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).

Final Word

It had not been as painful as she was afraid it would be, seeing Kain and Mai again…seeing them together, and seeing Mai with Kain's child. Nodoka had thought she'd feel all the old pain again, but she felt remarkably happy for them, and she felt utterly satisfied…more than satisfied, completely satiated…with the whole party. Perhaps it was seeing Yue again after so long. Maybe it was the fact that they were expecting, that the joy of that blessing was too all-encompassing. Maybe it was even meeting Nemo, and seeing him redeemed…Nodoka had been rather devastated when Eminus died, although she had never told anyone, could never imagine sympathy for her feelings towards their archenemy.

Regardless, now that it was over, Nodoka's thoughts had turned serious again. Her attention was on the letter she had received that morning…so obviously for her, so obviously left by someone who knew her, and so frustratingly without identification, saying only those few words:

'Seeker of Fairy Tail, find your path at the Mahora Roof Café at 6 PM'.

Nodoka made her way to the place, the most popular coffee shop in Mahora. She arrived at the outdoor café overlooking the busiest part of Mahora, and identified the sender immediately.

It could be no one other than the beautiful blond woman dressed in vivificating white clothing sitting at a table in the middle of the court. In her appearance, in her manner, and most especially in the magic Nodoka could palpably feel from her, she was by far the most prominent person in attendance. Even more, Nodoka realized that she was the only person who noticed this strange woman; she wasn't invisible, as no one tried to sit at her table and the servers were bringing her drinks even as Nodoka arrived and warily watched her, but somehow she was preventing herself from registering to them. It was like an enhanced version of the enchantment the glasses she and her friends had used in Arcanus Myrror exhibited; she was there, but everyone was being compelled not to notice or pay attention to her unless she wanted something from them. Nodoka, alone, was excluded from that enchantment; and that, on its own, was an obvious invitation.

Nervously, but trying not to show it, Nodoka made her way to the table. The woman smiled up at her immediately. "Ah…Miyazaki Nodoka-chan, yes? I believe this is the first time we've met in person. I'm pleased you accepted my invitation."

"You…have the advantage of me," Nodoka murmured. "You seem to know me…but I know nothing about you."

"Ah, on the contrary," the woman corrected her. "You know much about me, too, but you don't know that the name belongs to me: I am the person you would know as Dolnegus."

Nodoka's eyes widened in recognition. "You…are the one who…?"

"That's right; slave lord and whatever else you wish to call me." The woman chuckled. She motioned, and a cup of Nodoka's favorite coffee was set down in front of her by a server who promptly wandered away. "Well, if we take the time for small talk you'll probably ask me a lot of questions that will make me rather uncomfortable, so I'll get right to the point…."

"Y-yes," Nodoka interrupted bravely, her eyes burning with determination. "You said…something about Fairy Tail…? Can you tell me how to find them…?"

"No, not that," 'Dolnegus' denied, shaking her head. She held up a finger and waved it at Nodoka admonishingly. "I never promised to tell you about them, or even to help you find answers. I can't do anything more than help you find your path. After that, it's up to you, to take the path I show you or not; but if you follow that path, from what I understand, you should be able to find Fairy Tail…or at least learn what happened to them."

Nodoka stared at her carefully. "…That's all you can tell me? This sounds…."

"Fishy?" 'Dolnegus' put in when Nodoka didn't finish immediately. "I apologize for seeming evasive, but I really don't know much else. This may seem strange or unreliable, but I am not prone to falsehoods, especially foolish ones, and I have nothing to gain by tricking you. So, before I continue, I will ask: will you trust me?"

Nodoka considered. "What do you have to gain…by helping me?"

"Nothing concrete," 'Dolnegus' chuckled. "What did I have to gain by being so accommodating to Kain when I allowed him to win back his students' freedom? I have ulterior motives, and selfish ones…but they're hardly vulgar. I am a great fan of Kain Lockeheart, and a fan of his companions, too. I am a fan of you, Miyazaki Nodoka-chan, and I'd like to help you. That's why I'm doing this."

Nodoka considered again for a long moment, then nodded. "I know…you treated Izumi-san and the rest very well…and that you accorded Kain-sensei every respect and aid you could. I don't really understand you, or why you did what you did, but…I do trust you."

The woman nodded casually. "Excellent. I'm grateful for your trust; you are just the person I expected you to be, and I think that will be a great help to you. As I said, you should not expect miracles; this will only set you on the path. What happens after is mostly up to you. But if you wish to learn about Fairy Tail's fate…then use this." She suddenly set a thin, long box on the table and pushed it towards Nodoka.

Nodoka stared at it, then picked it up, then stared at it some more. "This is…a video game…?"

"Do you play many video games, Nodoka-chan?"

"No…not very much…I've never been as good as Ami or Yue, so when they play I usually just like to watch them…."

"Well, from what I understand, this one's a little different. Take it home, play it, enjoy it. Sometimes people hide Easter Eggs inside the games they make, little secrets that can be harmless fun…or amazing secrets. From what my source tells me, there's an amazing Easter Egg inside of this game. If you can find it, then you'll know you're on the path."

"I see." Nodoka held the game to her chest as she rose. "I…don't understand how this can help me…but it's true that I have nothing to lose. So, I'll at least try it out…and see what happens. Thank you, Dolnegus-san." She bowed and then hurried away, with almost eager quickness.

Dolnegus—Vayna—watched her go, a wide, expectant smile on her face. "And now, the new game begins," she murmured. "Let's see who the winners will be…."