"Ouch!" said Asuna as she rubs her head.

Asuna opened her eyes to darkness around her. She could feel a cold stone floor beneath her butt.

"Where the hell am I?" she said softly.

"Ah Asuna-san you are awake," whispered Setsuna.

"I guess. Where are we?" asked Asuna.

"Have not a clue. My sword and pactio card have been taking. So I assume when we were taking and unconscious, everyone's weapons and cards were acquired by whoever." said Setsuna flatly.

"Where is Konoka-san and the others?" asked Asuna.

"I...do not know where her or the others are. I am very concerned," replied Setsuna.

"I am sure she and the others are fine. She is a big girl and can handle herself," said Asuna.

"It just that," said Setsuna.

"Yes I know. You are there to protect her," replied Asuna as she rolled her eyes.

"I see you two are awake," replied Yue.

"So I gather we all are here?" asked Asuna.

"Haruna-san maybe still is unconscious. Konoka-san to. Chisame-san is not talking I guess. But she probably is awake," said Yue.

"I AM RIGHT HERE. I knew getting involved with the pipsqueak will cause me more harm," replied Chisame.

Haruna opened her eyes and looked around. "Hello anyone?"

"Yes Paru-san, we are all here," replied Yue.

"So the only one left is Konoka-san," said Asuna.

"What if she hit her head? What if something tragic happen that she cant awake? What will I do?" said a frighten swords woman.

"Will you calm down," said Asuna.

"But...but," stuttered Setsuna.

"I am fine. Just scared not knowing where I was until I heard voices," replied Konoka."

"Oh thank the heavens she is awake," said Setsuna.

"You sound like a husband as the wife returns unharmed from being kidnapped," chuckled Yue.

"So everyone is here. Now we have to know where we are and how to get out of here," said Haruna.

"Do know our prison is not made of magic so that lets Asuna-san trying to break us out. We have no weapons. Strength is what we need. The prison looks like it has anti-magic because I tried to do the fire spell to give me some light but to no avail," lectured Setsuna.

Meanwhile outside of Mahora Academy grounds, Negi swiftly dashing toward the World Tree. Nodoka desperately trying to keep up behind Negi.

Negi got there first and surveyed the surroundings. No one insight. Nodoka managed to make it there, but was out of breath.

"So...sorry...professor," sighed Nodoka.

"Do not be!" smiled Negi.

"Um professor?" asked Nodoka.

"Yes I know we were according to the note," said Negi knowing what Nodoka was going to ask.

Nodoka took in a deep breathe and said, "Well do we wait?"

Negi looked at her, "I do not know."

A note dropped from the air above them as it landed between Negi and Nodoka.

Negi looked up to where the note came from as Nodoka looked down at the note and picked it up.

"Will you stop playing games and show yourself...you thief," said a mad professor.

Nodoka looked over the note.

"I hate games like this. If you want a fight? Just bring it," said Negi.

Nodoka handed Negi the note written in English.

See how foolish you are being lead to a place where no one was. You do not know my strength, powers, and abilities. Yet, coming here knowing nothing and ready to fight. How stupid! So you want to save your precious students professor and bookworm? Ah yes! Have not forgotten about the librarian who stays be the professor's side because she has falling in love with him. What will she do when the professor is in an intense magical battle. Will she flee or stay to help and put herself in danger? We will see. Next go to Eva's place and go to the castle built in your training area.

Signed, The Rose Thief

"Could it be that the thief has the girls there? Could the thief somehow manage to elude master and hidden inside the training area all this time?," pondered Negi.

"I will not run. So please Negi-kun, I am here to help," said Nodoka.

Negi got on his staff and offered a hand toward Nodoka. She took it as he hauled her onto the staff as they flew toward Eva's place.

Back in Gods know whereabouts according to the girls in the cells, Asuna tries to kick the bars that are holding her inside a dark room.

"No use. Give it up Asuna-san before you break a foot," sighed Setsuna.

"No...way...in...hell!" screamed Asuna.

Chisame takes a whiff of the air. "Um ladies? You do know what is strange? (besides all of you)," asked the net idol.

Asuna stopped kicking. All of the girls are intent on listening.

"The air does not smell musty. It actually smells like regular clean air. Should it be this clean. My hands are barely even dirty too," lectured Chisame.

"Hey that is right!" said Haruna.

"So where the hell are we then?" asked Asuna.

All of the sudden a muffled voice bellowed, "You are nowhere you know about. You are captives until further notice. If your professor wins, he wins your freedom. If he loses, he will be sent back home and you all will be without your magic. Exception of course to Setsuna-san."

"Let us out of here!" yelled Yue.

"Sorry but the boy must be taught a lesson. Maybe his partner that is not here with you pay the utmost price...her life," said the voice.

"You are the rose thief? Correct?" asked Konoka.

"Yes if you insist on calling me that," laughed the rose thief.

"So why did you take the rose? Jealousy?" asked Yue.

"No was not that. I thought the professor and you all should learn a lesson about getting involved in this kind of thing. You all probably still think after the Chao-san incident that you can handle anything. But, I beg to differ. Konoka-san, the princess of healing. You act like an airhead at times which can get you injured or worse. Asuna-san, who needs to think more, rather then just react out of anger or fear. Setsuna-san needs to stop worrying and actually accomplish something. Haruna-san your drawings may be powerful. But, without your artifact you are helpless. Think about it. And Yue, who desires to delve deep with the professor to learn magic. All I can say is be careful of what you wish for. Oh and Chisame-san, the useless of the bunch, does not know what to do. Now that she may have friends that she think are weird, she is scared to be one of the weird." said the thief.

"Let us out of here...NOW!" screamed Asuna.

"So sorry. It looks like you cannot protect the professor after all," laughed the thief.

"Asuna-san! Listen to me. Please calm down. We need to think!" said Setsuna.

"Yeah but what if he gets seriously injured and if bookworm is with him. She might too," said Asuna.

"Nodoka-san will take care of herself. She is stronger then we all give her credit for. Not by just confessing to Negi-kun, but her inner strength is great and she will do what she can by avoiding the battle best she will know how," said Yue.

"Have faith in Negi-kun!" said Konoka.

"I...," hesitated Asuna before putting her head up against the bars. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

Negi and Nodoka arrived at the castle inside Eva's mini resort.

"We are here but no thief. No Eva-chan or Chacha-san either," said Negi as he surveyed the area.

Nodoka had her artifact out immediately upon getting to the castle.

Meanwhile within the castle itself down in the dungeon, a huge LCD 42 inch screen lit up to the girls that are trapped within their cells. On the screen was Negi and Nodoka in front of the castle.

"Why are they there? And what is going on?" said a confused Asuna.

"You are watching the demise of those two by the hand of me," said the rose thief.

"NEGI!" yelled Asuna.

"He will not hear you. Yell all you want," said the thief.

The castle's drawbridge opened. Negi and Nodoka fixated on who was standing behind the falling drawbridge.

"You? You cannot be the thief," said Negi.

"Why cannot I be?" asked the thief.

"Because. Why...this does not make sense," said Negi.

A/N: I know this is a short chapter and long overdue. Hopefully the next chapter will be out sooner rather then later.