Disclaimer: Mahou Sensei Negima & Magic: The Gathering are not my property. Helmer & Owin are though. (Take that Copyright laws! J)
The Einzburg-Planeswalker Cycle
Chapter 7
It was the afternoon, & Setsuna had just returned to the dorms. Her mind was wondering about many things, mostly from the events of that afternoon, but right now she was wondering about how Konoka was doing. Konoka tended to be really clingy with Setsuna, but she was still worried about if she would be attacked during her training, so she had reluctantly left her protection to Asuna & Negi. She had entered her own room to see that it was empty. She left her school bag in the room then took off for Asuna & Setsuna's room. "Secchan!!" she heard someone yell, & saw that Asuna, Konoka & Negi had also just returned. "Ojou-sama! Did anything happen?" She asked as she ran toward them & Konoka jumped into her arms. "No everything went okay. You worry too much, Setsuna-san!" Asuna said while Konoka continued to hug Setsuna. "Where did you take off to in such a hurry, Setsuna-san? You had us all worried" Negi asked. "Eh? Negi-kun, don't you know? Setsuna is studying under Owin-san now" Konoka said. "With Owin-san? You can learn his fighting style?" Negi asked. "Yes. Apparently he said I'm the first person not from his world who can learn it. Though I still have a very small chance of learning" Setsuna said.
They all returned to Asuna & Konoka's dorm room & sat talking while Konoka made them all tea. "But still, that Owin guy is really really strong! When we fought him we didn't stand a chance in hell!" Asuna giggled while Konoka handed her her tea. "Yes, he is. During training I had to spar against him & I was soundly defeated" Setsuna said as she was handed her tea, to which she bowed to Konoka in thanks. "Jeez, we've been friends for years, Secchan! You don't have to act that way anymore!" Konoka whined as she handed Negi his cup & took a seat around the kotatsu between Asuna & Setsuna. "But still, planeswalkers must be extremely strong!" Konoka said.
"Yeah, but how do we know for sure if what that guy said was actually true?" Chamo said as he emerged from underneath Negi's jacket.
"Well, I did manage to see him planeswalk today. He & Helmer-san have already left this plane, & it looked like they just walked through an invisible door & disappeared".
"Yes but that could simply have been him teleporting or casting some invisibility magic" Negi said, rubbing his chin in thought.
"Besides, who's to say that we should even trust this guy? Ever since he's gotten here all he's done is attack us!" Chamo said as he hopped out of Negi's jacket & on to the kotatsu.
"That's true, though he did seem nice enough to me. He even cured the wounds I received from today" Setsuna said, also in thought.
"Eh? You got hurt in training? What happened to you?" Asuna asked.
"A lot. I should have died, but he cast a spell to prevent me from dying".
"Was it really that bad? Exactly what did you receive?" Negi asked.
"Well… some broken ribs, my arm was sliced to pieces, & I believe I may have broken my back. & I was knocked unconscious" Setsuna said, to which everybody gasped.
"You see what I mean! He's definitely trying to kill her!" Chamo yelled.
"Yes, that's way too extreme for just training! But why don't you have any wounds, Setsuna-san?" Negi asked.
"Well, like I said he healed all my wounds like he did to Ayase-san".
"With that strange magic of his?" Chamo asked, still suspicious.
"Yes, the true magic".
"I don't know if that magic can be trusted. We have no idea what that guy is up to but we know for sure that his magic is not the magic we do. There could be a curse on it. For all we know, he could be using this to further his own plotting" Chamo said.
"Still, if he was trying to kill me he could easily do it without going through all this trouble. I don't think he is trying to hurt us" Setsuna said.
"Then how do you explain why he has been attacking us, & why he is hurting so many people?" Chamo asked.
"About that… I think it may have more to do with the place he lived in. He lived in a place where the strong ruled & the weak were killed without mercy. He probably just views everyone in the class as weak" Setsuna said, remembering what Helmer had told her of their home world.
"Even so, don't you think he should have a little consideration & realize that he's doing nothing but hurting people?" Negi said.
"To me…That's just the type of person he is. He doesn't seem to care about how people view him or what people think of him" Setsuna said.
"Either way, I don't think that we should trust him. He's already tried to kill Aniki a couple of times, & he even was able to stop Takahata" Chamo said.
"Maybe we should talk to him about it when he gets back from wherever he went?" Konoka suggested.
"Will he even listen to us? That guy isn't the type to talk about anything" Asuna said.
"We might have more luck if we try talking to his brother. He may not listen to us, but he definitely listens to his brother" Setsuna added.
"Helmer-san does seem a lot nicer than Owin does. I wonder how is it that two brothers can be so different" Asuna said as she reached into her back pack for a box of pocky sticks, offering one to everybody.
"Well, Fuma-chan & Fumika-chan act really different sometimes" Konoka said.
"Yeah, but Owin-san & Helmer-san act as different as night & day" Asuna said.
"In any case I think we should keep an eye on those two. If they really were what they say they are, then why would they come all the way here just to protect a class?" Chamo said as he sucked on his pocky stick like it was a cigarette.
"Owin-san said that he came here for me the first time I talked to him" Setsuna said. Then for some reason, Negi looked at her mouth agape in shock while Asuna & Konoka looked at her with suspicious eyes & covering their mouths like they couldn't keep from laughing. This puzzled Setsuna for a moment until she realized what she had just said.
"For training! He wanted me for training!" Setsuna yelled as she waved her hands in embarrassment.
"Still, that was a very dangerous statement, Setsuna-neesan" Chamo laughed as he continued sucking on his pocky stick, Setsuna yelling "You're wrong!" in embarrassment.
Night had fallen on the school, & still Setsuna could not sleep. She was sitting near the window to Konoka & Asuna's dorm, as she wanted to stay with them for the night. She was unable to sleep for some reason. Her mind was still preoccupied with had happened during training. What bothered her was what Owin had told her about her reasons, how she had said that her reasons for wanting to gain strength were wrong. She knew what he had meant as well. The fact that her reason was to protect Konoka. Owin had said to her that a Keldon warrior did not gain strength in order to protect someone or to have vengeance, but simply to have strength. In many ways, this went against everything that she had ever learned. She had always learned that there must be a reason to gain strength. Negi had wanted to obtain power in order to protect the class & to catch up to his father. Setsuna had wanted power to protect Konoka. Asuna had wanted power in order to protect Negi & stand by him as an ally. Yet here was Owin, a man she had only known for about a week, & he was telling her she needed to have power only for the selfish gain of power. In reality that was what it was: a selfish desire to gain power simply for oneself. How could that ever lead to true strength? Yet, he was infinitely more powerful than any of them. Could true strength ever be gained that way? Setsuna shook her head in confusion. All of Owin's teachings, the few that he had given her so far, completely flew in the face of everything she had ever learned. Not only that, she didn't even know if she could handle this. What was the point in obtaining more power when all she wanted was to protect Konoka-Ojou-sama?
Suddenly, Setsuna felt a presence moving behind her & she turning around, seeing it was Konoka. "Secchan, what are you still doing up? Its already near midnight" she said sleepily as she rubbed her eyes. "It's nothing, Ojou-sama. I'm just not feeling very tired" Setsuna said.
"Secchan, what's keeping you up?".
"It's nothing to worry about Ojou-sama. Please don't worry about me".
"Is it about Owin-san? You guys were gone all afternoon".
Setsuna didn't know how to answer that question. She didn't want to talk about what went in her training, especially to Konoka as she didn't want her to worry.
"Come on, Secchan, you can talk to me about it" Konoka said as she took a seat on the couch.
"Really, it's nothing to worry about, Ojou-sama".
"Secchan, you're using Keigo again" Konoka said as she began to pout.
"…Kono-chan" Setsuna said embarrassed.
"Why did you start calling me Ojou-sama again? You weren't calling me that before".
"I'm sorry Ojou-sama" Then upon seeing Konoka's pouting face, "Kono-chan!!".
"I'll make some tea. That always makes you talk" Konoka said as she went into the kitchen.
She came back around fifteen minutes later carrying a small plate with two cups of tea for the both of them. She handed one to Setsuna, who drank the rich lemon flavor & felt the relaxing warmth spread throughout her body. Truthfully, now Setsuna probably would talk to her about everything. Warm tea had that effect on her.
"Now, what's going on with you & Owin-san, Secchan?" Konoka said sipping from her tea.
"It's nothing that's really problematic, Kono-chan".
"You always say that when you are trying to hide something from me" Konoka said, once again using her pouting powers.
"It's just that…Everything that Owin-san is teaching me completely conflicts with everything that I have ever learned before".
"Doesn't that happen sometimes when you learn two different styles? You told me that once before" Konoka said.
"No, not just in sword fighting. I mean in beliefs".
"Beliefs?".
"All my life I have learned that in order to gain strength, you have to have a reason for it, like someone to protect, or something you want to achieve. Yet Owin-san says that in order to master his style, I need to want power simply to have it. He says that having a reason to want power is not enough to master the Warsong, that I need to want power simply to have power. It goes against everything I have ever learned before" Setsuna said as she watched the heat fly from her cup.
"Secchan, I think that's supposed to happen".
"What do you mean?" Setsuna asked as she looked up from her tea to Konoka.
"Well, Owin-san lives in a different world then us, right? He said his world has different rules & different physics than us. So maybe it also has different beliefs?" Konoka said smiling.
"Are our two worlds really that different?" Setsuna asked to no one in particular, than as she thought about it, she realized that really did make perfect sense. Considering the type of world that Owin-san had lived in, maybe in fact his people really did have different beliefs than his. His people lived completely different lives than what any of them ever had, so shouldn't their beliefs be correspondingly different? Setsuna laughed because she couldn't believe Konoka had figured that out so easily.
"I think you're right. Thank you Ojou-sama" Setsuna said.
"Secchan…"
"Kono-chan" Setsuna corrected herself, making Konoka giggle. "I think I'm going to go to bed now".
"Hold on, I'm going to back to sleep to.
The next day, everyone arrived at the class room for Friday, the final day before the end of classes & all the girls were excitedly talking about what they were going to do with their free weekend. After talking with Konoka for a while, Setsuna finally noticed that Owin & Helmer were not at their table. This meant that they hadn't yet arrived from wherever they were, & that had Setsuna worried. She asked Aisaka Sayo whether she had seen either of them, being that she was the only one they were really friendly with, but she said that she had not seen either of them since yesterday. Setsuna chose not to worry about it in any case. The two brothers were strong enough to handle anything.
A few minutes after the class was well into they're English lessons, suddenly Gandolfini-sensei came rushing into the room, looking disheveled & pale, & wanting to talk to Negi. The two shared quiet whispers until Negi declared that an emergency was going on & that Konoka, Asuna, Setsuna, Yue, Nodoka, Ku Fei, Kaede, Chisame & Mana were to go to the principal's office with Negi while the rest of the class was to stay in the classroom. Ignoring the other girls cries of "What's going on?" & "Why do we have to stay?" they all rushed to the office. Setsuna had a feeling she knew exactly what was wrong too: she had noticed that the principal had called everyone in the class who was capable of fighting, indicating that they're maybe another magical attack on the school.
They all entered the office to see the principal looking stern & grave, Shizuna-sensei standing behind him. "I trust you all have some idea as to why you are here?" the principal asked.
"Does it have something to do with when Chigusa-san attacked the school?" Negi asked.
"No, we have looked into that matter, & it seems as though that were a random attack she had instigated with the help of Fate Averruncus, though I am afraid that matter will have to wait. We have sensed something much stronger".
"What is it?" Negi asked.
"I trust you all know what a planeswalker is by now?" The principal asked.
"A what?" Gandolfini asked confused. It seemed as though Mana, Kaede & Gandolfini didn't know. The principal then took about ten minutes to explain what it was to them.
"That would explain how he was able to kill all those demons the last time-de gozaru" Kaede replied as she nodded her head at the end of the story.
"That's ridiculous. Sounds like a bad fantasy tale" Gandolfini replied shaking his head & adjusting his glasses.
"In any case, that's the general gist of the story. I think this power our readers have been sensing is something planeswalker related. Setsuna-kun, I have heard that Owin & Helmer-san have not reported for work. Do you know where they are?".
"They planeswalked sir. They are in a core world called Dominaria".
"That means we are going to have to defend ourselves from this threat our selves. Gandolfini-kun, I want you to call Takane-kun, Kotaro-kun & Sakura-kun as well as all the mage teachers in the school. We are going to need everyone's help for this" The principal said, to which Gandolfini replied with a "Yes, sir!" as he left the classroom. "Now then, we are going to place everyone at different positions around the school to protect it from all sides. I want everyone to keep in touch with one another to alert everyone if they see anything" the principal said.
"Sir, why is a planeswalker attacking the school?" Negi asked.
"On that, we don't know. We don't even know if the enemy is going to even attack the school. What we do know is that the enemy IS a planeswalker, IS coming here, & IS NOT Owin-kun or Helmer-kun. & with the both of them gone, I felt we may have to prepare for the worst".
"But sir, do we even stand a chance? Owin was able to kill all those strong demons so easily…What if the enemy planeswalker is as strong as them?" Nodoka asked.
"That might not be the case. Owin-kun & Helmer-kun were legendary planeswalkers, & were strong even before they ascended. Not all planeswalkers are as strong as they are. In any case however, if there comes a point in the battle in which you think you may be outmatched, I want you all to retreat. There's no point in fighting a losing battle. Now then, to preparations!".
Setsuna crouched on top of the school roof, nervously gripping her sword as she used her binoculars to see off into the distance. All those capable of flight, basically Negi, Setsuna, & Sakura were to guard the roof. Kaede & Gandolfini were guarding the east gate, Kotaro, Asuna & Ku-Fei the west gate, three mage teachers the south gate, & Takahata, & the principal were guarding the north. All the while, Mana was to provide covering fire from a nearby tower. Do to the small amount of people that they had, everyone had to be split into relatively four groups of two-to-three people, while the less combative people like Yue & Nodoka were left to the defense of the non-magical student on the inside & Konoka was to heal anyone that got injured. Setsuna was unnerved. Of everyone here, she stood the most chance of stopping the opposing planeswalker, since she was the only one here who was intimately familiar of how they fought. Only problem was she was soundly beaten, when Owin wasn't even serious about fighting. Her only hope was that this planeswalker was substantially weaker then Owin. Also she couldn't help but wonder what was taking Owin & Helmer so long to get back. If they would just hurry up & come back, then they wouldn't be in so much trouble.
"Setsuna-san, do you sense anything coming?" Negi asked her through her pactio card.
"No, Negi-sensei, I haven't been able to sense anything. What about the others?" Setsuna replied as she held her card to her forehead.
"No one has sensed anything either. No one knows when he will come" Negi said.
"Negi-sensei, I have a question".
"Yes?"
"How was the principal able to sense the appearance of another planeswalker?".
"Apparently, it is some sensors that were created by Helmer-san & Owin-san".
"Is that so?" Setsuna said. So it turns out those two are capable of something good, Setsuna thought. Though she did wonder just how reliable this technology was.
"Setsuna-san, how is Owin-san as a teacher?".
"He's very difficult. He never accepts failure, but he does have a good side to him"
"Do you…do you know why is it that he hates me so much?" Negi asked with some difficulty. Setsuna wondered about this for a few seconds before giving her answer.
"I think its because Negi-sensei is a lot like Owin-san was when he was a child".
"What do you mean?"
"When Owin-san was a child, he admired his father very much, just as you do. Helmer-san told me that Owin used to train a lot to catch up to him, just as you do". Negi became very quiet after a while then sighed.
"But still, why does he hate me for that?"
"Owin-san's father died, & now Owin-san is confused as to whether he hates him or not".
"Why would he hate him?".
"It's a long story, but let's just say his love for him clashes with his own beliefs, & he hasn't been able to put his doubts to rest yet".
"I see. Now that I know this, maybe I can get along with him now".
"I hope so".
"Thank you very much, Setsuna-san".
"No need to thank me, Negi-sensei" Setsuna said as she ended the conversation & went back to her mission. No one could sense the planeswalker yet, nor any kind of disturbance in the air. The problem was that no real disturbance was felt whenever a planeswalker planeswalked: They would just appear out of thin air. The only hope that they had of being able to sense him was with Owin-san's detector. All of them had been given a detector that would ring whenever it had detected the abnormal power that all planeswalkers channeled, what Owin had referred to as "mana". He also said that due to the fact that they were in a inner rim world, they would feel magical energy on a cosmic level. Setsuna continued her scouting. Takahata-sensei & the principal were talking with some of the mage teachers that were stationed inside the school, relaying instructions to everyone on the inside. Setsuna knew that everyone on the inside must have been wondering what was going on, being they didn't know of magic. The principal had wanted to do this at night, however the readings were too strong to leave anything to chance. There was a planeswalker near, & they couldn't afford to take any unnecessary risks. Suddenly shocking Setsuna out of her reverie, the detector began to ring. All around everyone stationed at around the schools began shouting instructions as they all readied themselves. Setsuna was the first to notice what was odd.
The sky was turning black.
It looked as though a giant mouth had opened up in the sky overhead of the north entrance, a great dark maw that began to suck in the surrounding air. They all felt huge gusts of wind buffet them toward it, & they all had to hold onto something so as to not be sucked in. Lightning began to flash overhead as thunder mixed in with the great roar of the mouth. Then suddenly the mouth began to rapidly shrink & disappear as a sonic boom was created, the empty space once occupied by the great hole now instantly filling with air. Then they saw him.
He looked at once very similar to Owin in his armor, but yet totally different. He was completely coated in an evil looking black fog, wrapped around him like a cape. He wore no helmet, but his face was scary enough in itself. He was a handsome man somewhere in his mid-fifties, but the cold, heartless look he now wore sent shivers down Setsuna's spine. He was wearing jet-black armor, similar to the one she had seen Owin wear during his vision, but this was more ordain, more fanciful, with a skull design on the shoulders & knees. He was even carrying a large bastard sword, at least nine-feet long. He flew in the air & came to a stop in front of the school, landing.
The planeswalker appraised them with cold, uncaring glances, & walked straight to Takahata & the principal, who miraculously, seemed to be completely calm.
"How can Takahata-sensei be so calm? That guy is going right toward him!" Asuna said, using her pactio card.
"That's just what you would expect from a member of Ala Rubra!" Negi said happily. Setsuna was not so sure. From her position, she was almost able to hear their conversation.
"Where is he?" the planeswalker asked calmly.
"Where is who?" the principal asked.
"The one that has been with those two".
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean" the principal said, as calmly as though he were talking over tea.
"I do not have the time for this. Tell me where he is or begone from my sight" the planeswalker said, looking slightly agitated.
"Sorry, but we have a feeling you're talking about one of our students. If it's like that, then we can't help you" Takahata said, his hands in his pockets, preparing to strike.
"Then I hope you have washed your necks" the planeswalker said. Then suddenly he yelled "BECAUSE THEY"LL SOON MEET MY BLADE!!" & in a giant explosion everyone could no longer see what was going on. After the dust had cleared, they saw the principal protecting himself with a force field while Takahata had dodged to the side, the planeswalker's sword left a huge crater in the ground where he had struck. Takahata then used his Kanka skill & there was another giant explosion. The planeswalker sidestepped the attack & teleported straight to Takahata, in a way that Setsuna recognized to be exactly the same as Owin's. Takahata barely dodged the attack, but the planeswalker countered with a kick that sent him flying straight through a tree. At that moment the principal let loose with a giant lightning bolt that hit the planeswalker dead in the head. Unfortunately the planeswalker merely shrugged off the attack & charged straight for the principal. Suddenly he was hit with a shot from Mana, which despite it not hurting the planeswalker, it did buy the principal enough time to block the sword strike with his force field. By then Negi had charged into the battle with the other mage teachers, who all began casting lightning bolt spells at the planeswalker. He then dodged each bolt as it came. Realizing that all she was doing was watching, Setsuna snapped out of her reverie & flew down to join the battle. Negi let off with one hundred wind arrows that caught the planeswalker dead in the chest. Shrugging off the attack, the planeswalker slashed into the air with his sword, which created a crescent wave that flew right at the mage teachers. One was caught in his arm & was left with a gash while the rest were able to barely dodge it. Wasting no time, the planeswalker then charged right toward Ku Fei, who had just joined the battle with Kotaro. Ku Fei managed to block his overhead punch but was caught dead in the stomach with a knee strike, then thrown right into Kotaro. It was at the moment that Setsuna saw what he had done. He was using the same movement technique that Owin had taught her. Now she knew he was definitely connected to Owin-san.
Looking at Negi, they both came up with the same silent plan, & Negi let loose with another hundred wind arrows, which the planeswalker impatiently slapped away with his sword. In the split second that it took for him to do that, Setsuna flew right toward his back & slashed. Unfortunately, not only did this planeswalker have Owin's techniques, he also had his uncanny speed, & he was able to turn around quickly & caught her blade in his hand. Then he looked directly into her eyes, & smiled that same cold, uncaring smile. "I've found you" he said, his voice filled with glee. "If death is what you're looking for, then yes, you've found it!" Setsuna said as she kicked his hand off her sword, & twisted around to slash at his side. Just like Owin had before, this planeswalker stopped her sword with his finger. "My, aren't we feisty today" he said with relish as he gripped her sword in two fingers & broke off the tip. Then he grabbed Setsuna by the throat & held her up to his face. "Yes, I can see it in you. You've gone through the training" he said as he examined her face. At that moment, the teachers launched more spells, which were then blocked by a large force field placed around the planeswalker & Setsuna like a bubble. "What in the hell are you talking about?" Setsuna asked as she scratched & clawed at his hands in a feeble attempt to break free. "I mean Keldon training, dear girl. You've been hanging out with those two wretches haven't you?" he asked. Setsuna gasped. This man knew Owin & Helmer, but judging by the way that he was speaking of them, there was no way he was a friend. He then threw her to the floor & Setsuna started breathing heavily, trying to catch her breath. "I can smell their scent on you dear girl. How far have you progressed?". Getting up on shaky legs, Setsuna coated her feet in Ki & nearly teleported straight toward the planeswalker, her sword at her side getting ready to stab him. He made no effort to dodge, & when her sword hit, it didn't even manage to pierce his armor. "Did you think that such a flimsy sword could pierce through Keldon armor dear girl? Didn't those two teach you anything about us?" he asked as he laughed at her pointless attempt of killing him. Suddenly he charged his Ki extremely quickly, causing it to push Setsuna away. "Why you!" Asuna yelled as she charged straight toward the planeswalker, her colossal bastard sword held high. The planeswalker side-stepped her attack & was met with a kick to the stomach from Asuna. She then turned quickly to slash at his side, which he blocked with his armguard. She then used instant movement to teleport behind him & kicked at his back, which connected. The planeswalker then twisted & grabbed her leg attempting to throw her. At that moment Mana let loose with a shot that hit the planeswalker directly at the side of his head. Asuna then grabbed his hand & slashed at him, clanging right into his armor. Unable to break through the armor's thick-coating, Asuna tried kicking his legs. Her legs colossal force clashed right into the unyielding armor, & Asuna grimaced as her legs went slightly numb. Seeing the opportunity, the planeswalker grabbed Asuna's arms & threw her directly into the school building, Asuna going unconscious from the collision. Takahata then used instant movement to get behind him & unleashed a Kanka blast. The planeswalker jumped up right before the attack made contact, & was met in mid-air by Kaede, who used her Kage-Bunshin jutsu, & the planeswalker was met with ten Kaede's who all grabbed the planeswalker's arms, & sent him spiraling into the ground.
Everyone relaxed now as the planeswalker was pinned to the ground by the Kaede.
"Good work, Kaede-kun" said Takahata as he moved in front of the planeswalker. "No problem at all-de gozaru" said all the Kaede's. Takahata bent down low so he could speak to the planeswalker. "Now then, what is it that you want with Setsuna-kun, planeswalker-san?" Takahata asked. "I have no need to say anything to a mere human like you" the planeswalker said calmly. "You've been defeated. There's no point in hiding anything from us now" Takahata said. The planeswalker began to laugh, that cold, indecent laugh that sent a shiver down everyone's spine. "I've been defeated, have I? Are you all even aware of the kind of havoc I can release upon your pitiful, insignificant world? Of the kind of things I can do?". "You won't be able to do anything as long as Kaede-kun has you pinned to the ground" Takahata answered. Suddenly, a sword tip erupted straight through Takahata's shoulder, a short thin sword colored azure blue. "Who do you have pinned to the ground?" said the owner of the sword, revealed to be the planeswalker himself, still smiling that same cruel, calculating smile. Everyone looked toward Kaede who looked down in amazement & disbelief as all her shadow copies were holding onto thin air. He removed the sword from Takahata's shoulder as Takahata grimaced & groaned in pain. Setsuna then used instant movement to teleport behind the planeswalker while Asuna used it to go to his front both of them swinging their swords directly to his head. The planeswalker then quickly charged his Ki again, causing another huge explosion that sent everyone flying away. Setsuna coughed as she landed on the floor, spitting out blood. The planeswalker then slowly walked toward her with his sword in his hand, eyeing his next target. Setsuna quickly searched for Yuunagi, only to see it suddenly burst into flames. "You won't be using that sword right now, dear girl. I'll be sure to make your death quick & painless" he said. Seeing no other option, Setsuna attempted to fly away with her wings, but as soon as she got off the ground, she was caught in the leg by a long black whip & was sent smashing into the ground. "Haha, I do love it when my prey refuses to go quietly. It makes the look of fear on their face all the more sweeter" He said, now with a sickeningly cruel looking face. Setsuna thought over her options. She couldn't fight, couldn't flee, & she looked around & saw that everyone was still reeling from the explosion. Setsuna began to panic. There was nothing she could do. "Have you finally realized your coming demise, little girl, has the truth of it finally sinked in now? Don't worry, it will be over soon" He said as he held his sword overhead. Setsuna looked into the eyes of this monster, & could see the look of a murderer. She was about to die, & no one could stop it. Her eyes welled up with tears. Her body began to shake. Her world, her life, flashed before her eyes. She remembered her life in the village, where she was hated by everyone for her wings & lineage. She remembered playing with Konoka. She remembered her training in Shinmeiryuu. She remembered her years in Mahora Gakuen. She remembered meeting Negi, becoming friends with Asuna, the Mahora festival. By now she was crying, realizing she would never see Konoka or Negi or Asuna ever again. "Please…p-please don't" Setsuna begged, & the planeswalker laughed that horrible laugh again, making Setsuna cry even more. "That's the sound I've been waiting for. The sound of a proud warrior begging for mercy right before I kill them. It's so sweet to hear grown men cry, but it's even better to hear it from a girl. Thank you for giving me that wonderful sound. Now I bid you adieu, dear girl. You were entertaining to the last" he said, as he held his sword on high. "P-Please…no…PLEASE, DOOON"T!!" Setsuna yelled, & suddenly she heard a clang of metal on metal.
(This next part of the story is played to the tune of "D.M.C", the opening theme to the Devil May Cry anime.)
Setsuna opened her eyes, her body still shaking. Am I already dead? she asked herself, realizing her body still hurt. She looked up & saw two men with swords having blocked the planeswalker sword strike. "I knew you two were here" the planeswalker said, smiling even more. She looked at the two, & saw that it was Owin & Helmer, returned from their trip. "Setsuna, get everyone out of here, now!" Helmer yelled as he & Owin pushed away the planeswalker's sword. The planeswalker moved back as Owin charged straight toward the planeswalker & suddenly let loose with sword slashes so fast that it looked as though he had multiple hands. Setsuna realized now that Owin was breaking the planes power barriers as he had told her before, & that was causing the unnatural phenomenon. The planeswalker was blocking & moving with the same amount of speed, & Helmer soon joined in the battle. Despite how fast both brothers were moving, the planeswalker materialized another sword & was fighting both brothers on each side, one with each arm. Fire & ice began materializing over the two brothers as fireballs & spike-shaped ice went flying to the planeswalker, who blocked them with his ugly black mist, all the while they kept up their blisteringly fast sword fight, high winds enveloping them like a tornado. Only now did Setsuna notice that they were using the warsong as guitar music filled the air, fueling the their strikes. Setsuna, what in the hell are you doing?! Get off your ass & get everyone out of here! Owin yelled inside her mind. Broken out of her absent-minded watching by the unexpected telepathic intrusion, Setsuna got up & tried to quickly rouse everyone. After a while she was able to get everyone into the building when a sudden explosion of roars rang through the music, & Setsuna looked to see three gigantic, ferocious dragons, one a fiery crimson, another a deep azure blue, & the third a deep black obsidian, fighting each other as the three planeswalkers began teleporting all over the school in their frenetic, light speed fight. Letting loose with wild abandon, the enemy planeswalker began shooting off extremely large crescent moon slashes that tore through the surrounding buildings, causing them to collapse. Setsuna-kun, it's not safe here! This guy won't have any problem destroying everything! Tell the principal to place a barrier around the school! We won't be able to stop everything he throws!, Helmer yelled telepathically, & Setsuna saw what the planeswalker was trying to do: He was trying to distract Owin & Helmer by destroying the buildings in order to create an opening. "Principal! They said that we need to create a barrier! That planeswalker may try to attack the school next!" Setsuna said, & without a word the principal & the other mage teachers began casting a barrier spell to protect the school. As Setsuna returned to watch the battle, her heart nearly leapt to her throat. Almost all the buildings in the town were now either destroyed or on fire, & the three planeswalkers were now fighting within the flames, a colossal tornado enveloping them, & the three dragons now taking their fight high into the air. Now all she could do was hope that somehow those two would be able to pull it off.
"Wilhelm!! Today you will die!" Owin yelled as he pressed the attack on Wilhelm with his lightning-fast sword slashes.
"Not today young one! You're still too weak too challenge me!" Wilhelm yelled as each one of Owin's attacks were countered.
Owin was starting to get worried. Despite the fact that both brothers were going as all-out as they could afford, they were still only in a stalemate with Wilhelm. Somehow Wilhelm had acquired way more power than before. Owin couldn't tell how he was doing it, but he was now able to take on both brothers single-handedly without too much effort. Suddenly, Owin felt it & he knew Helmer had felt it as well, & they both faltered.
They felt the destruction of a plane.
"You bastard…how did you learn that technique?" Owin asked as all three of them stopped fighting, the city burning all around them.
"You noticed now, did you? It really is a shame that you two were the only ones who could use this, though I learned it after a few…practices" Wilhelm said.
"Don't you realize what you have done? You've just destroyed an entire plane of existence! Are you that insane?!" Helmer yelled in anger.
"You two should talk huh? Considering you two have used this technique before" Wilhelm laughed. He was suddenly met with a sickle & chain heading straight to his face, which he blocked with his sword. "Don't you dare say anymore you bastard" Owin said, his face etched in anger. Then Wilhelm looked up & he seemed angry. "Tch… they just had to interrupt. Well then, my dear friends, I'm afraid this is where we must part" Wilhelm said as he bowed & disappeared. "Wait, damn you!" Owin yelled as he prepared to planeswalk, when his brother held him back. "Don't, brother. We have other matters to take care of here" Helmer said as he looked around at the city covered in flames. "But this is our chance! We can catch him now!" Owin yelled angrily. "We've got to explain all this to them though" Helmer said as he looked toward the sky. Owin focused upward then realized it. "Ah. I didn't notice it until now" Owin said nodding as suddenly a troop of about one hundred planeswalkers appeared in the sky & landed on the ground near them.
"Are you the planeswalkers Owinheim Planeswalker & Schrothelm Planeswalker?" asked the one in the lead, a tall blond woman wearing a blue uniform that all the others were wearing, a large flashy badge on her breast indicating her as Captain. She walked up to them as the other planeswalkers began to survey the damage to the city. "Yes we are" Owin said.
"I will ask you now: are you the ones responsible for this?" she asked.
"You just missed him. We were fighting when he sensed you coming & ran" Helmer said.
"Then I believe it was Wilhelm Planeswalker that did this?".
"That's right".
"& he was also the one who destroyed the nearby plane?"
"Yeah. We felt it when it happened, & soon after that he left" Owin answered. "There is no way to bring the plane back, is there?" Helmer asked the girl. "You know the answer as well as I do. That plane is gone forever" She said with a slightly sad tone.
"Are you still unaware of Wilhelm's whereabouts?" Owin asked.
"Yes. He along with you two, are considered the four greatest planeswalkers in the Multiverse. There is very little we can do to stop him. If only we could get the great dragon king to side with us".
"He is too proud to join with you. Brother & I have tried to convince him time & time again, but he outright refuses" Helmer said.
"I see. Are you two still unwilling to join as well?".
"Yes. We will help you against Wilhelm, but we don't want to have to be weighted down with the responsibility" Owin said.
"I see. I will relate that to my superiors. In the meanwhile we will restore this location to its previous condition, & we will wipe the survivors minds clean. There will be too much trouble if everyone here goes into a panic".
"Can you leave the ones belonging to Mahora Gakuen? We are working with them right now" Helmer asked.
"Fine. This is the one part of my job I hate though".
"All these people will forget about those that died right?" Owin asked.
"Yes. If it wasn't for something so important, I wouldn't do it them" she said, looking apprehensive.
"It's either that or this plane learns about magic. It would be to hard for the magicians here".
"Yes. This is one of those planes were magic is not known to everyone. In any case, we will begin with the repairs" the girl said as she commanded the other planeswalkers to begin repairing everything. The other planeswalkers then pulled out little thin containers, which they then smashed on the ground, releasing white, black, blue, red & green mist into the air beneath their feet. These were special artifact containers that the planeswalkers of their organization used so that they could cast spells even in inner rim worlds, known simply as "Mana Containers". The planeswalkers gathered the energy into their hands & began casting spells to reverse the damage the battle had caused. All at once, as though time were moving in reverse, the fires were all put out. The houses that were destroyed were rebuilding themselves, & the bodies of the dead disappeared into thin air. Blue orbs flew toward those in the city that were still alive, & a calm serenity shadowed their faces as they forgot about all that had taken place today, & all their loved ones that had died. Within only a few minutes, everything that had happened in the battle was made to be as though nothing had happened at all.
"Well then, we'll be off now" the captain said as she began rallying her planeswalker troops.
"Hope you have a safe journey" Helmer said.
"Thank you. You two will be here for a while?"
"Yes, we have some business here to take care of".
"Fine. If we have need of you, we will be sure to visit you here" she said, then her & her fleet planeswalked away.
Helmer & Owin stood their for a while as the people of the city continued about their daily lives, completely unaware of what had happened to their city.
"Brother, we'd better explain everything to the people at the school" Helmer said.
"Right" Owin said as they began walking toward the school.
While some people were hurt, thankfully no one had died. Setsuna watched as Konoka began to heal all the teachers & students who were hurt in the attack, her own wounds already gone. Though she hadn't been hurt all that badly, she still couldn't stop shaking. The image of the planeswalker as he stood over her, his sword held high, ready to slice her head off was still fresh in her mind. She still remembered that cold, remorseless smile & that sadistic look in his eyes. Today, she had come close to dying, & she knew she would still see that planeswalkers eyes in her nightmares.
She was still thinking about this when she saw Owin & Helmer walking toward the school from their battle in the city, talking to each other & looking preoccupied. Takahata & the principal both walked up to them when they got to the entrance.
"Owin-kun, who was that planeswalker? I think having fought him that we deserve an explanation" the principal said as everyone began to gather around Owin.
"Well…it's kind of long story" Owin said. "We have the time" Takahata said. Owin glared at Takahata for a while before saying "Fine" & sitting on a nearby chair.
"That planeswalker is named Wilhelm. Like brother & I, he too is from Keld. He was also a Legend, before our time. In fact, next to brother & I, he was the biggest Legend of them all, famous not only for his cold, merciless ways, but also for helping the most to bring the Keldons to a large mercenary powerhouse. However, he was almost disgraced by our people because one day he just vanished & disappeared without a trace, never to be heard from again. While our people never learned what had happened to him, brother learned it was because during a battle he had ascended to Planeswalker. Unfortunately, he is now completely insane, & desires to rule over the multiverse".
"So you two are fighting to stop him?" Asuna asked.
"In a matter of speaking yes. He has done many things to brother & I, so we want to kill him for revenge" Owin said.
"What has he done to you?" Negi asked.
"None of your business. It doesn't concern you all anyways" Owin said as he got up & stretched. "I'm going to go rest. That was a bit of a hard battle. I suggest you all do the same" he said as he got up to leave, Helmer following behind him. "Setsuna" Owin called as he was a few feet away, "We won't have training today, so just rest until tomorrow" he said.
"Yes, I will".
"Oh, by the way…" he said, causing Setsuna to look back at him.
"About your battle…Good job. I'm glad you didn't die" he said, continuing on his way. Setsuna stopped for a second. "Wow, I think that's the first time he's ever shown concern for any of us before" Asuna said as everyone nodded in agreement. Setsuna stayed staring at his back. Could it be that he's changed?, Setsuna thought. She couldn't have imagined Owin ever saying something like that. & why did she feel a little happy at the thought?
Usually whenever I write these fanfics, you may all notice that I tend to use the standard Japanese honorifics. I have felt no need to translate these as almost everyone who reads Mahou Sensei Negima tends to know what these honorifics mean. However, as many people do not know this, I felt the need to explain Konoka's usage of "Keigo". "Keigo" in Japanese is the usage of polite language, namely honorifics. Setsuna is commenting that Setsuna is using Keigo by continually referring to her as "Ojou-sama". She basically feeling sad that Konoka is referring to her so formerly & wants her to feel comfortable enough to refer to her simply as Kono-chan. Most manga's neglect to mention that, so I felt the need to explain it.
Thank you for reading my fanfic & double thanks if you continue to read it. Any reviews & constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated.