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

SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.

In this chapter the last of Fate's Megalo-Mesembrian Gate-Port henchmen finally gets a name. (Fate's Elemental Mage/The chibi-mage from the manga.) While originally created by Ken Akamatsu, the character was given a name by Kafka'sdragon in; 'Markham Chronicles Negima: Other Side of the Mirror.' Kozimos Anakaios is Kafka's dragon's name for Nagi's old Master, Zecht. (Chibi-mage in the Ala Rubra picture.) Both names are used here with his permission.

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"I was so afraid. All I could think about to help guide me were Professor Springfield's words back in Granicus City..."

-Nodoka Miyazaki. As told to Kazumi Asakura, author of: 'One Million Steps: A Journey to Megalo-Mesembria and Beyond."

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(Temple of Chandika - Ostian Gate Port.)

Cautiously looking through the collapsed section of wall and into the gate port chamber, the first thing Negi Springfield saw was the back of a black-armored figure in the middle of the column of magical energy filling the center platform. ("Asuna...")

Standing on the approach walkway leading from the chamber entrance was the small mage from the Megalo-Mesembrian gate port. Watching whatever the Life Giver was doing, he didn't seem to be paying much attention to anything beyond the central platform. As such, he made an obvious choice as a first target. Trying to take down the little mage meant risking an attack by the entity controlling Asuna, but he could probably avoid a hit from that direction at least once. Having to defend against the little mage's attacks while also trying to confront his main objective was just a recipe for disaster.

A slight modification to his already held spell and the unincanted initiation of a Shundo-Jutsu was all it took to launch himself in a dog-legged arc across the chamber...

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Sensing the approach of Fate, Mihai turned from his observations of the Life Giver's work and towards the chamber entrance. Hearing the scuff of a shoe on stone to his left, he turned expecting to see the wayward companion who'd disappeared over an hour earlier. "Tsukuyo...!" A fleeting image of Negi Springfield drawing back a darkness covered fist for a punch was the last thing he saw before the impact of the attack sent him flying towards the big double doors just past the end of the walkway. Tumbling and sliding to a stop, he curled up into a ball as the simple act of breathing became agonizingly painful...

Knowing the attack had done its job, Negi turned towards the Life Giver. Before he could take even a single step, the same 'unease' he'd felt in Megalo-Mesembria came to him once again. Using Space Fissure Movement, he threw himself off the walkway and towards the back of the chamber. Behind him, a barrage of Stone Sagita burst through closed doors and into the chamber. First peppering the walkway, the stream of Sagita followed him briefly until he moved out of range. Giving up distance for a few precious extra seconds of preparation, he continued retreating as the boy responsible for most of his grief since Megalo-Mesembria flew in through the now shredded doors.

Catching up to Negi, Fate gave Nagi Springfield's annoying offspring a boosted punch that sent him flying back into a collision with the damaged part of the chamber's ceiling. Watching the boy gasp as the breath was driven from his body by the impact, he had to fight to keep control of his growing irritation over this latest manifestation of the accused 'Springfield Luck.' Even as the Thousand Master's son fell to the floor and was seemingly crushed by additional rubble from the ceiling, he forcibly suppressed his initial reaction that the boy was still too weak to be a serious challenge. "Shirabe. Will Mihai still be able to activate the gate spell?"

Hearing the faint irritation in Fate's voice, Shirabe looked up from where she'd rushed to tend to the pain wracked Elemental Mage. Despite his obviously broken ribs and other severe injuries, Mihai was conscious. Squeezing her hand so hard it hurt, he was trying desperately to stave off his agony in order to remain that way. "He's been badly injured, Master Fate. I can use my healing abilities to help ease his pain, but we need to get him to a real healer as soon as possible."

As faint sounds of laughter came from beneath the pile of crumbled masonry, Fate prepared himself to continue fighting. "Help Mihai as much as you can. As soon as he is able, tell him to ready the connection to Istanbul immediately."

Intending to go help her Magister, Homura was on the verge of transforming into full power Salamander mode when she suddenly felt a cold chill. Turning towards its source, she saw such a look of anger on Shirabe's face it caused her to take a step back.

Blind nearly since birth, Shirabe normally kept her eyes closed, but that didn't mean she couldn't open them. Doing so now, she glared at Homura to emphasize how upset she was with the pyromancer. "I consider you completely responsible for Shiori's loss, Homura. You'll either stay put and keep anyone from bothering me, or you won't live to regret the consequences."

Caught off guard by the combined effect of seeing Shirabe open her eyes and being blatantly accused of her misdeed, Homura hesitated. Finally nodding, she moved into a better position and began layering pyromancy defenses around Master Fate's Senior Ministra and the wounded Elemental Mage.

Standing up, Negi pushed the fallen masonry from the ceiling aside. "Heh... heh... Why is it, Fate Averruncus, that you always try to take out an enemy so violently?"

Before Negi could ready any visible defense, Fate crossed the gap between them and delivered a blow which smashed the already bruised son of Nagi Springfield to the floor. Even as he bounced partially out of the resultant crater, the boys eyes remained locked on his, showing a manic glee that was hard to understand...

Lying there, looking up at his nemesis, Negi felt a tic begin in his right temple. "That... that just confirms it for me..."

Watching as an unusually confident Negi ignored the proximity of his enemy and began to roll over and pull himself upright again, Fate caught himself glancing at the spell ring on his left hand.

Seeing the brief switch of focus, Negi continued smiling as he stood. "Why won't you use your ring, Fate? Isn't it a 'Free of Cost' magical item? Or; what about that big spell you used in Megalo-Mesembria? Surely you could defeat me easily with that..."

Multiple unincanted Stone Sagita were cheap and easy to use, so Fate sent dozens of them after Negi from a multitude of different directions. Dodging most with annoying ease and knocking aside the rest, the boy waded through the attack, but inexplicably, didn't counter-attack when it was over.

Feeling a dull ache climbing up all his limbs, Negi clenched his fists and moved into a defensive martial arts stance. "I've figured something out about you Fate; something that should have been obvious, but that I didn't realize until I saw all your fights again yesterday."

With Shirabe still needing more time to heal Mihai before the Elemental Mage could begin to ready the gate port spell, Fate decided to just match Negi's defensive pose for the moment. "What is this 'secret' you think you've discovered then?"

Coughing and spattering a few droplets of blood on the floor, Negi smiled before wiping a sleeve across his mouth. "You're strong... Your defenses are unbelievably tough, you can use amazingly powerful spells, and I'm sure your martial arts skills are still several levels above my own..."

Not caring to hear the 'But!' Fate stepped forward and delivered a roundhouse kick that should have sent Negi sliding and rolling across the floor towards the closest walkway leading out towards the gate jump platform. Instead, the boy simply rolled with the kick and turned back to face him.

Eyes wide, black swirls of energy beginning to cover his body, Negi glanced towards the seemingly disinterested Life Giver before turning back towards Fate. "Heh... heh... Your weakness is you magical capacity!" As he took a step forward, his hair began to lengthen and move in response to the shadows now starting to cover his face. "To think I had it so wrong all along! I never needed to be able to overcome you through strength; I just needed to be able to LAST longer than you!"

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'Watching' through her original connection to the Life Giver as Negi spoke the words necessary to fully manifest his Magia Erebeae, Nodoka Miyazaki knew immediately something was wrong. Instead of the even coloring and well-defined swirling the technique usually produced, Negi's body was covered by a roiling vortex of stygian blackness. Seeing how wide his eyes were, she didn't need a direct connection to know he was losing control of himself again... this time, perhaps, unrecoverably... "I ... I have to go to the Life Giver..."

Looking up as Nodoka stood, little Asuna's expression held no hint of emotion. "You won't stand a chance if she chooses to attack you outside my protection..."

Even though it wasn't a 'real' action while in Spirit form within Asuna's ID, Nodoka took a deep breath to calm herself. "It may already be too late to do anything... If I'm going to die anyway, then it can't hurt to at least try and help Negi."

Allowing just a bit of a smile to show, little Asuna waved Nodoka on. "Go on then. If I get my chance, it won't really matter if you're here or not."

Nodding, Nodoka turned and set off to follow the link to the Life Giver without looking back.

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With Springfield's transformed aura registering on her mage sense like the noon sun on a summer day, Shirabe felt a shudder of visceral fear roll through her body. Negi was now displaying a level of power that made it abundantly clear there was not much of any significance she or Homura would be able to do to help as Ministra... Though she felt she should be trying to do SOMETHING to help her Magister, Fate had given an order that established another priority; Mihai needed to be healed enough to prepare their escape...

...That still didn't make it any easier to stay put as her Magister just managed to dodge a lightning spear which carved a rough-edged divit out of the walkway running along the chamber walls... Tsukuyomi might be able to help, but if Springfield was here alone, that probably meant the little Twin-Blade Shinmei-Ryu was keeping the Sakurazaki girl at bay.

Wanting to gain time to figure out how to deal with Negi's previously unseen form, Fate jumped back and used his levitation abilities to carry him beneath one of the walkways leading out to the gate platform.

Refusing to follow after Fate and be drawn out into a possible ambush, Negi began stalking back-and-forth along the edge of the circular walkway. "What's the matter Fate? Where did all of that smugness from Kyoto and the gate port go?" With a swift flick of his eyes, Negi took in the sight of one of Fate's Ministra trying to heal his mage partner. Suddenly realizing who Damashi's violin player probably was, the whites surrounding his pinpoint pupils narrowed slightly before he returned his focus to her Magister. "Of course, if you don't want to play, I could always go take my revenge against that girl over there... After all, she had a more direct involvement in the attack on my village than you did!"

Much to Shirabe's distress, when Springfield received no answer from Fate, he gave an anticipatory grin and began moving around the edge of the chamber. Just as Negi reached the next walkway, her Magister appeared using a shundo and delivered an attack using a stone sword Springfield didn't even try to dodge. Instead, the little mage micro-shundo'd out from under the blade, then turned to erect a dark-lightning shield against the swarm of stone Sagita which suddenly came at his back.

After first trapping the sword-wielding fake with an unincanted Aer Capture spell, Negi turned to face the real Fate at his back. "That's another weakness you have... An opponent who can survive against you starts to learn your fighting style. Really bad habit that... maybe you could start taking lessons on a new style somewhere..." With a casual squeezing motion of his hand, the restrained water clone was crushed. "Except I don't intend to let you get away to do so!"

Even expecting an attack, Negi's movement came so abruptly Fate only just managed to avoid being hit. Slipping past his opponent, he delivered what should have been a crushing chop to the neck. Instead of the satisfaction of seeing Negi go limp, it felt like hitting Princess Enteofushia when they'd fought two months ago. Additionally, all his hair stood on end as a massive electrical attack burst against his defenses. Fortunately, the automatic, multi-layered Mandala Barriers prevented anything from getting through except for the lingering twitchiness of being too close to a lightning strike.

Turning to face Fate, Negi swept his eyes past the Life Giver and didn't even see it. "Why is it you had to do this NOW, Fate Averruncus? Why couldn't you have waited another week?"

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Sensing Nodoka's approach, the Life Giver waited until she stopped moving before turning to look. That the girl could even approach someone who had trapped and nearly killed her once before showed either admirable courage or contemptible idiocy. Faintly shaking legs and a determined look inclined her to think it was the former. "It seems the Princess has freed you. Have you come to watch your friend destroy himself?"

Trying to stay calm as she put on what was hopefully a confident expression; Nodoka looked up at the entity which held Asuna's form. "Are... aren't you afraid Negi will defeat that white-haired boy and come after you next?"

With the confidence of someone assured of an inevitable outcome, the Life Giver laughed and turned back to continue watching the confrontation. "Why should I be? Even if he defeats his opponent, Kurt'Wa Cae Ffynnon's blood is going to destroy itself before it ever becomes a real threat."

As Class A's Homeroom Professor began to look like he was evaporating, Nodoka raised both hands to her month and gave a shocked gasp. "Negi..."

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Watching the black, misty shadows begin to lift away from Negi's Lightning form; Fate realized the Thousand Master's son was on the verge of burning up in a manner similar to what was about to happen to the Magic World. For all the boy's bragging about who would 'use themselves up first,' it looked as if the ball was suddenly back in his court. All he had to do was husband his remaining energy just a little bit longer... "A simple enough answer; It was all a matter of timing. We had to come through when we did. There were issues with coming through too soon, and the next time the gate opened would have made it too late to complete our schedule."

After first raising an eyebrow, Negi put a hand to his forehead and began to laugh. "Ju... just a week... all I needed was just a week and I could have avoided being involved in this..."

Narrowing his eyes, Fate thought about delivering another attack, but held back as he recalled the defensive lightning strike spell. "I wanted to offer you an out, but you refused it. Beyond that, I find it difficult to believe the son of Nagi Springfield would so easily abandon the people of the Magic World..."

Negi began shaking his head and laughing at a higher pitch. When he finally looked up again, Fate could clearly see the madness in his eyes. "Maybe so... but... heh-heh... now it's too late!"

As fast as she'd seen him move before, what Homura saw Negi do now showed how foolish her original idea to try and confront him would have been. Literally as fast as lightning, he began chasing her Magister around the gate port chamber, attacking him with lightning effect magic whose brightness rivaled that of the incoming magical energy. Behind her, she heard the Elemental Mage groan and start struggling to get up.

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As Negi began to slowly corner the white haired boy, Nodoka realized the Life Giver was watching Fate being driven towards defeat with what appeared to be an expression of vengeful satisfaction. "Do... don't you care what happens to your servant?"

Turning to Nodoka, the Life Giver shook her head. "Even if that old demon hadn't been involved in my first being sealed away by Kush'Na Norista Teotanasia twenty-six hundred years ago, I would STILL let this happen. The only person Kozimos Anakaios truly serves is himself!"

Seeing no chance the Life Giver would interfere in the fight on its own, Nodoka stepped forward and put her hands on the spines of the forearm gauntlets it wore. "Ple... please! If you've already won, then don't let Negi die with his heart so full of hate!"

So used to the greed and self-serving nature of the inhabitants of Its world, even amongst those who worshipped Her, the Life Giver looked down at Nodoka and saw in the girl's eyes only the honest desire for an act of mercy which couldn't possibly be of personal benefit. If anything, the emotional turmoil showing on her face made it obvious she already knew what granting such a boon might mean...

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Like an explosive impact of ball lightning, Negi crashed into the gate platform near the Life Giver. Clasped in his hand and pinned to the platform's surface was Fate Averruncus. Giddiness coming through in his wheezing laughter, he stood and pulled his tormentor up until he was suspended in mid-air. "Ho... HOW MUCH LONGER CAN YOU LAST, FATE? I still haven't broken your defenses, but it looks like you're running out of energy!"

Even though he knew he still had a few energy reserves, Fate recalled what he'd seen happen twenty years ago and suddenly found he couldn't even summon the energy necessary to attempt to break free from Negi's grip.

Seeing the Life Giver turn towards Negi Springfield and remembering his own origins, Mihai pushed away from Shirabe and struggled to reach out towards Fate. "Lo... look out brother!"

Brighter still yet than anything else in the chamber, a lance of energy burst from the Life Giver's outstretched hand to pierce both Fate and Negi. Fate went limp immediately, a look of shock on his face. Seemingly pulled through by the lance, all the darkness covering Negi swirled rapidly into the wound's entry, then burst out through its exit to disperse into the emptiness beyond and below the edge of the gate platform.

Holding Fate in his hand while getting ready to manifest another lightning spear, Negi suddenly felt all the desire and determination to exact some kind of revenge for 'That night in the snow' drain away. Dropping his arm, he watched as a body fell from his grip to lay unmoving on the floor. Adjusting his gaze, he stared dumbly at the hole in his right shoulder for a moment, then looked up to see a blurred but familiar profile a short distance away. "Asuna..." Suddenly remembering what he was supposed to be doing, he took a step forward, then tripped over the body and fell, unmoving, face down on the floor.

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"NEGI!"

Seeing what had happened, Nodoka collapsed to the floor and had to struggle to keep from fainting. Feeling the link to the frozen Asuna suddenly wink out and knowing what that might mean, she raised her eyes towards the Life Giver. On that entities face was a smug expression. Understanding finally the selfish nature of what she'd asked for and realizing that meant there was now NO chance for the Magic World, she averted her eyes in shame and began sobbing.

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"MASTER FATE!"

Seeing her Magister lying unmoving next to the Springfield boy, Shirabe turned supporting Mihai over to Homura, then rushed down the walkway towards the center platform. Warily watching the Life Giver while doing so, she quickly moved around the platform until she could kneel next to the pair of unmoving mages. Roughly shoving Negi's body aside, she carefully lifted Fate into her arms. Hearing a faint moan as his head turned limply and came to rest against her shoulder, she gave an almost sobbing sigh of relief, then stood and began making her way back across the platform.

With Homura helping him stand, Mihai met Shirabe on the edge of the gate jump platform. After a brief glance at Fate, he began the rituals needed to activate the previously set up pathway to Istanbul. Secure in her purpose, the Life Giver was watching him without any obvious ill-intent from behind her mask. She was easily capable of canceling out the spell at any time, but hopefully her promise of his personal survival would extend to everyone else. Unexpectedly, the fluxuating energies pouring into the cross world connection began playing havoc with his concentration. Still suffering from most of the injuries resulting from Negi Springfield's attack, he began to lose control even before the link could begin to stabilize.

After watching Mihai struggle for a moment, the Life Giver raised its hand. Much to the boy's relief, the chaotic energy necessary to activate the teleportation spell suddenly stabilized. There was a bright flash which blotted out everything in the gate port chamber, a sharp jolt as the pathway opened, then he and his three companions were gone.

"NEGI!"

Turning, the Life Giver watched as a powerful half-demon blade-user and a healer with impressive potential descended into the gate port chamber through a hole in the ceiling. With slight wariness, she realized the healer was actually a threat... IF she could get to Negi Springfield. Without her bodyguard though...

Promises to be careful no longer had any meaning. Unless Konoka could reach Negi, all their efforts would have been for naught... Carefully setting Konoka down on the perimeter walkway, Setsuna tensed, then launched herself towards the chamber center, drawing Yuunagi as she did so...

"KYOUKUDAI! RAIMEIKEN!"

As Konoka watched, Setsuna's Ki blast detonated against the Life Giver and covered the entire central platform in a cloud of dust.

Hoping to use the cover provided by what was likely an unsuccessful attack, Setsuna hit the platform and made a grab for Negi. Before she could do so, a scabbarded blade appeared out of nowhere and smashed her to the ground. With a loud 'CRACK!' the Humerus of her wing snapped, eliciting a shout of pain. Scrambling up with her wing dragging and Konoka shouting something incoherent about Negi from the perimeter walkway, she raised Yuunagi and turned to face the Life Giver.

"You're good, Shinmei-Ryu, but the Thousand Master's Bladesmen were MUCH better."

As Setsuna watched, the Life Giver's form emerged out of the dispersing dust cloud. Taking a step forward and giving an amused grin, it made ready to draw the blade it held.

"I could crush you like an insect with mage craft, but it might be amusing to see if I can do it using the muscle-memories of this body!"

"As... Asuna..."

Hearing a wet slap, the Life Giver looked down and realized Negi Springfield had somehow managed to drag himself far enough forward to wrap his bloody palm around her ankle after she'd moved.

"Ve... Vesperina..."

Seeing the Life Giver reach down to presumably use magic against Negi, Setsuna ignored the sudden tearing sensation doing so caused in her crippled wing and rush forward to knock the hand aside with Yuunagi. "Your opponent is ME! Life Giver!"

Exuding a rapidly increasing sense of desperation, the Life Giver lashed out with the scabbarded blade it held and knocked Setsuna away with a violent blow to her temple.

"Teo... Teotanasia..."

Without a word, Asuna's body reacted to its programming and stiffened up in preparation for new commands.

Unable to stand because of nauseating dizziness, Setsuna began dragging herself over towards Negi. With what seemed to be the last of his strength, he had managed to turn over so he could look up at Asuna.

"Please Asuna... come back to me..."

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Hearing an angry 'NO!" Nodoka backed away from the Life Giver as it turned on her with murderous intent.

"You! You knew Springfield had the ability to lock me out of direct control the Princess! How did a novice telepath like you hide that from me!"

Standing to face what seemed inevitable; Nodoka wiped at her tears and allowed herself a small smile. "All I knew was that Negi could never win the way he was. He told us to 'correct him with force,' if need be. Despite the risk, influencing you into doing so was the only option." Seeing the Life Giver's look of disbelief, Nodoka allowed her smile to grow slightly. "As far as how I convinced you the only thing I was thinking about was saving Negi from destroying himself? My body isn't actually here, so you're interacting with me though my Artifact. Someone very wise instructed me in the ways a strong outsider might read me and influence what appears in the Diarium Ejus, so don't you think it was a good idea for a 'weak' telepath like me to learn how to counter that?"

Beginning to lose form coherence, the Life Giver moved forward and put a claw-like hand around Nodoka's neck. "I can forcibly re-establish control over the Princess's body, but I think I'll erase your existence first!"

Hoping Negi would somehow survive, Nodoka didn't resist as a soul-crushing suffocation began to overwhelm her for the second time. This time though, instead of blacking out, she was released to the accompaniment of a sound like the shrieking of the wind in a typhoon. Pulling herself up, she could see the barely recognizable form of the Dark-armored 'Asuna' Life Giver, impaled completely by a blue and gray armored Asuna wielding the Ensis Exorcizans.

After looking back at her magic and spirit cancelling 'executioner,' the Life Giver turned to face Nodoka again. "You may think you've won, but it's already too late to prevent what's going to happen! Even if by some unimaginable act the World Ending Spell is stopped, you only delay the inevitable!"

Shuddering uncontrollably as the Life Giver's dispersing form became increasingly inhuman, Nodoka realized she was hearing its words in a way which would be recorded in the Diarium Ejus...

"I waited twenty-six hundred years for this chance! If I don't reform as soon as the spell goes off, then having to wait a few more years if it doesn't is nothing! Your friend will be in a situation of mortal fear, or she'll have a child, and my chance will come again!"

With the Life Giver's form nearly gone, Nodoka felt an icy chill as one last tendril reached out to caress her cheek.

("Know the inevitability of your friend's fate, Nodoka Miyazaki, and know despair...")

When the last trace of the Life Giver was gone, Nodoka saw Asuna standing there as expected. However, when she saw her classmate's eyes, she knew it was little Asuna who was in control, and not Class A's Asuna. The armored girl raised her hand...

With the suddenness of a thunderclap, Nodoka had the sensation of falling...

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...until she sat upright in bed, startling Cocone Rosa, who had been about to place a cool, moist cloth on her sweat-soaked forehead.

Ignoring the inquiries of the other two girls in the room and the dizziness doing so produced, she got up out of bed and went out onto the room's balcony. Over Old Ostia was a swirling vortex of energy... somewhere at the bottom of that vortex was Negi Springfield and several of her classmates...

"Negi..."

tsuzuku.

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Author's Notes:

Space Fissure Movement: Used by Negi when he fought Setsuna in Evangeline's Resort. Seemingly used by Kotaro and others as well.

"KYOUKUDAI! RAIMEIKEN!" 'Maximum Thunderclap Sword!' Shinmei-Ryu Ougi, (Secret Technique,) used to attack a possessive demon without harming the person being possessed.

Chapter Forty-eight: Raphael's Hand.