Magister Negi Magi is owned by Ken Akamatsu and Kodansha Ltd. Tokyo in Japan, and by Funimation and Kodansha USA in the United States, NOT by me.

Other characters are also the property of their respective creators and owners, not me.

Some characters created by kafka'sdragon for his 'Markham Chronicles Negima' story are used here with his permission. Kafka'sdragon often contributes ideas, paragraphs, or entire sections of a chapter, and such help is much appreciated.

Perhaps it's bad form as an author to apologize for writing things a certain way; but if the story seem a bit disjointed of late; it's due to 'keeping in contact' with different important characters, which is also serving as a device for the passage of time, in a way more useful than just saying; 'ten years later…'

Mage War covers much of the century between Ala Alba in the World of Magic, Markham Chronicles Negima, and Chao Lingshen: Coming Home; with many events having influence on what happens later; which is a big reason for how I choose to write.

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"Like with fish; it seems there's always a bigger dragon."
-Hauptmann Konrad Adenauer, following the escape of USS Cyclops from its landfall on the continent of Elysium, Mundus Magicus, April, 1918

Mage War

Chapter Forty-Four: Legacy

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(2031 Wake Island Nuclear Disarmament Conference, sponsored by Japanese Prime Minister Ayaka Yukihiro, hosted by the United States)

(98 US PW 5-10-43)

Standing near a stone carved to preserve the memory of civilian workers massacred by the Japanese garrison nearly one-hundred years ago, Representative Gerald Prescott thought about potential futures, and wondered how many people back then had seen similar things…

Of course; there were those who blamed Teddy Roosevelt; saying the commission he'd sent to the Pacific Rim while President had sown the seeds of the destructive war between the Japan and America. Other claimed numerous reasons; the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War, the Kanto Quake in 1923, the economic collapse of the thirties, Japan's dearth of natural resources, the rise of Japanese Nationalism…

Likely it wasn't any single thing… and the right answer would be 'all of the above…'

'All of the above…'

I was happening again; only this time the potential threat wasn't home-grown, but from a nation in the recently revealed parallel existence world on Mars called the Mundus Magicus.

Both worlds had suffered partial economic collapse; and were doing their best to recover.

Unfortunately; the nations of the Earth were doing what they normally did; hemming and hawing and vacillating in terms of policies which might encourage a faster recovery, As usual; such baby steps meant various cuts in defense spending at a time when the Northern Alliance; one of the two biggest nations in the Mundus Magicus; was as a percentage was actually increasing its military outlay.

Of course; as he heard the approach of two other people; Gerald Prescott understood that the hidden real reason behind possible cuts in nuclear armaments proposed by Prime Minister Yukihiro was something else besides the publicly stated, but still quite legitimate desire to save money…

"Hello Gerald."

With a slight turn; Gerald Prescott could see his fellow negotiators, Vladimir Potemkin of Russia, and MP Winston Hope of England. France; while also a nuclear power; had declined to participate in the conference; uncharacteristically saying they would follow England's lead in the matter. China was being intransigent, but would likely wind up being bullied along by world opinion; India and Pakistan as well.

If not for the still publicly unexplained electronic and physical devastation of the nuclear weapons program of a country that still vocally threatened them; it was likely Israel would never have considered giving up their small stockpile of weapons. In exchange for that and minor territorial concessions; the United States had promised a nuclear protection umbrella, as well as delivery of a huge stockpile of conventional arms and ammunition.

All the other minor nuclear powers would comply or face economic isolation at a time when none of them could afford it.

"Vladimir… Winston…"

After the Russian and Briton nodded in response, Gerald Prescott turned back to look out over the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. "I wonder if Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat felt like this at Camp David back in '79… knowing what they were doing was good for their countries; but also understanding they would probably be condemned for it later…"

Kneeling, Winston Hope picked up what looked like a piece of driftwood. Turning it over; he was shocked to see what appeared to be the still attached remains of some kind of Japanese address placard… "If the intent of that 'Alas Babylon' operation is to believed; keeping our nuclear arsenals at their current levels would be worse… If war does come; and even a small portion of some arsenal is compromised… the outcome would be unthinkable."

Seeing the driftwood in Winston Hope's hand; Vladimir wondered how long it had floated around the Pacific after the 2011 Japanese Touhoku tsunami before winding up on Wake… Leonid Kurtzov had originally been scheduled as a part of the negotiations he was now involved in; but had suffered a minor heart attack. Winston Hope had suggested he be replaced by Vladimir Potemkin; and the President of the Russian Federation had agreed, "The only real way to reduce the threat is to make nuclear weapons a non-factor, or at least a very minor factor, in any plans someone in the Mundus Magicus might make."

With a sigh; Gerald Prescott kicked at the sand on the beach. "My grand-uncle was here with Cunningham and Devereux in '41… he spent the rest of the war in Shanghai as a prisoner… He swore to his dying day that the best way to keep the United States from being vulnerable again like it was back then was for it to be so strong no-one would dare challenge it… now; here I am trying to keep it safe by making it weaker…"

Stepping forward with a grin on his face, Winston Hope clapped Gerald Prescott on the shoulder. "Take it from a Brit! Anyone foolish enough to try to attack the United States deserves what they get! We learned that back in 1775, and I think some Japanese chap even said that the very idea of invading the United States was stupid, because there would be someone with a gun behind every blade of grass!"

Winston's remarks set Vladimir to laughing. Eventually regaining control of himself, he stood and faced his two companions. "Russia can always trade space for time, England is just plain stubborn; they wouldn't know they were beaten until there was no-one left to defeat; and the United States is the fractious country that always unites when someone outside threatens it! Perhaps it would be best if we worked on setting things in place which mitigate possible threats as much as possible."

After staring at the Russian for a moment; Gerald Prescott finally nodded. "You're right, Vladimir." Extending a hand, he indicated the way; then began walking back towards a trio of waiting cars, "What about your niece, Winston? I've heard she's been elected to Parliament."

Reaching up, Winston Hope began rubbing his temples while thinking about the eccentric Aubrey Minerva Theresa Hope; newly confirmed MP. "She's visiting with Negi Springfield in Japan right now; I may not exactly like him; but they've been good friends since a year she spent as a student at Mahora Academy; and I suppose they always will be… She'll take up her seat in Parliament just about the time I get back from here…"

As the three negotiators walked back towards the bridge connecting the outlying Peale Island to Wake Island itself; they watched a supply aircraft come in to land, and turned their conversation towards wondering what Satsuki Lingshen would have prepared for dinner when the afternoon finally turned towards evening…

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(Outside Megalo-Mesembria, Praetorian Guard Training Grounds; Villa of the Councilor for Capital and Northern Alliance Security)

Finished with straightening up his impeccable clothing; the self-identifying Master of the Northern Alliance reached for the door to his dressing room and walked out into the shoji-lined perimeter area of one of the villa's annex buildings.

Shoji wood and paper walls of Mundus Vertus Japanese origin had been an affectation of a previous Councilor for Security; and while not normally conducive to concealing his own… hobbies… he had retained them because of the atmosphere they provided…

…besides; spells existed which easily blocked the passage of any extraneous noises through the literally paper-thin walls of the building.

More relaxed than he'd been for a while; the man nodded appreciatively as he passed the retainer responsible for facilitating his hobbies, who was waiting outside on one of the villa's pebble pathways, "Very nice choice this time; take out the trash now, if you would."

Nodding, once; Eringin Delink remained facing the ground until his Master passed, "I'm glad you were pleased Master… I'll take care of things right away."

Normally 'taking out the trash' meant a quick disposal flight to Cerberus Canyon; easily done since he traveled that way often enough as a regular part of his legitimate business dealings.

As he entered the room where the man he served indulged in his hobbies; Eringin immediately knew things would be different this time; and after a small investment; profitable as well.

Both a runaway and a stowaway the people he had watching for such things had discovered at the whaleship port; the tiny, rare, blue-haired Uma-Jin girl had apparently had enough spirit to survive everything that had been done to her, and was still alive. She was covered in bruises, and her tail was broken; but after some healing and a few weeks of being rewritten with illegal memory magic; she would be a perfect candidate for sale to a brothel in Albor.

No wonder his Master had been pleased an in such a good mood. Normally the toys he procured for the man's hobbies didn't last long enough and expired before they satisfied him. The few exceptions had provided an occasional, untaxed, tidy bit of profit; and would likely do so this time as well.

Being careful of the Uma-Jin's broken tail; he reapplied his standard magical gag and physical restraints; folded the girl back into the case used to transport her there in the first place; then rolled it out the door.

Several guards who knew not to ask any questions helped him load the case into his personal airfish limousine, and he was off to go see the black market healer and mind mage he used for such occasions.

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(Ozyorny, Russian Federation, Headquarters City 7th Guards Strategic Rocket Division)

Moving from Moscow to Ozyorny after completing the General Staff Academy course had been necessary in order for General Victor Ramius to take command of the 7th Guards Rocket Division. In many respects the posting would certainly be a useful learning experience; but it was still just a file assignment before a return to Moscow, and posting as an instructor at the Dzerzhinsky Military Rocket Forces Academy.

Following his wife Anya giving birth to their third child, and second son, Victor felt the two of them should be happy… Finally being allowed to go into her room; he certainly didn't think he'd find his wife silently crying as she cradled Andrie so the boy could nurse, "What… what's wrong, Milaya…?"

Tears streaking her cheeks, Anya looked up at Victor, then back down at her son, "I… I don't know… the doctors say Andrei is healthy; that there shouldn't be any complications from the birth; but I hold him and feel sad…"

Going over to the bed, Victor sat on the edge and reached out to stroke his wife's still bright red hair, "Are you having some vision related to your fortune telling…? Perhaps you're blocking it out…?"

Looking up at her husband; Anya could see the concern in his eyes, "I don't know… I don't know…"

(-)

After Anya finally settled down and shoed him out of the room and back to his duties, Victor moved back through the halls of the hospital and out to where his staff driver and car were waiting.

Just as he reached the vehicle; a smartly dressed officer stepped towards him and offered a crisp salute.

"General Ramius…?"

Straightening up, Victor returned the salute; at that point he realized the long-haired, very blonde officer was female…

…in an instant; he also realized who she was, "The little girl from Gorky Park! How is your brother doing…?"

Going into a parade-rest, the officer allowed herself a small smile, "Lieutenant Katyusha Balalaika; General Ramius; and my brother is doing fine. I've just been posted to the unit assigned as close guard to your headquarters; and wanted to come by to thank you for that time. As well; you may not remember; but it was thanks to a recommendation from you that I was even able to take the examination for posting to such an elite unit."

Recalling the written request from Katyusha several years ago asking for a letter of recommendation; Victor nodded, "Forgive me… I forgot about that… I'm happy you seem to have done well."

Noticing General Ramius' driver was now standing next to the staff car impatiently holding the door open, Katyusha saluted again, "I expect you're quite busy, General Ramius; I thank you for giving me a few minutes of your time."

Before turning towards his staff car, Victor saluted once more, "Perhaps we'll have a few moments in the future to speak again, Lieutenant; but if not; then may you be successful in your career."

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(Rallentando Estate, near Hellas City, Capitol of the Hellas Empire)

Within the Mundus Magicus; the ecological niche that would be filled by various birds of prey was filled instead with different types of dragons.

Most of the intelligent species were concentrated on the continent of Elysium; with the more animalistic types scatted across the world; generally in wilder; minimally populated areas.

True dragons and wyvern-types were for the most part present in consistent percentages across all locations and populations; with the greatest variations usually being related to dragons choosing to assume humanoid form; and to live more intimately with non-draconic populations.

Occasionally larger non-intelligent dragons would be drawn towards a population center with unfortunate results; for example; when a Griffon Dragon attacked a sporting event in the Educational City State of Ariadne.

More often though, it was comparatively tiny draconic species which would raid farms and small towns and villages; seeking easy prey amongst the smaller tokage and other creatures used or raised in such places for food, or as beasts of burden.

So it was that when Shiro Rallentando; mixed-blood To-Jin and first son of the Lord of the Rallentando Estates; overheard a tenant farmer complaining about a small dragon raiding his livestock pens; he resolved to take care of the matter…

(-)

On the Mundus Vertus; an large bird of prey will take a smaller one if the smaller bird fails to pay attention…

So it was that the little dragon harassing and hunting livestock on the Rallentando Estates failed to pay attention; and didn't see the larger predator that came down out of the sky and slammed it in the head with a small cudgel…

Tumbling in the manner of a hawk catching a sparrow on the fly; Shiro scooped the stunned dragon into his arms. Recovering from the diving attack, he snapped his wings open and began a relaxed spiral down towards the ground.

Waiting for him was the Rallentando Estate's livestock manager and his wife; whose arms were crossed, and whose expression was just as cross, "SHIRO RALLENTANDO! Do you know how dangerous that was…?! What would your parents think if they saw you do such a thing…?"

Alighting next to the manager; who took the still limp dragon and went off to deal with it; Shiro gave a proper nod of respect; then look up fearlessly, "Mother is in the Mundus Vertus; and Father is away at the capitol. I may only be six; and all those other fuddy-duddy Nobles may say I can't inherit these lands; but that doesn't mean I'm not responsible for helping out those who live and work here!"

Trying to keep up her cross look; the Manager's wife failed, and a twitching smile began to turn up the corners of her mouth. Finally sighing, she reached out and gave Shiro an affectionate head rub, "Such a mature, sweet young man! Come on… I've got some Poppy-seed cakes cooling in my kitchen!"

Trying to stop the head rub, Shiro accidentally stepped on one of his larger wing feathers. Without even the slightest bit of pain; it came out and fell to the ground.

Surprised to see the loose white feather, the manager's wife turned and looked crossly at Shiro again, "You're molting! What if you'd lost something important while you were flying and had an accident…? My husband and I would NEVER be able to apologize to your parents!"

As much as he didn't like being treated like a child; in this case Shiro knew he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't have… "I… I don't want to molt… I like the color of Mother's feather's more than Father's… Besides; they match my name!"

Seeing tears in Shiro's eyes, the Manager's wife put her arm around the boy's shoulders and gave him another pat, "Of course… come on then; a nice cake or three with cream butter and some tea will make you feel all better. While you eat those: I'll check your wings for any more loose feathers."

Walking along in a warm embrace, Shiro nodded while rubbing at his eyes, "Thank you…"

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(Hiroshima, Japan, Shukkei-en Gardens)

Standing next to a graying Eishun; Tsukuyomi Konoe watched and smiled as her daughter and new son-in-law posed and had their wedding pictures taken against the backgrounds of the large pond in the Shukkei-en Gardens in Hiroshima. The wedding and subsequent picture taking might have occurred in Kyoto, had not lightning strikes managing to damage and cause several of the former Kansai Mage Association buildings to be burned down.

Normally the buildings were protected by lightning arresting gear; but for whatever reason the equipment had failed, and the buildings had burned… Since such temples were built with wood, paper, and generally flammable paints and adhesives; they had burned quite gloriously and spectacularly.

Such things were rare; but they did happen; so even before the ashes were cool; officials from Kyoto's city government dealing with cultural and historical issues had arrived to discuss what needed to be done to arrange to have everything rebuilt...

After all; tourists didn't come to Kyoto to look at burned down temple buildings.

Based on how Eishun continued shifting nervously; Tsukuyomi knew his mind was in Kyoto and not Hiroshima…

…she understood to a certain extent the reason he was nervous. One of the burned buildings had been where a certain cursed blade she had once been tempted to steal was stored. The sword; or what was left of it; had not yet been recovered; and that could potentially bode ill for the future.

Finally sighing, Tsukuyomi elbowed Eishun in the hip. She would have done so in his ribs, but there was a bit of a height difference between husband and wife in their case, "Will you stop fidgeting? Can't Tsuki get married without you boring a hole into the ground with your nervous twitching? If Motoko, Setsuna, and Tsuruko can't deal with that blade when it's found in the ashes; then you being there won't make any difference."

Rubbing his now sore leg as he did so; Eishun looked down at Tsukuyomi, "I'm also worried about Yukimi being hurt… It seems unusual to delay leaving a burning building for so long she became trapped…

…even if Konoka rushed down from Tokyo and managed to deal with her injuries; she hasn't woken up yet; so we still don't know if something unusual happened or not…"

Tsukuyomi had first met the red-headed Yukimi during an adventure with Phillip Markham Jr. nearly thirty years ago… Suddenly remembering the former Mahora professor had gone missing on the Mundus Magicus; some of her own happiness about Tsuki getting married quickly faded…

...besides Eishun; Phillip had been one of the very few males she'd never felt uncomfortable around, "Well… maybe you're right… I hope she'll be okay; but you still need to stop being a downer; smile some; make sure your daughter and new son-in-law have a happy; worry-free day!"

Seeing Tsuki look his way; smile and wave; Eishun smiled and waved back, "I suppose you're right."

tsuzuku

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Author's Notes:

Hauptmann Konrad Adenaur/USS Cyclops: Ancestor of Katrina Adenaur, and the ship he was transferred to the Mundus Magicus on, (through the Bermuda Triangle,) as related in basic detail in 'Ala Alba in the World of Magic.' Specific details may eventually be related in my 'Not Always a Mage' collection of stories.

Wake Island: Following an air raid by American forces in October of 1943, the Japanese commander on Wake Island ordered the massacre of 98 civilian contractors, held on the island since its capture in December of 1942. One prisoner; who was soon recaptured and beheaded; briefly escaped and carved 98 US PW 5-10-43 into a rock; hoping someone would eventually discover what had happened.

MP: Member of Parliament.

Uma-Jin: Horse person; like the character Sharu from the third season of the Dog Days anime.

Shukkei-en Gardens: Roughly half-way between Hiroshima Station and Hiroshima Castle; the Shukkei-en Gardens have a long history dating back to the early 1600's. Along with many locations for the serving of tea; the gardens contain miniaturized scenery representative of that which might be found all across Japan.

Effectively destroyed by their close proximity to detonation point of the atomic bomb in August of 1945; the Shukkei-en Gardens have long since recovered; and are now a popular tourist attraction in Hiroshima.

Molting: Name for the process by which a bird changes its feathers; either seasonally, or as a part of growing older.

Next: Retirement.