an: sorry for the really long wait, but here is the chapter. Enjoy

Negima ended. I rather enjoyed that ending, even if some people didn't.

Important: I need help coming up with release keys for the other members. If you have ideas, please send the character's name along with the idea for a spell activation key that they'd use

Zero's Dog

Chapter 14

"Ow, ow," Guiche groaned in the infirmary. His artifact, 'The Captain's Jacket,' or 'Silver Skin' as he called it, seemed to have a threshold of how much it could block at once before it started to transmit the force in, albeit weakened. Kotaro's 'Howl Burst Knuckle' had been blocked completely. When Kotaro started his technique the produced an aura, Guiche flinched a little but quickly recovered as he remembered how powerful attacks hadn't affected his person through his armor. Then the hanyo had pocketed his hands, "Why?" Guiche had thought to himself, as he saw the gesture, "He can't seriously expect to win, can he?"

Then there was a slight blur of Kotaro's arms and two 'clangs' rang off of the jacket as Guiche was knocked a few steps back. Unlike with the previous attacks the Guiche had weathered unharmed, he felt the jacket bulge inward slightly. Then with a smirk the hanyo had leaped into the air and initiated what Guiche decided to call 'death from above'. He couldn't understand how but a single white orb, greater than a man in size, was fired at him from the air, crushing him. The armor had taken the brunt but he'd still received at least one cracked rib and a broken arm. The fractured arm was the result of his foolish attempt to gauge the first blast's power.

"Serves ya' right," Kotaro proclaimed, gaining some dirty looks from the other knights, especially Montmorency. "Even with the 'Captain's Jacket' active, only an idiot would expose themselves to danger for simple curiosity." Inwardly, though, he was grinning that there were some in this group willing to take risks.

Once they had arrived in the infirmary, Guiche was set upon one of the many vacant beds while a healer looked him over. Only members of the knight corps and the healer were present.

"It's your fault, too," Montmorency growled at Kotaro, "You probably planned that fight from the start, just to punish Guiche for training behind your back!"

"Okay, I admit it. You're half-right, 'Fragrance'," Kotaro stated, "I planned the duel, but not as punishment. Hell, I didn't even know that he was doing extra training until he pulled that 'Spear of Stone' off. It was just going to be a test of his skill and power of his artifact. That, and enjoying the shocked looks of the audience when the 'mysterious person' who held his own against me revealed themselves to be Guiche. 'Spear of Stone' is not a basic technique, so when Guiche used it, to say I was excited would be a huge understatement."

"So you used a special spell? What was it anyway? You didn't even chant."

"It was a technique used by certain master swordsmen, called a 'Quick-Draw'," a voice spoke from the window.

"Julio? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for a few reasons actually," the priest said as he stepped down from the window frame. He strode over to Louise, knelt, kissed her hand, and spoke. "I apologize for my behavior when last we met, Miss Valliere."

Louise' face flushed. "Y-You don't need to apologize, it should be me for not reigning in my familiar."

"But I must, for—"

"Anyway," Kotaro interrupted, "What else are you here for?"

"Kotaro," Negi said sternly, "It's rude to interrupt."

"If I'd let 'em continue, they'd be sayin' 'sorry' to each other for the next hour. So I ask NOW what Julio is here for."

"To answer your question, Kotaro," Julio stated, "I'd like to join the Knights of Undine."

"That's for the capt'n to decide," the hanyo replied solemnly as he turned to Guiche, who was sitting up on the bed, flexing his mended arm.

There was a pause, before Katie, Malicorne, and Reynald all gasped almost in unison, "But aren't you the Captain?"

Kotaro sighed. 'This'll take some explaining,' Kotaro thought. "Okay everyone, I'll explain but we'll need one other person not actually with this group and meet in the diorama sphere."

When Ala Caerula, plus Julio and Tabitha arrived in the training grounds, Kotaro spoke, "I only found this out last week when Julio and I discussed things. I'm sure you all know Negi 'n I aren't from 'round here?" Everyone nodded. "Well, I knew that this is a different world than Mundus Ventus, 'the old world' and my home. What neither Negi or I knew that we're actually on Mundus Magicus, 'the new world,' give or take a few centuries."

"Wait? What?" was the collective response.

"Simply," Negi spoke up, "Kotaro and I are from the future. So far that Halkeginia and Tristain are not names that can be found on maps."

"Best either of us could guess," Kotaro continued, "Tristain academy of Magic is either where Aridine, another magic school, will be, or on the edge of Megalosembra. Either way, we're both in the wrong time. Negi especially needs to get to our home time soon."

"How do you know that?" Reynald challenged, "How are you even certain where you are, let alone when?"

"Evangeline A.K. McDowell."

"Huh?"

"There were a few signs that seem obvious now but Eva was the giveaway. You know: 'Maga Nosforatu', 'The Undying Mage', 'The Dollmaster', Eva. She exists."

Those present all burst into murmurs, except Julio, Tabitha, Negi, Louise and Kotaro.

"Quiet," Kotaro shouted over the din, "She exists, moving on. Negi is leaving today to find a way back. There's most likely a gateway somewhere in this time that could allow us to return home."

"Why can you be certain of that?" Louise asked. Her familiar had mentioned none of this before.

"This," Negi declared, brandishing his pactio cards, "If there was no connection to the future, these pactios would be inactive because none of my partners are born yet. Kotaro has opted to stay for the time being but the future needs me."

Without waiting for a response, the red-haired teen continued, "I'm leaving several spellbooks, copied down by me so my artifact won't be needed, this diorama sphere, and a phantasmagoria scroll." He handed a scroll to Kotaro, "In addition to the mental training, it can be used as a mindscape for sharing memories. I've already added some of the big ones in case anyone wants to know of Ala Alba." Then in a whisper only Kotaro and Chamo could hear, "The password to stored memories is 'A little bit of courage' in Latin." Resuming a normal tone, he continued, "The time dilation effect can also be set between 72X and 1/6X the external time."

"I'm stayin' too," Chamo proclaimed as he found a perch on Kotaro's shoulder, "Kotaro's gonna need my help more than you, Bro. Ya' know: Magister Magi, Pactios, the whole she-bang."

"Well, if you're sure Chamo, then I best be off."

"But you told us that it's impossible to leave this place before a full day ends in here," Guiche objected.

"Well, we were a little wrong about that," the hanyo admitted, scratching the back of his head, embarrassed, "Those with pactios, step forward and display your cards."

Guiche, Tabitha, and Louise, with varying reluctance, joined the time travelers and displayed their cards. Kotaro and Negi also showed theirs. Kirche seemed to be the only one among those without pactios who was not confused at the display. Kotaro even thought he saw envy in the germanian's eyes at the sight of Tabitha with a card.

"So," Katie piped up, "What are they?"

"Them're artifact cards, Missie," Chamo shouted with pride, "Proof that they're in contracts."

"Louise," Kotaro addressed his summoner, "If you'd please send my buddy on his way."

"B-But what about all that secrecy and stuff?" she protested.

"It doesn't matter now 'cause pactios should be known in this world, so please? By the front gate's good."

"Fine. ADEAT!" The corps gasped at Louise for doing something magical that didn't result in an explosion. "Code of the Lifemaker," Louise state as she brandished her key-shaped scepter.

The next moment, Negi disappeared in a flash of light, provoking shrieks from Guiche, Montmorency, Styx, Malicorne, Katie and Reynald. Julio bore a poorly concealed expression of excitement.

"Why'd 'Zero' just do that?" exclaimed Styx, forgetting the stigma Kotaro had attached to the term 'Zero' when referring to Louise, "Better question: How did she do that?"

Ignoring the transgression, the hanyo responded, "Louise's artifact is special, she just moved Negi from the diorama to the entrance arch of the academy so he could get on with his quest," Kotaro explained, "Damn it! I forgot to thank him for tutoring me in Onmyou (Yin-Yang) arts during this last week. Oh well."

"You keep mentioning artifacts and pactios," Montmorency observed, "What are they and why does Guiche have one?"

After another explanation about pactios, Montmorency looked ready to throttle Guiche. While he did find the situation amusingly familiar, Kotaro decided to at least attempt to calm the blonde girl's rage.

"It was a ritual like when someone's knighted. You know, Henrietta questioned him, Guiche answered from a kneel, then Henrietta tapped Guiche's shoulders with a sword…. Pactio!"

Then the hanyo explained why he was handing the reigns of leadership to Guiche. He saw Guiche as a better motivated and more qualified leader. The fact that Guiche actually belonged during this time period also helped. Then came the matter of Julio.

"Why did you attack him last week?" the new leader asked.

"It's not important now," Kotaro evaded, "I assumed wrong and instinct took over." He fiddled with the ring on his finger, the ring that had previously belonged to Cromwell.

"Is there still a problem?"

"No. Just don't let people join again if they've quit once. Please, I don't want this to become a hoard of groupies."

"Then Julio's in," Guiche declared.

"Good, any other questions?"

"I have a few," Kirche stated, "Why was one of your pactio cards blank except for the picture?" Kotaro flinched.

"Seconded," Louise said, followed by affirmation from the others present.

"Why?"

"Because we want to know," Guiche stated, "Now tell us before I order you as Captain."

"Seems someone doesn't remember the thorough beatdown I gave them just today," the hanyo said through gritted teeth, causing his audience to shrink back in fear, "But since you're all so dead set on it, I'll tell you some. Her name is Madoka. She was my first girlfriend a few years back. Something happened and we went our separate ways. The End… NEXT!"

If Kirche was still curious she didn't show it, "Ah, yes, what was that attack you used on Guiche? And also, how do you know that the Dollmaster exists and isn't just a fairytale?"

Silence fell as a curtain. Then Kotaro giggled a little, "If Kitty her you say that she'd probably send Chachazero after you."

"You sound like you know her personall…wait, did you just call her 'Kitty'?"

"I do know her personally and yes I called Evangeline A.K. McDowell 'Kitty'. It's a nickname that can only be used by the few ballsy enough to piss her off and capable enough to not die."

(Deserted Island, Mundus Ventus, Halkeginia time)

Eva bolted from her sleep and scanned her surroundings. An irritation she could not place was present in her mind. Deciding that the issue, whatever it was, would sort itself out eventually, she went back to sleep.

(diorama sphere, Tristain Academy of Magic, Mundus Magicus, Halkeginia time)

"You know her. What's she look like?"

Kotaro picked up Louise.

"Hey, put me down, familiar," the pinkette ordered.

Ignoring his struggling master, the hanyo held Louise before the gathered people, like he was doing show-and-tell, "Blonde hair, blue eyes."

"No way!"

"Really! I went through the Hell she calls 'training'. So did Negi. Don't ask."

Later that evening, Katie sat alone in the female students' bath.

"Julio was accepted too easily," she said aloud. "Did he mind-control Guiche and Kotaro? I didn't hear anything from him this time. Kotaro should know that there's something sinister hidden behind those moon-eyes."

She sighed. Kotaro again. Ever since the first duel against Guiche, the Inugami had taken a big place in the brunette's thoughts. He wasn't human but that didn't stop him from having a normal life.

"It must be his power," Katie thought aloud, "Sir Kotaro is powerful enough that he needn't worry of other's rejection. I wish I was that strong." She placed her hands over her chest, "These feelings, just like when Lord Guiche first approached me. Like I'm normal and lineage isn't all it's promoted to be."

She stood up quickly, "Yes, I'll tell Sir Kotaro tomorrow! Mother, give me courage." Then she resumed preening herself.

(scene break)

"Ah," Kotaro sighed happily, "It sure is great to have a small group. Just like the good ol' days." He looked over the gathered members. Colbert was also present, 'to chaperone' he said.

"So are you going to teach us magic now that Negi Springfield has departed?" Malicorne asked sharply. Having lost an excellent tutor in wind magic seemed to darken the usually contented mood of the chubby boy.

"No," Kotaro stated flatly, provoking immediate outbursts like:

"Then who WILL?"

and

"Why NOT?"

"Calm down," Kotaro shouted, having expected similar reactions, and when the group was silent he continued, "Magic training for members of Ala Caerula has become self-study. There are books here you could all learn from but I'd be unable to really help with the study of magic. I barely learned past Magic Archer before dropping magic to return to the Ki arts."

"Ki arts?"

Kotaro inwardly groaned at having to explain Ki for what felt like the umpteenth time, but let no dissatisfaction show. In response, he manifested a shadow wolf at his heel. "The practice of giving the user's vitality physical form." Raising his right hand as he would to initiate Kanka, he displayed a black fog rolling off of his palm. "This is raw Ki. The wolf is formed from this."

"It's just like the willpower we fuel our spells with, but what about the incantation?"

"Ki users rarely use incantations. They may shout out an attack name, like my 'Howl Burst Knuckle' but that has no real effect on the attack itself. Since all of you, minus Julio, are magic users and are required to chant, I don't think that Ki and 'willpower' are the same."

"Actually, Kotaro," Chamo said as he scurried up to the Inugami's shoulder, "The 'willpower' of this time seems to walk right between 'Ki' and 'Mana'. It requires a spell chant like the magic we know but appears to lack the spiritual assistance to form it."

"What do you mean 'spiritual assistance' Chamo?" Colbert asked, rapidly taking notes.

"I mean," the ermine stood as tall as his small size would allow, "Your magic lacks help from the spirits that govern the magic that Bro uses."

"Please explain."

"To describe all the mechanics would be tiresome and boring so I'll try to make it simple. When a mage from our time casts, first they speak an activation key like 'Practe Bigi Nar' or Guiche's 'Terra Terra Arget Lahm' that draws the spirits' attention. Then when they chant they release energy, generally Mana, to the spirits for the spell to be completed. The spirits pull a portion of the energy as payment and create the spell with the remaining energy. When the chant is finished, if enough energy is given, the spell will take form. If not enough energy, then nothing will happen. Beginners tend to be inefficient and use more than enough fuel for a spell."

"How inefficient?"

"Okay since that has been explained," Kotaro cut in. It'd been a long conversation between ermine and teacher, and Kotaro wasn't the only one have long past lost interest, "On to today's planned lesson, hand-to-hand combat." There was a collective groan.

"Why should we learn something so barbaric?" Montmorency complained. *Flick* "Ow!" She grabbed her forehead.

"Because you couldn't stop that," Kotaro answered, stepping back to the front of the group. "This is supposed to be a knight corps and knights fight. You'll only learn some simple stuff to practice unless you want to be a mage knight. So can I have two volunteers?"