glanced his way. "Modified…?"

"Since you don't like my explanations… Just know that some now include reference to binding: unless she can get out of their area physically they'll block her teleportation and translocation Magic. So I know you're here somewhere." His last line he spoke louder, raising his arms as Innocentius roared back into life. "Don't make me find you the hard way."

"I've had as much of this as I can take." Stiyl noted with mild interest the boy who strode between him and his fiery creation. "You're not going to try to kill her, are you?"

He looked down on him with a grimace. "No. Her, we have orders to take alive if possible."

"What does that mean?"

"It means he wants me to give myself up."

Lancis turned her head lazily before flying back in shock, pushing hard into Floris as Miss Baker materialized beside them. The woman strode confidently up to the Touma and Stiyl, and the latter appraised her slowly.

"In plain sight? That couldn't be translocation, and that wasn't invisibility; I would have seen you through the shimmering heat. So…" His eyes gouged into hers, but nothing was revealed. "It doesn't matter. Not now."

"Wait." Touma's hand was faster than the other boy, and it pushed into the magician's path. "I want to talk for a second."

"…If you insist. Don't get yourself killed: I'll need your hand in a minute anyway." The redhead took a step back, but his gaze never wavered from its target.

"Well?" The woman under scrutiny Baker stared at Touma, betraying little behind her cool expression.

"I spoke with Am… With your teacher."

That earned a reaction: her long lashes fluttered a moment, like a butterfly stretching its wings.

The thought reminded him of another blue butterfly he'd seen recently. He almost smiled.

But instead shook his head as she recovered and gazed haughtily his way. "And?"

"I know you lied to him, and he does too."

This time, though Touma was looking for a reaction, he was disappointed. "So?"

"He still wants me to help you. And no, not help you do villainy and all that," Touma quickly waved away the shouted objections from New Light, "But make sure things work out. He didn't say as much, but I think he wanted me to find out exactly what you're trying to do."

"And why should I tell you anything?'

"He thinks… I think you're going about it the wrong way, but maybe you're not wrong in wanting to do something. So just tell me, what is making you want to do all this? Maybe we can help with the problem. It's worth a shot, isn't it? Does anyone else have to suffer?"

He could tell his plea had not gone unheard. And if he lied to himself just a bit, he could just about see what might be sadness in her eyes.

But instead she just laughed, once: soft and bitter.

"I could tell you were going to annoy me the minute I laid eyes on you."

"You mean back… In the magic show?" I give that bad a first impression?

She nodded. "Even before you started disrupting its true magic. And then you got in the way again. Again, and again. Just like you're going to do now." She almost threw up her hands in honest expiration, but checked herself as New Light lowered their pole-arms abruptly. "…Still, I'll tell you what you want. There is no reason not to."

Touma waited with apprehension.

"…We're going to fix the mistakes. That's all."

Someone he knew she was telling the truth. But that belief helped little.

Mistakes? "That's not… I don't get it."

But Miss Baker ignored him, eyes burning with indignation. "Yet here we are! You've defeated my forces. You've penetrated the heart of my defences. You've won."

She swung one empty hand towards him, ignoring the clinking of blades around her as New Light leaped to encircle her.

"So go ahead. Touch my hand and dispel all my work."

Floris, Lancis, and Bayloupe each shared a look before glancing at Stiyl. He in turn turned to Touma, who was utterly without response. Though the boy shrugged in bewilderment Miss Baker continued.

"Go on. Shatter my illusions. That's what you said last time, isn't it?"

Once again, Touma fought to understand the woman, see through her mask.

Amazo said she's a great actor. But this is almost amateurish. Why is she…? Does she really want me to…? "Say, Stiyl. What is Necessarius going to do to her, once this is all over?"

The redhead mused a moment before stretching his shoulders. "Interrogate her, and then bind her in one of our prisons. If there's any real threat motivating her actions, we'll find out. One way or another."

"… All right then." He turned back to Miss Baker's inscrutable expression and proffered hand. That's not the look of someone who's given up, but… Still, this is for the best. I'll just have to talk to her after, try to make things better.

Finally he reached out with Imagine Breaker, awkwardly realizing this wasn't quite as satisfying as the punch he was used to.

It rang out, hitting an unseen well of depthless power.

Many things happened in quick succession.

Baker herself grimaced in pain, falling forward while clutching her stomach. But behind her dishevelled hair , splayed over her face as she bowed forward, he saw her grin.

In the corner of his eye he saw the glow around the remnants of the summons flicker, before bursting with renewed power. And the fragments began to shift.

The Dianoid shuddered and lurched, before flipping upside down and every which way all at once. Even those still standing failed to find balance, quickly flung to the far corners of the amphitheatre.

But even that disruption played second fiddle to the apparition forming on centre stage.

As Touma flew away from Miss Baker, the solitary island of stability in the madness, he saw for one brief instant a dark chasm opening on the surface of her stomach.

It was a like a tear in the world itself. It churned and spun, but was so dark its torrents bled into one another. It was so dark that nothing inside could be seen.

But still Touma felt a gaze upon him, through her fingers that sought to hold in its pain, and it chilled him to the bone.

Then he was gone, flung out of sight and into a wall of decorations. Cardboard crumpled, and he blindly grasped a long ribbon, protecting him from the worst of the tumultuous typhoon that had become the amphitheatre.

The spinning had not slowed; if anything it accelerated, magicians and glowing remnants and carbon tiles tossed like so much salad. A twist of the building carried him close to her again, and swinging on his ribbon he struggled to touch her, to dispel whatever magic Imagine Breaker had somehow set loose.

But he was only within reach of her weak, mocking words. "My last trick. You didn't end the prophecy. You just weakened my control on it."

His mind spun with both confusion and vertigo, but the Dianoid flipped again, taking him with it.

Colliding mid-air with an unconscious Amakusan Christian nearly set him loose, but his grip held long enough to notice Baker screaming out.

"No! I am in control!" The darkness under her hand swelled, pressing back on her hands as both now fought to repress it. Though pale with pain the magician refused to give ground. "I AM NOT YOUR VESSEL!"

The battle inside her raged as fiercely as the world about her, but eventually, shaking and dripping sweat, Miss Baker fell to her knees.

The darkness subsided, defeated.

So too subsided the chaotic motion of the Dianoid, finally stabilizing as Miss Baker regained control of her magic.

"…And now I'll take your power for a bit, First."

She waved a hand before her.

Where it sliced the air itself tore. And a gaping portal appeared, revealing an aerial view of snow-covered London.

Strong winds gushed through, but rapidly their direction revered. The Dianoid itself tilted again, funnelling the invading Necessarius magicians out through the hole, conscious or not. Even Kanzaki Kaori was no match, weakened from her fight.

Touma was last to go, and he slid by Miss Baker, his ribbon tearing as he met her triumphant eye.

"We'll see you again, Imagine Breaker!"

And then he was through the portal, a world of white below him.

!~~~~~~~~!

1:29 A.M., December 29th: London, Archbishop's Park.

"Ah? Really? I haven't heard about these hostages."

Mikoto had to lean in close as the criminal's voices dropped even lower. Who are these guys talking about? I've got to be careful, but this sounds important.

"…Yeah, keep it hush. But we finally figured out who exactly our American employer wanted guarded with our men. Turns out that they're all part of the other woman's family. You know, the strange one."

"What, her?. No ****! This whole time? Hehe, well, that's a nice card. Guess now I know why the Shark's always so paranoid."

"He ain't always right, but I got to admit, I thought our employer was just covering her own ***: never would have thought that quiet family she was with weren`t actually her own."

"Well, wasn't clever enough. But, ah, the Shark was already cut loose, yeah? You think the businesswoman is still even there?"

"He was dropped by Baker, the middle man, and not our real employer: those two can't be friendly, right? Or else why the hostages and the two-timing? The American probably thinks she can buy us back, so I bet she'll stay put. She still needs security after all."

The other man snorted dismissively, shaking his head. "Too bad the Shark's not likely to take a deal now. He just wants revenge, and bad. I figure once the Palace is all wrapped up, he'll send out some boys to bring her and the family over for tea. Maybe even go visit them all himself."

"Charming…"

"Rightio, lads! We're moving out!" The sudden shout startled the criminals and Mikoto alike, all used to the quiet of the winter landscape.

But they quickly jumped to life, scrambling for a pair of motorcycles. Soon the field was ablaze with engines and headlights, shouts waking the night all around.

Right, enough distraction! Time to clean up then find him once and for-!?

She paused as he head felt suddenly light. There was a massive thunderclap, and then a rush of wind that blew the snow from the trees and criminals to the ground. It was as if a shockwave had formed from the leading edge of an explosion.

But there was no glow, no heat wave. Instead it was as if something huge had displaced the air itself. So Mikoto merely turned her face upwards, following the motion of the now panicking thugs.

"W-what!? What is that!? Where'd it come from!?"

"It's huge; some secret government weapon!?"

"M-maybe it's a blimp, just a blimp! We can shoot down a blimp, right?"

For a moment their assault hung in indecision, shadowed by a huge shape floating in the sky. It was at least a kilometer high and distant over the River Thames, but it still hung like an ornament from the crescent moon it eclipsed. It seemed to glisten, like a spinning bauble.

There was a burst of lightning in Archbishop's park, and several vehicles shorted. One tipped over completely, slamming hard onto its side.

Its driver kicked open his door and tumbled out a shaking mess. "W-what was that!? The whole van just tipped over!"

"Forget it! Get in the back of ours, we've got to move, now!" Another man set down his walkie-talkie, white faced but firm. "Shark says we go anyway!"

'G-god damn it, are we getting paid enough for this!?" But in ragtag order, the demoralized criminal army peeled out despite their fear and confusion, ignoring the sudden magnetic launch that had disturbed them so.

Far above them and gaining height fast was Mikoto, drilling upwards dart-like, whipping winds dragging at the very limits of her endurance. As she neared the floating object she understood why her instincts had insisted on haste.

With the moon behind it, the mysterious object was lit from below by the London Eye. Lit enough to see it was an all too familiar shopping mall, tipped on its side like a massive pepper shaker.

And like a shaker it spilt its grains, tiny dots of blackness dropping from the sky, visible as they passed before errant clouds.

And among the grains Mikoto was certain she heard a familiar voice, matching a tiny, tumbling figure spinning wildly in the night.

And it was a long way away.

!~~~~~~~~!

Footnotes

[1] Not me, though. I remembered the lift, which last time Touma took down. Long term planning pays off. Same to the namedropping of the magical artefacts I created in Chapter 9. I intended to foreshadow their use more but found no time for Stiyl to hint it. Still, at least I mentioned them once before, right?

[2] If you're wondering how it got here, she summoned it off panel in the hallways below. That ladder is strong.

[3] The coincidence is not lost on either Mikoto or I, but I admit this just happened to be conveniently located. If you'll notice, a quick Google Maps visit will give you a pretty good idea of Mikoto's journey. Just a twist of fate about the names. Really. I swear.

No, this time for real.

[4] Subtle self-jab here. I didn't forget about him or the rest of the Amakusan's, but I saw no need to elaborate on their presence until now. I figured it was implied, but this guy's character is pretty fun (He's the one always needling people are dressing up erotically for Touma). So here's my belated apology to him.

[5] B-B-B-B-BONUS footnote. Those hoping for an epic Touma fight will not be disappointed in the long run. I've just got to set up the right circumstances. I remember people clamouring to have Touma go full ham all the way back in Part 1: your voices have not gone ignored. But you will have to be fairly patient, and for that I apologize. A little. He'll have his moment.