Ala Alba in the World of Magic

by Makuhari-Fan01

AU adventures of the Ala Alba in the World of Magic. Chapter 54: The End. SPOILER ALERT! AU story occuring after c189.

45. Chap 45: Confrontation

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.

All cameo characters are the property of their respective creators and owners, not me.

Several events in this chapter tie-in to things which happen later, (time-wise,) in Kafka'sdragons 'Markham Chronicles Negima.' Particularly the second 'book;' 'Other Side of the Mirror.' While it is not necessary to read that story in the immediate context of Ala Alba, I certainly recommend doing so.

Thanks again Kafka'sdragon, for all the help you've given me.

SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.

(-)

"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
-Attributed to the being known eventually as the Life Giver. From a surviving fragmentary text of; 'A History of the First Crisis.'"

(-)

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

Chapter Forty-five: Confrontation. (Day Seven.)

(-)

(Magic World MahoNet.)

"Mistress Chiu! Wake up!"

One moment Chisame Hasegawa was complementing her Sprite Mouse Hanpe on his handling of a particularly bothersome defense program, and the next, she felt an incredible pain in her chest before everything went black...

Flitting around uselessly over the unmoving, prostrate form of his Mistress, Hanpe finally thought to activate the window which would show what was happening back in Asu'tush Village. Sitting next to the unchanged Chachamaru, Chisame's body now wore the gray pallor of someone who had been completely petrified... Even though he was a higher, more intelligent form of Sprite, the image in the window set off another round of panicked worrying.

Somewhere, Chisame could hear her name being called. ("What's going on? If I was petrified like Chachamaru worried might happen, why can I still think and hear?")

Looking down and seeing one of Mistress Chiu's fingers twitch, Hanpe quickly landed and began shaking that finger. "Mistress Chiu!"

With everything that was going on, with the seriousness of the unreality she might have been petrified for all eternity, it was the point of a rude joke related to what Hanpe was doing that finally broke Chisame free from her stupor.

"MISTRESS CHI-bugweeh!"

Leaning down hard on Hanpe, Chisame began lifting herself into a sitting position. "Stop doing that you silly mouse!"

As his Mistress sat up and began rubbing the spot above her heart, Hanpe moved to hover where she could see him. "Mistress Chiu! Please forgive me! I was so worried when I saw your body had been petrified back in the real world!"

Looking up at the holo-window Hanpe had opened, Chisame gave a shudder at the scene displayed inside the room which used to belong to Ako's kidnapper. "Why can I even be here to look at this?"

As his Mistress pulled herself back into a standing position, Hanpe quickly activated and began to study several informational and system status windows. "I'm not sure. There isn't any immediately accessible record of someone being petrified in such a situation before." After a few more moments, he finally shook his head and closed all the windows." It might be that you're so deep into the MahoNet it's the equivalent of an out of body experience."

Kneeling for a few seconds, Chisame picked up the gaudy gold-trimmed hat and corn-cob pipe that were a part of her current virtual perception image costume. ("Wonderful. More weirdness. I wonder if the same thing happened to Shiori?") Being quite deliberate, she put the hat back on, then clamped the pipe between her teeth. ("That brat Negi better win! If he doesn't do so and cure me, I swear I'll come back and haunt him forever!") "What's everyone's current status?"

Manipulating his controls, Hanpe quickly brought up several new displays. "Things are not good Mistress Chiu. We've lost all contact with V-Chao, Daiko and Negi in Megalo-Mesembria. Still no confirmation of Konnya's status beyond an indirect hint he was okay sent by Negi. Chikuwafu said he was going to come here through Vulcan when the link to Megalo-Mesembria was cut, but there's been no word from him since. Kincha and Shirataki should both be in the Ostia area, and the data-link to Nyandom is open, but I haven't heard anything from Chachamaru since her message she was beating off an attack trying to come through that server."

Realizing Hanpe might be the only Sprite regiment leader she still had left, Chisame wondered for a moment what would happen to the Spiritus Electronicus if he was lost as well. "Okay, everyone has instructions on what to do in an emergency, so dwelling on maybes won't get us anywhere. If the worst happens, I should be able to re-summon your fellows by cycling my artifact, right?"

Not liking the implications of Mistress Chiu's words, Hanpe nodded. "All the data they might have collected since your last contact and hard save will be lost, but yes."

Turning from Hanpe, Chisame looked up at a darkly ominous mountain in the center of the virtual island image representing the data storage areas of Argyre's servers. "Have you figured out what that is yet?"

After opening up two new windows showing security information, Hanpe shook his head. "Mistress Chiu. It appears to be information storage outside the immediate scope of the activities of King Enteofushia and his associates as they concern the Ala Alba. I haven't tried accessing it yet because it's protected by a type of security protocol we've not encountered before. It might even be wise to leave it alone..."

Something about the mountain made Chisame feel queasy, almost ill, but if the security for such a place in the servers was that heavy, then the reward would surely be commiserate with the risk. "Bring in that last division of mini-A.I. soldiers. Since V-Chao isn't here to help you, I'll direct the attack myself."

(-)

An annoyingly beeping alarm brought Shiori Hohoemu back to full awareness. Blinking, she looked down at the virtual controls of her Sprite Management System to find she was about to enter the servers in Argyre. As the various virtual ships moving through the data link continued exchanging fire under their previous programing, slow adjustments to several controls finally brought up an image of her body in the Argyre Legation.

Beneath the unchanged holo-helm for the Sprite Regiment Control System, Shiori saw that her real body was quite petrified. That sight told her everything she would ever need to know about Homura. In addition, her body being petrified meant that Master Fate had initiated his plans. It was now quite beyond the point where she would be able to escape and join everyone at the Temple of Chandika...

Master Fate had never told Shiori, or any of his other Ministra except perhaps Shirabe, everything that was supposed to happen. However, he had repeatedly made it clear to them the importance of being ready to leave when the time came. If something really bad was going to happen... then without some unexpected reprieve, she was most likely going to die...

Despair tried to tighten its grip on her heart, but Shiori grimly suppressed it. Now, because of her own choices and Homura's betrayal, there was nothing left but to try and complete one last task. If losing her life was to have any meaning, she had to stop Chisame. If that could be done, hopefully she would be remembered by her few real friends, and her parents would be proud when she finally joined them.

(-)

Watching as the Sprite Regiment Transports began to maneuver to bring in the last reserves of mini-A.I. soldier programs, Chisame had every expectation they would be able to conquer anything she directed them against. Despite Hanpe's worries, it was all a simple matter of mathematics, one of the few 'real' things she could still believe in in this crazy fantasy world. Nothing she'd encountered so far in the Argyre servers had been able to stand against what the little programs could do. Inexorably, the defenses would be swamped, and whatever information that mountain represented would be hers.

As he worked at organizing what was left of the original groups of mini-A.I. soldier programs, to create a new reserve 'just in case,' Hanpe was distracted by a loud 'BEEP!' from the minimized holo-window set up to monitor for data traffic coming into Argyre. Maximizing the window, he saw that a pair of small programs were about to enter through the data-link from Tristan. Both were tagged as part of the escort fleet programs Daiko had been using to help V-Chao, so they didn't represent a threat. Unfortunately, other programs, following right behind, were unknowns. Considering V-Chao would have taken great pains to make sure she was easily identifiable, the unknowns could only be one thing. "Mistress Chiu! Enemy programs are about to enter from Tristan!"

Considering the resources she'd dedicated to keeping that route secure, Chisame found Hanpe's pronouncement worrisome in the extreme. "Wha... what happened to V-Chao? She..." Remembering how Chao's program had warned against the possibility of such happening, she realized Shiori had probably used her processor killing virus against the Megalo-Mesembrian servers. Hopefully, V-Chao had managed to escape, and hadn't been destroyed as a result. "Ha... Hanpe! Forget that! Send everything you can after the enemy fleet, then call Chachamaru for help, NOW!"

Though he had no choice but to obey his Mistress, Hanpe wondered if her commands would actually do any good. "The units we have left weren't designed for high-powered fighting Mistress. They won't last long..."

Calling up her own virtual control panel, Chisame began working to create firewall defenses with the few resources she had left. "We don't have any choice! V-Chao's probably too far gone for now to help! That means the only thing left we can do is hunker down and hope we can hold out until Chachamaru gets here!"

(-)

Out in the virtual sea of the Argyre servers, the remains of Daiko's escort fleet appeared from the data-link to Tristan. Firing back with their tiny pop-gun attack routines, a single empty carrier for A.I. attackers and its damaged scout program escort reacted to Hanpe's orders and turned back towards their pursuers. Both immediately became the focus of the first program to come through after them. Firing rapidly and taking hits in return, they closed on one of Shiori's scout escorts, sandwiched it between themselves, and rammed. Unable to withstand the forced integration of their program code, all three evaporated in a bright yellow flash.

Watching from nearby, Chikuwafu ignored the virtual immolation of the three virtual ships and focused instead on the next program to enter the server. One of Shiori's firewall crackers, the program was a greater threat than almost anything else the Eru-Jin possessed.

By abandoning the second stealth program he had been controlling, Chikuwafu managed to increase his transfer speed through the Eos-Vulcan-Argyre data-link. Arriving in Argyre undetected, he had waited silently, hoping the opportunity now before him wouldn't actually present itself. With a single touch to his control Keyboard, six viral attacks were sent on their way.

Responding quickly to a now familiar type of attack, the firewall cracker began a hard turn toward the virus torpedoes with the intent of combing their wakes. Most were avoided, but two still found their mark. However, lodging in less critical area's of code, the damage was easily contained. Reacting to the approach of more enemies, the firewall cracker turned to confront them.

Following in the firewall cracker's wake, three scout escorts entered the server. In response to the attack on their larger companion, they turned to seek out the responsible enemy program.

Faced with such a strong threat, Chikuwafu had no choice but to go defensive and hope he would be able to break free to continue helping his Mistress.

(-)

Emerging from the data-link, Shiori found herself already immersed in battle. To one side her last few scout escorts were attacking what they reported was a stealth program. Closer to the main area of the server, her last firewall cracker was being swarmed by, of all things, Sprite Regiment Transports! Last out of the link were her two surviving heavy attack programs. These Shiori immediately instructed to defend the firewall cracker. As one-sided as the battle should have been, the transports actually stood a chance. One badly aimed shot, and the firewall-cracker would be destroyed by the powerful but indiscriminate fire of its allies.

Despite the potential for a negative outcome, Shiori felt herself grow tense with excitement as the fight developed. On its own, the firewall cracker pulverized one of the transports, then immediately switched its fire to the next closest threat. Beyond that, fire from the attack routines of the Sprite Management system disintegrated another in an instant. The next three were methodically smashed by fire of the heavy attack programs. Unfortunately, as the firewall-cracker destroyed its second target, one last transport emerged from the virtual smoke pouring from the ruins of its companions. Before it could be taken under fire, the transport crashed into the side of its target. Both programs staggered, going dead in the water. As soon as everything settled, little A.I soldier programs swarmed from the transport and began storming the firewall-cracker.

Giving a small smile of admiration at the desperate audacity of what she'd just seen, Shiori cut herself off from the quickly succumbing program and turned her attention towards the real target. In the distance, she could see the virtual island that had to be the focus of Chisame's efforts in the Argyre servers. With no other dangerous enemies afloat, and the stealth program pinned down, her main system and the two remaining heavy attack programs should be plenty to secure victory.

As what was left of her fleet closed on its target, Shiori began to feel a tiny bit of regret. Even though Chisame was an enemy, the girl had been one of the few to respect her point of view about Nagi Springfield. ("I'm sorry Chisame... I really do wish there'd been a chance for us to be friends...")

Out on the broad deck of Shiori's virtual ship, three massive triple-barreled turrets and two smaller companions representing the Sprite Management Systems attack routines trained out to Starboard. Behind her, the turrets on the last two heavy attack programs followed suit. All three ships turned parallel to the virtual island representing the data storage area of the Argyre server, and after a short pause, opened fire.

(-)

First came a series of bright flashes which obscured the three ships out in the virtual sea, next a kind of crackling boom Chisame felt deep in her chest more than heard, and finally, a series of tremendous explosions as columns of sand and shattered rock erupted skyward just behind the beach.

On Hanpe's suggestion, Chisame had taken all the data she'd recovered so far and established her firewall bunker under a sand dune right on the beach. Now, as Shiori fired again and began ripping apart the virtual island behind her, the Sprite Regiment Leader's suggestion seemed to be paying off. Despite the unbelievably loud noise and an intense shaking that seemed like a prolonged earthquake, the two of them were safe for the moment. After several more attacks, Chisame realized Shiori almost seemed to be shooting at random. "Hanpe, does the shooting pattern make any sense to you?"

As a series of distant booms announced Shiori was firing again, Hanpe quickly went through what little information he had available. "Mistress Chiu. If what I can tell about the programs Shiori has left is correct, she's lost the capability to detect specific targets and use precise attacks..." Beginning further in from the beach and reaching towards the mountain Chisame had been about to attack, a new round of heavy explosions sent the splintered remains of jungle vegetation flying into the air. "...so it may be that she is making area attacks, hoping to hit you."

Another rumble out on the ocean was followed almost instantly by a ripping sound.

Virtual sweat suddenly pouring from his brow, Hanpe turned to Chisame. "MISTRESS! This round of attacks is going to hit the beach!"

Not really knowing what else to do, Chisame threw herself to the ground. An instant later an overlapping series of thunderclaps worse than anything she'd ever heard before rocked the firewall bunker. A detached part of her mind registered that someone was screaming, but it wasn't until the violent shaking subsided that she realized the screams were coming from her own mouth.

Emerging from a virtual mouse-hole he'd created for himself just before the attack came in; Hanpe quickly reactivated his control panel. Many of the indicators for the firewall bunker showed almost completely red, but almost in this case was good enough. As long as each showed even the tiniest bit of green, that meant nothing had penetrated. As Chisame got up and gave a shudder, he began to work on reestablishing everything as quickly as possible.

Looking down at her shaking hands, Chisame wondered briefly what would happen if she died inside the virtual world of the Spiritus Electronicus. Would she be trapped forever as some kind of electronic ghost with no hope for escape? Or would it just be like a normal death were she went to whatever her afterlife would be? Clenching both hands into fists, she worked to calm their shaking. A prolonged, full body shudder finally managed to focus her attention once again on the 'now,' so she turned to face Hanpe. "How are we doing?"

Shiori's ship's fired again, but Hanpe could tell immediately on his monitor windows that the target area was once again further inland. "All recovered data is still secure. The firewalls were all reduced to from four to seven percent effectiveness, but they held. I'm now working at reestablishing them."

As the rumble from the latest attack sounded in the distance, Chisame reactivated her own control panel. Before she could start helping Hanpe, a warning from the Spiritus Electronicus' anti-intrusion function began to flash on her screen. Confused by what it showed, she stepped over to the firewall bunker's 'door' and went outside. Up on the slope of the virtual mountain, a fountain of molten rock was spewing forth. "Hanpe! What's going on?"

Joining his Mistress, Hanpe watched the virtual pyrotechnics for a moment before returning to his control panel. Surfing rapidly through several displays, he finally found what he was looking for. "Mistress Chiu. It appears that data storage area is self-destructing. Whatever programs were protecting it reacted to the damage caused by Shiori's brute force attacks and activated. Data recovery from that area is now impossible." Seeing another warning indicator activate, Hanpe quickly investigated it. "It seems as though some kind of free ranging security program has also been activated. It is not an immediate threat, but I recommend we not do anything to draw its attention."

Turning to look out towards Shiori's ships just as they fired again, Chisame felt a touch of concern. ("Why would she risk activating something like that... unless she doesn't know about it?") "Could Shiori be in danger? She caused the damage..."

A swift working of his paws brought up a new window for Hanpe. "For now, no. She is as safe in her Sprite Management System as we are behind our firewalls."

Moving back to her own controls, Chisame started as the data traffic window Hanpe was watching activated again and maximized. "Now what?"

Not liking what he was seeing, Hanpe turned to face Chisame. "An unidentified program is coming in from Nyandom. Shiori is between us and the link, so if it's sending out an identifier, I can't read it without revealing our position to her."

Gritting her teeth, Chisame racked her brain for any option that might help if Chachamaru had been defeated and Shiori was about to be reinforced. There weren't any. "I... I think we could really be in trouble now Hanpe..."

(-)

Frustration seemed to be Shiori's lot. Loss of the last firewall cracker had taken away her ability to precisely identify and attack a specific target, and now an unknown program was coming into Argyre from Nyandom. She had never expected that fleet to win, so it was probably reinforcements for Chisame. Reluctantly, she turned her fleet away from trying to destroy Negi Springfield's MahoNet Ministra, and towards the more immediate threat.

Expecting more of what she'd been fighting all along, Shiori waited until the program was about to appear, then opened fire.

Unfortunately, what appeared was not a ship, but a tiny flying humanoid. Easily dodging the clumsy fire of Shiori's virtual ships, the blue and white humanoid flew past her Sprite Management System and came to a halt next to the first heavy attack program. There was a small flash, and the humanoid was suddenly holding what seemed to be some form of cannon.

Surprised by the introduction of something outside the Virtual Perception Image she'd grown used to, Shiori could only watch as the cannon wielding humanoid fired, and the heavy attack program was effortlessly cut in half. Hesitation, combined with the time it took her to direct energy back into the smaller attack routines gave the new enemy time to destroy the last heavy attack program. Attempts to hit the nimble target proved futile, and it wasn't long before the virtual ship representing her Sprite Management System took its first hit...

(-)

Emerging from her firewall bunker as soon as Hanpe reported Shiori was under attack, Chisame watched as the MosKos costumed Chachamaru tore what was left of Shiori's fleet apart. Two shots sufficed to finish the heavy attack programs before Chachamaru turned her attention to what had to be Shiori's Sprite Management System.

As the huge virtual ship took repeated hits and began to sink, Chisame suddenly remembered the security program Hanpe had mentioned. If it went after Shiori, and she couldn't log out...

A few quick steps, then an all out run took Chisame to the edge of the water. Not knowing if the Virtual Perception Image would even permit it, she jumped into the air. In an instant, the annoying khaki's were gone, replaced by the much more familiar Biblio Roulin Rogue ensemble, and off she went into the sky. "Chachamaru! Stop shooting!"

Turning from what would have been a shot into the bridge of the slowly sinking ship; Chachamaru monitored her target attentively as Chisame flew out to meet her. "Miss Hasegawa, why should I stop? It is best to continue until there is no chance for the enemy to recover."

Gliding to a stop, Chisame pointed down at the sinking virtual ship. "Shiori's probably petrified just like I am! If you destroy her system before the petrification is cured, she might not be able to log out!"

After a glance at a virtual ship that was nearly on its side in the water, Chachamaru nodded and de-summoned her combined heavy attack-program cannon. "Very well. Considering the current state of her system, I recommend we try to recover Miss Shiori at once. If you take her into the Spiritus Electronicus, the odds of her survival and eventual recovery should increase significantly."

With a nod, Chisame moved down along the sinking ship's superstructure until she finally spotted the Eru-Jin girl inside one of the bridge levels. "SHIORI!"

(-)

A garbled shout and an odd pounding pulled Shiori's attention away from watching numbly as the virtual sea climbed closer to where she stood in the control station for her Sprite Management System. Looking up, she saw Chisame and the blue and white humanoid hovering outside the bridge windows. Instead of looking in at her with expressions of triumph, both seemed strangely worried. When she failed to respond, Chisame's companion drew back a fist, then punched through the window both of them had been looking through.

As soon as Chachamaru cleared away the shattered fragments, Chisame pushed through the window and held out her hand. "Shiori! Come on! You need to get out of here!"

Looking down, Shiori stared blankly at one of her hands. ("Escape? When I've lost? Wouldn't accepting help from a Nagi Springfield supporter mean I've been wrong all along?")

Seeing Shiori's fatalistic expression, Chisame forced herself to calm down. "Please Shiori. I won't try to change your mind right now. I just want us to be able to talk about it later when the situation isn't so dangerous."

Despite the reluctance she still felt, Shiori slowly started to reach out for Chisame's hand.

A blaring alarm suddenly activated on one of the few still functioning consoles in the virtual ship's bridge. Before Shiori, Chisame, or Chachamaru could react, a boiling black mass smashed open the side of the bridge which was already touching the water.

Clammy, clinging tentacles touching her in disgustingly repulsive ways, the smell of melting fabric, and the fear of being eaten alive and dying with no one around to even know she'd gone...

Shiori's frightened screaming finally broke Chisame free of the paralyzing anxiety resulting from her worst memory of the Magic World. Renewing her efforts to get inside the failing Sprite Management System's bridge, she kicked harshly at whatever was holding her back and stretched out as far as possible. Just a tap, a teasing brush of the tips of her fingers against Shiori's, was all she could manage before the writhing tentacles pulled the desperately struggling Eru-Jin away.

As Shiori was swallowed up, but before the tentacles inside the bridge could begin to reach for new prey, Chachamaru finally pulled Chisame back out into the open. Dodging the first few attempts of the security program to come after her, she quickly rocketed skyward.

Sobbing and still struggling, Chisame held out a slowly lowering hand towards someone who was now quite beyond her reach. "Why did you hold me back, Chachamaru? I could have saved Shiori..."

Like something out of a Jules Verne nightmare, a monstrous creature began wrapping its tentacles around the remains of Shiori's Sprite Management System virtual ship. As she and Chisame watched from a safe distance, Chachamaru shook her head. "That is an extremely powerful security program, Miss Hasegawa. Since we aren't properly prepared to confront it, you would have simply been seized as well."

With a roaring whoosh of spray, Shiori's Sprite Management System ship was pulled beneath the virtual waves, leaving nothing behind but a few wisps of smoke and the swirling foam of a quickly dispersing whirlpool.

Clenching her fists, Chisame turned on Chachamaru. "What did I tell you about showing up at the last second!"

Seeing both anger and tears in Chisame's eyes, Chachamaru moved back slightly before giving a deep bow. "Please forgive my tardiness, Miss Hasegawa."

Knowing it hadn't been intentional, Chisame couldn't hold on to her anger. Reaching out, she patted Chachamaru on the shoulder, then turned to head back towards the beach. "Tha... that's okay. I'm sorry I got angry at you."

Following in Chisame's wake, Chachamaru tried to track the program which had seized Shiori. Unexpectedly, even with the data transfer restrictions of the current Virtual Perception Image, it was soon out of range. "Miss Hasegawa. Miss Shiori's 'data' was merely absorbed by that program, not destroyed. However, I can no longer detect any trace of it, anywhere within the Argyre server."

Having still held some hope of helping her former adversary, Chisame turned to Chachamaru with an expression of confusion on her face. "How is that possible? Shiori and I had all the data lines into Argyre locked down tight..."

After a few moments of data flashing across her eyes as she tried once more the find the program, Chachamaru shook her head. "That was correct. You control the lines to Nyandom and Vulcan, and the line to Megalo-Mesembria is cut, but Shiori's controls to Tristan collapsed with the failure of her system." Having noticed a damaged stealth program with a Sprite Mouse at the controls sitting next to a captured firewall cracker during her search, Chachamaru shook her head. "It seems Chikuwafu has come to Argyre from Eos. Therefore, we no longer have any active units capable of blocking or tracking the program which seized Miss Shiori."

Coming down to land next to Hanpe on the beach, Chisame groaned with annoyance as her costume reverted once again to the khaki's, hat and pipe from before. "I want you to devote whatever you can to trying to find it, but our first priority now is to start getting the information I've collected out to the different cities using the access Trojan we distributed. If V-Chao is still out there, I'm sure she'll pick up on what we're doing, but if not, then we need to hurry. Without her help, it's going to take longer to do." In response to a single gesture, the Spiritus Electronicus produced a virtual control panel before its owner.

With a nod, Chachamaru moved into position and quickly linked more fully with the information distribution functions of the Spiritus Electronicus. In conjunction with the Artifact, she began reaching out to the dormant, waiting Trojans in all the cities throughout the whole of the Magic World.

(-)

(Outside Old Ostia.)

Shouting at Irkalla in defiance and pain, Kaede Nagase released the hold she had on the Gladius blade in her right hand. Ignoring the tearing sensation doing so produced, she reached for the grip with her left hand. Pulling the blade free, she began stabbing it into her attacker again and again. Right arm and shoulder quickly growing numb, her strength fading from blood loss; it was becoming obvious the Demon mage was on the verge of winning. Twisting the Gladius blade around, she made ready to fall back on it to prevent any further use of her living body in helping him recover.

"Not bloody likely you!"

With a small jolt, accompanied by a gruesome cracking sound, the pressure on Kaede's shoulder suddenly eased. With the protective blindfold having been pushed up during their death struggle, her facing eye met Irkalla's. His look was that of someone who had managed to fulfill a promise. Revealing no regret, the eye slowly closed. In a way much more final then the normal manner of desummoning, the Demon Mage's body began to dissolve into a rapidly fading black mist.

Suddenly loosing all her strength, Kaede began to fall, but something, or someone, caught her. The impact started a coughing fit, and the iron she could taste on her tongue spoke of serious wounds.

"Crikey girl! Stay with me!"

Blinking at the sound of the vaguely familiar voice, Kaede tried to focus on the speaker, but her eyes refused to cooperate. All she could make out of the person was a thin, bearded face surrounded by a disheveled mop of familiar rust red hair. "Ne... Negi?"

Carefully lowering his son's tall Kunoiochi Ministra onto her back, Nagi Springfield made a quick examination of the damage inflicted by Irkalla. Her leg wounds seemed under control, but the bruised, torn mess beneath the blood-soaked tunic covering the girl's right shoulder made him blanch. Not since Albireo Imma had taken a hit for him in Istanbul had he seen anything so bad. Considering her dull eyes and shallow breathing, she probably didn't have much time left. Taking out his spell book as blood began to spread beneath the wounded girl's body, he quickly turned through it to the spell Joseph Dolnegus had used to put Al's body in stasis. Finding it, hoping he would be able cast it after so long without working higher magic; he knelt and placed his hand over Kaede's heart.

"Lord Kronos, Master of the roaring cataract of time,

I invoke thee by the power of the river Styx,

Whose waters, if sworn upon, even the Gods must obey."

Beneath Kaede, a spell circle began to form. As soon as it solidified, a soft blue light began to cover her body.

"Monstrous father, as you did swallow your children,

Holding them within the timeless abyss,

I now command you to remove the one I now touch from

the shifting sands of past, present and future."

As the spell effect grew brighter, the strained, clinging desperately to life look on Kaede's face began to fade.

"Suffer not the creeping hours to touch her,

And in deathless slumber, keep her safe."

With a flash, the stasis field stabilized. Drained by his effort, Nagi collapsed into a seated posture next to Kaede. Now there was nothing else to do. The amount of energy pouring into the gate-port was nearly at the critical mass required for the Life Giver to accomplish its purpose. Twenty years ago he had made the decision to try to save a little girl by allowing her to live. Now, his son Negi would either triumph, or when the Life Giver finished its work, the fallacy of that decision would be proven, and the Magic World would die...

Looking down at the serene face inside the stasis field, Negi had to smile. "Brave, proud Miss Nagase. Thank you for helping my son. I only hope I'll have the chance to be worthy of the inspiration you given me, when this is all over..."

Seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, Nagi turned and made ready to defend Kaede as best he could. Focusing on two fliers out low over the rocks, he recognized first a familiar style of armor, then the aura, if not the current owner, of his old mage staff. Seeing a chance to make sure what were likely allies of Negi found Kaede, he held out his hand. "Mea Virga."

(-)

Giving a yelp, Collet Farandole nearly fell from Nagi Springfield's mage staff. Moving as if it had a mind of its own, the staff began to rush across the broken terrain surrounding Old Ostia. With Beatrice shouting at her to stop, she held on tight to keep from falling off until the staff suddenly stopped running wild. Dropping down on unsteady legs next to a dried watercourse, she gave a sigh of relief as Beatrice came in to land beside her.

Knowing Ma'ii Kumagami had ordered them to stay away for the moment didn't make Beatrice Monroe any happier about Collet running off deeper into the ruins. "What was that all about?"

Shaking her head and holding tight to the staff to make sure it didn't try to get away again, Collet shrugged and started trying to think of an explanation, but a soft blue glow behind Beatrice suddenly drew her attention. "What's that?"

Turning and deploying her weapon lance towards a possible threat, Beatrice saw nothing more dangerous than the glow of a stasis spell. With Collet in tow, she carefully moved forward until she could see the gravely wounded girl being protected inside the spell's effect.

Eyes growing wide, Collet cringed behind Beatrice at the sight of the girl's awful wounds. "Tha... that's one of Negi's Ministra! Kaede Nagase!"

Relaxing and lowering her lance, Beatrice examined the ground, then looked up at the surrounding terrain. Neither the sand, nor any of the basaltic stone surrounding the preserved girl offered up any indication of the stasis spell's originator. "I wonder why the person who did this ran away?"

(-)

(Main entrance, Temple of Chandika.)

An arrival outside the Temple of Chandika was demanded by the disruptive effect of what was going on in the gate port chamber itself. Fate looked around as soon as his vision cleared to find that only the four Ministra originally with him in the arena were present. "Looks like Shiori didn't make it, Homura."

Reacting to her Magisters quiet statement, Homura flushed slightly. "Perhaps... perhaps she was so deep into her conflict with Springfield's Ministra; she didn't realize she needed to leave..."

Taking a step forward, Shirabe seemed as if she were about to berate Homura, but Fate stopped her with an outstretched hand. He held Homura in place simply by the power of his silent gaze for a long uncomfortable moment before finally turning towards the temple entrance. "Most unfortunate. Her abilities will be missed."

Shirabe quickly moved to follow Fate, as did Tamaki. Koyomi though hesitated slightly, eyes suddenly wide at what the swirl of a skirt revealed when Homura turned to follow their Magister. Pointing at the petulant pyromancer, Koyomi burst out laughing. "Bwah-haa-ha-ha! Oh, Homura! So full of yourself! So high and mighty talking about how useless Tamaki and I were against Jacobus Rakan!" Looking quite pleased, Koyomi straightened up and put both hands on her waist. "Jacobus Rakan got you to, and you haven't even noticed yet!"

Glaring at the haughty Koyomi, Homura started to say something, but a casual brush of her hand revealed the truth of the Nek-Jin's words. Flushing crimson, a few flecks of flame rising from the tips of her ponytails, she could only glare as Koyomi, tail smugly held high, walked by and headed towards the temple entrance.

Realizing she was going to have to work on the discipline of Fate's remaining Ministra, Shirabe held Homura's gaze until the red-head finally looked away out of contrition. Turning to follow her Magister, she hurried to catch up with him.

Rapidly advancing into the temple's main foyer, Fate could feel the immense amount of energy permeating the gate port without even being in the chamber itself. So much energy... He would need just a small amount of what would bleed through into the Mundus Vetus to fulfill his plans, but that tiny fraction of power from the death of a world would free him from those unworthies who held him in thrall. Even if Negi Springfield was already in the gate port, the Life Giver should be able to deal with him quite nicely.

All that remained now was to enter the gate port chamber and await the proper moment to make the transition to Istanb...

Just as she followed Fate through a high double door which opened into the corridor leading to the gate port chamber, Shirabe suddenly found herself knocked down to the floor, pinned there by the body of her Magister. Moving faster than her sound-based 'sight' could accurately follow, a blurred form shot through the door and towards those following them. Koyomi and Tamaki both crashed to floor, felled as if by some remorseless scythe. Homura had the beginnings of a flame shield forming, but she too was struck down and left writhing on the floor, moaning and clutching at the side of her head. Just as the amazingly quick attacker turned back to face its first targets once more, she felt Master Averruncus' weight leave her chest.

"Πνοή Πέτρας!"

A burst of dense smoke engulfed whoever was attacking. When it cleared, Shirabe finally had a stable sound-image of a lithe Hu-Jin she recognized as one of Negi Springfield's Ministra. Behind the girl, Homura was beginning to get up.

Pulling herself unsteadily upright, Homura looked down at the blood coating the hand she'd been holding to her head, then turned on the frozen figure with murderous intent. "I... I'm going to smash her to pieces!"

"You will do no such thing."

Stopping his Ministra in her tracks, Fate gave Homura a look that brooked no disobedience before turning his attention to the frozen form of Negi Springfield's little martial artist. Once, at the Megalo-Mesembrian gate port, and again in Tengboche, she had attempted to lay hands on him, failing both times. As he felt a bit of wetness on his chin, the look of serene satisfaction on the girl's face began to make sense. Reaching up produced a smear of blood on his finger-tips. More than anything else, he felt surprise. Not even Negi Springfield had ever managed to make him bleed. How had this mundane managed to…?

The Tonfa.

Somehow, Springfield's martial artist had managed to mask her aura so completely that in combination with his thinking about the future he had failed to notice her. From a position of complete surprise, she had launched an attack of such speed and strength that his own layered magical defenses had done the actual damage. None had been penetrated, but by using an attack whose entire energy was focused on the edge of the tip of a swinging Tonfa, the girl had deformed the defenses and actually used them to cut him.

("Third times the charm!")

Irritated to remember something Albireo Imma used to love to say, Fate turned to face Shirabe as she knelt to examine the unmoving Koyomi and Tamaki. "Well, Shirabe. What has my momentary lapse cost us?"

Even as she used a variation of her sound magic to examine Koyomi for internal injury, Shirabe reached up to gently probe the considerable lump crowning the Nek-Jin's head. "I think the two of them might have concussions. If you can give me a few moments, maybe I can get them going enough to come with us." Turning towards her Magister, Shirabe could sense the slight tick at his temple. As much as she knew he hated to waste resources, the results of this unexpected encounter were bound to force his hand.

Trying not to let any unnecessary emotional reaction over the cost disrupt his decision, Fate turned back towards the corridor leading to the gate port chamber. "We don't have time for any further unnecessary delays. Let's go."

Homura looked like she couldn't decide between immediately obeying Fate or taking the time to smash Negi Springfield's petrified Ministra to bits. Shirabe was about to say something when she saw the pyromancer shake as if from a chill.

Quickly growing tired of Homura's insubordinate attitude, Fate gave her an icy glare. "Even though she'll be dead soon anyway, that girl has earned the right to be left alone. Nothing useful will be accomplished by wasting time destroying her. Come. On."

Stunned by the intensity of Fate's look, Homura hesitated momentarily, then bowed in acquiescence and hurried through the door. Fate followed without looking back, leaving Shirabe briefly alone. Turning back towards the three still forms in the temple foyer, she silently asked Koyomi and Tamaki for forgiveness, then turned to follow in her Magisters wake.

(-)

(Perimeter corridor, Chandika Temple.)

Ready to use a Sagita attack against anything or anyone which might be a threat, Negi Springfield carefully raised his head up over the banister for the stairs leading out of the Temple of Chandika's lower levels.

Re-entering the island using the same path Setsuna's team left by had been a slight risk, but except for a short delay caused by avoiding someone who seemed to be fleeing the island through the tunnels, one that appeared to have paid off. Peering over the railing, all Negi could see was the dusty, thankfully empty curving corridor leading to the back entrance into the gate port chamber Kaede had found. After turning to signal everyone to follow, he climbed the remaining stairs and moved out along the corridor.

"Took you long enough to get here, Springfield-han."

Turning as Setsuna moved protectively in front of Konoka. Negi only just held back from launching his spell. Sitting on the stairs leading towards the roof, looking no more threatening than any other junior-high school girl might, was the little blonde-haired twin-blade he'd first met in Kyoto. "Tsukuyomi!"

Watching as Negi left her to Setsuna and began searching for any signs of an ambush; Tsukuyomi casually tossed away an invisibility talisman and stood. "Don't worry, Springfield-han. I didn't tell anyone else about this little back entrance."

Continuing to hold his Sagita spell ready, Negi turned back to face Tsukuyomi. "You've been against us since Kyoto. Why should we trust anything you have to say?"

Moving to stand protectively before both Negi and Konoka, Setsuna readied herself for any sudden move Tsukuyomi might make. "Because she wants a formal duel with me, Professor Springfield."

Drawing her blades but holding them down and at ease, Tsukuyomi began slowly descending the stairs. "Bing-bong! That's correct!" Without making any overt moves, she reached the bottom of the stairs and moved out into the corridor. "The question for you, Springfield-han, is this; will you stay and help your Ministra, thus risking whatever chance you might have to help the Princess? Or will you leave Setsuna-Sempai and Lady Konoe here, where they can 'hold me off,' thus preventing my interference in your 'efforts.'"

Not having much patience, Negi made ready to attack Tsukuyomi. Setsuna's hand, however, came out to hold him back. "She's right Negi. We could easily crush her, but she'd still last long enough to place helping Asuna at risk. We have no idea when 'too late' will be. Any further delays could be critical."

Clenching both fists, Negi stepped out in front of Setsuna. "You're Shinmei-Ryu like Setsuna, why do you keep helping someone like Fate?"

Looking up at the ceiling, Tsukuyomi touched a finger to her chin and made a thoughtful face. "Well, this is a special case. He's willing to help me achieve a goal I have, and the pay is good..." Now her expression became annoyed. "...except I may not live long enough to spend it..."

Seizing on Tsukuyomi's admission, Negi took another step forward. "Then please let us go by without interfering! That way we can stop Fate!"

Shaking her head, Tsukuyomi began making a 'tsk-tsk' motion with her finger. "Now now, Springfield-han, I can't just betray my current client. Even Setsuna would know better than to ask." Seeing Negi's disappointed look produced a shrug. "I actually do hope you save the Princess. After all, a strong girl like her deserves better than the fate she's drawn. Since you might fail though, I'm afraid I must insist on the satisfaction of a proper duel with Setsuna-Sempai."

Realizing he wasn't going to change Tsukuyomi's mind, Negi lowered his fists. "Why do you want Konoka to stay? You're not still trying to kidnap her for Chigusa Amagasaki, are you?"

First gracing Konoka a slight bow, Tsukuyomi quickly returned her attention to Negi. "Lady Konoe is the prize for this duel, but not one to be given to Client Chigusa-han." Suddenly dark eyes now focused on Setsuna. "Who ever wins our duel... will not be unwounded."

Negi tried to go forward, but a firm grip on his arm still held him back. "Setsuna?"

Glancing down at her homeroom Professor, Setsuna released his arm then pushed him towards the hole in the gate port chamber's wall. "GO NEGI! She's right! You don't have time for any more delays! I'll finish this and join you with Konoka as soon as I can!"

Seething as shadowy highlights began to color his skin; Negi finally looked up and pointed sharply at Tsukuyomi. "If I find out you tried anything dirty, you'll pay for it!"

Returning the look unafraid, Tsukuyomi inclined her head. "I wouldn't think of it. I simply wish for a duel without outside interference."

After giving Setsuna a look that told her to be careful, Negi turned and ran off down the corridor.

As soon as Negi disappeared, Tsukuyomi entered a fighting crouch and faced Setsuna. "Well Sempai... are you ready to fight me with your whole being?"

Standing beside Setsuna, Konoka accepted Yuunagi's scabbard as it was held out to her. Watching as her Se-chan's eyes became the same frightening black as Tsukuyomi's, she felt a tremendous amount of emotional turmoil. Worry for both girls was there, more obviously for Setsuna, but also anger. As a healer she had expended a great deal of energy taking care of both Setsuna AND Tsukuyomi. Now the two of them were going to fight, and more than likely undo all her previous efforts. Blood would have to be spilled, there seemed to be no avoiding it. That, or neither of the two Shinmei-Ryu would stop until both likely dropped dead from exhaustion.

(-)

Helu'man von Herrmann watched from the shadows as his Shinmei-Ryu prey suddenly went after each other with a fury that was the last thing many of his kind had seen over the years since that hated school's founding. For now, he was content to let the two blade users expend themselves in their duel. When the time was right, he would take first the Konoe Heiress, then the two weakened Shinmei-Ryu.

(-)

Sounds of ringing steel echoing off ancient stone walls were music to Tsukuyomi's ears. That creature at the orphanage had said she was nothing but trash. Those of the Shinmei-Ryu except for Motoko Aoyama called her 'second best.' At long last, she had her Setsuna-Sempai's undivided attention. Finally, with no one around to cause problems, against someone she both resented and admired, she would be able to prove all those who had belittled her wrong.

Seething inside, Setsuna spotted an opening and went over to the attack. Her place as a Ministra, as well as Konoka's, was at Negi's side, not fighting in a dusty corridor against a girl who simply wanted to prove her self-worth. Unfortunately, making sure Negi had the chance to save Asuna meant staying to fight Tsukuyomi. As the Twin-Blade recovered and forced her back onto the defensive, Setsuna began to realize her own recent experiences were providing useful insight into the duel's flow. Even as she opened a shallow cut in Tsukuyomi's side, and received one across her thigh in return, the end was within sight. All she had to do was be patient, and the opportunity for victory would soon present itself.

Doing her best to stay out of the way, Konoka continued adjusting her position to keep as far away from the duelists as possible. Stepping back and nearly tripping over a piece of fallen masonry, she turned to find she'd come up against the huge hole in the floor beside the staircase leading to the roof. Giving a shudder, she stared at the blackness of the pit for a moment, then returned her attention to the fight when the sounds of steel clashing suddenly ceased.

Doubt. A growing sense of futility. Confused by what she was starting to feel, Tsukuyomi leapt away to prevent such dangerous thoughts from leading to a mistake. Setsuna's totally focused being remained ready to fight, but for whatever her reason might be, she held back. Instead of pressing forward with an attack, she remained passive, entering into a defensive stance and using the opportunity to recover her own strength before the battle resumed.

Seeing Tsukuyomi panting from exertion, her forehead starting to show the wrinkles of someone who was growing upset, Setsuna refrained from pressing the advantage she'd been given. To attack now would only focus the little Shinmei-Ryu again, accomplishing nothing and just extending the fight. All she had to do was wait. Whatever Tsukuyomi tried next, she would be attacking out of desperation, and the fight would be over.

Momentarily loss of focus as a bead of sweat ran into her eye allowed training and instincts forgotten in the heat of singular battle to pull Tsukuyomi's focus to the right, away from Setsuna and towards Konoka Konoe. Rising up behind the unsuspecting Onmyouji girl was another of Fate Averruncus' hirelings. Raising a clawed hand, Helu'man von Herrmann was preparing to remove the head of Setsuna's Sukun from her shoulders.

Setsuna would never believe an opponent who was calling out a warning. In her mind, it would only be a trick she was using to gain an advantage. While it was a normal duty of any Shinmei-Ryu to help the Kyoto Onmyouji, personal obligation to Konoka for the healers' previous ministrations now compelled Tsukuyomi into action without consideration of the consequences.

Reading the attack at once, Setsuna felt her anger overwhelm any previous desire she might have had to try and avoid a potentially fatal use of force. With just a slight adjustment to Yuunagi's positioning, she made ready for a killing blow.

Setsuna's reaction to so obvious a threat to her Sukun made Tsukuyomi smile. Striking out with her short blade, she easily deflected Yuunagi's path. Instead of opening her throat, the long blade came down and slashed her upper arm to the bone. Dropping Ukeire as the arm went numb, she ducked past Setsuna and closed the remaining distance towards Konoka as the chocolate-haired girl's eyes began to widen in fear.

Frightened that she'd been read so well, Setsuna turned and finally realized where the real threat lay. Too late... she would be too late to do anything...

Reaching out with her good arm, Tsukuyomi pulled the unaware Konoka to the ground just as Helu'man shouted an epithet and slashed at the girl from behind. Using the momentum generated by the save, she leapt over Konoka and buried her long blade to its hilt in the Demon's chest.

"MESSATSU ZANKU ZANMASEN!"

Releasing everything she had left to give produced an explosive burst of energy which threw Tsukuyomi back onto the ground beside Konoka. Too stunned and in pain to move, she could only watch in disappointment as Helu'man, his form wavering between humanoid and demonic, slowly began to shrug off her attack.

"ZANMAKEN! NI NO TACHI!"

Feeling a bit of unexpected pride, Tsukuyomi gave a sigh of relief as Setsuna's perfect follow up strike put Helu'man down permanently. As the brimstone cloud of smoke dispersed, she slowly realized Tairitsu was gone as well. Turning, she could see Ukeire lying a short distance away, but for some reason, her body felt too heavy to reach out for it.

Kneeling next to Tsukuyomi, Konoka wavered over what to do. Asuna might need the once a day abilities of her paired healing artifacts, but if she did nothing, the gravely wounded Twin-Blade might die. Trusting that some solution would present itself, she reached out with her own hands to close the deep wound in the bleeding girl's arm. "Tsu-chan... please hang on..."

Even as a healing warmth began to fill her body, everything closed in until all Tsukuyomi could see was her Setsuna-Sempai. "I... I di... I DID'NT LOOSE... To You..." Setsuna's worried face suddenly blurred and became that of Master Aoyama, smiling in satisfaction. A blink brought the proper face back, and a glance down revealed Ukeire's presence in her right hand. Finally understanding what Master Aoyama had meant when presenting the blade to her, she felt all the tension and fear of dying fade away. ("Well then, just one more thing to do... I guess...") "So... Solvo, pennae Angelus."

Leaning down to try and hear what Tsukuyomi was saying, Setsuna suddenly shouted in pain as a tearing sensation raced across her back. Responding as they should, the seams of the artifact maid uniform opened up and her white wings came forth in all their long suppressed fullness. A smile of satisfaction on her face, Tsukuyomi went limp. Worried something had happened, Setsuna looked up at Konoka, but the Onmyouji-dressed girl was thankfully at ease, and still concentrating on her healing spell.

Eventually satisfied her non-artifact healing had worked and the unfathomable Tsukuyomi was safe, Konoka relented and sat back. Though the little twin-blade was still unconscious, her wound had vanished except for a scar, her color was good, and she seemed to be breathing normally. Looking up, Konoka smiled at what she saw. "Se-chan, your wings..."

Standing, Setsuna stretched both wings to their fullest extent and gave them a shake to settle any misaligned feathers. Smiling at Konoka, she began to fold them into their relaxed position. "I..."

A sharp jolt, like the shock of an earthquake, interrupted Setsuna and left Konoka scrambling not to step on Tsukuyomi. Stabilizing herself by taking hold of Setsuna's outstretched hand; she turned to look at the wall separating the curving corridor from the Gate port chamber. "Negi..."

Looking down at Tsukuyomi's serene expression and no longer seeing an immediate threat, Setsuna tightened her grip on Konoka's hand and started moving down the corridor. "We need to hurry!"

As Setsuna lead her away, Konoka looked back at her recent patient. "What about Tsukuyomi?"

Concentrating on finding the entry into the gate port chamber, Setsuna shook her head. "Don't worry. I didn't win, but Tsukuyomi releasing my wings means she's conceded this fight. She won't bother us anymore."

Still worried as Tsukuyomi disappeared from view, Konoka turned to face forward just as Setsuna came to a sudden halt. A short distance away, what looked like it had been an opening in the gate port chamber wall was blocked by apparently fresh rubble.

Quickly deciding trying to dig through with a Ki attack wasn't worth wasting time on, Setsuna handed Yuunagi to Konoka and took the surprised girl into her arms. Spreading her wings, she gave a powerful down stroke and launched herself back down the corridor. Nearing the place where Tsukuyomi still lay unmoving on the floor, she began stroking her wings with increasing strength to build speed, then with an ease that made Konoka yelp with excitement, shot up and out through the hole in the ceiling.

Emerging into the open was like flying into a rainbow. So much magical energy was pouring into the gate port it was nearly blinding. Squinting so she could see, Setsuna located the hole in the roof of the gate port chamber itself and flew over to it.

"NEGI!"

Concentrating on getting inside while also guarding against sudden attack, Setsuna couldn't see what suddenly caused Konoka to tense up and shout out until she looked towards the center of the chamber. Of Fate Averruncus or his allies, there was no sign. Standing in the center of the platform, watching her descend, was someone that used to be Asuna Kagurazaka.

At the Life Giver's feet, in an expanding pool of blood, lay Negi Springfield.

tsuzuku.

(-)

Author's Notes:

OP quote is famously attributed to J. Robert Oppeneimer, 'the Father of the Atomic bomb,' after 'Trinity,' the first atomic bomb test. It is originally from the 'Bhagavad Gita,' an ancient Hindu text.

Chisame Hasegawa represents the American General Douglas MacArthur. Shiori Hohoemu the Japanese Admiral Matome Ugaki. The battle they fought is based on an alternate history I wrote over fifteen years ago about 'The Battle of Leyte Gulf.' In that story, the American Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf, (represented in Ala Alba by Chachamaru Karakuri,) fights the battle in Surigao Straight with a force of old battleships, then saves the day at Leyte, not a robotic 'MosKos.'

For those familiar with the Battle of Leyte Gulf: Within Ala Alba, V-Chao plays the part of the American Admiral William Halsey in the battles of the Sibuyan Sea, and Cape Engano. Chikuwafu is the 'Darter-Dace' team of submarines in the Palawan Passage battle. Daiko represents both the American Admiral Clifton Sprague of 'Taffy 3' fame, and more importantly, Commander Ernest Evans of the USS Johnston, in the fighting off Samar.

'MosKos' is a character cosplayed by Kanako Ohno in Shimoku Kio's 'Genshiken' manga, and is based on the Xenosaga character KosMos.

Kafka'sdragon helped with the Stasis Spell Nagi Springfield used to save Kaede Nagase. It is used here with his permission.

"Πνοή Πέτρας!" (Greek.) "Breath of Stone!" Petrificatin spell used by Fate against Ku Fei. (My thanks to Kurush Wuzurg for pointing out where I could find the proper Greek translation.)

"MESSATSU ZANKU ZANMASEN!" "Annihilation Air and Evil-Cutting Flash!" Releases a giant blast of Ki from the user's sword. Shinmei-Ryu technique and Tsukuyomi's special attack. Not exactly perfect, but closest to what she wanted to do.

"ZANMAKEN! NI NO TACHI!" "Air Cutting Flash, Second Strike!" Cuts an enemy without injuring a person or persons who might be in front of them. Shinmei-Ryu technique and Setsuna's special attack.

Tsukuyomi's Onmyou spell to release the seal on Setsuna's wings.
"Solvo, pennae Angelus." (Latin.)
"Release, wings of an Angel." (English.)

Tsukuyomi's blades and Motoko Aoyama's meaning in giving them to her.
Ukeire: Acceptance. (As in; acceptance that there are some things you just can't change.')
Tairitsu: Conflict. (As in; 'to be torn always by internal conflict and unsatisfied desires.')

Chapter Forty-six: Past and present.