I do not claim ownership to Familiar of Zero or Negima.
Read author's notes at the end before reviewing.
Zero's Dog
Chapter 10
Kotaro stepped through the gate of Tristain Academy of Magic, where he gazed at the central tower and the light it cast from the windows through the evening. Over a month had passed since he'd left with Louise on the trip to Albion. After retrieving the letter from Prince Wales, the hanyo sent Louise back to Tristain with Tabitha and Kirche, while he alone stayed behind. She hadn't been too keen on leaving him but his stubbornness won out in the end. He returned not only as a familiar but a full-blown noble of Albion. Chevalier may not have been a high ranking title but it still carried weight.
His month spent on the floating continent had improved his stamina and techniques slightly but the biggest improvement was in Kotaro's sense of smell. Hunting in the thinner air of Albion had forced him to hone his already sharp nose to the point it that it was always active. As he started towards the tower, an overpowering scent washed over him.
"What the Hell is this?" Kotaro asked nobody as he covered his nose. The scent was strong but was more of a sensation in his nose than a smell, like a smelling salt. The sensation was also was pleasant and drawing for the boy. "It's like every girl here just went into heat," he remembered how the girls of Ala Alba had almost synchronized biological clocks, and how scary some of them could get.
"You gonna be okay, Partner?" Derflinger asked from his scabbard.
"Yeah, I'll be fine, so long as the girls don't try anything with the handsome, hybrid, promoted-to-nobility boy."
He started walking towards the tower.
(Scene break)
When Kotaro reached the central tower, he heard what sounded like a party. Spotting Siesta, he quickly pulled her aside to ask what was happening.
"Kotaro, you're back! Thank goodness. You've been . . ." the maid trailed off as she noticed the mantle of nobility Kotaro was wearing. Her gaze shifted rapidly between the cape and Kotaro's face for several seconds.
Kotaro sighed, "Yes, Siesta I'm a noble now. Don't worry, I won't suddenly become a stuck-up snob because of my new rank, so tell the guys in the kitchen too. It's great to be back among friends. I've been training alone for a few weeks with minimal human contact. What exactly is going on here? It sounds like a party."
"Oh," Siesta said as she was roused back to reality, "It's the Ball of Sleipnir. When you go in, you first look into the Mirror of Truth, which shows you the person you most want to be. For the rest of the night you have the exact appearance of that person."
"Thank you," Kotaro told the young woman, vaguely remembering Louise mention it to him when he last saw her, "Is there anything else I should know?"
"Well," Siesta glanced aside, blushing, "There was a handsome young man with red hair who suddenly showed up last week. And so polite, too."
(Scene break)
Kotaro drew back the cloth covering the mirror. He smirked at the being reflected back at him before covering the Mirror of Truth again and entering the ballroom with a sword over his shoulder. The scent of estrus which was powerful outside was nearly overbearing in the ballroom.
Kotaro scanned the room for his target. He was shocked to see many versions of himself walking around. But there was another person being copied more than him. Nostalgia filled Kotaro as he saw dozens of teenaged Negi Springfields walking about the room. He watched for a half of a minute before seeing a gaggle of girls surrounding a Negi slightly taller than the others, wearing a white cloak and bearing a staff. The white animal on his shoulder cinched it.
"Better go say hello." Kotaro thought as he strode to the likeness of the Thousand Master. Seeing the large man approach, several girls backed away. "Hey Springfield," Kotaro said, raising his sword, "Let's see what you've got." Kotaro swung the sword down, scattering the groupies and striking at his target. The blade didn't get closer than an arm's length, as 'The Thousand Master' likeness caught it on the palm of his hand. The exposed part of his arm bore a dark swirling tattoo. "Magea Erebea, so it is you, Negi. Thousand Master, huh?"
The figure turned around and looked between Kotaro and the blade. "Kotaro?"
"Who else? I see you've brought Chamo too. That's good 'cause I'd like to speak with him later."
"It's great to see you Kotaro. Jack Rakan. Makes sense you'd choose him to emulate," Negi said.
"Of course, who better to choose than the Invincible Idiot?" Kotaro chuckled, the booming laugh of Jack Rakan silencing the hall. "On an unrelated note, we're on a complete other world and you STILL send every girl around you into heat."
The silence soon became awkward as the students stared at the large, muscular, tan-skinned man who'd made the inappropriate comment. "And you are?" one of the Kotaro look-a-likes asked timidly.
"Oh, that's right," Kotaro exclaimed, slapping his own forehead, "Siesta is the only one who knows I'm here. Guess who's back?" he said swinging his arm out. Shadow wolves suddenly surrounded him and Negi. A second later he dismissed them.
"Flashy much, Kotaro?" Negi deadpanned.
Before Kotaro could make a witty comeback, a girl ran through the crowd. "Darling," Kirche moaned as she threw herself at Kotaro. She was not magically disguised. "I've been waiting for you to return, Darling. And look, your manliness has grown even more."
"Shaddup ya broad," Derflinger yelled from Kotaro's back. Negi and Chamo were dumbfounded at the speaking sword.
"Back off from my familiar Zerbst!" The speaker was a tall kind-faced woman with pink hair like Louise's and an ample bust. Walking forward, the young woman slapped Kotaro across the face. "You're late, Kotaro. You better have a good explanation for being gone for a month."
"I do Louise but it's not something I want to say with everyone watching," Kotaro replied politely, shocking Negi and Chamo even more. "Let's just enjoy the party and afterwards I'll talk with you, Negi, and the princess," the last part was hushed so only Louise and Negi could hear it.
"Hey Negi, could you dispel these illusions?" Kotaro asked.
"Well, I think I can," Negi replied nervously, "I'm still unused to this world's magic."
"Have you dueled any of the students?"
"How'd you guess?"
"Half of the guys here look like you. Girls may find you handsome, but one week of just being here wouldn't cause that impressive a number."
"Yeah, I dueled a student, some chubby kid named Malicorne, the day I got here," Negi sighed.
"Weak aren't they?"
"Yeah, you duel anyone?"
"Guiche. I took an arm as a trophy."
"You WHAT?" Negi scanned the party-goers for a boy missing an arm.
"Golem arm, Negi. He used golems."
"Wait? You know this guy?" a member of the crowd asked Kotaro.
"Well, yeah! He's my best friend," Kotaro said, before starting to laugh.
"What's so funny?" a student asked angrily.
"Nothing, nothing," Kotaro told them. He turned and whispered something into Negi's ear. A moment later Negi produced a small blue sphere and handed it to Kotaro. "I was just remembering telling a class about Negi and them not believing me."
Negi placed a palm before his face and one in front of Kotaro's face, "Dispelsatio!" Immediately the disguises of Jack Rakan and Nagi Springfield fell, drawing gasps from the crowd. Keeping his hand in front of his own face, Negi repeated the spell as Kotaro popped the little blue orb into his mouth.
The crowd gasped again as they gazed upon two ten year olds. "This was what we looked like five years ago," Kotaro addressed the crowd, "I remember some joker made a sarcastic comment that Negi should also have been a war hero and a powerful mage. Congratulations, you were right. We were BOTH war heroes at age ten, and they don't call Negi 'The Boy Genius Mage' for nothing."
Negi flushed at the proclamation. Moments later the room erupted in laughter. "Great story, we know you're powerful Kotaro but really? We're not stupid you know."
Kotaro looked to his buddy, "They don't seem convinced. Would ya show 'em a little Magia Erebea to make 'em listen?"
"Kotaro that would be a grave misuse of power," Negi scolded.
"I didn't say 'go all Thunder in Heaven Great Vigor II on them', just do that thing where your skin darkens and your magic tattoos glow. Besides it's not like any of them could learn it."
"Form of the Dark Night? No, I told you it's not something to display."
"Come on, I've showed them my hand already, even Kanka. 'Form of the Dark Night' is probably the only 'indoor-friendly' spell you've got that is impressive to look at. Also there's a trump I have that they'll never see. I need to ask you about it later, but just dazzle them now, please?"
"Alright, but you owe me Kotaro Inugami," Negi declared. "HEY EVERYBODY, I GOT SOMETHING YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE!" Negi shouted. His voice carried across the room, silencing the laughter and drawing attention. "Actus Noctis Erebeae." At the invocation's completion, Negi's skin darkened to a dull purple hue. At the same time intricate designs on Negi's arms began glowing.
"This," Kotaro declared, gesturing at Negi, "Is something he learned five years ago, and it led him to becoming a legendary figure."
"Yeah right," a student whispered under his breath, "You're both only comm . . ."
"You got something to say smartass?" the ten-year old Kotaro demanded, pulling the student down to eye level by his collar. In an instant Kotaro had moved from where he stood by Negi to the disrespectful student. The student's disguise looked a lot like Cromwell.
"Take your disgusting hands off of me, peasant, and the name is Nero, not that you're worthy to so much as utter it," the student growled, "You and that boy over there are nothing but a couple of frauds, using parlor tricks and lies to deceive us nobles, your betters."
"Kotaro, don't," Negi and Louise warned at the same time.
"You know what, pissant? I can handle personal insults to myself but people who insult Negi like that start losing teeth, tongues, and jaws. This is your only warning, talk bad about my friends again and we settle it in Vestri Court, to first broken bone. And that goes for the rest of you too," Kotaro told the rest in attendance, provoking gasps. As Kotaro released the boy and strode back to Negi, more gasps erupted as the students began to notice the mantle Kotaro was wearing.
"That's the coat of arms of the Albion Royal Family," a girl disguised as Louise piped up.
"Indeed it is," Kotaro responded.
"W-w-when did you get that?" the real Louise demanded.
"About two weeks ago," Kotaro answered.
High, cold laughter echoed through the ballroom. Kotaro turned back to face the Cromwell wannabe. "The Albion Royal family fell one month ago to Reconquista. There is no way that you can legitimately claim to be a noble of a government that fell before you received the title. You really are nothing more than a lying peasant, the scum of the Earth." He continued his cold laughter, but stopped after Kotaro joined in. "What's so funny, filth?"
"It's just, what you said about Albion and Reconquista, you've got your facts backwards. One month ago the Royal Family of Albion was doomed to fall to Reconquista, but an unforeseen event happened. Reconquista fell apart the day Prince Wales Tudor was going to make his last stand. Funny thing about cults, they're like snakes or almost any other living thing, cut off the head and the body dies with it." Kotaro pulled out and spun Cromwell's bloodstained beanie hat on his finger. "Cromwell was nothing special, pick a better role model."
The ballroom went silent.
"Kotaro. . .did you really. . .?" Louise asked.
"What? Kill him? Who can say? Cromwell was a man whose plan was 'go to war with every country in Halkeginia, so we can wage war on the evil elves'. The real 'evil' in that plan was the plan itself. I'm sure that Cromwell had lots of enemies. Apparently he survived 41 assassination attempts."
"You monster," Nero went for his wand.
"I'd suggest against pointing your wand at me, Weakling," Kotaro put forth with little interest in his voice. "Watch Negi," Kotaro telepathically sent to Louise and to Henrietta, whom he was certain was in the room.
"Why should I? You're just another monster like the elves, you're all better off dead," Nero snarled, "Fireball!" the boy shouted and a globe of fire shot from the tip.
No sooner had the spell been cast when Negi caught the fireball. His body still was darkened but he lacked the glowing tattoos and heat was cast off by the black flames that wreathed his body. The orb of fire Nero had cast was held stationary as it slowly shrank.
"That's why," Kotaro answered curtly. "We 'monsters' are much better fighters. While you were busy suckin' on yer mama's tit, I was alone fighting to survive. While you were being babied by your family, Negi watched as his village was turned to stone by demons. We've spent every day since then preparing for future battles. We've fought things that would make your worst nightmare piss itself as it cowered in the corner." Not letting up on the verbal assault he continued, "You self-proclaimed 'blue-bloods' claim to be superior with no regard to those who needed to shed tears of blood to advance. But every claim I've heard has been empty. Your skills are the ones closer to 'parlor tricks'." His tone was harsh.
"M-my father is a high ranking official in Gallia," Nero sputtered, "You'll pay for this, whelp."
Negi released his magic and walked away. Nero stormed out of the ballroom, issuing one last threat before finally leaving.
"Hey Negi toss me a red pill," Kotaro told his friend, "It brings back memories to have the reach of a ten year old again but I like being taller more."
Negi withdrew two read age-changing candies from an unseen location and tossed one to Kotaro. "I've always wondered how you use that hammerspace spell."
"It's not a hammerspace spell. It's a Personal Storage Dimension spell," Negi insisted.
After ingesting them the two were swarmed with questions. "Where are you guys from?" "Why are you here?" "Are you really the Negi Springfield we've heard about?" "How old are you?" "How did you cover yourself in black flames?" "Will you father my children?"
One voice rang over the others, "Please train me."
Kotaro turned to the source of the voice. His eyes fell upon a young man disguised as him, on his knees. "Why?" Kotaro asked.
"Ever since you defeated me, Kotaro, I admired your strength. Since your duel with Wardes I've admired your resolve. I want to better myself."
"Let me think about it, Guiche, but I can make no promises."
"We have to talk, we we'll meet in Louise's room. Bring Negi." Henrietta's voice spoke in Kotaro's head.
Kotaro carefully whispered the message to Louise before making up a completely fake excuse for leaving, dragging Negi with him.
"I have to go feed the pigeon."
(Scene Break)
Arriving in Louise's room, Kotaro found that he and Negi weren't the first to arrive. A petite pink-haired girl was seated, waiting for them.
"Are you Louise, or Henrietta?" Kotaro asked. The girl held up a pactio card with Kotaro on the front of it. "Ah, Henrietta."
"Could you please dispel the illusion before Louise arrives?" the princess asked.
Negi looked at the girl for a moment before obliging her. Chamo took great interest in the woman's true identity.
"I can see why ya pactio'd her," the ermine snickered, "Quite the impressive figure."
"Quiet you," Kotaro growled. He set Derflinger against the wall, "Why don't you chat with Derflinger, while we're in discussion." The ermine scowled. "Derf has got some pretty impressive tales from his lifetime of 6000 years," Kotaro told the perverted ermine. Chamo suddenly became a lot more eager to meet Derflinger and scurried over to the ancient sword.
A minute later Louise arrived, still looking like a kinder, more well-developed version of herself. "You would not believe how crazy it is back in the ballroom."
"You're here Louise Franciose, now we can get this meeting started," Henrietta declared. "First thing I'd like to know is what happened in Albion, Kotaro?"
"Well, we met Wales, great guy, and got the letter you wanted. After that I hear his plans for going down fighting in a glorious last stand. I killed an assassin *cough*Wardes*cough*. I sent Louise back the following morning and looked for the leader of Reconquista. It wasn't that hard and Cromwell panicked when I dispatched his 'elite guards' after cutting down a few hundred soldiers. I gave the man two options: disband Reconquista immediately with no strings attached, or die. He tried to take a third path with this ring," Kotaro pulled out the ring with a large square-shaped sapphire set into it, "I don't know if his plan was to kill me or use me but when I felt the magic start to invade my mind, Cromwell's fate was sealed."
"So, you assassinated him and looted his corpse?" Louise put bluntly.
"I call it 'spoils of victory'. If I didn't take the magical ring someone else would, and I don't care for scavengers. But anyway, after killing him the audience started panicking. Ya see, he was in the middle of some speech and I had no patience for him to go someplace private. Then I went back to Prince Wales and told him that Reconquista had been crippled. Using a bunch of philosophy religious mumbo jumbo that I don't understand, he was able to convince the panicking masses that Cromwell and Reconquista were wrong. After two weeks the government was set up again and the new Wales Tudor de Albion granted me noble status, he was even generous enough to let my oath be to my homeland than to specifically Albion. The rest was me training."
"Negi, why do you say nothing? Your friend has openly admitted to murder," Henrietta asked, torn between joy that Wales was safe, and discontent at the methods used.
"I have no right to tell him off. I've nearly killed my students in a fit of berserk rage. Kotaro warned this Cromwell and followed through on his threat. I'm not saying that it makes me proud," Negi answered.
"So Louise, have you anything want to ask?" Kotaro asked.
"What was that magic you used Negi?" Louise shot out.
Negi looked a little uncomfortable as he glanced at Kotaro. "They can hear it," Kotaro said, "I've already told them a little about it. Namely that it can't be taught and it's dangerous for mortals to use."
Negi sighed and turned back to the girls, "That was Magia Erebea."
"That was Magia Erebea? I was expecting it to look more like the Kanka Kotaro uses."
"No, Magia Erebea doesn't combine mental and physical energies like Kanka, it bonds offensive magic directly to my soul. I have different forms that depend on the spell I cast. 'Form of the Dark Night' is the closest thing to Kanka."
"Isn't that dangerous, to bond magic directly to your bare soul?" Henrietta asked, concerned.
"Not anymore. My soul got modified years ago, now I'm practically immortal. I guess that's a bad thing but I won't complain because it allows me to see my entire plan for saving Mundus Magicus unfold."
"Kotaro said it was dark magic. Why would you use something so evil?"
Kotaro cut in at that moment, "Princess, yes Magia Erebea is dark magic, but it itself is not inherently evil. It may not be fueled by sunshine, rainbows, and friendship but it was Negi's choice and his alone. Pardon my interruption."
"So it is true that Magia Erebea renders you inhuman? How do you deal with being a kind of monster?" Louise asked distantly.
Kotaro and Negi scowled at the question. "Look, Louise, I mentioned my dislike for being called a dog but I absolutely hate when Negi or myself are called 'monsters'. It implies that we're pure evil beings who love torture, child sacrifice, and kicking puppies, when we're almost no different than humans, regardless of biology. In fact most who I'd say are monsters have been men, 100% human."
"And I accept that I'm no longer a true human," Negi added, "It was my only reasonable choice to achieve power in a month. I didn't have time for the direct, honest path to power. I needed to save my students and didn't have years to improve myself. 'Monster' as a description of how strong I am is something I find endearing, though."
"Your students? Wait, were these the 30 girls Kotaro said you taught at age ten when they were fifteen years old?" Louise asked hotly
Negi gaped for a moment at just how much Louise knew. "Not quite, Miss Louise, only 17 of my students, plus Chamo, Anya, Kotaro and myself, went to the magical world. We got spread across the world early on when we were attacked by an evil group, Kosmo Entelecheia, Kotaro may have mentioned. Five of those girls actually followed us and were ignorant before arriving on Mundus Magicus. We met two more of my students later but they were in Mundus Magicus for different reasons when they arrived."
"So Kotaro," Negi turned on the hanyo, "Anything else they know that is about me, our home or Ala Alba?" he snapped, "How long have you been here, again? A week had passed between when you were last seen when that strange portal appeared in front of me."
"It's been about five weeks. And for you information 'Mr. Harem Lead' it was either tell them, or withstand endless questions. You know how impatient I am. Although I did originally mention you to Guiche. He challenged me to a duel because I got him caught by his girl friends for two-timing. He was good at talking to girls but not as good as you. He was a flirt but he needed to actively try, and also prevent his girls from finding out. I publicly drew attention to his actions by comparing him to how you could charm the pants off almost any girl you met."
"You're exaggerating," Negi said dismissively.
"Am I? Show us your pactio cards. Prove me wrong," Kotaro challenged his friend. "These girls already know about pactios so don't worry about them, but be a little careful mentioning pactios around others," the hanyo said, then added, "Or sneeze, whichever you prefer."
Negi cast a mildly venomous glare at Kotaro before summoning his pactio cards. Henrietta and Louise, who still bore the appearance of a more matured version of herself, gasped as they saw the deck Negi owned. Louise's eyes quickly narrowed at the red-haired immortal.
"My gosh, he's worse than Guiche," the pinkette exclaimed.
"Actually, Louise," Kotaro said, suppressing his laughter, "Many of those weren't his idea. There is your culprit." Kotaro pointed to where Chamo was in intense conversation with Derflinger. "Besides, every time a girl confessed her feelings of love and affection for him, he'd suffer a huge guilt trip, so the scales balance out."
"Okay Kotaro, I've shown mine now you show yours," Negi declared.
"Okay, but there's one I'd like to talk to you about later, privately," Kotaro told Negi as he drew his own pactio cards. While not nearly as impressive as Negi's deck of twenty, Kotaro's cards still raised eyebrows from Louise and Negi.
"Well, well, well," Negi spoke, "Looks like you have little room to speak about girls to me. I knew you and Natsumi were a pair but Madoka too. And three pactios since you got here, including a princess and a prince."
"Well at least I don't decide to make-out with a girl every time I have a problem to resolve, Springfield!" Kotaro bit back. "And it was a blood oath I performed with Wales, not a kiss!"
Ignoring him, Negi picked up Louise's card, "So this must be what Louise looks. . ." He trailed off as he saw the artifact. He quickly looked between the card and the disguised Louise.
"Yes, Negi, it's that artifact," Kotaro told the boy, "I was hoping you'd be able to explain or at least make a reasonable guess as to why it's here and why Louise has it, considering you're the boy genius mage, last in the Ostian Royal family and descendant of the Lifemaker."
"Royal family?" Louise and Henrietta gasped. "Negi is Nobility?"
"Yeah, but that's unimportant right now," Kotaro answered with a sigh. "It seems that my information hiding skills are still lacking," he thought to himself. "Subject change, who did you go as to the Ball of Sleipnir and why?" he asked the room. "I'll go first. I was 'The Invincible Idiot', 'The Thousand Blades', 'The Ultimate Broken Character', 'That Damn Guy You Can Stab With Swords All You Like and It Won't Do A Thing, Dammit': Jack Rakan!" Kotaro proudly proclaimed. "As for why I chose him, his titles should be a good indicator, he is one of the greatest warriors around, he's from last generation's band of heroes and was powerful enough to rival the Thousand Master. And Jack Rakan earned all that power through years of experience and determination." Louise's eyes lit up at the last statement.
"I guess I'll go next, although it won't be as flashy as Kotaro's," Negi said, "I was my father, Nagi Springfield, The Thousand Master. I chose him because ever since I was a young child, I dreamed to one day meet the man who I was always measured to. When I first heard that he appears to those in need, I promptly put myself in dangerous situations in hopes that he'd come to rescue me." Negi's eyes started to glisten, "But he never did until demons attacked my village when I was four. He slaughtered many of the demons, alone to protect me and my older sister. When we were safe he left me his staff and disappeared, leaving my sister and me the only surviving villagers. Everyone else was eternally petrified. That was the day I vowed to become a strong as my dad, so that I could meet him one day."
Louise and Henrietta were shocked as both boys had such lofty goals. Embarrassed at how mediocre her admired person was by comparison, Louise started to speak. "I am my sister Cattleya. I admire her most because of how kind she is and how she has never looked down on me for my lack of magic skill."
"I bet her figure is also something you admire."
"Kotaro!" Louise yelped as she searched for something to smack her familiar with.
"Wait, did I actually say that out loud?"
"Yes and if you're going to harass me about my choice, then dispel the illusion now."
Negi erased the illusion that Louise had upon herself. A few moments later, the familiar short pinkette was standing where the mature woman stood before. "I want to hear more about your world's magic, Kotaro, Negi," she said with authority.
"But we haven't heard the Princess' admired person yet or her reason," Kotaro whined.
"The Princess doesn't need to reveal anything to us," Louise countered. "We are supposed to accept the honor of her presence."
"I was you, Louise Francious," Henrietta said softly.
"M-m-me?" Louise stammered. "W-why would someone like yourself a-admire someone as unworthy as me?"
"Louise Francious, we're friends. Social class means nothing when it comes to admiration," Henrietta's soft voice cooed, "You always do what you feel in your heart. I kind of envy you for that because a good monarch must follow their duty to their country and their people before their heart."
"MOMENT KILLER!" Derflinger shouted from by the wall, shattering the tenderness of Henrietta's confession and sending Chamo into fits of laughter.
Breaking the brief awkward silence that followed, Kotaro leaned over to Negi, "That hammerspace spell you've mastered, do you have a diorama training bottle in it?"
"Yeah, Princess Theodora gave me the one we used to train for the match with Rakan. Why do you ask?"
Ignoring Negi's question, Kotaro continued, "And do you have some huge stockpile of magic knowledge?"
"Adeat!" in Negi's hand appeared a leather rectangular pouch. Pulling Yue's pactio card from the pouch, Negi again invoked his artifact. The pouch turned into a levitating book, from which several hologram pages were displayed. "Yeah, why?"
"I'd like to ask how you got 'The Thousand Bonds' artifact again but that's not important right now. Would you be willing to accept apprentices?"
"Guiche?" Negi stated more than asked.
"Yeah, Louise too,"
"Why Guiche? He asked you specifically to teach him, Kotaro."
"And I will when I'm confident that he has barriers that can withstand my punches at quarter strength. I suck at magic remember and I'm certain he wouldn't survive my methods otherwise."
"And what about Louise/me?" Negi and Louise asked simultaneously.
"Start with the basics and work from there, but focus on training Guiche in barriers first. Once he has barriers that don't suck, you can devote your entire teaching focus to Louise, while I teach Guiche how to beat the stuffing out of opponents. There are far too many mages who are weaker than you were during that first fight we had in Kyoto, years ago. Lightning is a high level spell here, even. If one person wants to be stronger simply to be stronger I will teach them."
"Okay I'll teach them," Negi conceded, "But only if you spar with me tomorrow."
"Deal! But we'll have to wait till class ends first."
Reaching an agreement the two looked back at Louise and Henrietta, who were saying their farewells. As the Princess was leaving, she turned back to Negi and Kotaro "Good luck, you two. Take care of Louise for me."
(Scene Break)
The next morning Kotaro got back into the routine of waking Louise and dressing her. The girl seemed suddenly nervous about her state of undress around him as she shooed him out, covering herself with her sheets moments after waking.
Since he had time, Kotaro decided to return the Staff of Destruction to the headmaster. He would've returned it the night before, but was unable to find the geezer so dropped it off in Louise's room before attending the ball. As he opened the door the hanyo found that he wasn't the only one with an early meeting with Osmond. Surprisingly, Negi also was in the headmaster's office. More surprisingly, he was in his true form, the body of a ten year old.
"Ah, come in, Kotaro," the old man welcomed, "I was just talking to your friend here about getting him enrolled." He smiled, "You two caused quite a stir last night, for several reasons, that little 'black fire' display and Kotaro's noble status being the most prominent."
"Yeah sorry about that," Kotaro said, yawning, "I just came to return this."
"Kotaro," Negi said questioningly as he saw the Staff of Destruction, "Why is there a rocket launcher here?"
"Beats the Hell out of me, but it's been here for forty-some years. I just borrowed it to use up the one shot it had. So you're gonna be a student now, Negi?" he asked quickly changing the subject.
"Yep, I'll get to be in the same class as you and Louise. I won't be summoning a familiar but I'll be able to learn about this place's magic. Plus I can keep you out of trouble at the same time."
"You're a little late for that, pal, I've already gotten into and out of enough trouble on my own. I'm surprised that punk last night even tried mouthing off to me, with how strongly I've proven myself, even if I wasn't a noble at the time. Speaking of which, how are you enrolling? I thought that only those of proven status were allowed in, not that I'm complaining."
"My magical display last night in addition to the vast difference in power I demonstrated against Malicorne, has proven me a noble, sort of. It's strange that only nobles here can use magic."
"Well then I'll see you in class," Kotaro said, then spoke in a mock anger voice, "I'll see you after class, Negi Springfield!" Then he left the office.
Heading down to the dining area, the hanyo stopped by the kitchen to salute the cooking staff. At first, he was given the cold shoulder, but after some words (following a few shouts) even Marteau was welcoming Kotaro back.
In the dining hall itself, the students fell silent at Kotaro's arrival. Scanning the room, he found Guiche sitting by Montmorency. Making a beeline for the earth mage, Kotaro sat directly across from him. "G'morning," he addressed the couple. "I see you two have made up since I beat you, Guiche."
Guiche sputtered before managing to get out "So did you think about it? The idea of training me?"
Kotaro looked at him, "I did think about it, Guiche, but before I answer I have a couple questions I'd like you to answer. Be truthful or don't answer at all, understand?" Guiche nodded his head. "Okay, first question, why do you want to learn physical combat? From what I've seen, mages here hate getting up close to enemies."
"When you beat my golems, I thought physical fighting was below me," the blonde boy admitted, "But your vast combat superiority that even drove back Wardes the Lightning has inspired me. I want to learn how to survive combat without relying too much on magic. I also now know that square-class is not a limit and desire to see how strong I can get."
"Nice answer Gramont, limits are meant to be pushed. Next question, how badly would you fight to learn? Would you endure great pain to get stronger? Learning to fight is not as simple as reading a book, memorizing a few words, and then reciting them while you concentrate. I will not coddle you and it'll likely take months."
Guiche paled, "I figured he wouldn't have the guts to take the challenge," Kotaro thought sadly.
"Yes"
"What?"
"Yes I would endure great pain to get stronger," Guiche answered confidently.
Surprised, Kotaro's jaw dropped. "Well . . . that's good. We can start your training this afternoon, after my spar with Negi in Vestri Court. You're free to come and watch, just stand WAY back."
As Kotaro left, he caught a glimpse of eager anticipation on the blonde boy's face and a look of mild disdain on the girl's face.
(Scene Break)
"So are you ready then?" Negi asked
"Yeah, start however you want, except with 'Thunder in Heaven, Great Vigor'," Kotaro answered his rival. The fighters were dressed simply for the upcoming battle, even if it was only a spar.
Classes had ended less than an hour before and both boys stood in the middle of Vestri Court. Rumor of the spar spread wide throughout the academy and the majority of the students came to watch. In order to accommodate the large berth the fighters were given, a wind spell was cast so the spectators could still hear. Bets were being taken over who was expected to win. The majority of the bets were on Kotaro.
"Really? Thanks, I've been meaning to try out something new but haven't had an opponent that I could test it on," Negi said and he started to chant:
"Ras teil Mascir Magister"
"Heed the contract and serve me, oh King of Hades! Come, Cracking of the Earth, Torrent of scorching heat engulfing the furthest reaches! Seethe and surge forth, Earth God of burning Ruination! Tearing Earth!"
"Stagnate," a large spiraling orb seemed to come out of Negi's body, through the hand, and stopped just beyond the palm. "Complexio," Negi crushed the orb. "Supplementum pro Armationem."
Negi's body darkened to an ashen color with streaks of orange and red lacing across irregularly. The audience was shocked as a wave of heat washed over them. The ones who bet on Negi cheered.
"Cool, what do you call this technique?" Kotaro asked casually.
"Not quite sure yet," Negi admitted. "Let's go," he said as he charged.
"Adeat!" Kotaro invoked, imagining a dozen different weapons and a suit of armor. The audience was confused at the sudden manifestation but cheered that Kotaro seemed to have the edge. He grabbed the first sword and lobbed it at the approaching opponent, his Gandalfr runes increasing his strength and telling him how to throw.
The sword struck Negi head on, slicing from shoulder to mid-torso where it remained embedded. The audience cried out, not expecting a lethal blow so soon. Orange liquid soared from Negi's wound, and there was a sizzling sound and smoke where-ever it landed. Negi halted his charge to look at the sword that pierced him.
Kotaro noticed and deadpanned, "Magma? Seriously?" The earth and fire mages of the audience gawked.
"You were the one that said no arming my body with lightning," Negi chimed mischievously, "Other high ancient spells are fair."
"How was I supposed to know you'd pull a high ancient earth/fire spell out of your ass? You're a wind/lightning mage."
"If you're as man as you say you are, Kotaro, you'll deal with it," Negi said as he pressed the parts separated by Kotaro's blade together. Molten stone oozed out between the edges and hardened like a scab. Then Kotaro noticed that the blade was disappearing into Negi's body.
"You're absorbing the Ki aren't you?" Kotaro asked.
"Just like Hell's Refining Fire," Negi answered. Kotaro started laughing suddenly. "What's so funny?"
"I just realized," Kotaro said, "If the girls were here, one of them would've made a 'Negi is so hot' comment by now."
Waiting no longer for banter, Kotaro rushed forward, dispelling the blades to regain the Ki that formed them, and smashed his armored hand into Negi's chest. He felt little resistance as his fist went through molten stone. Immediately the magma around Kotaro's arm solidified, holding the hanyo's arm in place. The heat of Negi's molten core was blistering Kotaro's arm through the Ki armor he wore.
Negi raised his right fist to deliver a punch on the immobilized warrior. Pulling as hard as he dared without dislocating or breaking his arm, Kotaro slipped out of the gauntlet, retreating to a safer distance. He dismissed the armor completely.
"One last attack," Kotaro declared, extending his arms. Whispers circled through the crowd; it was the same stance Kotaro had assumed when he had dueled Guiche, the hands were even emitting opposite auras. "Magic in my left hand, Ki in my right hand. COMBINE!" he brought his hands together.
There was a flash and Kotaro's body was cloaked in a silver aura. Less than a moment later he was delivering an elbow strike to Negi's chest, and following with an uppercut across Negi's face. The crowd watched as the magma being's face was knocked off, revealing orange molten stone beneath. The revulsion was momentary, as a new face began to take shape. After Negi reshaped his face, the two shook hands and reverted, Kotaro losing the brilliant aura and Negi's flesh returning to its proper color and texture.
"What the Hell just happened?" a voice from the crowd shouted. The entire bout had lasted less than two minutes.
"A simple sparring match between friends and rivals," Kotaro answered joyfully, "Man, I missed being challenged, thanks Negi."
"You punched his face off, how is that friendly?"
"You're welcome Kotaro, but those last hits stung," Negi responded to his friend's thanks, before turning to the crowd, "My body was molten stone that shell wasn't very strong, not to mention that we are both top-tier fighters."
"Yeah," Kotaro agreed, "Real warriors show their respect for each other by fighting, without holding back. Now where's Guiche? I specifically told him that his training would begin after the spar."
All eyes turned to the blonde boy, whimpering as he crouched in the fetal position. "Don't tell him that it's only an hour out here for a day in the bottle," Kotaro whispered to Negi, before walking over and grabbing the fearful boy. "Negi here is going to be your trainer until he's confident that training with me won't kill you," he said for everyone to hear and causing Guiche to faint. "Take him to the special training grounds, where no one will hear his screams," Kotaro stated as he handed the unconscious boy to Negi. The red-head nodded and swung the boy over his shoulder before departing.
After Negi and Guiche were out of sight, Kotaro turned back to the crowd. "They'll be back shortly, but act as if they've been gone for a day," he said as he walked through the crowd towards the central tower. He sat down against the stone with his arms crossed in front of his chest and legs spread away from his body, "Don't ask me why, just do it, I want to see if Guiche believes it. Until then, please don't disturb me as I sleep right here." Without waiting for any response, Kotaro closed his eyes and dozed off immediately.
(Scene Break)
Kotaro became mildly aware that someone was trying to wake him.
"Kotaro. Kotaro, wake up," he heard a hushed voice say. He cracked his eyelids open just enough to see three silhouettes through his eyelashes. He closed his eyes and tried to doze off again.
"I said, WAKE UP," and a blow to his gut reminded him just how painful surprises can be.
"Okay, okay, I'm up, Louise," Kotaro grumbled as he started rising to his feet, "What'dya want?" He looked around to see besides Louise, Negi and Guiche were with him and Chamo was on Negi's shoulder, as usual.
The white ermine smirked and started giggling, "Never thought I'd see YOU so whipped, Kotaro."
"Shut up, rodent," Kotaro growled, "When I first got here, she hit me with an explosion, kicked me in the balls, twisted my arm, and 'bout tore one of my ears off as she screamed into it. It was like PMSing Asuna all over again!"
Guiche and Chamo shuddered, Guiche during the description, Chamo during the comparison. Louise got a confused look, "What's a 'PEE—EMM—ESSing A-Soon-a'?" Her tone seemed undecided about whether she was angry or impressed at being compared to something formidable.
"Asuna is one the girls in Ala Alba," Kotaro answered. Then he flushed and said, "Ask the weasel about the PMSing part 'cause he'll explain it better. Won't you, Chamo? Also, keep an eye on him, he likes to raid panty drawers."
Without waiting for a response he turned to Guiche, "So how was training? You've been gone for a whole day."
"That bottle is amazing," Guiche nearly shouted, "It actually felt like a full day in there but it was only an hour. You almost got me to think it was tomorrow, but Monmon told me as soon as we got out."
"Wait? What?" Louise asked.
"The diorama sphere," Kotaro said, "It's an alternate space where the time is distorted. For every one hour that passes outside, a full day passes inside. But it's not an illusion, you do actually age when inside it. It's great for training. And speaking of training, I'll give you some tomorrow, nothin' dangerous like combat practice just some physical training to strengthen yer body."
"Hey Negi, ya got any information on Shinmei-ryu sword techniques? I think I've just figured out the next step to take with my own training."
AUTHOR'S NOTES
And thus ends chapter 10. This s my longest chapter yet, sans Authors Notes. I had most of it finished when I completed my re-write of chapter seven because I was imaging ways to bring Negi directly into the story and really liked this idea so I started writing as to not forget. Two of my other ideas were Negi being Osmond and Negi being Romalia's void familiar, Windalfr, effectively replacing Julio/Guilio Cesare. Just so you know, Negi is NOT a familiar (yet, ^_^). I'm expecting heavy criticism for bringing a second, even more broken character into this fanfiction, but no flames please.
On to the chapter itself. Kotaro is back from Albion to find his best friend has joined him in Halkeginia, (sort of) establishes/reestablishes the pecking order within the academy, summarizes his trip through Albion, and takes on an apprentice. Lotsa new stuff.
The Ball of Sleipnir, a party where the attendees 'disguise' themselves as the person whom they admire most, or at least most desire to be. Plenty of Kotaros and a lot more teenaged Negi Springfields, the reasons for which are both demonstrated surprising prowess in their respective duels. Also, many of the boys of the academy wanted Negi's uncanny ability to draw girls like flies to honey. Whether it was merely coincidence that most female students were in estrus, the phase of the menstrual cycle when the female can conceive a child (for those who didn't know), when Kotaro returned, or whether Negi's charms and handsomeness provoked the reaction, I'll let the reader decide. I personally like the thought that Negi is such an effective 'harem hero/lead' that he can unconsciously send large groups of girls into the fertile phase of their periods, just by being near them.
Nero, the Cromwell-admirer. Nero is an OC that I did make and I had enjoyment when I wrote about his confrontation with Kotaro. He wasn't at Guiche's duel and is so inset with the 'peasants are lower life-forms' mentality that he believed Kotaro's actions at the Familiar Evaluation Fair were all an act. Naturally, it wasn't and Kotaro doesn't like being talked down to by those who he doesn't respect. Part of Kotaro's talk with the boy, I drew from Secondhand Lions. For now, Nero is only a one-time character but if anyone wants him to return, tell me in a review.
About Negi himself. Now as I said earlier, I'm expecting this chapter to be just as 'controversial', for lack of a better term, as the chapter Louise got Code of the Lifemaker because I've added yet another 'supremely broken' element to the story. Not only that, Negi has his Mile Vincula (The Thousand Bonds) artifact. For those who haven't read "Negima!" or at least reached the point where Negi has to fight Jack Rakan (for power of Rakan, think Chuck Norris, squared), Negi's artifact grants him access to his partners' artifacts, with the same range of ability as the original (like the replica of the Ensis Exorcisans, Asuna's magic-cancelling sword, can dispel magic and Ki, same as the original). Put simply, Negi's artifact: 'bigger harem=more power'. The pactios Negi has made so far as Magister are (in rough chronological order): Asuna, Nodoka, Setsuna, Konoka, Haruna, Yue, Chisame, Asakura, Kaede, Ku Fei, Chachamaru, Luna (Shirori), Yuuna, Ako, Makie, Ayaka, Chizuru, and Eva. He also has two more pactio cards: his ended contract with Princess Theodora and his current pactio with someone else. I figured I would wait to reveal who in-story, but knowing my readers, it would be a predominant question in reviews so I'll tell you that I'm leaning towards Anya as the Magistra of Negi's pactio, the childhood friend with (I just realized writing these "Author's Notes" :D) many similar qualities to Louise. Anya won't have any real bearing on the plot but 'just so ya know'. Also there's another 'dead/blanck/ended' pactio card in Negi's deck. I won't say who now but it will come up later and Negi can't access that artifact. I still intend to keep Kotaro the main character.
The other magic. I originally thought that I was making a new spell when giving Negi a 'Hammerspace' spell but there is a precedent in the manga, Mana's Dimensional ammo storage. The presence of that spell is going to justify why Negi has a lot of stuff with him that couldn't fit 'on his person', like the diorama bottle. The spell Negi used in his spar with Kotaro was 'Tearing Earth', a high-ancient Greek spell that produces a huge amount of magma. The reason it's typed out in English is because I couldn't find an actual text-only, untranslated version. For this story, both Halkeginian magic and Mundus Ventus/Magicus magic are functional.
And now it's happened, the first step towards nobles not being total weaklings. Guiche is merely the first of potentially many who will train under Negi and Kotaro. How well he will do is pending at this point. I got the idea of Guiche learning to fight from, "The Hill of Swords" by gabriel blessing.
Thank you for reading my story. Please write a review if you have any questions/comments/etc. No flames please. It may take a while for me to come out with the next chapter, with Thanksgiving this week and finals within the next three, so do not be raging if my 'chapter per week' schedule is slowed.