Magister Negi Magi is owned by Ken Akamatsu and Kodansha Ltd. Tokyo in Japan, and by Funimation and Ballantine - DelRey in the United States, NOT by me.

SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.

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"Those three were the first to fight back."
- Kazumi Asakura. Author of: "One Million Steps : A Journey to Megalo-Mesembria and the World Beyond."

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Ala Alba in the World of Magic: Tales From the Fireside.

Chapter Thirteen: A Trio of Books.

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Haruna Saotome stood on the forecastle of the Estimated Prophet as the ship, in company with the freighter Cyclops, traveled north through the Cerberian Sea. Happy to finally be moving towards her friends, she closed her eyes and smiled, reveling in the feel of the breeze created by the ship's movement into warmer climes.

Chaotic and a little frightening was all she could call the events of two days past. The large dragons had made good on their promise to heal the small black dragon. Then while one took the limping and cowed youngster away, the other had subjected her to the worst 'third-degree' interrogation she'd ever endured. Jay Lane Cabot, and eventually Captain Adenaur had stood by, obviously ready to defend her from any violence, but that didn't make her questioning feel any less intense. There were a few questions about Mahora, and several about her involvement in the incident with the dragon who tried to kill her, but most were about the Ala Alba, who were the members, and who was the person or persons who provided their training. Remembering her interview with Captain Adenaur, she kept her answers short, to the point, and as truthful as her knowledge permitted. She felt increasingly like a mouse under the gaze of a cat, but eventually, thankfully, the dragon seemed to be satisfied, and took it's leave. Captain Adenaur came up to shake her hand, offering congratulations on helping catch her predecessor's killer, then dismissing her from further duty for the rest of the harvest. A barely tasted dinner followed, then blessed sleep in her tent.

Morning would find the small black dragon, rumbling in it's sleep, curled up on a tarpaulin protectively at the entrance to her tent. An even bigger surprise occurred when the youngster made a place for itself inside one of the covered launches on Estimated Prophet's fantail, accompanying the ship and Haruna upon their departure.

An increase in Estimated Prophet's speed, and a course change to the right brought Haruna's attention back to the present. Turning back towards the ship's bridge, she saw a lookout talking with Ma'ii Kumagami and pointing out something they'd seen. Squinting and shading her eyes, she could see a black dot off in the direction the lookout was pointing. As crew responsible for close defense of the ship came out on deck and manned their positions, she continued watching until the dot slowly resolved into someone flying on a broom. ("WAY OUT HERE?") Slowly closing with the ship, as if curious or interested in it's presence, the rider's hair was lifted by the wind, clearly revealing two wonderfully familiar large pony-tails. "Yu...e... YUUUEEEEE!" Out came her Pactio card. "ADEAT!"

Katrina Adenaur entered Estimated Prophet's bridge just as Haruna Saotome flew off the ship's forecastle and towards the unknown broom-rider on her jet-golem.

"Captain..."

Adenaur waved her hand in a calming manner at Ma'ii. "Keep the defense crews on alert, keep an eye on the broom-rider, but I think we may be about to meet one of Miss Saotome's friends."

Haruna rode her jet-golem out and made a wide rolling loop around her fellow Library-Trio Member. Settling down, she pulled up next to the broom-riding Yue to find her rubbing at tears, like those she could feel running down her own cheeks.

Yue Ayase sniffed and rubbed at her face with the sleeve of her apprentice's robe. Beyond her happiness, she was amazed that curiosity over having a small black dragon fly up and cautiously look her over would lead to such a strange pair of ships, and the finding of one of her friends. "Haruna... Have you seen anyone else?"

Haruna put her free hand behind her neck and began laughing nervously. "I haven't been able to even look! I've spent the last two weeks cutting tree limbs and fighting dragons to earn my fee for the trip somewhere civilized!"

Yue grinned and held out her hand. "I paid my dues with two weeks on an island, with nothing but crabs and fish for company! I lost my Pactio card after whatever happened to us, but I found it again after I made this broom!"

Taking the offered hand, Haruna gave Yue a strong handshake, then let go and allowed her expression to fall. "Things are bad Yue. The Magic Council has reported that Negi destroyed the gate port. Everyone but the Gym-girls, including us, has rewards posted for them..." Haruna watched as Yue's expression first showed shock, then turned grim. Forcing a smile, she pointed back to the ship she'd just flown off from. "Enough dark news for now! Let's go back so I can introduce you to my new friends!"

Yue nodded, then followed Haruna back towards the rear section of the biggest of the two ships she'd been hoping, after flying for most of a day, to be able to take a rest on.

Waiting for them near Haruna's chosen landing spot was a woman with the ears and tail of a fox.

Ma'ii watched with mild concern as Haruna, obviously unaware of how to land on a moving ship, nearly crashed while doing so. Her friend, taking such a bad example to heart, flew along until she appeared not to be moving relative to the ship, side-slipped over the railing, then simply jumped off the broom to land with unsteady, but better form. Most worries about the two girls now moot, she gave Haruna a mildly annoyed look at the bringing of an unknown person onto the ship without permission. "May I take it, Miss Saotome, that this girl is one of your friends?"

Rubbing at her sore rump, Haruna nodded in thanks for Ma'ii's use of Japanese to speak. Still a bit unsteady, she turned slightly to indicate Yue with an open palm. "Ma'ii Kumagami, allow me to introduce my friend Yue Ayase. Class 3A number 4, and fellow member of the Ala Alba. Yue, Miss Kumagami is First Officer on this ship, the Estimated Prophet."

Yue came forward and bowed. "I'm pleased to meet you Ma'am. Let me apologize for landing here without permission. I was trying to reach Dracogenia, but it was further away than I thought. It's a good thing you were here, since I was starting to get tired."

Ma'ii inclined her head slightly in acceptance of Yue's words. "I'm glad we could be of help Miss Ayase. Miss Saotome, if you would, please bring your friend to the Captain's cabin."

Yue remained silent as Haruna cringed slightly. Her friend had said they would be safe, but that reaction might mean they were still in trouble, depending on how this ship's Captain felt about her arrival. Haruna put away her pactio item while leading her to their destination, so she did the same, leaving her with the raincoat and her broom. Outside the door of the Captain's cabin, she leaned the broom up in a corner and pointed at it. "STAY!" When Haruna raised an eyebrow, she just shook her head. "I'll explain it later."

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Katrina Adenaur watched in silence as Haruna Saotome and Yue Ayase left her cabin. Ma'ii had stood in the background, listening without comment, throughout her admonition of Haruna's actions, and the following interview of her friend Yue. Now she came forward, still silent, to stand before her desk. "Well Ma'ii, even though Haruna's been here for two weeks, what do you think of our guests?"

Ma'ii turned slightly to look after the two departed girls, then faced her Captain again. "They're both dangerously half-trained provisional partners. Miss Saotome made good progress in her two weeks with us, and her help in catching Elina's killer was valuable, but she's still terribly green." Thinking about Yue, she gave a slight shudder. "That an Apprentice Witch would even try what Miss Ayase did is beyond comprehension. Utterly mad. If we hadn't been here, she would have fallen into the ocean and drowned. Not knowing their limits calls the competence of their teachers into question, I should think."

"The God's love a fool..."

Ma'ii gave a start. "Ma'am?"

Adenaur looked up at Ma'ii and gave her a sad smile. "I think it's not quite as bad as all that Ma'ii. Crazy perhaps, desperate certainly, but they still did what they felt was necessary." Standing up, she turned to face one of her cabin's ports. "Miss Saotome for the promise of passage to find her friends. Miss Ayase because her only other choice was to rot and die on that island of hers. You may doubt it, but I think she could have made it to Dracogenia, even if she'd not found us. It's not really that far away by air." Turning back, she gave Ma'ii another of her sad looks. "Both felt driven to find and rejoin their friends, and their 'incompetent' teacher."

"Perhaps I was mistaken then Captain."

Adenaur sat down again, resting her head against a brace formed by her interlaced fingers. "I once knew an idiot who could inspire such extreme effort and loyalty in people. So much so that it eventually cost several of them their lives, and put the rest through a great deal of pain and emotional suffering." Looking up at Ma'ii, she could feel a few tears falling from her eyes. "Perhaps more than you, at your age, could even realize."

Relaxing and pulling back a chair from Adenaur's desk, Ma'ii sat down. "I've heard the stories about the war Ma'am, and the rumors about what happened eleven years ago..."

Reaching a decision, Adenaur straightened up. "Ma'ii, I'm going to help these girls and their teacher. Considering my relationship with him, I don't really have any choice! If we find any more of their friends, I'll help them as well... alone, If I must..."

Seeing the look of determination on her Captain's face, Ma'ii nodded, then stood up and at attention. "Captain Adenaur. "Eighty-six years ago, over three-hundred lost souls arrived in this world. Unwanted, looked down upon, they faced enslavement, death, or worse. Your great-grandfather held them together, kept them from being taken advantage of, and eventually lead them to Ariadne. Starting out with nothing more than a pile of coal, he built a business that has sustained his family, and the families of many of his companions ever since. Using investments from that business, and partnerships he established, he helped revitalize the School of Catalyst Magic in Ariadne. Using the same path as the Cyclops, your Grandfather brought this ship over Forty-four years ago. After he refitted it to fight using inscribed object spell-casting and mechanically projected catalyst magic, your father used it to help defend Ariadne and several other nearby towns during the war. In all the years your family has been in Ariadne, despite their initially poor treatment, they have 'not once' ever gone back on their word, violated a contract, or failed to protect those deserving of your loyalty to the uttermost."

Adenaur nodded, so Ma'ii continued.

"Most of the crew on these two ships are lower-powered mages or the mundane descendants of those who arrived on Cyclops. Without you, your family, or the school in Ariadne, they'd be nothing in this world except someone else's slave or drudge. I expect, if it is your choice, you'll not have trouble finding support in doing what you feel is best."

Adenaur stood and walked over to the cabinet she'd pulled a ship's signet out of for Haruna and Yue. Opening it once more, she took out a small Mahogany box. Inside was the surviving portion of an Ala Rubra badge. "Thank you Ma'ii." Gently touching the rust-brown stains on the badge brought back memories from a happier time, and eventually the sad memories as well. "Contact Captain Rossy on the Cyclops. Have him send me a full ship's status report." Closing the small box, she placed it back inside the cabinet and turned to face Ma'ii. "Bring me a report on this ship's status. We shouldn't have to worry about a higher than normal alert level until after Dracogenia, but tell the crew to expect more drills."

Ma'ii gave a formal salute. "Yes Ma'am!"

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Lounging on the lower of two bunks after dinner, Haruna watched with increasing curiosity as Yue, sitting at the cabin's tiny desk and grumbling under her breath, slowly paged through her 'Orbis Sensualium Pictus.' "What are you looking for Yue?"

Yue rubbed at her forehead, still suffering slightly from being the recipient of a language spell, and the 'idea' that a dragon was one of Haruna's 'friends.' (THAT had been a shock! Haruna, after the interview with Captain Adenaur, leading her back to Prophet's stern and introducing her to the small black dragon she'd seen, who was now riding along in one of the small boats stored there.) "Captain Adenaur said we're safe with her. That's fine for now, but fights aren't won by sitting back on your heels. I'm searching for a way lower-level mages like us can hit back effectively."

Haruna got up and walked over to watch over Yue's shoulder. "Against the people trying to frame us?"

Yue flipped through a few pages in her artifact. "Nothing so general. Do you remember that white-haired boy Nodoka helped Ku Fei hit at the gate port? He's the one who petrified you, Nodoka and Asakura in Kyoto. We'll never be able to match him directly, but given enough time, which we have for the moment, and the knowledge contained in my artifact, I think I should be able to come up with something." Leaning back, Yue stared past Haruna, focusing instead on the idea she was trying to form. "Think about our situation. The Ala Alba has been presumably scattered. Even if everyone is as close as you and I were, that's still a significant obstacle to overcome. Now that white-haired boy and his allies must expect we'll eventually try to get back together. Otherwise, why go to so much trouble to discredit us? Now, think about the rewards; Negi's is highest, all our real fighters are next, while 'weaklings' like us have a reward value that almost seems like an insulting afterthought. Possibly that has to do with association more than known abilities. Even with Chao and Mahora Fest, a few of us have never fought in any kind of battle where our artifacts were openly used. That white-haired boy can't possibly know much about what we can do, especially you and I. We didn't make our contracts with Negi until long after Kyoto. That means if we're careful in what we do, making the best of our strengths, we might be able to give him a bit of a surprise. After-all, it hasn't even been three weeks yet, surely they have other things to worry about than what a bunch of low-enders like us might do."

Settling her glasses further up on the bridge of her nose, Haruna gave Yue a conspiratorial grin. "When do we start?"

Yue leaned forward again, accessing several magical holographs and flipping to another page in her artifact. "I've already started. I'm hoping to know by morning if it's even possible to do what I want. If it is, I'll go ask Captain Adenaur for permission, then tell you about it afterwards. For now, you just go to bed. If we can do what I'm considering, you'll be the primary spell-caster, so you'd better rest."

Haruna moved back over to plop down again on her bunk. "You're no fun!"

Yue turned to face Haruna, the desk lamp giving her profile an ominous back-lighting, while also making her visible eye seem to gleam. "bortaS blr jablu'Dl'reH QaQqu'nay'." Confused by her guttural syntax, Haruna gave her an odd look. "'Revenge is a dish that is best served cold.' Haruna. An appropriate phrase I learned after my first encounter with the dragon under Library Island." Returning to her artifact, she mentally moved several of the holographic projections aside and turned another page. "I'm sure memories of Kyoto and of the 'nobodies' at the gate-port are quite cold in that boy's mind by now... fuh... fuh..."

Haruna felt a sudden chill emanating from Yue. Wondering if anybody ever considered an idea for the Baka Rangers where the leader became 'dark,' she pulled up the covers and fled into the warmer climate of her bunk.

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Katrina Adenaur listened to Yue Ayase's presentation without comment until everything had been laid out, complete with notes and visual aides from her artifact. After standing up and pacing for a bit to think, she walked over to gaze down at the amazing little Information Witch who'd come up with such detailed work using only an artifact. "Do you understand the trouble you might get in? That the deception might be discovered, and that the odds are against this attack actually reaching it's target?"

Sitting at attention in her chair, Yue didn't bat an eye, meeting Adenaur's gaze without fear. "Yes Ma'am. I've considered many potential flaws, and plan to account for them as much as possible. Worst case? Everything simply collapses when the energy runs out."

Putting on her strongest air of authority, Adenaur leaned in over Yue's shoulder, whispering into her ear in an attempt to rattle the girl's resolve. "What about the reward? What you propose is a legitimate counter-attack, taken in self-defense, until that factor is considered. Taking money under false pretense is a crime, even in Magic World, Miss Ayase..."

Yue turned to look up at Captain Adenaur. She could feel her knees shaking, but she knew what she wanted to do and did her best to show it in her expression. "Dealing with the reward is one of my biggest problems. I'll either refuse it, as a concerned citizen helping to rid Magic World of a threat, or something... since I'm not really sure what to do yet." Unable to stand Adenaur's proximity any longer, Yue lowered her head.

Walking back to her desk and sitting, Adenaur observed Yue for a moment across her joined hands. "Good. At least you understand one of the more serious problems involved in this proposal. That you aren't concerned about keeping the reward speaks well of your integrity, Miss Ayase." Reaching into her desk, she pulled out a sheet of stationary and a stylus and began writing. "Now, until I deliver the cargo on Cyclops, the amount of support I can give you as Captain of the Estimated Prophet is limited. However, as a mage, I am willing to support you to the fullest extent I may..." Adenaur looked up and watched as Yue's eyes went wide in understanding. Finishing with her writing, she applied a signet stamp and held out the page to Yue. "Your proposal is approved. Do it in your cabin."

Yue stood up to accept the paper. In graceful script which belied the speed with which it was written, was an short order authorizing her proposal. "Thank you Ma'am!" Bowing, she turned to leave.

"Two more things Miss Ayase. First; do you understand that if you had tried to do this without permission, I would have had to deal with it in a manner not conducive to your or Miss Saotome's continued good health?"

Yue lowered her gaze without looking back at Adenaur. "Yes Ma'am. Even though the amount of blood used will be minor, and given willingly, this idea still involves blood magic. Without my asking for permission, all you would have known was that blood magic was being used, and since your first duty is to your ship, you would have had to react accordingly."

"As long as you understand that... Second; since I can't have a half-trained mages running loose on my ship, you and Miss Saotome will begin lessons in such under my tutelage after we depart Dracogenia. For as long as you travel on this ship, your duties, instead of standing watch, will be to increase your basic skills to the best of your abilities." Yue nodded and left the cabin, retrieving her broom from it's corner just as Ma'ii Kumagami entered. "Ma'ii, please go to the galley and make arrangements to provide Miss Ayase and Miss Saotome with food in their cabin. If anyone asks, they've been given a special assignment involving magic research by me."

Ma'ii made a slight nod to accept the order, then departed without a word.

Standing up and moving to gaze out of her cabin's port, Adenaur closed her eyes and gave a feral smile. ("Nagi... I couldn't do anything to help ten years ago... Now... I SWEAR on my family's honor that, that won't be the case this time!")

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Yue opened the door to the cabin to find Haruna sitting on her bunk, artifact at the ready. "My! Aren't you the positive thinker!"

Haruna pressed a spread palm against her chest with mock solemnity. "I? May I say Miss Ayase, I simply believe in your powers of persuasion, and the fact Captain Adenaur seems willing to help us for reasons I'm not so clear on." Returning to her look of anticipation she leaned forward as Yue pulled the cabin's chair up against the bunk. "So, what's the plan?"

Activating her artifact, Yue adjusted her positioning so Haruna could easily read it with her. "Remember that 'Dark Nodoka,' and the copies of yourself you made to work on your Comiket book?" Haruna rubbed at her chin and gave a nod. "Well, we're going to make a paper golem of Negi, then turn it in. I'm hoping it makes it to that white-haired boy and has a chance to attack him. It probably won't win any fight, but if it plants the seed of doubt, and makes him wonder if any more fakes are around, then that'll be a win for us."

Haruna sat back with a suddenly thoughtful look on her face. "That... that's really not that crazy of an idea..." Flipping to the last page of her artifact, she held it out so Yue could see that half the page was torn out. "That time everyone was getting the training from hell? Eva took me to the entry resort the day after Nodoka. She taught me how, if I put a little blood in my artifact ink as a 'life' element, then sacrificed all or part of a page by tearing it out to use as a 'form' element, I could get my golems to last longer. Days even."

Yue suddenly felt herself flush. "Did she have you draw Negi?"

Shaking her head, Haruna turned away slightly, but failed to hide a blush as furious as Yue's. "No. Nagi, actually. After I drew it, she sent me away and said to leave the golem..."

Coughing, Yue returned her attention to the 'Orbis Sensualium Pictus.' "Um, ah... yeah... anyway, this would work better if we had Nodoka, or any of the other Pactio girls, but the Captain's agreed to help, so I think we'll be okay."

Haruna watched, rubbing her chin and nodding as Yue explained the huge amount of detail and other work that needed to go into the golem to make it as foolproof and undetectable as possible. "So, it's main job is to conserve it's energy, acting like a poor, broken boy mage, until it hopefully finds that white-haired boy. I'm the 'form' element, drawing this 'Dopple-Negi' with as much detail as possible, body features, clothes, everything." You're the 'intelligence' element, you'll give it the information it needs to function and know who to target, maybe even who to avoid, since we don't know where everyone else is..." Yue nodded without looking up at Haruna. "Nodoka would have provided the 'life' element. I suppose, based on your notes and her feelings for him, that she could have provided an 'emotion' element as well. Not absolutely necessary, but important in keeping detectability of the golem low."

Yue switched to a page explaining how to transfer information from her artifact to Haruna's. "Correct. I'll collect everything I need in a hold file, add in some information of my own, and a few visual references from you, then transfer everything when we're ready to summon the golem."

Looking down at her Imperium Graphices, Haruna considered what the objective was verses the expenditure of the substance of the artifact. Fingering the torn page for a moment, she finally let it go and took hold of two fresh pages. "Two pages. This is going to have to be two pages. One for my drawings of the Dopple-Negi, the second for the visual references and to give the golem more endurance and 'body.' Based on what Eva explained, and what you've shown me, when I perform the summoning, they 'should' merge into a single golem." Summoning a sketch board from the 'quickies' page in her artifact, she gave a resigned sigh, then made a fist and looked up at Yue with determination on her face. "LET'S DO THIS!"

(-)

Haruna set her artifact pen down on the cabin desk. There was still a little more drawing to do, but after a marathon session worthy of Comiket publishing deadline-doom, she felt she couldn't make another mark without messing something up. Yue had finished her part of the golem, and too tired to climb into her normal bunk, was asleep in the lower one. On the verge of collapsing with exhaustion herself, she perked up at the sound of rapping on the cabin door. "Whoever you are, come in..."

Jay Lane Cabot opened the door to Haruna and Yue's cabin and stepped inside just as Yue sat up, rubbing at her bleary eyes. "Miss Saotome, Miss Ayase, Captain Adenaur wishes to see you in her cabin."

Yue suddenly realized her shirt was open and quickly covered up.

Cabot didn't even bat an eye. "You have nothing to worry about Miss Ayase. I have absolutely no interest in little girls like yo...GACK!"

Haruna threw herself to the floor just in time to avoid Yue's broom as it flew out of the cabin's upper bunk to pole-arm Cabot back out into the passageway.

Katrina Adenaur smiled as the obviously drained Yue and Haruna entered her cabin and sat down. "I want you two to watch something." Turning the desk monitor around, her smile grew as the two girls sat up and started paying attention to what was being shown. "This is a Gladiatorial Fighting Contest that's going on up in Granicus City, our final destination with the Cyclops. Is this your professor? Keep in mind that he might be using some form of disguise glamour..."

Yue and Haruna watched as a Hu-Jin and Inu-Jin boy fought against another pair. When the fight ended, the two boys introduced themselves and gave a message to some friends. Haruna and Yue listened to the message, then suddenly jumped up and gave each other a fierce hug. "It's Negi! He's okay! Negi's okay!"

"I take it then, that's a 'yes'?"

Haruna gave Yue one last squeeze and faced Adenaur. "Yes Ma'am! He has to be using Age-Changing Pastilles! That Inu-Jin with him is probably our friend Kotaro Inugami! The two he gave a message for are Yuuna Akashi and Makie Sasaki. Two other girls from our class."

Glad to have confirmation of her suspicion, Adenaur sat back and indicated she wanted Yue and Haruna to sit again as well. "I'm happy you've found out more of your friends are alive. I've also had several of my crew researching related Mahonet sites, and it seems none of the others listed in the reward notices have been captured yet. That doesn't say anything about their well-being of-course, but at least they should still be 'free.' Now then, we'll be docking in Dracogenia in a few hours. Is your project complete?"

Haruna, partially re-energized, jumped back up. "Yes Ma'am! From the tip of his pointy little hair-antenna, to his dimpled tushy, to his little toes and everything in between! I have to say this will be the most perfectly drawn golem I may ever make!"

Haruna stumbled a bit and Adenaur had to chuckle at her obviously poor coordination. "You two look wiped out. I'm 'ordering' you back to your cabin to get some sleep. Once you're rested, I'll come help you finish up tonight, as I believe I promised Miss Ayase I would. I'll send you to the Dracogenia Magistrate's Office in the morning."

(-)

Morning found Yue, sporting a single braided pony-tail, carrying her broom and wearing a Hakama school uniform as a disguise, following Haruna, who wore the clothes of a Ronin Samurai, complete with eye-patch, as the artist girl lead the rain-coat cloaked Dopple-Negi off the Prophet by it's rope-bound wrists. Looking like something out of a video game. Dracogenia seemed normal enough, for a city in the middle of a wilderness, until she stopped to consider the amazing variety of people and creatures populating it's streets. In addition to the expected Hu-Jin, there were huge tokage, ostrich-like birds used like a horse, several types of Nek-Jin and Inu-Jin, an Eru-Jin or two, and even a huge person who looked like a teddy-bear! Though Haruna's dragon friend was staying on the ship, Dracogenia was listed in the encyclopedia function of the Orbis Sensualium Pictus as a small, but open city where non draconic inhabitants of the Magic World and members of the various intelligent Dragon Clans could, if the need arose, interact peacefully. Cyclops and Estimated Prophet's stop at the city was to deliver payments and return products to various businesses who had taken advantage of the rare opportunity provided by the Ofuda Harvest.

All those things still did not keep Yue from thinking back to what had happened just a few hours ago. Haruna had dripped some of her blood into the inkwell of her artifact before starting to draw the golem. As the provider of information the golem would need to fulfill it's purpose, she had given a few drops of her blood when transferring the held data from her artifact to Haruna's. Captain Adenaur, displaying a willingness to help she still didn't understand, had given the last few drops of blood needed to provide the golem's 'life' element. Haruna had carefully pulled the two pages from her artifact, incanted the last remaining spell elements, and completed her summoning of the Dopple-Negi. All of that effort should have produced a docile golem, conserving it's energy for it's hoped-for purpose. Instead, the Dopple-Negi showed an ability to react minimally with it's surroundings, something it shouldn't have the ability to do without an 'emotion' element present. It couldn't have come from Haruna, she only loved to tease Negi. It probably hadn't come from her, as much as she was attracted to Negi, Nodoka's feelings still had her beat. That left Captain Adenaur. She had to have some connection to Negi as strong as Nodoka's.

("Blood-ties are the most important.")

Yue looked up in shock at her recollection the phase she'd read several times while researching the requirements for the different elements of the spell. For both the 'life' and 'emotion' elements, a direct link to the person being imitated provide the greatest amount of energy, and the lowest possibility of detection. Having Negi's blood would have given the Dopple-Negi the maximum possible amount of energy, and made it virtually impossible to detect. Considering the energy the golem seemed to have, did that mean... "Guh!"

"Hey brat! Watch were you're going!"

Backing away from the brown-haired female Hu-Jin she'd run into, Yue bowed profusely and stammered and apology as another female Hu-Jin with glasses tried to calm the first down. When the two of them went on their way, she realized Haruna had turned the corner towards the Magistrate's Office while she kept walking and considering outrageous possibilities. Quickly retracing her steps, she came to the right street and turned to chase after Haruna. A short distance away, a tan-colored U-Jin was being confronted by three rough looking Hu-Jin men while Haruna lay twitching in the street. Before she could think to intervene, a Sagita Magica came out of a gap between two buildings behind the three men. Into the confusion caused by the Sagita impacting, an U-Jin boy ran up, grabbed the U-Jin girl and the Dopple-Negi's hands, and ran off. In the instant of the U-Jin boy leading her away, she saw the U-Jin girl's face and knew what had happened. It was Nodoka. Disguised quite well as an U-Jin girl, but it WAS Nodoka. Finding her was wonderful, but she had to groan at the dumb luck of encountering the one person who could possibly recognize the golem and spoil things before they reached the Magistrate's Office. After waiting for the thugish looking men to run off, she rushed over to help Haruna before anyone else could. "Haruna! Come on! That was Nodoka! We've got to go help her!"

Haruna shook her head, removing the eye-patch and climbing unsteadily back to her feet. "I thought that swarm of books felt familiar!" Taking her artifact book out of it's hiding place in a borrowed travel-bag, she readied several golems, then side-saddled with Yue on her broom. "GO!"

Hi'Ki Zosho looked back at the boy who's hand he held as he lead him and Nodoka back towards the library. "Who is this kid? Isn't he the one in the news?"

Nodoka shook her head. "NO! I told you he didn't do that!"

Hi'Ki felt a pain in his chest at Nodoka's hurt look. "I...I'm sorry... Anyway, you've told me so much about him, why isn't he doing anything?"

Nodoka looked over at Negi, who just continued to give her the same empty smile. "I don't know! Maybe that woman with the eye-patch hurt him somehow!"

Looking back, Hi'Ki groaned as he saw the three bounty-hunters who'd been after Nodoka follow them onto the street leading to the library. Even worse, they seemed to have reinforcements flying to catch up on a broom. "Hurry! If we lock ourselves in the library I can call Captain Adenaur and ask her for help!"

"(-)okaaa!"

Nodoka frowned and looked back while Hi'Ki continued to pull her and Negi towards the library. Two people rapidly getting closer on a broom seemed familiar, and when she saw a magical flash, followed by something dropping to the street behind the three pursuers, she felt her heart swell with happiness and a confidence she'd not had moments ago. "Hi'Ki wait! Two of my friends are here!"

Hi'Ki turned to argue as Nodoka pulled him to a stop. A short girl wearing some form of school uniform dropped off another girl dressed as some kind of sword-fighter from the broom they were both riding. The sword-fighter girl recovered from a shaky landing to give Nodoka a smile and a thumbs up while the other continued up the street on the broom.

Nodoka let go of Hi'Ki and Negi to run over and hug her friend. "Haruna! I'm so sorry about hitting you! Was that Yue on the broom?"

Haruna patted Nodoka between her ears. "Yep!" Noticing the U-Jin boy holding the Dopple-Negi's hand, a sly grin formed on her face. "Hey kid! Looks like you've made a 'boy' friend!"

Nodoka shook her head vehemently as Haruna pointed at Hi'Ki. "Nooooo...! Hi'Ki's just a librarian friend!"

Haruna winked knowingly, then stepped in front of Nodoka as the bounty-hunters closed the distance and prepared their magic. "Trouble calls! I'll tell ya' about Negi later!" Facing Nodoka's attackers, she thrust out her Imperium Graphices. "Come forth! Great March of Chamo!" Instantly a mob of snowy-white ermines sprang forth from the artifact to swarm her opponents. Biting, tripping, and being a general nuisance while giving Haruna time to prepare her next golem.

One bounty-hunter squashed the last ermine holding him back, and tried to interrupt Haruna with a Sagita Magica, but a broom flew in from the side to fold him over with a hit to the gut. Another hunter managed to free himself from ermine entanglements, but was confronted with the hideous shriek of a chainsaw, wielded by a dark-skinned giant, leering at him from behind a mask stained with red mud. He smashed the last ermine harassing the third bounty-hunter, and tried to help him run, but both were confronted by a huge, slavering, snake-maned, three-headed dog monster which appear in the street behind them. When the creature howled and leapt, jaws wide, both shrieked in fear and collapsed in a dead faint.

Haruna danced a jig and made a victory sign towards the unconscious bounty-hunters. "Yeah! Teach you to mess with the Library Trio!"

Yue held out her hand to catch her returning broom as she walked up to Nodoka. "Sorry we're so late! Nice ears you've got there Nodoka!" Turning to face the U-Jin boy, Yue pointed back towards the bounty-hunters. "Any place nearby we can hold them for a bit? There's a few things we need to do, and I don't want any complications."

Hi'Ki looked down at the little dark-haired girl standing before him. However he'd thought his time with Nodoka would end, having it heralded by such a small representative had not been one of them. Shaking his head, he pointed up the hill towards the library. "I don't open today. How about the library?"

(-)

Haruna trussed up the bounty-hunters with more Chamo golems, then took out her artifact and started sketching rapidly.

Nodoka circled the Dopple-Negi, examining it with amazement. "Is it really one of Haruna's golems? I can hardly tell..."

Yue felt a twinge of jealousy as Nodoka reached out to gently trace the wound hole in the Dopple-Negi's raincoat. "Yes, and now that we've found you, we can make it even better."

Nodoka turned towards Yue with a serious expression on her face. "What happens after he's turned in?"

Yue gave Nodoka her 'Dark Baka Leader' smile. "I hope he winds up with that white-haired boy. Remember him? He's the one who petrified everybody in Kyoto, and who you helped Fei Ku hit at the gate port. He'll be in for a bit of a surprise if it reaches him. If not? Then it just fades away and Haruna's out two pages in her artifact to no end. Now, about getting it accepted by the Dracogenia Magistrate..." Walking over to the bounty-hunter her broom had taken out, she rifled his pockets until she produced his hunter's permit. "...Here's our ticket to full and unconditional acceptance." At Nodoka's questioning look, Yue pointed at Haruna. "We send golems with their permits to turn him in, and there'll be no questions about why we don't want the bounty."

Hi'Ki felt a little worried, taking a step towards Yue, he pointed at the bounty-hunters. "Isn't that..."

Yue interrupted. "UNFAIR? So what! What's unfair is what the Magic Council's done to us! These bounty-hunters were going to hurt Nodoka, and would have turned us all in if they'd won. Let them pay the price for loosing by helping us fight back. Got a problem with that kid!"

Hi'Ki wondered how this little girl could intimidate him so much. She barely came up to his shoulder, but it seemed like she was staring down at him. He wasn't sure if he should be angry or afraid. "No. I suppose not. Nodoka told me some of your stories, so I guess it's understandable."

"Good! Now that that's out of the way, let's get this over with. Nodoka!"

Nodoka jumped, caught staring wistfully at the Dopple-Negi's eyes by Yue's call. "Ye...Yes!"

Yue grinned at Nodoka's reaction. "Since you're so late, you get the best part! We already have form, intelligence, and life elements. Now you get to give this golem the supplementary 'emotion' element." Taking out a small hobby knife, she took Nodoka's hand and pressed the knife into her palm. "Cut yourself, not badly, just enough for a few drops, then touch the Dopple-Negi and repeat the words I tell you."

Nodoka did as Yue instructed her, touching her bleeding index finger to the Dopple-Negi's wound mark, repeating the words as they were given to her, then finalizing the spell with a quick kiss on the golem's forehead. There was a flash of magic, and when she stepped back, 'Negi' was there. A little sad looking perhaps, but she couldn't have told the difference now without knowing it was fake beforehand. Looking at her finger, she noticed that the wound was quickly healing, apparently as part of the spell Yue used.

Reaching up, the Dopple-Negi lowered the hood of it's raincoat and gave a slight bow. "Hello Nodoka, Yue, Haruna, Hi'Ki. I hope to be able to perform my duty to the fullest of your expectations."

Yue felt quite pleased at the Dopple-Negi's words. Here, by the act of speaking, was the proof of how important all four elements were in making the golem spell she'd found as perfect as possible. "Nice touch Nodoka."

Hi'Ki watched Nodoka blush with increasing frustration. Despite knowing all along she would eventually leave, he had still grown attached to the blushing girl over the nearly three weeks she'd been helping at the library. Seeing her all emotional over just a 'copy' of another boy gave him a hurt feeling in his chest, and left him at a loss in how to compete.

Yue noticed Hi'Ki's pained look and realized he was watching Nodoka fawn over the Dopple-Negi. She considered that interfering might be selfish, but justified things to herself by thinking that it wouldn't hurt for Nodoka to realize someone besides Negi might find her interesting. "Nodoka, we'll need you to monitor the golems to help Haruna control them. Why don't you relax for a bit until we're ready to send them out?"

Nodoka started, catching herself watching the Dopple-Negi again. Nodding, she walked over and sat down at the reading table the book she'd found was on.

Hi'Ki glared at Yue, who acted like she had no idea what was going on, then went over and sat down across from Nodoka.

Nodoka felt her eyes drifting to the Dopple-Negi again, until Hi'Ki sat down and unexpectedly took her hand. She gave a gasp and tried to pull away, but he held on with a firm, though not hurtful grip. "Hi'Ki..."

Taking a deep breath to give himself time to build his courage, Hi'Ki looked Nodoka straight in the eyes. "Nodoka. I want to tell you that I like you. A lot." Nodoka's eyes grew wide at his whispered words. She tried to pull her hand away again, but he held fast. "I understand you like this other boy, but I want you to at least call me friend. I hope also that someday, you'll come back to visit the library and say 'Hi!' to the U-Jin boy you helped out so much..."

Nodoka felt ready to faint. The only thing that kept her from doing so was Haruna's yelp of surprise as Yue's broom smacked her in the face for some reason. Hi'Ki's desperate confession reminded her of how much self-control she'd needed to confess to Negi, so she closed her eyes to take courage from that memory, then looked up and took his hands in her own. "Do you think that poorly of me Hi'Ki? As my friend? To think that if it were within my power, I would ignore a chance to come see you again?"

Hi'Ki broke down and started tearing up. "Thank you Nodoka!"

(-)

"It's done. They're coming back."

Hi'Ki watched over Nodoka's shoulder with Haruna as the Diarium Ejus displayed images of the three bounty-hunter golems returning to the library. "That's amazing. I've seen strange artifacts before, but never anything like this, or like your Imperium Graphices Miss Saotome." Glancing up at Yue, who was keeping an eye on the three bounty-hunters she'd put even further under with an alchemic sleep-spell, he gave her a questioning look. "What about you Miss Ayase? Do you have something like they do?"

Yue shrugged and held up her Orbis Sensualium Pictus. "It's just an encyclopedia type of thing, nothing fancy like those two." Hi'Ki nodded and went back to watching Nodoka's artifact. Yue felt glad about that, since she didn't want to explain to Hi'Ki that her artifact had been searching his library and copying everything it didn't already know about since she'd walked through the door. It wasn't precisely theft, but she didn't want to have to explain to him why her artifact was raiding his library. He'd shown wonderfully good taste in finding Nodoka an interesting girl, and she didn't want to upset him.

Several equally rough characters eyed the three bounty-hunter golems as they made their way back to the library. No one attempted anything though, so the real hunters apparently had enough of a reputation to discourage such things. Eventually, they walked into the library, and were recalled into Haruna's artifact.

Haruna snapped her sketchbook closed. "That's a wrap! Let's beat it back to the ship before those jerks wake up!" Collecting the dropped bounty-hunting permits, she returned them to their slightly stirring owners. The reward credit chit was a sorely tempting prize, but after Nodoka glared at her, she sighed and placed it in one of the bounty-hunter leader's pockets.

Yue walked over to shake Hi'Ki's hand as Haruna finished her work. "Thanks for your help Mister Zo... Hi'Ki. Will you be all right?"

Hi'Ki grinned and pointed at the side door to the library that he'd broken in himself just moments ago. "Oh definitely! Nodoka found a book she said these guys were after, so it's probable they're the ones who wrecked the place before. I've given several people I know will help a call. Once you leave and I start screaming 'Break-in at the library!' My friends Miss Yomuoto, Miss Chosha, and a bunch of others will come running. These three won't get much mercy. They get thrown in gaol, the reward money gets returned, and off you go."

Nodoka came up as Yue stepped away. In her hands was the book she'd found on top of the library shelf the previous night. "I suppose I'd better give this back to you..."

Hi'Ki pushed the book back, shaking his head as he did so. "Keep it. There must be some reason those guys were after it. It may be safer in your hands than staying in the library." Nodoka drew the book back to her bosom and help it protectively. "Consider it a long-term loan. Besides, it'll be a reminder not to forget your promise, and to come visit me some day..."

Nodoka started to back away, but Hi'Ki suddenly stepped forward and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I... I won't!"

Haruna, careful to keep an eye out for Yue's broom, wanted to comment on the 'Love-Love' reek filling the library, but safety back on the Estimated Prophet concerned her more. "Come on Yue! Nodoka!"

Nodoka took a step back and bowed briefly to Hi'Ki. "I won't say 'goodbye,' Hi'Ki, but rather, 'I'm off!'"

Hi'Ki heard the slight tremor in Nodoka's voice and was happy. Knowing she liked him enough to feel sorrow at their parting made it easier to let her go. "Have a safe journey, Yue, Haruna..." Pausing briefly, he burned the sight of Nodoka's face into his memory. "...Nodoka."

Nodoka bowed one more time, then followed Yue and Haruna out the door.

Hi'Ki watched the door close with a thump he hoped wasn't the final note in his relationship with the amazing, fascinating, beautiful within and without, Nodoka Miyazaki. "Ah well. Best get ready to call out the Library Lovers!"

tsuzuku

(-)

Author's Notes:

Well, the Library Trio's back together! I hope I didn't power them up too much for everyone!

Many thanks to Kafka'sdragon for helping me find the Klingonese phase Yue uses.

"Diarium Ejus Libri Eruptio!"

"Diarium Ejus Book Attack!" Think of this as Nodoka's version of a Sagita Magica. She uses it against Haruna in c175, at Eva's Resort during the 'Dark Nodoka' episode, and possibly again in c180, when they are trying to avoid letting Anya know that Negi has made any provisional contracts. It's possible that Haruna may be the only person who ever gets attacked with this spell. (Sweatdrop.)

There is power in words, and in the pen. This is my over-simplified justification for Yue and Haruna being able to do what they did. Plus a little help and training from stronger mages.

Yue uses her 'Orbis Sensualium Pictus' to find a way to send a golem after Fate Averruncus. She locates a spell, but is unsure how effective a golem might be. Haruna provides the answer when she explains what Eva taught her about sacrificing pages out of her artifact to increase the staying power of a golem. (Nothing needs be said about what Eva might do with a Nagi golem!)

By sacrificing a partial or whole page out of her 'Imperium Graphices,' Haruna provides a golem with a solid foundation to 'exist' on. Based on the level of detail involved, along with other factors, this allows a golem to exist for longer than just a few minutes or hours. Obviously, if Haruna uses this ability too often, she won't have an artifact left. The only clue related to this seems to be that drawing-filled pages are somehow 'stored,' with new empty pages appearing as needed. I take this a step further by allowing expenditure of pages as a deliberate act. It this case, 'used' pages are not 'replaced.'

If Haruna were ever foolish enough to use up the 'Imperium Graphices' in this manner, she better hope Negi Makes her his full partner, because that is the only way I can see her getting a 'refill' of her artifact!

Using the example of the Dopple-Negi:

Haruna, using her 'Imperium Graphices,' draws Negi unclothed, as detailed as she possibly can. She then makes a partial activation of the golem. Next she provides undergarments, and activates that. Finally she draws in outerwear and the golem is essentially complete, except for related elements and final summoning. Think of it as different layers of a CG in a graphics program. The golem could be strip-searched, and wouldn't be destroyed by someone doing so. This is the 'Form' element of the spell.

Yue, using her 'Orbis Sensualium Pictus,' collects various information the golem will need to function and carry out it's purpose. This includes locational information, attack/defense information, who/what to attack or not attack, and how to react to various situations that may arise. Information is either transferred directly to the golem, or to another page in the 'Imperium Graphices' that will be merged with the golem when it's completed form is summoned. Since it is unlikely Fate has his picture on the Mahonet, targeting in this case is provided by Haruna through a mini-drawing in her artifact. This is the 'Intelligence' element of the spell.

Katrina Adenaur, along with everyone else, by providing a part of themselves through living blood, give the golem spell it's 'Life' element.

Nodoka, because of her intense feelings for Negi Springfield, provides the 'Emotion' element to the golem spell. This allows the golem to react on a basic level with things happening around it.

The first three would be absolutely necessary for the golem to even function. The forth makes it as life-like as possible.

A Magister Mage could possibly create this golem in a battle. Yue, Haruna, and Nodoka never could at their current power levels. However, they create it out of battle, over several days, slowly gathering the power they need to do the job, as well as taking as much time as they need to avoid mistakes.

Haruna and Nodoka, working together, monitor the 'Bounty-Golems' and direct them in their deliverance of the Dopple-Negi.

About the use of Blood Magic. Yue stumbles, (almost literally,) into this in chapter ten. That it is a dangerous path to power is something Katrina Adenaur emphasizes to her. We shall see where she goes with it.

Origin of the Cyclops is hinted at by the clues given by Ma'ii Kumagami.

Origin of the Estimated Prophet is contained in the number on the ship's bow, as described by Haruna, in chapter twelve. In any case, more details will be revealed about the ship later.

For the purposes of 'Ala Alba in the World of Magic,' it is assumed that a bounty-hunter requires a permit to receive full payment of a reward. A provisional hunter, or someone without a license, will only receive a partial percentage of a bounty.

SPOILER COMMENT! Based on events in c200.

If she learns the requirements, Setsuna could easily get a full license using a Shikigami doll.

Chapter Fourteen: Rock-Paper-Scissors.