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.

A little late, but it's the twenty-eighth chapter and the one year anniversary of Ala Alba in the World of Magic! Yay! To tell the truth, I'm amazed I've managed to keep it up. I've always wanted to write a story like Ala Alba, in scope if not subject, and it looks like this IS it!

One other thing: Various stresses and burn-out are, well, stressing me out. There may be another chapter before the end of the year, but I desperately need to take a break. Chapters one through twenty came out so fast because I had copious notes prepared beforehand. Not being able to keep up that pace is part of my stress. Since writing has effectively outpaced story-plotting, I'm going to take a break, like I did after chapter fourteen, to rest, and work on my notes unhindered by self-imposed deadline-doom.

Rest assured, basic plotting exists to continue the story, as well as advanced planning for some scenes, but I really do need a break.

Well then, if not late in the year, then expect Chapter Twenty-nine early next year!

Long chapter this time. Honestly, I prefer to write shorter chapters, but considering what's coming up, they may stay long.

Many thanks again to those who have given help, suggestions, and reviews. Especially Kafka'sdragon, Tkigod784, Aki Iokua and Fionn the Otaku.

Many of the places mentioned in this chapter can be seen on the 'map' of New Ostia in c214.

SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.

(-)

"It never caused me to hesitate in the future, but I learned a harsh, though basic lesson that day; 'Actions have consequences.'"
-Yue Ayase. Author of: "My Life at Mahora Academy."

(-)

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

Chapter Twenty-eight: Blood Spilled. (Day one, Day two.)

(-)

"Hey Makie, isn't that Ako?"

Turning and looking up with a mouthful of a shish-ka-bob dish she'd learned was 'safe' while in Tempe-Terra, Makie Sasaki caught just the briefest glance of pale-looking hair as a pair of cloaked persons walked past the outdoor bistro she, Yuuna Akashi and Lynn Garland were eating a late dinner at. "Maphe..."

Having met with their Mahora Maid Brigade classmates, but being unable to meet up with anyone else but Haruna, 'Yuuna's Posse' had left the arena to return to their inn for the night. Always ready for good food, Yuuna wanted to stop and eat even though it was late, and Makie had agreed. Lynn decided to stay as well, so the other three had gone on to the inn.

Having quickly finished a salad, Lynn had excused herself to go choose a main dish just before Yuuna thought she saw Ako. Now, looking after the two cloaked figures, Yuuna decided it WAS Ako, and she didn't like the looks of the person leading her by the hand. "Come on!"

Pulling the last bits off a skewer, Makie stuffed the food into her mouth and stood up. "Fuff afou Fynn?"

Grabbing Makie's hand, Yuuna started pulling the pink-haired girl away from her dinner. "We don't have time! I think Ako's in trouble!"

Bemoaning the lost dinner, Makie managed to grab one last skewer from her plate as Yuuna pulled her along and out into the street.

Moments later, Lynn Garland returned to the table to find it empty. Looking quickly around the bistro, then up and down the street produced no sign of either Yuuna or Makie. "Merde!" Setting her plate down rather too loudly, she rushed to pay for the food, then ran out into the street to go get her companions from the inn.

Finally managing to gobble down the contents of the skewer as Yuuna all-but-dragged her in pursuit of Ako, Makie stuffed the pointed dowel in her back pocket then started walking faster so she'd not trip and fall. "What about Lynn?"

Just barely able to keep up with the two cloaked figures, Yuuna kept a firm hold on Makie's hand while moving as quickly as she could through the crowd. "We couldn't wait! If we loose sight of Ako, who knows what might happen to her!" ("Why is that person moving so fast? Do they know they're being followed?")

After bumping into a Do-Jin and knocking it down, Makie turned to quickly apologize to the person before Yuuna could drag her out of sight. The poor Panda shaking it's head was the last thing she saw before returning her attention to Yuuna. "I know! If that is Ako, I'm as worried for her as you are, but leaving Lynn behind means we're doing something we were told not to do again!"

Startled by Makie's words, Yuuna just barely saw the two cloak-wearing figures turn down an alley between two buildings. Rushing forward, she turned down the passage to follow but hesitated after seeing how dark it was. Her instincts shouted to keep going, but Makie's hesitation reminded her of the price of disobedience. Releasing her classmate, she turned and pounded her fists in frustration against one of the alley walls. Torn by the thought she might be abandoning a friend, she smashed her fists against the wall again, then turned to face back down the darkened alley. "AKOOOOOO! IF THAT'S YOU! WE'RE COMIN' FOR YA!"

With people on the street staring at Yuuna, Makie grabbed her classmate's shirt to steady her nerves, then jumped back with an 'Eeep!' when the brown-haired girl suddenly turned around.

Her eyes burning with determination, Yuuna grabbed Makie's hand again. "Come on! We HAVE to find Lynn and the gang or someone from the arena!"

(-)

Nodoka Miyazaki's unexpected call for help came just as Konoka Konoe was in the process of returning the last of her, the shikigami Nodoka, and Setsuna's books to their places in the library. Giving an affirmative answer, she quickly put the last book away and was turning to go when she felt a tap on her forehead and then nothing.

Catching the unconscious Konoka, a short figure with a wide-brimmed hat carried her over to a small reading alcove. Making sure the Ofuda 'Sleep' tag couldn't be seen, she arranged the girl in a comfortable posture at one of the alcove's tables. As an 'Ojou-sama!' sounded from one of the aisles leading towards the front of the library, she placed several additional quickly vanishing Ofuda, then disappeared back into the shadows using an 'Invisibility' Ofuda.

Yue Ayase was in the process of completing storage of all the new information the library research crew had found in her Orbis Sensualium Pictus when she heard Nodoka's call. She quickly completed the task, then looked up in shock when the link to Konoka faded out. Snatching up her broom she immediately began activating a barrier spell while nodding for Setsuna to go ahead by herself.

Rushing down an aisle towards where she'd last sensed Konoka through the telepathia link, Setsuna found the Chibi-Konoe Heiress slumped over a table in a reading alcove. Relieved her charge seemed okay, she rushed over to shake the apparently sleeping girl awake. Too late, she realized 'apparently' was the key word as the bindings of a flytrap spell flared into existence and snapped down around her. Caught off balance, the spell slammed her hard face down on the floor. Despite trying not to fight, the spell began to slowly tighten in a manner she was intimately familiar with from her training. "De... Demon Bindings!"

"Sempai... I'm sooo disappointed! To think you would fall for such a simple trap! You have lost your edge and grown weak! And here I thought we could have a duel! It makes me so sad..."

Straining to turn within the still shrinking flytrap, Setsuna watched as Tsukuyomi, long blade at the ready, stepped from the shadows. "Wh... what did you do to Ojou-sama? Ah- AAHHH!"

Hearing the sound of one of Setsuna's awkwardly twisted forearms crack, Tsukuyomi sheathed her blade and uttered a soft Onmyou phrase. Instantly the flytrap spell ceased contracting, then released just enough for it's half-demon captive to breath with only minimal difficulty. "Lady Konoe is fine. I would never harm her. This flytrap though, I set it up presuming you to be able to avoid, or at least fight it! I never expected you to have so rejected a part of your nature it would nearly kill you!"

Wincing in pain, Setsuna tried to keep Tsukuyomi within sight as the Twin-blade approached and stood over her. "Do as you wish with me, but if you've any loyalty left for the Shinmei-ryu, don't dishonor it by letting Lady Konoe become a prisoner!"

Grinning, Tsukuyomi drew a small tanto-blade and knelt before leaning down to whisper into her captive's ear. "Sempai... that is not my intent..." Another soft Onmyou command, and the flytrap bindings moved to uncover Setsuna's back. "...though I could do with you now, as I pleased..." Using the tanto, she sliced open the trapped girl's clothes, including her chest-wrappings, from the waist to the neck. "...I am simply here to prevent your interference as 'Master' Averruncus speaks with your boy Professor."

Shuddering as Tsukuyomi slowly ran a hand up her back to open up the destroyed clothes, Setsuna began fighting the flytrap again, despite the pain of a cracked arm, when Tsukuyomi sat up to take out and display to her a Demonic abilities sealing Ofuda. "Don't Tsukuyomi! My wings!"

Feeling conflicting emotions she didn't have time to deal with, Tsukuyomi sighed and made ready to place the tag between the struggling Setsuna's shoulders. "Sorry Sempai... 'Master's' orders. Don't worry though, I'm sure Lady Konoe will still like you without your wings..." Leaning in close, she placed her lips close to Setsuna's ear. "...I still will..."

A slight pressure between her shoulders, a whispered activation phrase, and Setsuna's wings instantly sprang into existence. In response to the sealing Ofuda, they just as quickly started shrinking back down upon themselves, accompanied by cries of pain from their owner, until nothing remained but the quickly fading image of two drawn wings flanking the now tattoo-esque symbology of the Ofuda.

"Setsuna!"

Eyes filled with tears of shame and pain, Setsuna looked over to see Chibi-Yue trying to cast a aer-capture spell. "Yu...e... run..."

When the shocked girls spell fizzled out, Tsukuyomi stalked towards her wearing an amused grin. Breaking Yue's barrier with another Ofuda, she grabbed the chibi-witch by the broom-hand and forced her back against a bookshelf. "I guess you didn't pay close enough attention to the rules. This place is warded against most types of magic, especially cast spells! Can't have any damage to the books, now can we?" Another Ofuda 'Sleep' tag, and Yue slid down to the floor.

Picking up the girl's dropped broom, Tsukuyomi tossed it up onto the top of a bookshelf, then returned to where Setsuna lay groaning in the flytrap spell. Taking out one last Ofuda, she knelt and lifted the trapped Shinmei-ryu's face by the chin. "Sempai... you need to come find me to fight before the festival's over. If you win, I'll undo the sealing spell."

A tap to the forehead and Setsuna began to lose consciousness while Tsukuyomi leaned in close one last time.

"Otherwise, it will be too late to matter..."

(-)

Fair of skin and hair, Jei Fon Katze sat reading a comic she'd purchased in a booth at the New Ostia arena. With her in the Ariadne Valkyrie Brigade barracks common area was her friend Sachi Du Sha, who nibbled contentedly on a Tira Misu while she read the companion to Jei's book. After the opening ceremony that morning, she and her classmate accepted the offer of an escorted visit to the arena, then had been content to take things easy while the full-fledged Valkyries and others associated with the New Ostia Constabulary took care of the real problems. Their fellow Cadet Valkyrie, Beatrice Monroe, seemed content to do so as well, but would accept whatever her companion and leader of the four girls decided to do.

Emily Sevensheep.

Jei turned a page in the comic and shook her head as she thought about the president of Class-3C.

Only daughter of a well known reporter for KitNews of Ariadne, the Su-Jin Emily Sevensheep had every bit of drive and enthusiasm one desirous of becoming a full-fledged Valkyrie needed to succeed. Jei's own father, a veteran of the war, had once met the girl, then later commented to his daughter; 'That girl wants medals, and she's determined to get them.'

Jei knew from her father's own stories of the war twenty years ago that such ambition could be good, or bad, but she didn't see any reason for Emily to be so obsessively motivated right now. The four of them were still regular students, and Valkyries in name only. They should just relax, take it easy on this vacation from school, and let the real soldiers do all the hard work.

Unfortunately, Emily didn't see it that way. She felt she and her three schoolmates should be doing something, ANYTHING, to prove their worthiness as Cadet Valkyries.

Turning another page, Jei read about Nagi making his first pactio before battling the Vampire Princess, then looked up as Emily came into the common area, mumbling about the intransigence of the Valkyrie officer responsible for herself and her three classmates. "Hey Emily! No joy again, huh?"

Rubbing her temples, Emily walked over to the common area's cooler and took out a persimon-banan fruit-juice. "Lieutenant Hild just doesn't see that we're capable of handling at least minor disturbances! I mean really! The four of us managed to deal with that griffon dragon who attacked the broom race! Surely we could deal with a few street brawls!" Using a pog-fork, the cap on the fruit-juice was popped-off and set aside as Beatrice came in, noticed Sachi's cake, then moved to get a piece for herself. "This is just terrible! How will I ever face my mother when we get home, if I don't do SOMETHING useful while I'm... here..."

Jei heard Emily's voice trail off and looked up to see 3C's class president standing there with a wild look on her face. Sachi and Beatrice noticed as well and quickly got out of the way with their cake as Emily all but executed an instant-move jutsu that left her leaning over Jei.

"Where did you find that?"

Jei found herself being forced to lean back by the intensity of Emily's gaze. "Fi... find what?"

Taking another step forward, Emily nearly had Jei falling out of her chair. "That book! You found a Nagi Springfield book somewhere and didn't tell me about it!"

Being aware that Emily Sevensheep was a Nagi Springfield fanatic had in no way prepared Jei for actually experiencing that part of the blonde-girl's personality. "Um... well... we are in different classes, so guess I never really knew you felt so strongly about the subject..." Feeling the weight of the book in her hand, she decided it might be best for the moment to give it up. "Would you like to take a look?" Said book disappeared from her hand so fast Jei wondered if she'd been given friction blisters.

Filled with excitement, Emily flipped quickly through the book, then opened her eyes wide in shock when she reached the page inside the front cover. "AHH! What's this?"

From blowing on abused finger-tips, Jei shifted her attention to Emily as the Su-Jin girl held open the book for examination. "It's just a quickie sketch of me and Nagi the little artist girl at the booth did. It's no big deal. Sachi bought the second book and got one as well."

Growing even more excited, Emily turned to look as the dusky Sachi held out her book for examination. "There's two of them? Let's go! Show me where I can get them!"

Shrugging, Jei shook her head. "It's too late. Everything but the bars will be closed in the arena by now, and we only got a pass to visit the arena because a veteran went with us. Besides. even if we could go unescorted, you'd never get a pass to go out this late anyway."

Reluctantly handing the book back to it's owner, Emily began chewing on her thumb. "I hope there'll still be some copies left tomorrow..."

Jei, Sachi and Beatrice all looked at each other, then shook their heads.

"CADET SEVENSHEEP!"

Straightening up at the sound of an authoritative voice, Emily came fully to attention when she recognized her supervisory officer Lieutenant Hild. "Yes Ma'am!"

Waiting until the other three girls also came to attention, Lieutenant Hild crossed her arms and smiled at Emily. "I know I just told you to remain on stand-by, but an assignment that shouldn't be too troublesome came up a few moments after you left my office."

Eyes filled with excitement, Emily snapped even more rigidly to attention. "Thank you Ma'am!"

Smiling with bemusement, Lieutenant Hild moved to where she could more easily address all four girls. "Cadet Emily Sevensheep. Take your squad to the New Ostia Library and investigate a disturbance which was reported to have occurred there."

"Yes Ma'am! Thank you for this opportunity Ma'am!" Her eyes ablaze with passion, Emily turned to face her three classmates and raised a clenched fist. "Okay! Our first assignment! Let's suit up and get going!"

Happy to let the enthusiastic Emily finally do something, even if it was just a simple investigation, Lieutenant Hild watched as even the taciturn Beatrice Monroe excitedly followed her classmate towards the armory. ("Ah well, hopefully we can continue finding simple tasks to keep those girls out of trouble. Ceremonial duties aside, we can't really expect students to do the work of regular Valkyries!")

(-)

After worriedly greeting Emily and her three companions in the main lobby of his building, the head librarian lead the four Valkyries up to the second floor common area. Once there, he pointed past the many rows of bookshelves leading towards the back of the building. "A young lady of some importance was here with two friends and a bodyguard. One of the girls seems to have left, and the rest are unconscious in a reading alcove towards the back!"

Frowning at the idea this might be more than a simple brawl, Emily hesitated for a moment, then tightened the grip she held on her Valkyrie lance. "Jei, you and Sachi stay here and make sure no one comes out behind us. Beatrice and I will go take a look."

Both Nek-Jin girls quickly gave affirmative nods, then took up a watchful guard.

Glancing at her friend and receiving a supportive look in return, Emily raised her lance and moved forward. Even without the extra illumination provided by the libraries windows, she could see a small girl, her head slumped forward, lying against the bookcase at the far end of the darkened aisle. Proceeding cautiously, she continued forward until she could just see the legs of an older girl who lay sprawled on the floor. "Emily, my armor sprites don't sense anything except some minor spell magic, what about yours?"

One of her armor-sprites seemed slightly agitated, but not in any manner prompting Beatrice to worry. "There seems to be some kind of minor spirit present, but it appears to be dormant. My armor can detect no other potentially hostile magic energies."

Moving forward slightly, Emily finally saw a third person, seemingly asleep against a desk. "Beatrice, stay back for a moment. Jei. You and Sachi come down different aisles and meet up with us. I'll go check the first girl out."

After a chorus of 'Yes Ma'am's!' came to Emily, she slowly went forward and knelt at the side of a little girl with her hair done up in a long, single pony-tail. Leaning down, she finally saw a 'Sleep' talisman on the girl's forehead. A glance over at the older girl, whose clothes had been slashed open for some reason, revealed a talisman on her forehead as well. "Beatrice, if you still can't detect any hostile magic, then come help. Someone used talismans on these girls, but it looks like they're okay."

Instantly at her friend's side, Beatrice watched for a moment as Emily prepared a spell for removing a simple talisman, then moved over to examine the girl at the desk as Jei and Sachi came out of the next aisle and knelt beside the girl on the floor.

(-)

Fortunately, King Enteofushia was away speaking with allies when Fate returned Princess Enteofushia to the Argyre residential villa. He reminded her in a firm tone of voice NOT to go out unescorted again, then let her be after she glared at him and stalked off in a huff. Beside him, his Elemental Mage and Ministra Homura King stood patiently waiting for instructions. "I'm not angry you let her out, especially since Springfield was so shocked at seeing her. I will need to speak with Tsukuyomi about what it is exactly she told the Shinmei-ryu though. In any case, what concerns me more is the fact she DID go out. The timing is too coincidental."

Showing visible relief over Fate's words, the Elemental Mage relaxed from the stiff posture he'd been in. "Your plan to force a contract on the Thousand Master's son was a failure then?"

"It seems another of his students has gone missing. He was so distracted by that I never had a chance to seriously propose the contract." Sighing, Fate smiled in such a way the little cloaked mage gave a small start. "It's of no consequence to me though. Things might be too boring if Negi couldn't fight back!"

A soft cough drew Fate's attention to Homura. "Sir. Koyomi and Tamaki have made contact with Jacobus Rakan. They have managed to contain him for the moment, but they did report something unusual before they did so."

"And that is?"

"Jacobus Rakan was conversing with what seemed to be two mercenaries moments before they moved against him. Since both persons wore cloaks, Koyomi and Tamaki were unable to identify the pair before confronting Rakan."

After remaining in silent thought for a few moments, Fate turned to face Homura. "Have them keep him contained for as long as possible. What about Shirabe and Shiori?"

"Shiori reported that she destroyed McDowell's blog, but her Sprite-management Sysem was disabled by a last second counter-attack. It's going to take at least two days to get it working again. Shirabe says everyone except two of the Debt-Slaves and two other girls may be getting ready to leave the arena..."

Sensing an unspoken 'but,' Fate gave Homura a look that ordered her to proceed.

Feeling a bit of heat in her cheeks, Homura thought about blaming Shirabe for what had happened, but she was just as guilty for not objecting more strongly. "One of Springfield's Debt-Slave students is the person Shirabe tapped to replace Shiori." That caused Fate to raise an eyebrow, and Homura could tell he already knew what she was going to say. "She's the student Negi Springfield is missing. Shirabe originally just wanted her to help boost the spell we're casting for you, Master Averruncus, but she worked out too well..."

"Meaning?"

"Unexpectedly, she turned out to have an affinity for magic using music as a catalyst. She's now so tied into the spell that if we can't get her back, we'll have to start all over again..."

Sudden, loud laughter coming from their leader caused the Elemental Mage and Homura to take a step back. Fate shook his head as he quickly brought himself back under control. "Oh my! Negi Springfield's luck really has rubbed off on his students! I was going to go out and make sure he didn't locate his student until it was too late. Now I find out I might need the girl as much as he wants her back!"

Relieved like the Elemental mage that Fate wasn't angry about she and her sister Ministra's actions, Homura took a step forward and held out her hands. "What do you want us to do, Master Averruncus?"

Straightening his posture, Fate turned first to his Elemental Mage, "I want you to more closely examine Princess Enteofushia to make sure Springfield's mind-reader hasn't managed to establish a connection with her." ...then to Homura. "Tell Shirabe and Koyomi to stay put. I'm sure Negi will manage to find the girl, and I want to go watch to see who's involved and how he handles this crisis."

As Fate began to walk towards the entrance to the villa, Homura took a step after him. "Master Averruncus! What if he doesn't find her? Should we try to help?"

Shrugging, Fate continued walking without looking back. "If Negi doesn't find her? That's fine by me to. The demoralizing effect of loosing another student should disrupt the Ala Alba so much we'll have plenty of time to start over."

Turning away before Fate even disappeared from sight, the Elemental Mage left Homura to carry out his own orders. Even though Homura had been a Ministra of Master Averruncus for several years, had even killed under his instructions before, she still felt an unexpected chill over his casual dismissal of the life of a helpless enemy. ("If he can so casually dismiss someone potentially important when they might lose their usefulness to him, what would he do if one of his Ministra became 'useless?'")

(-)

Using her height to it's fullest advantage, Kaede Nagase watched from behind the small crowd of various people gathered out of curiosity near the entrance to the New Ostia library. All four of the Ariadne Valkyries had gone inside, but nothing had happened after they did, so hopefully that meant Konoka, Setsuna and Yue were okay.

Beside Kaede, an elf-eared Ku Fei shifted nervously on her feet. "What we do? Maybe they figure out Setsuna wanted person if she in some kind of trouble..."

A Tan-Jin who seemed to be a senior librarian came out of the building and began trying to shoo everyone away. Seeing their chance, Kaede glanced down at Ku. "Follow my lead. Since there hasn't been any fireworks, I expect we'll be able to get everyone out."

Her nerves steadied by Kaede's confidence, Ku gave a smile and a nod, then followed the tall Koga as she began making her way towards the library's entrance.

(-)

"Hey little girl, are you all right?"

Blinking, Yue Ayase looked up with blurred vision to see an elegant looking blonde in very strange dress leaning over her. "Cla... Class President?"

Startled, Emily sat back slightly as the little girl began rubbing at her eyes. "How did you know I'm a Class President?"

Squinting, Yue realized the person kneeling before her in rather gaudy armor had dusky skin, unlike Ayaka Yukihiro's fair complexion. "Excuse me. I thought you were someone else..." Remembering what had happened, she tried to jump up, but immediately fell back to her knees.

Quickly reaching out, Emily helped the pony-tailed girl steady herself. "Easy there, someone used a sleep talisman on you. It may be a few moments before you completely recover."

Sitting back against the bookshelf, Yue watched as a dark-haired Hu-Jin girl used the magic required to remove the talisman on Konoka Konoe's forehead. Shaking her head, the Chibi-Konoe suddenly stood up to try and look around, but staggered and fell into her rescuer's arms.

"Se... se-chan..."

Near Beatrice and the dizzy chocolate-haired girl, Jei and Sachi were trying to awaken the Nek-Jin with the slashed clothes who still lay prone on the floor. "Do you know that older girl Miss...?"

Nodding, Yue slowly managed to stand. "She's one of Lady Kon's bodyguards. I'm just a friend of Lady Kon. My name is Yuko Taizo..."

Jei's 'patient finally sat up as Emily watched. With Sachi's help, she started trying to pull her clothes back together. "Do you know why you were attacked?"

"I believe I can answer that Miss Valkyrie."

With a deliberate scraping of shoe's to announce their presence, a tall Inu-Jin and a dark-skinned Eru-Jin came into the small reading alcove, holding their hands out to indicate their non-threatening intentions.

To recover the initiative after being caught off-guard, Emily straightened up and pointed an accusatory finger at the squint-eyed Inu-Jun. "How did you two get in here? Who are you?"

Placing an arm across her chest, the tall Inu-Jin bowed in salute to Emily. "Please pardon our intrusion, Lady Valkyrie. I am Chiho Masuda. My companion's name is Ling Sh'n. One of Lady Kon's friends fled the library and summoned us when our Lady and her bodyguard were attacked. We explained ourselves to the Head Librarian, and he let us in."

When the Inu-Jin opened both eyes and gave her a meaningful look, Emily flushed at the unspoken warning that it wasn't wise to leave her back unguarded. "Ah... Yes... I see. Well then, you were saying?"

Returning her eyes to a squint once more, Chiho turned towards were Emily's companions were watching Lady Kon fuss over her bodyguard. "Sae bears an unfortunate resemblance to one of the terrorists involved in the Megalo-Mesembrian Gate Port incident. This is the third time she's been attacked in the last two months. I imagine when the bounty-hunter realized their mistake, they must have rendered everyone unconscious so they could make a clean escape."

Finally relaxing, Emily watched with Chiho as Lady Kon removed her light jacket and placed it over Sae's shoulders. "Why did they cut her clothes open?"

Chiho shrugged. "Perhaps to see if her tail was real?"

Looking over at Sae, Emily could see the Nek-Jin's tail tightly folded against her legs in shame. "Well, I still need to record statements from everyone, especially Lady Kon and her two companions, but with so many bounty-hunters in town for the festival, I'm not sure if we'll be able to find her any satisfaction to compensate for the attack."

Sensing movement behind her, Emily turned to see the little girl she'd helped searching for something on the floor. Becoming increasingly agitated, Yuko finally stopped, closed her eyes, and lifted an open hand into the air.

"Mea Virga."

With the quickness of an obedient pet responding to it's master, a broom flew off of the top of the closest bookcase to land gently in Yuko's hand. Seeing the deep look of relief on the girl's face, Emily wondered why she'd care so much about such a rough looking broom. Activating the sprites in her armor, she quickly realized the broom held the spirit Beatrice had detected earlier. The more the sprites looked at the broom, the more she realized how much it bordered on the status of a minor artifact. "Miss Taizo, if I may?"

Obviously worried about Emily's motivations, Yuko watched her for a few moments, then reluctantly placed the broom in the Su-Jin girl's outstretched hand.

Used to having only the best magical items available to a student, Emily still found herself impressed with what she held, despite it's hand-made looks. "Did you make this?"

Flushing slightly, Yuko nodded. "Yes Ma'am."

Examining the broom more closely, Emily realized the strange-looking grass making up the broom-head was tightly bound to the minimally-shaped staff not with leather thongs or the more modern magical seals, but with what seemed to be Yuko's hair. "This is really quite impressive for someone so young. Did your mother teach you how to do this?"

Shuffling nervously, Yuko's blush deepened as she began wringing her hands in response to the unexpected praise. "Actually, I made it based on what I remembered reading in a book..."

Over by Lady Kon's bodyguard, Jei Fon Katze gave a long whistle of admiration.

Excited by her potential find, Emily handed the broom back and knelt before Yuko. "Have you ever given consideration to applying to the Magical Academy in Ariadne? I'm sure someone with the potential you seem to have could do quite well there."

Now Yuko turned away slightly and tried to hide her face from Emily. "I appreciate the offer, but my guardians would have to give permission first."

Reaching out, Emily patted Yuko's hand. "Well, if you are interested, you or your guardians should come by the Ariadne Pavilion. Mention that Cadet Valkyrie Emily Sevensheep sent you to ask about enrolling in the school, and they'll give you all the information you'll need."

Clutching the broom to her chest, Yuko followed Emily's eyes as the Su-Jin stood back up. "Thank you very much, Miss Sevensheep. I'll try to do so."

Smiling, Emily turned to face her companions. "Let's finish getting statements from these girls and the librarians, then head back."

(-)

Standing together in a group, Kaede watched with Ku, Konoka, Yue and Setsuna as Emily Sevensheep and her companions flew away into the night. "I expect she'll get some kind of reward for 'recruiting' a new student to her school if you apply there Yue." Opening an eye, she glanced down at 'Baka Black.' "I wonder what she'd think if she knew your nick-name was 'Baka-Leader?'"

Holding Konoka's jacket about her shoulders and favoring a healed but still sore arm, Setsuna stepped closer to Kaede. "Think about how upset she'll be if she finds out she could have possibly swept up five of the gate-port 'terrorists...'" Glancing up, Setsuna gave Kaede a thankful nod. "Good bluff by the way. I'd just folded my tail there so no-one would step on it. I'm glad that Cadet Valkyrie didn't try to see if it was real herself!"

"Who attacked you?"

"Tsukuyomi... She's sealed my wings Kaede... I can't fly anymore... Eishun MIGHT be able to remove the seal, but..."

Both Kaede's eyes came open as she glanced fist at Setsuna then back at Konoka.

Setsuna shook her head. "She's not skilled enough to remove something so complex without causing some kind of damage..."

"That's bad. Negi needed your abilities." Using her wide reach, Kaede began herding everyone away from the library. "We need to go before someone gets too curious about us. We'll talk about it on the way to where Negi's waiting."

(-)

"Any luck?"

Looking up from concentrating on her Diarium Ejus and it's extensions, Nodoka could only shake her head in response to Nagi's question. "The link is definitely open, but there's nothing coming through!"

Leaning forward across the table he and Nodoka had been eating dinner at, Professor Bagera tapped an extended finger on the tiny dialogue-only ID diary for Ako Izumi. "These small extensions of your artifact only display thoughts as printed words, correct?" Nodoka nodded while Nagi gave the Tiger Nek-Jin a curious look. "Since nothing is being recorded, yet you say the link is open, then this 'Ako' is obviously still alive. In that case, she must be under some form of outside control. Perhaps a non-magical hypnosis, or something magical like a Doll master might use."

Looking like she'd suddenly remembered something, Nodoka reached out to pick up the ID diary. "Maybe..."

Hope finally showing on his face, Nagi leaned in over the table. "Did Master teach you something?"

Nodoka shook her head. "No. Yue had an idea where I might be able to read what people are 'seeing,' instead of what they are 'thinking.'"

Excited at first, Nagi began to worry again when he saw the troubled expression on Nodoka's face. "What's wrong?"

Setting the little book back down, Nodoka began to rub her temples as she concentrated on trying to remember the procedure for setting up the spell to alter how the Diarium Ejus read someone. "I need to merge the ID diary back into the Diarium Ejus, but unless I'm close to Ako when I do it, I won't be able to maintain the link. I've only tried this a few times in practice during the week we were on the Prophet, so the effective range is very short."

Closing his eyes, Nagi concentrated on the telepathia link through Nodoka to Haruna. ("Haruna! Could you come out to the plaza where Nodoka and I are? We're going to need you and your flying golem. Tell Chachamaru stay with Chisame, but have Kazumi come along and bring every spy golem she can spare.")

Two affirmatives, one from Haruna, and the second from Kazumi, came through the link. A third more masculine voice made itself heard as well. ("Negi, you'd better find Ako fast. Akira just told Mama she's missing. All Mama could do was to make sure Ako isn't anywhere within the range of the Chairman's control crystal. All his debt-slaves are clearly told what would happen if they strayed beyond their bounds, so he never bothered to install a longer-ranged tracking feature in any of the slave-collars.")

Dread began to fill Negi's heart. (" What happens?")

Worry equal to his own came back with Haruna's answer. ("If Ako remains too far away from the Chairman's control crystal for more than twelve hours... the collar will explode...")

A gasp came from Nodoka as Nagi's emotions touched her through their link. ("Maybe I should pay Tosaka back for his help by punching him out, since he failed to let me in on that little tidbit.") Kojirou's attitude, as Nagi felt it through the link, said he would be quite willing to help him do so. ("Get here quick Kojirou.")

While Nagi waited for Haruna and her group to arrive from the arena, Kaede returned with the remaining library crew. On the way back, she'd seen Yuuna, Makie and their escort, and brought them along as well. The last two stowaways had been on the way to the arena to try and find him, and reported that they'd seen Ako being lead towards the island's western coast. That was a welcome bit of news, in that it meant they could concentrate on the western end of New Ostia, instead of it's ENTIRE expanse. Even with the abilities he and his friends could bring to bear, there was still a lot of area to cover.

Arrival of Paru and her passengers completed the group Nagi would have to search for Ako. As Chibi-Kazumi leapt from the flying golem and ran over to spread open a map of New Ostia on Nodoka's table, he paused for a moment to study the group gathered around him in the now mostly empty plaza. Not counting Chachamaru and Chisame, who were staying at the arena for their work and to make sure nothing happened to Akira and Natsumi, that gave him eleven people, plus Sayo and four more of Kazumi's spy golems.

"What about us?"

Startled out of his thoughts, Nagi turned to were Yuuna and Makie still waited with the four bodyguards they'd managed to pick up in Tempe Terra. Angry over their involvement in Asuna's death, he had welcomed their report about Ako, then promptly forgotten them. "What about you?"

Stung by the venom in Nagi's voice, Yuuna steeled herself and took a few steps forward, gesturing back with an open hand at the little group she was with. "I know you're planning to go find Ako, but you've ignored us ever since we told you what we saw! Don't you want us to help?"

Nagi turned away. "Not really. I think you've already done quite enough."

Understanding why Nagi was upset at her for disobeying his cousin Negi didn't make Yuuna any less angry for being ignored. "I think I understand why your cousin might be angry, but letting us help gives you six more people for the search!" Tears starting to form in her eyes, Yuuna snapped an arm back to point towards the Governor General's Residence. "We gave up following Ako to come tell someone what we saw, and now you don't want our help?"

Yuuna may have been speaking the truth, but Nagi still wasn't sure he wanted to trust her. "I think it might be better if you stayed here and kept out of trouble."

Fighting to control her anger over being forced to break a promise, Yuuna remained silent as Nagi once more turned back towards everyone else.

"Maybe..." Several people turned as Makie, an uncharacteristically thoughtful look on her face, tapped a finger against her chin while staring up at the night sky over New Ostia. "I've seen lots of doggy-type people around, I wonder if there are any real ones we could use to help find Ako?"

Several members of Mahora Girl's Junior High Class 3A stared open-mouthed at an oblivious Makie, then turned to look at Kojirou. The Inu-Jin boy seemed confused for a moment, then suddenly turned beet red when he realized what they must be thinking.

"NO WAY! I'M NOT GONNA' DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT!"

Hoping his friend was just reacting on impulse, Nagi began to step forward, but Yue did so first.

"Kojirou. I know you and I have had our differences in the past. You might reasonably think I would enjoy seeing you humiliated, but I would like to ask you to listen to what I'm going to say with an open mind. Okay?"

Leary about the motivations of someone he'd derisively called 'The Forehead' in the past, Kojirou considered Yue's words for a moment, then relaxed and nodded.

"Good. Now, can you track by scent or not?" Kojirou started to raise his hackles again but Yue interrupted him with a raised 'Stop!' hand. "Just yes or no. Not 'will you,' 'can you?'"

Another nod in the affirmative as Kojirou began to feel a faint bit of curiosity.

Yue smiled in response. "I've been researching your abilities, along with everyone-else's, so I think I understand a few things you might only know instinctively.' Pausing, she took a deep breath, then plunged ahead. "The Inugami you call out are independent spirits, but they're still a part of 'you,' correct?"

A big smile told Kojirou Yue had seen the light of understanding come on in his eyes. "Yes!"

Now Yue turned slightly to indicate everyone waiting for instructions in the plaza. "So, if you call out your Inugami, they'll be able to help us search using your tracking ability?"

Fists clenched with excitement, Kojirou nodded vigorously. "Inugami have many of the same abilities of the dogs or wolves they're born from, but I CAN enhance those abilities by 'loaning' my own when I call them out!"

Drawing herself to full height, Yue gave Kojirou a thumbs up, then turned to face Nagi. "There you go. Seventeen people to use for the search, plus Kazumi's spy golems and Kojirou's Inugami! If you ask me, I'm sure we can do this!"

Pausing momentarily over Yue's math, Nagi glanced first at Kaede, who gave him her own thumbs-up, then back over at Yuuna's Posse. He had to protect the other two sports-girls. Since Chachamaru was developing as Chisame's partner, she was the best choice for that, since the Ala Alba's hacker needed to stay at the arena to work on her projects. Beyond that concession, he realized he could not afford to waste a single resource in the effort to find Ako. Sighing in resignation, he looked down at the map Kazumi had spread out on the table Nodoka was using. ("I have no idea what I'm really doing. The only experience I have in 'searching' is in looking for things in a library...") As that germ of a thought began to turn in his head, he looked up again at everyone waiting for him to decide what to do. ("I've always said I want to protect my students, but now I have to use them, perhaps even placing them in danger, or I'll never be able to find Ako...") Another sigh, turning into a look of determination. ("No choice but to have at it then!")

"Okay, everyone gather around." After the shortest of those present took seats or knelt around the table, and the tallest stood to make room and moved in as close as they could, Nagi reached out to sweep his hand along a ridge running across New Ostia. "The two paths onto the western end of the island are here," A pointed finger indicated the area of the Governor-General Residence. "and here." The finger moved to point at a village called Asut'sh at the other end of the ridge. "Yuuna and Makie saw Ako near the Governor General's residence, so I'll take our main group through there and search towards the resort area, and Pinhe Village."

Turning towards the ringleader of the stowaways, Nagi gave Yuuna a stern look. She gulped, then stood up a little straighter. ("I don't like it, but the determination she's displayed in the past, along with guilt over what happened to Asuna, might be just the motivation Yuuna needs to do what I tell her to.") "Miss Akashi, I'm going to ask something of you, despite my better judgment, precisely because you HAVE shown leadership potential in the past. The one thing I will ask beforehand though is this; Will you do, EXACTLY, as you're told, and not go haring off beyond that?"

Death had been the heavy price paid for her disobedience back in England. A price paid by her classmate Asuna Kagurazaka. Looking at the expression on the face of her homeroom professor's cousin, Yuuna swore to herself she'd not be a disappointment to Negi again. "Yes Sir. I'll do as you say."

After a small smile, Nagi pointed at Asut'sh village. "When we divide up, I want you to search through the edge of the city over towards here, then move up the coast towards Pinhe Village. Your job is to prevent whomever took Ako from being able to circle back into the main part of the city. Understand?"

Looking at the map and thinking about it in the way she might form a zone defense to prevent someone from scoring in basketball, Yuuna drew a finger across the paths leading to Asut'sh, then up towards Pinhe. "Make sure there's no sign of Ako through here, then come here and keep who ever it is from getting by, right?"

"Yes. We'll give you Sayo and a golem, and a pair of Inugami as backup to check for her scent as you go. That should be enough for what you're doing." Turning to Yue, Nagi pointed at the rocky ridge. "Yue, you, Nodoka and Haruna make sure Ako isn't in the area between Lake Pinhe and Asut'sh, then meet up with Yuuna's Posse in Pinhe. Your group and Yuuna's will wait there to hear from the rest of us. Nodoka will coordinate with her Telepathia Terminus from there, while Kazumi and Kojirou do so from our end."

Standing over the crowd, Kaede raised her hand for attention. "If I may?"

Nagi signaled with his hand for the pony-tailed girl to go ahead. "Since Chamo isn't here for you to 'do that' with Yuuna, and we don't have time to find the right merchant, Nodoka should add Yuuna's Posse to her telepathia list. That way there'll be one more way to communicate besides Sayo's golem."

Giving Kaede a look of thanks for reminding him of something he should have thought of, Negi looked down to see Nodoka already making ready to add the six newcomers to her diary list. Turning to Kojirou, he pointed off towards the arena. "Go call out your Inugami and see if they can pick up Ako's scent near the North entrance. If they can't, go get something of hers from Akira." Kojirou nodded and ran off. "We'll get going as soon as he gets back."

Standing near Nodoka and observing the large group of children and young adults gathered around the map on the table, Professor Calizone Bagera smiled inside at what he saw. No pretension, no arrogance, no one trying to make himself look more important than anyone else... so unlike similar groups he'd been a part of in the past. To propose searching a strange city for one of their own using such a small group, without even the thought of failure, indicated a friendship and loyalty to each other he found very inspiring. He was being swept along with them simply by his association with Nodoka Miyazaki, and it didn't bother him in the least.

(-)

"I feel like a lousy weasel! What a revoltin' situation!"

Since keeping Anya and Collet protected was R'th and T'fa's number one priority, they and the two girls had decided the only way to contact Negi or anyone else at the arena was to send Chamo.

Now, normally, Chamo would have been happy to have the undivided attention of two pretty girls, but in this case it had been the cause of humiliation. Both had rather enjoyed smearing him with hair dye so he'd look like a normal stoat-familiar, instead of a Fairy-Ermine. However, to add insult to injury, the Inu-Jin from Ariadne had stained the fur across his eyes! Now he looked like some kind of banded ferret, instead of a stoat! Still, stoats might be rare on New Ostia, but at least he wouldn't attract as much attention as a pure-white ermine would!

"I hope my sister never hears about this!"

Making his way along a footpath over the hills between Asut'sh and New Ostia, Chamo rounded a corner on the darkened trail and was suddenly confronted by the pointed snout of black-furred wolf. Yelping in panic, he scrambled to turn around and shot back down the way he'd come with the wolf in hot pursuit. Caught completely off guard by the encounter with such an unexpected creature, it was an inevitable matter of stride length. With no way to get out of what was essentially a cut through the hills, the wolf had him by the tail before he'd gone twenty-five yards.

As the wolf turned and began trotting back up the trail, Chamo began trying to swing around to scratch the wolf's muzzle and make him let go, but the creature's grip was such it was impossible to do so. ("What is with this rotten luck? If I live through this, maybe I better swear off stealin' panties!")

"Hey look! He caught a kitty!"

Hearing a familiar cheerfulness in that 'insult,' Chamo twisted around to see in the faint glow of starlight and the nearby city the wonderful profile of the twin pony-tailed 'Baka-Pink.' "Makie! Finally a familiar face! Do you know where the Negster is?"

Suddenly wide-eyed, Makie stumbled back from where she's been leaning down to see what Kojirou's doggy had caught. "The kitty talked!"

Having the wolf put him down relaxed Chamo enough to recognize it as one of Kotaro Murakami's Inugami. "Thanks pal! Tell your master who ya' caught!"

"Looks like a stoat-familiar Miss Sasaki, and he acts like he knows you."

Approaching out of the darkness, Chamo saw a male-female pair of long-haired rogues and a familiar doll floating on some kind of golem. "Sayo! Where's the boss?"

Flitting down towards the ground, Sayo stared at the brown and cream colored stoat for a moment. "If you ARE Negi's familiar Chamo, how come you're not white?"

Feeling a vein pop-out on his forehead in frustration, Chamo stood up on his hind legs and started shaking a paw. "I'd prove to who I was by telling you about all the panties of yours I'd stolen, but you're a ghost who only wears boring old-style bloomers! How about I talk about all of Kazumi's panties I've stolen instead! You ditzy girls have a class full of dye-jobs, and you don't recognize one when you see it?"

("Makie, what's going on over there?")

Still leery about the talking kitty, Makie 'thought' back at Yuuna on the next path closer to the coast. ("The doggy caught a kitty that says it knows Negi! It's dark-colored though, I thought Negi's pet was white?")

("Just bring it along and hurry up! We'll meet in Asut'sh and figure it out there!")

Pouting, Makie got up and went over to pick the kitty up. As she and the others continued along the path to Asut'sh, she put the kitty in one hand and wiped the other on her clothes. "Ewww! His fur feels funny!"

Groaning, Chamo shook his head at Baka-Pink being Baka-Pink. ("To think the fate of the world could depend on someone as dense as Makie helping the Negster!")

(-)

A 'Thunk!' sounded as Hau Pepelu threw away a dagger and it stabbed into the floor of the small room in Pinhe Village she'd brought the debt-slave from the arena to. As much as she wanted to hurt a Springfield, even with everything she'd done in service to the Separatists, she had still never been so ruthlessly cold-blooded as to kill someone as helpless as this pale-haired girl sitting before her now.

She couldn't do it.

Standing and turning from where the girl sat blank-eyed against the wall, she went over to where the petrified body of her dead partner stood in the middle of the room. "WHY? Why can't I bring this to an end so I can be with you again? What have I not finished that I can't do this?"

Flowing tears produced no response from the silent statue, but once more, from within the sounds of her sobbing, the 'loudness' of a pounding heart, and the rustling of leaves outside the window of her small room, came the familiar refrain; ("Wait.")

Falling to her knees, Hau stared up at the silent statue. "Why... I miss you so much! Why does it seem like you keep telling me to wait?" A short distance away, the discarded dagger stood point first in the wooden floor, but she felt no desire to pick it up. ("I can't take this any more...") Looking back, she could see the slave collar around Ako Izumi's neck. ("It's been nearly twelve hours... If I'm close enough when it goes off...")

Standing once more, Hau went over and took Ako's hand. "Come on." The girl stood, Hau covered her head with the hood of the cloak she wore, put her own hood up, then lead the way out of the room. A short walk brought both of them to the observation platform who's railing she'd stood on so many times in the past month. The morning sun was brightly illuminating New Ostia behind her, and was even beginning to burn away some of the mist covering the wreckage of Old Ostia visible in the valley below.

As she watched, Hau saw a dragon of some type fly from one of the fallen islands to another. Large and as frightening as they could be, seeing one in flight was always an impressive sight. ("How fitting for my last day of life... I always did like dragons...")

"Hello there. Would you mind if we talked for a moment?"

Turning, Hau saw a pretty, dark-haired girl holding a book standing by the stairs leading down from the observation platform. At the bottom of the stairs stood a group of people who also seemed interested in what was going on. ("Well, just a little bit more, and they'll all get a show...") "Go away. I don't want any company."

As worried as she was for Ako, Nodoka felt the hurt in the Inu-Jin's words, and kept her attention focused there. "Won't you at least tell me your name? I've seen you now, so it's too late to say I won't be involved if you do something. Can't you at least grant me that, Miss...?"

Observing the tension in the girl speaking to her, and seeing similar looks on the persons at the bottom of the stairs, Hau realized they were probably friends of Ako. Giving her name could create a vulnerability to the very thing she'd done to the debt-slave girl, but her defenses against such should last long enough for it not to matter. "Hau, Hau Pepelu..."

After pausing for a moment, the girl made a polite bow of greeting. "My name is Nodoka Miyazaki. I'm pleased to meet you, Miss Pepelu."

Relaxing slightly, Hau made a curt bow in return. "Is this girl your friend?"

Forcing herself to remain calm, Nodoka silently mouthed the spell needed to connect her to the sad-looking Inu-Jin girl holding Ako. "Yes she is. Because of that, don't you think I might like to know why you seem to want to kill her?"

Even with the life of her friend on the line, this person remained calm, and seemed perfectly content to listen to what Hau might want to say. "Because a Springfield killed my partner! We were just doing our jobs, taking what we thought was Negi Springfield back to our employer after he was arrested in Dracogenia, but it turned out to just be a paper golem! When it attacked our employer, my partner was caught in the fight, petrified, and killed!" Realizing she'd been shouting, Hau calmed down. Amongst the group of people at the bottom of the stairs was small girl with a broom who looked as if she were about to be sick. ("This girl's a mind-reader! And her friend was linked in with her!") "I'm going to make a Springfield pay, even if it isn't the one responsible for my partner being killed. If you try something, you'll get hurt to!"

Behind her, Nodoka could hear Yue's distress, and it was taking all she had not to do anything more than start crying herself. "Mi... Miss Hau... I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry! Won't you please let my friend go? It wasn't Negi's fault..."

Feeling her cheeks flush with anger, Hau raised a fist and shook it at Nodoka. "How would you know? You'll say anything to keep your friend alive!"

Tears streaming down her face, Nodoka began walking towards Hau. Behind her she could hear someone, or several someones, creeping up the stairs. "Yes, I would do such a thing, but it isn't Negi's fault. I did it. Me and two of my friends. WE sent the golem."

Hau stared at Nodoka as the girl stopped several paces away. "Why should I believe you?"

Trying hard to smile, Nodoka took another step forward. "Because even if you choose to hurt me, please don't make my friend pay for something she wasn't involved with." Holding out her hand, Nodoka took another step forward. "Won't you please just come and talk with me a little more?"

Looking at the black-haired girl standing before her, Hau saw none of the desperation one might expect, just real sorrow over something she'd done. Part of her was shouting to jump, to pull Ako with her and exact a price no matter who suffered. That other voice though, always saying ("Wait,") this time said ("Go.") That the path forward was with this girl, and not over the railing and into an ultimately fatal plunge.

Completely focused on Hau, so as not to miss any indication the girl might try to jump, Nodoka started at the sound of a shout and the sharp 'CRACK!' of Yuuna's grenade-gun going off. Just as she turned to look, something shot through the space she'd turned out of, tearing the hood from her coat. There was a sickening 'THUD!' and something warm splattered across the side of her face. As more shouting and the sounds of additional spells going off sounded behind her, she turned back to see Hau, her hand extended, standing there and impaled below the ribs with a stone spear.

Realizing with the clarity of someone about to die that the stone spear had been meant for both she and Nodoka, Hau looked up in the direction the attack must have come from. On the roof of a nearby building, she could see the white-haired boy she hated more than Negi Springfield shaking his head while multiple spell-shots and normal Sagita dispersed against his defenses. Suddenly looking off in another direction, he seemed to sigh, then turned and leapt away. She convulsed, spitting up blood and closing a hand on Ako's cloak, felt herself loosing control of her Doll master magic, then fell backward over the observation platform's railing.

Makie Sasaki wasn't really sure how she accomplished her response to Ako's suddenly self-aware scream of terror, especially considering it involved a simple k-bob stick. Having crept up the stairs with Yuuna, she pulled the still sauce-covered dowel from her pocket and snapped it forward just as she'd done time-and-again in rhythmic gymnastics. "Mikan-Kotatsu-Ribbon!" Considering what happened later, the only reason she could think of for why a pink ribbon of energy shot out from the used stick to wrap itself around Ako and arrest her fall was something Johnny had tried to explain to her back in Tempe-Terra:

"Listen Makie, half-the point in successfully using magic is believing you can. Even a little doubt can weaken what you're trying to do and make the effort worthless."

She was too scared to think beyond trying to save Ako's life, so the spell worked.

Ako's shriek cutting off as she slammed into the rocks below the railing broke Nodoka out of her near-death shock. Rushing to where Makie's ribbon went over the platform railing, she looked down to see a nearly hysterical Ako clinging with a death grip to Hau Pepelu's cloak. All the blood the Inu-Jin had lost, along with waking up in such a situation had the girl so wired on adrenaline she'd forgotten to faint like she normally might. "Hang on Ako! We'll get you up!"

Grabbing onto the cloak of the person falling with her had been a panic reaction. now Ako's screams turned from those of panic to pain as the dead weight of the person she held began putting unaccustomed strain on her shoulder.

Grabbing the pink ribbon, Nodoka began trying to pull Ako up. She could see the frightened look in Makie's eyes as the pink-haired girl behind her began slipping closer to the railing, and knew the two of them were fighting a loosing battle. "Somebody please help us!"

("Hold on Little Miss! Help's on the way!")

Panty-thief or not, Nodoka welcomed the unexpected intrusion of Albert Chamomile's mental voice as it forced itself into the Telepathia Terminus link. From her left, a staff-rider came in, made a quick circle, and moved in to take the weight off Ako's arm by picking up Hau. At first she thought it was Negi by the shape of the staff, but it wasn't. As an Inu-Jin girl with glasses she didn't recognize began to lift Hau onto the platform, other hands were suddenly at her side to help pull Ako Izumi to safety.

As soon as the pale-haired girl was securely back on solid ground, Makie's ribbon faded away and Ako promptly fainted.

With Yuuna's Posse watching their backs, Yue and Haruna ran up onto the observation platform. Seeing Ako was safe, Yue pointed at Haruna. "Flying golem NOW! Take Ako and go!"

Haruna quickly complied, summoned the golem, loaded Ako's limp form, and was gone. Yue could see most of the other search team running along the coast road to join them. Turning to watch as an unfamiliar Kit-Jin and Nek-Jin removed the stone spear and tried to stop Hau's bleeding, she realized Konoka would probably be too late to save the quickly fading girl.

Rushing up the stairs after coming out of the hiding place she'd shared with Collet Farandole, Anya Cocorowa saw what was happening and realized there might be one chance to keep the Inu-Jin alive long enough for the Ala Alba's healer to save her. "Get out of the way!"

Looking up, T'fa Kij'tsu saw what Anya was preparing and backed away, pulling the dark-haired mind-reader with him. His partner did the same with the pink-ribbon girl.

Yue watched as Anya pulled out her small staff. Too late to intervene, she realized the type of spell the girl was going to cast.

"ΑΙΟΝΙΟΝ ΠΕΤΡΩΣΙΣ!"

There was a burst of flame-smoke similar to a fireball, and when it cleared, Hau lay petrified on the observation platform.

"Let's get out of here!"

Grabbing Anya's shoulder, Yue pulled the girl around to look into her face. "Why did you do that?"

Not in the mood for any complaints, Anya turned on Yue. "If she's petrified, doesn't that extend the time Konoka has to heal her in? Now quit complaining and let's get out of here! R'th says this kind of commotion will bring the do-gooders faster than you can say your name!"

Anya started back down the stairs as the two who'd appeared with her directed Yuuna's Posse to help them carry Hau away in a cloak-stretcher.

At the head of the pack, Nagi and the remaining searchers arrived just as those carrying Hau's petrified form reached the bottom of the stairs. "Ako?"

Pointing towards the arena, Nodoka nodded her head. "Haruna took her back! She's safe Professor! We still need to do something here though!"

Looking around, Nagi saw the six people holding the rolled cloak, gave Anya a quick smile of relief, then pointed at Konoka, Nodoka and Yue. "We're staying with Yuuna's Posse and Anya's group! Everyone else go back! Kaede and Setsuna! You're in charge!"

Following Nodoka's directions, Nagi's group moved off towards Pinhe Village, while the rest of the Ala Alba dispersed like leaves in the wind.

Much to the chagrin of the Valkyries sent to investigate the fight near Pinhe village, there was nothing left to see by the time they arrived except a few Sagita-scarred buildings and blood-smeared paving stones.

tsuzuku.

(-)

Author's Notes:

I should have mentioned this before to avoid confusion, but in some cases where a member of the Ala Alba is using a glamour, age-changing pastille, or other form of disguise, their 'alternate' name will be used to indicate this. Thusly:

Negi Springfield: Nagi Springfield. (Human)
Kotaro Murakami: Kojirou Oogami. (Wolf-boy)
Konoka Konoe: Lady Kon. (Chibi-Human)
Yue Ayase: Yuko Taizo. (Chibi-Human)
Setsuna Sakurazaki: Sae Aoyama. (Cat-girl)
Kaede Nagase: Chiho Masuda. (Dog-girl)
Ku Fei: Ling S'en. (Elf)
Nodoka Miyazaki: Nodo Zosho. (Rabbit-girl)
Kazumi Asakura: Kazu Papara. (Chibi-Human)
Chisame Hasegawa: Chiu Tan. (Chibi-Human)
Haruna Saotome: Paru Sama. (Chibi-Human)
Chachamaru: Cha-ni Hakase. (Metal golem)
Anya Cocorowa: Anna. (Human)
Collet Farandole: Colly. (Dog-girl.)

Asuna Kagurazaka: Asuna Vesperina Teotanasia Enteofushia. "The Imperial Princess of the Twilight."

"ΑΙΟΝΙΟΝ ΠΕΤΡΩΣΙΣ!" Aionion Petorosis. Non-permanent petrification attack.

Why Anya can use this spell is hinted at in c15, "Garden of Stone."

"Mikan-Kotatsu-Ribbon!" Makie Sasaki's ribbon spell. A variation of the Aer-Capture spell. Useful for grabbing various things at a distance.

Kazumi Asakura's 'Oculus Corvinus' spy golems:

One on the Estimated Prophet.
One posted to observe the arena and act as a 'Line-of-Sight' communication relay if necessary.
Sayo Special.
Three spares.

Chapter 29: An Open Frequency.