Fate: Intertwining stars

Fate Chapter 3: Ala Alba!

-Asuna-

"Wait... What do you mean that's Negi!?" I was starring at the picture for a while now, "but it looks more like Nagi."

"Believe it or not, when this picture was taken Nagi was at my home with me underneath Library island."

"This was taken by one of our agents that we tasked in looking for Negi since you all went crazy about him disappearing," Ms Mcguiness told me as she grabbed another file from her folder, "the agent reported that the two girls should be familiar to you, you did after all battle with them."

she handed me two pieces of paper that showed a hologram on each of them, it was a hologram of two girls and I recognized both of them. They were both Fate's comrades, it was Shiori and Homura. It was the short tempered fire girl and the mimic Luna, why were they meeting with Negi in the Magic World? What's going on, somethings going down and Negi left us and the rest of Ala Alba out of it. If he did and he took my words into consideration then there is bound to be trouble.

"We dont know what's going on either, or how Negi got himself to grow up so fast... but all we know is that something big is going on and Negi and those girls know something about it." Takahata-sensei seemed concerned as well.

"Even I know that just by looking at this, is there nothing else that you all know?" I asked in desperation.

The headmaster sighed, "No we do not, at this point that is all we have. It seems that Negi is trying very hard not to be found."

"Then again, maybe your just not looking deep enough..." We all looked at Eva-chan as she gazed so far into the horizon, "that kid changed me and I only realized lately. To be honest with you Asuna my life wouldv'e continued to be boring without you and Negi. And thanks to him Nagi was found and my curse was lifted."

I smiled at Eva-chan as she said those words, "thank you Eva-chan."

"Have you even tried to look in the underworld?" Eva-chan gave us a strong gaze.

"Uh... no," Ms. Mcguiness looked disappointed all of a sudden, "not that we didn't want to but we were hoping to exhaust our options in the surface world before we went down there. After all not many mages are willing to go down there, and most that went never came back, the few that did gave up the agency. So we wanted to make sure hes not on the surface before we went to the underworld."

"the underworld?" I asked in confusion.

"Asuna, the Magic world isn't all happy and bright. Every world has their dark corners and underworld," She closed her eyes maybe thinking about her experiences there, "The underworld is a despicable world underneath Mundus Magnus, you will find all of Mundus Magnus' darkness down there. The agency is vast, if there was something going on on the surface the agency would know but they know nothing of any event to happen soon. So if that was the case then whatever danger is lurking close by is probably happening in a much darker place. Its probably in the Underworld, someone informed Negi of something and the dangers in the underworld and decided not to take you for that very reason."

Eva-chan was very serious, even though her gaze was so far into the horizon I could see her pain from her eyes. Her past still haunts her and she brought it up because she knew where Negi may be going. If the agency can't help negi then I knew then and there that it had to be me. Negi can't fight without his partners. Negi was the leader of Ala Alba, we couldn't just let the leader fight all on his own. I knew what I needed to do, I needed to find Negi myself. I gave Mcguiness-san her papers and the picture back and I quickly turned around and walked down the stairs of the world tree in a hurry. I already had my back turned but I knew that every one was giving me a look that every adult would have when a kid stands up to danger.

"What exactly do you plan to do?" Albireo asked me with a big smile.

"Is'nt it obvious," I turned my head to half look at them and gave them a half smile that showed my arrogant side, "i'm going to find him and kick his ass for leaving me behind."

everyone smiled at me and gave me a reasuring look, like I have their support no matter what I did at this point. Nagi in particular looked at me with a proud look, and gave me a big smile.

"If that's the case then we're going too!"

"Ehhhh..." I turned around to see half the class standing just a few steps bellow me... it was the whole gang of Ala Alba.

"You can't exactly expect us to just sit around as you go back to the magic world, were not passing up on another epic adventure to the magic world!" Haruna was always the enthusiastic one.

Of course Haruna was once again in lead of the library trio, Chisame as usual stood with a smile in the background. Yue and Nodoka with a determined expression right behind Haruna, Ku Fei and Kaede Stood with their strength to back them up and of course Konoka and Setsuna stood tall at the front ready to take on the magic world. Kazumi accompanied by Sayo and he new mechanical body sat on a platform just beside the group with her drones hovering around her. And beside them stood the non-official members of Ala Alba; Makie, Yuna, Ako, Akira, natsumi and beside her is Kotarou. These guys were always stubborn, even if I tell them that they can't come they'll probably find a way to hitch a ride there.

"You guys..." I smiled at them and they all gave me a big smile in response

It gave me inspiration and strength, I made a quick turn boldly to face the headmaster and the others, "our resolve as Ala Alba will never waiver, if Negi is in danger it is our job to protect him."

The teachers smiled at us, showing how proud they were of our actions, our resolve, our determination to keep moving forward. Out of nowhere Chachamaru came landing down right beside Eva-chan.

"If so then you can't leave me behind," she smiled at us and held her pactio card with Negi right in front of her, showing that she is after all a part of Ala Alba as well.

"very well then," Albireo-sama nodded his head and smiled in approvel, "if you are all determined to go there then you will need something. Satomi?" he looked up.

Just as he did, everyone did as well at the sound of something loud coming right at us. It was Satomi Hakase coming at us wearing some hug rocket boosters on her back, It looked like one of her inventions.

"She's ready..." she told Albireo-sama before turning to us, "Chao-Lingshen sends her regards and has given you a gift."

"ehhhh..." I was confused and I could see that so was everyone else.

We all made our way to library island, this time there was a predetermined route. This was different, I don't remember walking through here. It was well lit and the hallway was neatly kept. Like there were many people who pass through here everyday. Down the hall I could hear loud banging and many more indistinct loud noises. We were finally getting close to the end of the long hallway, I knew that because I could see a strong light just beyond the long stretch of shelves and books on the ground. We were accompanied by all the members of Ala Alba, the school staff with the headmaster, Eva-chan and of course Nagi and Rakkan right behind Albireo and Satomi who were leading us.

The light was getting closer and it was starting to smell refreshing. It looks like we were coming up to another resort like environment underneath library Island. This place sure is still a mystery, no wonder the library exploration club always has an adventure here. We finally reached the end of the hallway and there we found a surprising sight, it was a much bigger cavern. Bigger than that of Albireo-sama's Resort, it was enormous and in the middle of it was something even more surprising.

"WOAH!..." everyone in unison let out a loud surprising whoa.

"fufufu... isn't it amazing," Satomi took pride in her work and no doubt this is another one of her works.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Say hello to the new mother ship of Ala Alba, Ala Alba," Albireo-sama said as he gestured at the marine life looking ship.

It looked like a metallic blue whale with four wings and six engines at the back instead of a tail. It was huge and it took nearly the entire chamber of the cavern. There were small machines working on, it looked like they were little robots. That's the Saotomi for you, her club does research about advanced robotics after all so to construct an army of tiny robots capable of building a massive ship we all know she's the one that'll do it.

"So its name is Ala Alba?" I asked still in awe of its size.

"named after the trouble makers that will be taking her to the magic world." Albireo-sama smiled as he explained the rest of the ships capability along with Saotomi.

We made our way into the bridge of the ship, it was strange because there was no windows. But why am I complaining I've seen magic at work before so I can just imagine that there some magic at work here. Saotomi sat on the middle chair in the front, she held out her hand and some blue light lit up and scanned her hand. Then after that blue lights came popping up all over the bridge. The controls were holographic.

"I've been able to program it so that only members of the bridge crew and of Ala Alba can take control of her." Saotomi explained as she kept continuing her work

"We also took the initiative to hire your crew." Mcguiness-san said in the back as a much larger group of people stood behind her.

"Long time no see!" The treasure Hunters greeted Nodoka and the rest of Ala Alba,

They recognized former comrades from the magic world, those that protected them and fought beside them.

"Ehhhhhh! Collette!?" Yue was surprised to see a few of her former classmates from the magic academy.

"Don't hog all the action to yourself," Collette responded.

"I'm not about to let my rival get ahead of me either," Emily exclaimed with a smug look as Beatrix smiled behind her.

There was a lot of people they knew and people they cared for who were now coming to help them, but why?

"They aren't exactly just here to help, they are officially a part of this guild..." the headmaster claimed as he stood near the captain's chair.

"Guild?!" I asked in surprise.

"With the upcoming revival of the Old Ostian Empire, Aldy Arika wanted to establish her own secret security force. Negi and Ala Rubra of course became one of them, but Negi insisted that Ala Alba be part of it as well. We were going to present all of this to you all after you have all graduated but it seems you will need this power much earlier than expected." The headmaster was sure concerned for us.

"Under the guidance of Ms Mcguiness Ala Alba will be operating under the employment of Lady Arika."

"EHHHHHHHH!?" We all said in unison... great so we have officially become some kind of private army.

-Negi-

I finally realized that we weren't about to escape that easily from this asshole, as I looked back I could see Homura Shooting her Fire Lightning and Light Bolts at the Demon that was running right at us. I had Shiori riding on my staff and Homura slowing down the Demon as she flies backwards. My staff could only go so fast so we were definitely in trouble.

"Luna!" I yelled, "we can't keep running anymore, eventually that thing will catch up to us and will have to fight it."

"I know that," Luna responded as she looked at me with worried eyes, "But Negi-sensei, you're still not..."

"Never mind that," I smiled at her, "I have you and Homura...your Imatatio Pupa and Triplici Lumine of Homura is enough to protect me."

I originally came to the magic world to learn more magic, in order to protect my students. In order... in order to protect... her... in order to protect Asuna. I couldn't keep relying on her like that anymore. She was right, I was the teacher I needed to become stronger and be able to protect them, to protect her. But not even a day into my trip into the magic world and I was dragged into another mess. I stumbled into Shiori and Homura fighting a bunch of demons during my flight on my staff. I was about to visit mother just as father suggested but instead I ended up nearly dying because I tried to help Homura and Shiori. Now my consciousness is using this doll as a temporary body while my real body was healing.

My mother was able to help me procure this body and help heal my original one. My reunion with my mother was short lived though, Shiori and Homura needed my help. They explained to me that they were chasing a dissident cult who kidnapped one of their friends. Shirabe, a demi-human whose race is in near extinction, her horns were said to hold the ability to heal any form of disease when it is cooked properly with necessary ingredients into a potion. We didnt exactly know what their intentions were with Shirabe for going through all that trouble but all we knew was that she was taken to the underworld. I didnt even know the underworld existed until my mother informed me of its existence and that Shirabe may be here. And for sure if the underworld is involved, I can't be good.

I offered Shiori and Homura my aid and wanted to help them and mother suggested for me to create a pactio with them. Which they were reluctant at first but eventually they realized their strengths could become greater with my power. Homura received an amazing artifact, Triplici Lumine, three orbs that would orbit her as she was in her fire spirit form and could shoot lightning, Fire and Light beams at the same time. Luna was also amazing, nearly the same as that of mine but has a distinct difference. Imatatio Pupa, the Mimicking Doll who can literally take into herself any offensive or defensive ability any known creature or enemy to her. She can even take in my ability if she wants to, of course it was limited. She was able to cast Ensis Exorcizans the same as me but f course her frail body did not have the same strength as Asuna to easily handle the weapon so her skills with it were limited.

All of a sudden a loud explosion struck us from behind that threw Shiori and I from my staff. Homura was able to catch Shiori and I was able to land on my feet. I stood there facing the demon, it was huge, maybe as large as the one that attacked old Ostia during the events with fate. Shiori and Homura landed in front of me and guarded me.

"Negi-sensei, please stand back." Luna spoke out loud with valor and strong resolve in her voice.

"Please allow us to protect you Negi-sensei," Homura smiled at me, it maybe the first time ive ever seen Homura smile, "but we would appreciate the support, Negi-sensei."

Homura and Shiori looked at me with a smile and I smiled back at them, they stared at each other before going at it with the demon, "ADEAT!" in unison they cast their artifacts as they charged forward with my wind missiles right behind them.

Note:

Sorry it takes a while for me to update every time but I appreciate the fact that so many of you have already read my writing. It motivates me to write more, but please leave me any comments or critique so I may improve on my writing. Well look forward to the next chapter because it'll be action packed. And Ala Alba will finally launch and head for Mundus Magnus with the Ala Alba gang ready to face anything and bring Negi back home. Thanks again for your patience :)