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.
Certain other characters appearing in this chapter are owned by Kio Shimoku, Koume Keito and Kodansha Ltd. Tokyo in Japan, and by Anime Works and Ballantine - DelRey in the United States, NOT by me.
Regina Karkolova, Freidrich Jurgen and Mifune Hayase of the Megalo-Mesembrian Mage Council were created by Kafka'sdragon, and are used here with his permission.
SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.
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"I set the thing up using my Kasayo McDowell blog during the trip from Old Ostia to Megalo-Mesembria. Everyone in Class A received a special reserved membership in the Negi Springfield Fan Club. (Membership number 19 being reserved in absentia for Chao Lingshen.) After that, the first four people who signed up were Anya Cocorowa, Cycilia Sevensheep, Emily Sevensheep, and Collet Farandole."
-Kazumi Asakura. Comments from her book: "One Million Steps. A Journey to Megalo-Mesembria and the World Beyond."
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Ala Alba in the World of Magic: Tales From the Fireside.
Chapter Fifty-two: "...we Band of Brothers..."
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(New Ostia.)
Looking out over New Ostia from her temporary office in the city's main arena, Grandmistress Victoria Seras of Ariadne smiled at what she saw. Only three days after nearly being destroyed, New Ostia's citizens had already cleaned up all the minor damage, and were making good progress in dealing with the things which were more serious. Thanks to their efforts, the city should quickly recover from what was already being called 'The Fourth Battle of Ostia.'
At New Ostia's main Whaleship port and its many smaller departure points, non-residents were being encouraged to give a brief statement about what they might have witnessed, but were otherwise experiencing only minor delays in departing the city. Many of the persons suspected of involvement in the abortive coup had been quickly rounded up by military and Lawgiver personnel operating under her own, Governor General Godel, or Third Princess Theodora's authority, and those few who had managed to escape would soon find the likes of the Canis Niger and other bounty-hunter organizations coming after them.
If everything remained calm, there seemed to be no reason why Ariadne's return of military and administrative control of New Ostia to Governor General Godel and the Megalo-Mesembrian Northern Alliance couldn't be swiftly accomplished.
Estimated Prophet, carrying the Ala Alba and its allies, had already departed the old Ostian ground port for Megalo-Mesembria itself. Once there, Captain Adenaur would represent Ariadne in the Mage Council hearings which were going to occur.
Cycilia Sevensheep, taking full advantage of being one of the few non-sports news reporters in New Ostia, as well as temporary travel restrictions which prevented anyone new from entering the city, was running around having an exclusive interview field day. Due to that, and her involvement with the Ala Alba, she had managed to score for KitNews of Ariadne what might turn out to be the biggest scoop of it existence as a news organization.
Jacobus Rakan, shadow owner of the arena complex in New Ostia, had left dealing with issues at the arena to its regular administrators and returned to Granicus City.
Third Princess Theodora Hellas, Takamichi Takahata, Doyen Cordoba Ricardo's former bodyguard Mana Tatsumiya, and a small group of students from Mahora Academy lead by a young woman named Takane Goodman, remained for the moment in New Ostia. As soon as the Hellas Empire's small fleet, their Guardian Dragon, and the many dragon clans surrounding New Ostia withdrew, they would all proceed to Megalo-Mesembria. Theodora Hellas would then represent the Hellas Empire in the same way Katrina Adenaur was representing Ariadne.
For her own part, Seras intended to stay in New Ostia with the surviving members of the Valkyrie Brigade unit on the Argonauta. Once full control of the city had been turned over to Governor Godel and Doyen Ricardo, she would depart with the Valkyries and return to Ariadne.
At a soft knock, Seras turned as her office door opened to admit a blonde To-Jin woman with blood-red wings. "Ah! Agent Kitar. I'm glad to see that you're all right, especially after what happened. Please have a seat."
Having been hit with an Eternal Petrification spell in the Semi-final round of the Nagi Springfield Cup tournament, Aer Kitar nodded in response to the Grandmistress of Ariadne's words. Though she and her partner being cured wasn't a completely unique event, she still felt relief, as well as some small indebtedness to the Ala Alba for their role in the healing spell that had come out of Old Ostia. "Thank you for your concern, Grandmistress." Spinning a chair around to accommodate her wings, Aer sat. "Raeil is arranging our return to Antigone. I just wanted to come by and apologize for my failure before we left."
Shaking her head, Seras sat down as well. "There's nothing you need to apologize for. Even though you didn't manage to directly confirm the identity of the suspected Total World agent working for King Enteofushia, it was confirmed by Negi Springfield and his companions." Looking at her desk, Seras shifted through several papers until she found a magic photo reproduction of the white-haired youth named 'Fate Averruncus.' "Hopefully, Ariadne's intelligence services will be able to more quickly identify the boy in the future, should he appear again."
Giving a resigned nod at first, Aer soon began to chuckle softly.
Seeing the woman's amused grin, Seras smiled herself. "Anything wrong?"
Looking out through the window, Aer shook her head. "No. I was just thinking about one of Springfield's companions, I believe his name is Kotaro Murakami. Neither he nor anyone else from his group ever came by to inquire if Raeil and I were okay. If that young man ever finds a young lady willing to be his companion, I hope he pays more attention to her than he did to me!"
Thinking about the freckle-faced girl she'd seen hovering close to Kotaro before the Ala Alba's departure from New Ostia, Seras nodded in agreement. "Well, he is young, so there's still time for him to learn about such things!"
After a short pause, Aer stood back up. "I'd best be going then. Ex-Valkyrie or not, it wouldn't do to be seen associating too closely with you for any great length of time, Grandmistress."
Rising, Seras returned Aer's Valkyrie salute, and the blonde woman departed. A moment later, her temporary secretary came into the office.
"Grandmistress. It's nearly time for the meeting to discuss the withdrawal of the Hellas fleet."
Slightly surprised, Seras glanced briefly at her timekeeper before giving the Iru-Jin a look of thanks. Everything seemed calm in Ariadne, but the sooner the situation in New Ostia could be dealt with, the sooner she could return and make sure of that personally.
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(Bay of Ostia.)
As Estimated Prophet moved slowly down the Bay of Ostia, Kazumi Asakura walked out and sat on the gun platform at the very bow of the ship. To the accompanying swish of the ship knifing through the calm waters of the bay, she began to go through the many pictures stored in her camera and on its various memory sticks.
Starting in Wales, the review took her on a journey covering the many events of the last two months and more.
Fate Averruncus ambush and the fight in the Megalo-Mesembrian gate port, various adventures in the cities of Hecates and Granicus, her world trip with Chachamaru and Sayo, everyone's comings and goings in and around New Ostia...
Smiling, Kazumi slowed down her keying of the 'next' arrow on the camera, spending additional time examining the pictures of Negi and the others returning from Old Ostia with Asuna Kagurazaka. Looking worn from her experiences, but still happy to be back with her friends, Asuna had injected a welcome burst of energy into everyone with her return. Nodoka Miyazaki alone had seemed a bit restrained over Asuna's newly realized familiarity and closeness to Negi, but had inevitably been drawn into joining the reunion celebration.
Many of the more recent pictures were of Negi and his father's old allies from the time of the Ala Rubra; Victoria Seras, Cordoba Ricardo, Theodora Hellas, Professor Takahata, and of course, Jacobus Rakan.
Looking up at Estimated Prophet's two forward main-battery turrets and then back towards the ship's bridge, Kazumi recalled how the last picture on the current memory stick, one of the few she was actually in, had come about...
Joe Clark had returned everyone to the Estimated Prophet in preparation for the trip to Megalo-Mesembria. His intent had then been to depart with Jacobus Rakan, the two bounty hunters from Anya's Crew, and the four rogues from Yuuna's Posse, taking them wherever it was they needed to go.
Most distressingly for Captain Clark, the unexpected arrival of a small black dragon on the foredeck of the Estimated Prophet had disrupted his plans. Haruna Saotome enthusiastically greeting and introducing a friend she'd thought never to see again caused such a commotion it quickly emptied the Crescent Hawk of its passengers.
Hoping to corral everyone so he could get going, Clark and his first mate followed their seven passengers onto the Prophet.
Big mistake that!
Clarks partner Kys'shira had been drawn into translating for the little black dragon with the teardrop mark on its face. Thusly, through the humanoid dragon, everyone learned of the little reptilian dragon's activities, as well those of all the dragon clans who had gathered around New Ostia to help the Ala Alba.
Negi had been so enthusiastic and extended in expressing his thanks for such unknown but welcome help, Kazumi wondered if Captain Adenauer would have to intervene, just so her ship could depart for Megalo-Mesembria! Fortunately, Negi's profusion of thanks finally seemed to run out. Seeing everyone milling about, on the verge of deciding to leave, she'd realized it might be her last chance to take a group picture and quickly suggested they do so. Haruna's dragon friend tried to escape, but the artist girl's summoned 'Kraken Hand' had prevented her from doing so. Professor Bagera was still in Old Ostia, and several others also tried to demure, but eventually the Ala Alba, Yuuna's Posse, Anya's Crew, Emily Sevensheep and her Valkyries, Joe Clark and Kys'shira, Tsukuyomi at Konoka's insistence, then finally Captain Adenaur, Jay Cabot and Ma'ii Kumagami were all convinced to participate.
A crewmember from one of the forward rapid-fire Sagita guns had been asked to help so Kazumi and Sayo could join in. After instructing the young sailor in how to use the camera, she'd run over to kneel in the center of the posed group, and the picture had been taken.
...Carefully examining all the different faces in the picture, some tired, some happy, all generally showing relief their ordeal was over, Kazumi wondered if she would ever see any of those from the Mundus Magicus who had departed after it was taken ever again. Another real question was whether or not those from the Ala Alba would, in the reality of how the world worked, even remain together beyond the rest of junior high and the time they'd probably spend together in high school... ("Isn't there some line from one of those plays Negi had us study in English class? Ah! I remember now...")
"We few, we happy few..."
Together, those in the picture had saved a world. Wasn't that something to be proud of? Thinking about it, Kazumi decided it was. At the same time, she realized nothing else would make her happier than to have the rest of her life be as 'normal' as the kind of life Chisame Hasegawa constantly lamented losing. Considering the world all of them had become involved in, such an outcome might be just a dream, but it didn't hurt to think about it coming true.
Sounds of Sagita Magica exploding drew Kazumi's eyes away from her camera. Chasing each other through the sky around the Estimated Prophet, Emily Sevensheep and five other girls were drilling themselves in the ways of Ariadne's Valkyrie Mage Knights. ("Well, there's one of us at least who thinks she still wants excitement in the future!")
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Though she had shown a casually flippant attitude towards her training back in Ariadne, Emily Sevensheep had to admit that Collet Farandole now seemed to be paying more attention to what she was doing. Paired with Beatrice Monroe, she was currently engaged in a practice battle against Jei von Katze and Sachi du Sha. Before, she would have let herself be hit with a practice Sagita, then laughed it off the way new trainees always seemed to do. Now though, with a bit of real combat under her belt, she was at least trying to read and dodge the attacks.
As another Valkyrie hovered at her side, Emily smiled begrudgingly in response to Collet's efforts. Though as Vexillary Sevensheep's leader she had a personal stake in the performance of everyone under her temporary command, the beagle girl making an effort without having to be prodded into doing so was a welcome, positive sign.
As Collet actually managed to tag von Katze, but was zapped in return when she stopped to celebrate, Emily gave a sigh and shook her head. At least the three of them were being given a chance. Even considering the contributions they'd made in stopping Saseru Enteofushia's coup, they had still violated several standing orders, and she'd been worried about what might happen after being summoned to Grandmistress Seras office...
Remaining at attention and trying not to stare, Emily had watched out of the corner of her eye as Grandmistress Seras glared down at Collet. Tail curled around her leg and trembling like a mouse before a serpent, the beagle-girl had managed not to look away, despite the Grandmistress's overly extended period of silence after the three of them had entered her office.
"Collet Farandole! Stand at attention when you're in my presence!"
Proving that she was not completely lacking in discipline, Collet had managed to straighten up her posture."Ye... Yes Ma'am!"
Not relaxing one iota, the Grandmistress had crossed her arms and continued trying to get Collet to flinch. "You're probably expecting to be expelled because of your little 'adventure,' aren't you?"
A flash of shock had crossed Collet's face, but despite an obvious blush of shame, she had not lowered her head. "If... if that is what you deem an appropriate punishment, Grandmistress."
Finally, Seras had relaxed just a tiny bit. "Fortunately for you, Cadet Farandole, there are extenuating circumstances, owing to your being kidnapped. Also, as a member of Emily Sevensheep's provisional unit you displayed qualities of courage and initiative that mean you just MIGHT be salvageable Valkyrie material. Because of that, I am going to make sure through your trainers that you DO become a Valkyrie... Even if it kills you..."
After her look of relief was squashed by one of disapproval coming from the Grandmistress, Collet had quickly snapped off a salute. "Ye... Yes Ma'am! Thank you for this chance Ma'am!"
The Grandmistress had then turned to face the other two 'miscreants' standing at attention before her.
"Emily Sevensheep. You and Cadet Monroe would normally suffer some form of administrative discipline, up to and including being held back a year, for going off without informing your superiors of your departure. However, taking into consideration the unexpected nature of your 'delay' in returning, and your actions as leader of Vexillary Sevensheep, it has been decided to put you to a small test."
Not knowing what to expect, Emily had remained at attention without speaking as the Grandmistress went to retrieve a small packet of papers from her desk.
"You are hereby brevetted to Third Lieutenant. You will continue in command of Vexillary Sevensheep, and will escort Estimated Prophet and it's passengers to Megalo-Mesembria. During that voyage, and then on the return trip to Ariadne after Dean Adenaur completes her duties as our special representative to the Ala Alba investigation, you will conduct training of your unit according to a regimen that will be provided to you. If you successfully complete this assignment and pass the appropriate performance evaluations upon your return, your record, as well as those of Cadet's Monroe and Farandole, will be cleared. Do you understand?"
Shocked, Emily had barely remembered to salute. "Yes Ma'am!"
Handing Emily the small packet, the Grandmistress had inclined her head slightly towards two other cadets standing in the back of the room. "Though they are not in trouble, Cadets von Katze and du Sha will also be a part of your unit. Do not forget that the careers of two girls not involved with what you did might depend on how well you conduct yourself, Third Lieutenant Sevensheep."
Though understanding she had been dismissed, Emily had remained at attention until the Grandmistress had moved around to sit at her desk.
"Is there anything else, Miss Sevensheep?"
Giving a nod, Emily had relaxed into an at-ease posture. "Grandmistress. There is a girl in the Ala Alba who I believe has the potential to become a Valkyrie Mage Knight. If possible, I would like to request an extra set of armor beyond what is normally assigned for this type of mission. That way I will have the ability, under Dean Adenaur's supervision of course, to evaluate that potential."
After pausing momentarily, perhaps thinking about the report Emily had submitted concerning the battle at the Old Ostia ground port, the Grandmistress had finally nodded in acceptance of her proposal. "I'll see to it that you are appropriately equipped."
...As the four dueling cadets straightened themselves out and began to gather around their leader, Emily turned to the girl hovering next to her. "Well, Miss Ayase, are you ready to give this a try?"
Still surprised she'd been offered the chance to train with the five other real Valkyrie cadets, Yue raised her visor so she could give Emily what she hoped was a determined nod. "Yes, Miss Sevensheep! I've been studying how the armor works using the manual you provided, so I believe I'm ready to give this a shot!"
Sure her instincts about the little Information Witch from the Ala Alba and her potential were correct, Emily nodded, then turned towards where the other four girls of Vexillary Sevensheep had come to rest before her. "Okay then! Sachi and Jei, you two can stand down for a bit. Collet and Beatrice, you two, Yue and I will work on formation flying for a while. When Yue is comfortable with flying in her armor, we'll try a limited duel."
Lowering her visor once more, Yue moved to follow Emily, while the two cat-girls dropped down to land on the ship. As she began a slightly shaky, but apparently acceptable matching of Emily's movements, she realized that spending so much time training with the Valkyrie Cadets did have one dubious advantage... her need to visit the restroom had dropped in frequency. She did miss all the tasty, different flavored drinks she'd grown used to having around while the Ala Alba was staying at the New Ostia Arena, but perhaps that wasn't really such an unfair trade after all.
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Clutching the book she'd borrowed from Hi'Ki Zosho in Dracogenia, Nodoka Miyazaki climbed the stairs to Estimated Prophet's bridge, hoping to ask Captain Adenaur several questions about the book's contents. Unfortunately, upon reaching the upper bridge level, she found the captain already speaking with Negi. Hoping to remain unnoticed, she stepped into an open passageway to hide and wait for a chance to approach.
"I'd like to thank you once more, Captain Adenaur, for all the assistance you've provided to the Ala Alba. If there's anything we can do to help deal with the damage to your ship, please don't hesitate to ask."
Even as she nodded to her nephew, Katrina could see Nodoka Miyazaki peeking out of the cross-deck passageway behind the Prophet's armored conning tower. "Please don't worry about it Mister Springfield. Beyond what you've done for the entire Mundus Magicus, the Ala Alba's presence at the memorial for the ship's casualties is thanks enough.' Seeing that Negi was still a bit unsure, Katrina smiled at him directly. "Actually, there is one thing you could do for me."
Curious, Negi watched as Katrina retrieved a writing pad and a stylus from a storage slot near her chair. She quickly wrote down a number and a short message, then tore out the page and handed it to him.
"I have no idea when communications with the Mundus Vetus will be restored. If you manage to get back there anytime soon, please call that number and deliver the message for me." Negi looked confused by what was written on the piece of paper, but Katrina just shook her head in a manner telling him not to worry about it. "As far as damage to the ship goes, don't worry about that either. Though it's going to happen a bit earlier than originally planned, arrangements for a refit that should take care of everything are already in place."
When a Valkyrie-armored Yue and Emily Sevensheep shot past the bridge, hotly pursued by Collet and Beatrice, Negi pocketed the message and turned to watch.
Considering her reputation as 'Baka Black,' leader of Class 3A's 'Baka Rangers,' Negi had been surprised by Yue's enthusiastic acceptance of Emily Sevensheep's invitation to see if she might be interested in becoming a Valkyrie Mage Knight. He wasn't sure what she might eventually decide to do, but considering what he'd heard it took to become a Valkyrie, he hoped an increased interest in studying would carry over into her regular subjects as well.
Trying not to seem too anxious, Negi eventually returned his attention to Estimated Prophet's captain. "Captain Adenaur, I understand you're very busy, but could you tell me what you know about my father?"
Leaning back in the Captain's chair, Katrina stared out towards the endless horizon for a moment. Finally seeming to make a decision, she looked down at Negi. "Hmm... I wasn't there at the time, but the first story I heard about was when Nagi and the Ala Rubra originally came to Ariadne." Chuckling, Katrina turned slightly when she noticed movement behind Negi. Apparently realizing she wasn't going to be able to insert herself into the conversation, Nodoka had left her hiding place and was retreating back down the stairs to the main deck.
"The Thousand Master and Grandmistress Seras, who had just been confirmed as the youngest ever leader of the Valkyrie Brigade, didn't exactly start out on the right foot with each other! At the time, the Ala Rubra was still thought to be nothing but a bunch of criminals, so when the city leaders of Ariadne heard they were approaching, Seras and the Valkyries were sent out to confront them..."
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With the book now resting in her limply extended arm, Nodoka retreated towards the hatchway leading down into Prophet's crew galley. Stepping over the hatch caroming, she was confronted by an angry, blushing Chisame Hasegawa trying to come up the stairs. Startled, she stepped back, allowing auburn-haired girl to come out on deck.
Clutching something in her hand, Chisame rushed over to the ship's rail and drew back an arm as if to cast whatever she held into the sea.
Seeing the Ala Alba's hacker hesitate, Nodoka went over and stood next to the suddenly indecisive girl. "Is something wrong?"
Flushing to the tips of her ears with anger and embarrassment, Chisame turned to face Nodoka. "That dirty old pervert! I can't believe I ever thought well of him!"
'Dirty old pervert' translated in Nodoka's mind as 'Jacobus Rakan,' so she turned slightly to more squarely face Chisame. "What did he do?"
Looking around nervously, Chisame scanned the deck to make sure no one else was nearby before facing Nodoka once more. "Do you remember when I slapped Jack? Just before he told Negi the Ala Rubra didn't need any more help from him, then left on the Crescent Hawk to go back to Granicus City?"
Curious, Nodoka nodded.
Not thinking it possible, Chisame felt her flush increase. "He flipped my skirt. I thought he was trying to steal my panties, so I smacked him! Considering what he really did, I'm thinking I'd rather he stole them!"
More interested than ever, Nodoka raised a questioning eyebrow; even as she felt a faint flush color her own cheeks. "Well?"
After looking around once more, Chisame stepped closer to Nodoka, effectively preventing any outside observation as she revealed what had been clutched in her hand.
Nodoka felt her blush instantly increase. Printed across the seat of what seemed to be a pair of Chisame's panties was a caricature of Jacobus Rakan, holding up a hand showing a 'V' for victory sign. The simplistic picture was surrounded by hearts, and printed below it were several words; 'Keep well, Little Miss.' Turning away, Nodoka pressed a fist to her mouth. "Well, perhaps he was just trying to say goodbye in his own, unique, way..."
Not exactly sure she liked the possible implications of Jack Rakan giving her any kind of special attention, Chisame still relaxed. Balling the spell-marked panties up in her fist again, she sighed, then leaned up against one of the stanchions lining Estimated Prophet's deck. "Pervert... Why couldn't you just say goodbye like any normal person would?"
Feeling her own kind of frustration at being unable to ask Captain Adenaur the questions she wanted while Negi was present, Nodoka leaned up against another stanchion and joined Chisame in just watching the water rolling past the ship's side.
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(Hellas Empire Whaleship cruiser Pampanito.)
Leaving Mana and Takane in the quarters the group from Mahora Academy had been assigned to, Takamichi Takahata went to report to Theodora Hellas. Concerned with the different things she needed to be told, he gave no thought to not passing anyone in the corridor. Only after seeing the knowing smiles on the Third Princess's twin, deceptively innocent looking bodyguards and entering to find her quarters darkened, did he pause to wonder what was going on. Hearing the sound of a shower running in the cabin's small bathroom, he began trying to come up with an excuse to leave so he could return at a less dangerous time.
"Takamichi? Is that you?"
Now trapped, Takamichi did his best to just relax. "Yes, Princess. I've come to report on our progress towards Megalo-Mesembria."
New sounds came from the shower, indicating Theodora was probably rinsing herself off.
"Please wait. I'll be finished in just a moment."
With nothing else to do, Takamichi moved to watch the clouds pass by the cabin's viewport. Eventually, the water shut off, and the sound of a door opening came, indicating Theodora was out of the bathroom.
"Takamichi..."
Not daring to look, Takamichi remained facing the viewport. "Yes, Princess?"
"Am I that unpleasant to look at?"
Finally unable to avoid doing so, Takamichi turned towards Theodora. Wearing just a bathrobe and slippers, she certainly did present a pleasant sight, but his duty held precedent over any other feelings he might have. "I've come to make a report on our progress, Princess."
First giving Takamichi an annoyed look, Theodora retrieved a brush, then sat down on the edge of her cabin's bed. "Please proceed then."
Finally on safe ground, Takamichi placed both hands behind his back. "Captain Summers reports all systems on the Pampanito are operating normally. Presuming we do not encounter any inclement weather, we should catch up to the Estimated Prophet just about the time it enters Megalo Bay."
Nodding, Theodora began brushing her hair, but stopped almost at once as she hit a snag. "Ah... Takamichi, can you help me out?"
Looking unsure, Takamichi turned towards to cabin door. "I... I'll summon one of your ladies-in-waiting at once, Princess!"
With a glare that froze him in place, Theodora expressed her opinion about that idea. "Please, I would like YOU to help me Taka, not some stuffy attendant."
Still hesitant, Takamichi sensed potential 'danger,' but couldn't resist as Theodora blushed slightly and turned away. Giving a sigh, he stepped forward, took the brush, and gently began to run it through its owner's hair.
Remaining silent as Takamichi worked, Theodora reveled in the feeling of being helped by someone who didn't self-servingly fawn all over her constantly.
Expecting some well-meaning vizier to come interrupt like the time Theo had asked for this same thing twenty years ago, Takamichi remained tense, but careful as he worked the brush through the dusky girl's long blonde hair.
Feeling the mood slowly relax as Takamichi worked, Theodora finally took a deep breath, then let it out quietly. "Taka, I know you've told me you feel like you don't deserve to be loved, but now that Asuna has the Ala Alba as her guardians, don't you think it's time to put the guilt you feel over what had to be done after the war behind you?"
Thankful she'd waited to speak about such things until he'd managed to calm himself, Takamichi gave a drawn out sigh. "I'm not so sure, Theo."
Standing, Theodora turned, knowing what kind of picture doing so would present to Takamichi. "Don't you understand that to me, saying 'You' don't deserve to be loved is like saying 'I' don't deserve to be loved?"
Reacting to the unavoidably charming vision as Theo probably expected he would, Takamichi turned away blushing. "E... even if I could return your feelings, Theo... I'm just a teacher from the Mundus Vetus, and you're a Princess of the Hellas Empire..."
Not giving Takamichi a chance to escape, Theodora stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm the 'Third' Princess, Taka. Why else do you think they sent me to New Ostia, and now to Megalo-Mesembria? If anything had happened, or happens, my loss will have been meaningless to the continuation of the Hellas Empire's ruling family. In any case; the First Princess is expecting a child before the year is out, so she already has everything covered. If not for my survival meaning I'll still have administrative and philanthropic responsibilities as Third Princess, I'd abdicate my right to secession and go with you back to the Mundus Vetus when you leave."
Unable to gently escape Theo's surprisingly strong grip, Takamichi tried his best to deflect her argument. "Asuna may still have feelings for me..."
Pouting as only a princess could, Theodora looked up at Takamichi. "You said you rejected her. That means you're free now..."
Theodora continued to look deep into his eyes for a moment, then relaxed and lay her head against his chest. Not knowing what else to do, Takamichi finally gave in. Realizing Theo probably understood the ache of loneliness as well as he did, he wrapped his arms gently around her shoulders, trying to provide what comfort he could, and wondering where things might go from there.
(-)
(Megalo Bay.)
Listing slightly, blackened by fires both real and magical, Estimated Prophet was joined by the HES Pampanito just before turning into Megalo Bay. After both ships passed through the narrows marking the midpoint between the bay's entrance and Megalo-Mesembria, only a few hours would remain before their arrival in the city itself.
Responding to its ringing and a light indicating a call from the CIC on the phone next to her Captain's chair, Katrina reached out for the handset. "This is the Captain."
"Captain Adenaur. We're tracking several possible targets. Most we believe to be Megalo-Mesembrian ships, Pampanito is holding its station above and behind us, but we're also tracking a target that's been circling us for several minutes now we think might be a dragon."
Glancing out through the bridge windows, Katrina began scanning the sky until she finally spotted a large black shape flying out near the horizon. "Have Mister Springfield come to the bridge."
"Yes Captain."
A few moments after Ma'ii Kumagami made the announcement on the ship's intercom, Katrina heard the sound of someone taking the steps up to the bridge two and three at a time. Slightly out of breath, Negi Springfield was soon at her side.
"Wha... what can I do for you, Captain?"
Handing over a pair of binoculars from a rack near her seat, Katrina pointed out towards the horizon. "Didn't you tell me at some point that another of your Ministra besides Miss Saotome had encountered a dragon? Would you have any idea if what's out there is the one she was talking about?"
Raising the binoculars to his eyes, Negi spent a few seconds trying to find what Captain Adenaur was pointing out, then settled down and adjusted the focus wheel when he did so. Flying at a respectable distance from the ship was an impressively large black dragon. Focusing on the dragon's head, he saw that it seemed to be watching the ship, and also that it was missing a horn... "Well, I should go ask Kaede. May I borrow these?"
With just a slight nod, Katrina indicated for Negi to take the binoculars and go. Moments after departing back down the stairs, he and his kunoichi Ministra appeared and began trotting out towards the ship's bow. The white haired girl took the binoculars, then after watching the dragon as it flew through part of its circular path, gave a solid, positive nod. Handing the glasses back to Negi, she took an unbelievably huge four-bladed shuriken out from somewhere, then held it up over her head.
Another ring, and Katrina picked up the phone again. "Yes?"
"Captain, the possible dragon is closing."
Still watching Negi and his Ministra, Katrina hesitated slightly, then gave a nod even though Ma'ii wouldn't be able to see it. "I believe we'll be able to deal with this. Ask Pampanito to please stand by for now. Have the secondary battery train out and stand by. However, DO NOT, I repeat, do not open fire unless I give a direct order."
"Understood Captain. Pampanito will be contacted. Secondary battery will stand by, and will not fire without a direct order."
Below and beside the Prophet's bridge, the secondary turrets trained out towards the dragon, which now seemed to be closing on the ship. Out on the bow, the postures of Negi and his Ministra remained unworried. The black shape quickly grew more defined, and Katrina noted with relief that it was taking a less threatening path across the ship's bow, instead of a more worrisome one directly overhead.
Out on the Prophet's bow, Kaede Nagase continued holding up her giant shuriken as Mat'tari closed with the ship. When the big dragon finally flashed by and winged over to circle the ship, she let the weapon drop. Mat'tari passed around the ship several times, closely examining her, before finally giving a nod of satisfaction and flying off.
Back on the bridge, Katrina gave a sigh of relief before picking up her phone once more. "Ma'ii. Keep tracking the dragon. If it goes away or stays out where it was before you can have the secondary battery stand down. In any case, we don't need to go to full battle stations, but I want every weapon manned and ready before we pass through the narrows."
"Yes Captain. All weapons will be manned and ready before we enter the narrows."
Hanging up the handset, Katrina sighed, then turned and looked back towards the Pampanito. ("Well now. This is going to be an interesting day indeed. There hasn't been an armed ship of another nation anywhere near Megalo-Mesembria since the days of the Great Bridge battles back during the war! I wonder how they're going to take it?")
(-)
(Megalo-Mesembrian Capitol Security, Megalo Bay Outer Patrol Line.)
("Just who do those animals and mundane-lovers think they are? The whole lot of them should have been put in their place during the last war!")
Sitting in his command chair on the bridge of the Whaleship MMS Phobos, Captain Jean William seethed over the arrogance of the 'representatives' of the Hellas Empire and Ariadne daring to approach Megalo-Mesembria in armed ships! Even during diplomatic exchanges in the past, such representatives had arrived in unarmed commercial transports. For them to do so in armed vessels now was tantamount to declaring Megalo-Mesembria was completely at fault for the recent Ostian incident. Allowing them to do so, as far as he was concerned, was the same as an unconditional surrender!
Additionally, provoking a fight would give him an excuse to try and kill Negi Springfield and his companions before they could cause any more damage to Separatist plans than he already had. Considering how quickly the hunt for Separatist supporters was progressing through the Megalo-Mesembrian military, this might be the last chance to do such a thing.
Together with her sister ship Deimos; Phobos should have enough firepower to deal with that junk heap Ariadne called the 'Estimated Prophet,' and a single Hellas Empire Whaleship...
A beep from the communications station caused Captain William to look up. As he listened, he could hear the officer stationed there processing a message from the two foreign ships asking if there were any further instructions on how to proceed...
(-)
Responding to the buzzing phone next to her Captain's chair, Katrina Adenaur reached out to pick up the handset. "Adenaur speaking."
"Captain. The Megalo-Mesembrian Whaleship Phobos is responding to our request."
Catching Ma'ii's worried tone from down in the Prophet's Combat Information Center, Katrina looked outside the bridge and noticed that the crews for all the ship's smaller guns were entering a higher state of readiness. "What did they say?"
Over the link to the CIC, Katrina could hear Ma'ii's crew getting ready to fight. "The Captain of the MMS Phobos says no outside armed vessels are permitted within the defense area of Megalo-Mesembria. We are therefore required to dock at Mons Minor and discharge our passengers there."
Holding the phone away from her face, Katrina covered the mouthpiece and turned back towards the navigation area of Estimated Prophet's bridge. "Mister Cabot! Break out the biggest Ariadnean battle-flag we've got! Please fly Miss Murakami's Ala Alba flag as well!"
Looking up from his station, Jay Cabot gave a smile and moved to carry out his orders.
Nodding, Katrina returned the phone to her ear. "Ma'ii. Inform Princess Theodora that there may be a little fight. The Commander of our Megalo-Mesembrian escort seems to want to play a little game of intimidation. Once that's done, have Lille Beth send this reply in response to the Phobos 'request.'"
(-)
On the bridge of the Phobos, Captain William watched as first a huge Ariadnean flag unfurled from the Estimated Prophet's mast, then a smaller flag bearing the image of a striking Phoenix. Immediately after, a similar banner bearing the Coat of Arms of the Hellas Royal Family deployed from the Whaleship hovering above the Estimated Prophet.
Moments later, Phobos' communications officer, nervous and sweating, came over with a message flimsy. "Sir..."
Expecting it would be some defiant statement which would permit him to attack, Captain William glanced impatiently at the officer. "What is their reply?"
Gulping, the officer looked down at the flimsy one last time, then straightened back up. "Estimated Prophet and HES Pampanito are proceeding to Megalo-Mesembria based on instructions provided by both our governments and your Mage Council before we departed Ostia. Barring receipt of properly endorsed documents changing those instructions, we have no intention of obeying any verbal instructions of questionable intent provided by you. Should there be any 'misguided intent' in your delivery of such instructions, Estimated Prophet and its allies are quite capable of defending themselves.
In addition, you would do well to recall, should you think to use violence to enforce your 'instructions,' that Estimated Prophet single-handedly destroyed a Sukunai no Kami, shot down two God-soldier carriers and destroyed five God-soldiers, survived damage that would have crippled most other vessels, and contributed to the sinking of your own 'invincible' flagship Svanhvit.
Should you attempt to attack us, we will not be held responsible for what happens afterwards."
As he lowered the message flimsy, the communication officer looked up and saw his captain give a visible twitch. "It's signed; The Catalyst Witch of Ariadne.'"
Before Captain William could think to say anything else, his executive turned from the ship's tactical holo tank. "Unidentified dragon diving on us from above!"
Coming out of the sun, a black blur struck the Deimos. As everyone on the Phobos' bridge watched in shock, their sister ship fell precipitously out of formation and began diving towards the bay waters below. Recovering at almost the last moment, Deimos managed to start pulling up just before it plowed into the surface of the bay. Leaving a huge rooster-tail of spray, it went airborne once more, then skipped across the water like a thrown flat stone until it finally came to rest not far from the two ships it had just been involved in threatening.
Her dark leathery scales glistening from the spray, Mat'tari rose up on the back of her 'prey,' glaring towards Phobos and daring those on board to try something.
Shaken by the sudden change in the balance of forces, Captain William turned towards his first officer at the holo tank again. "Is that one of the Hellas Empire's Guardian Dragons?"
A quick examination of several displays produced a negative of the officer's head. "No sir, but it certainly is one of the largest black dragons we have any official records of. It might be the dragon reported to have been terrorizing the Shangri-La region, but it could just as easily be from one of the dragon clans reported to have assisted Negi Springfield in New Ostia."
Faced with the now obvious futility of even trying to proceed with his earlier plans, Captain William simply collapsed in Phobos command chair. Holding his head in both hands, he mumbled softly to himself for a moment, then finally looked up. "Helm. I think I'm detecting an unusual harmonic coming from the ships Spirit Engines. It might be best if we returned at once to the docking yards."
Completely confused by what had just happened, Phobos helmsman gave a delayed; 'Yes-Sir.' then watched as his captain got up and beat a hasty retreat from the bridge.
(-)
As soon as it became obvious the remaining airborne Whaleship was withdrawing, Katrina picked up the phone handset once more. "Ma'ii. Maintain battle stations. When we pass the downed Whaleship, warn all the gun crews not to direct their weapons in that direction." Sensing the same on her first officer, Katrina gave an amused smile. "After all; we're just here to represent Ariadne. We wouldn't want them to think we had any ill-intent, now would we?"
With nothing further to delay its progress, Estimated Prophet continued up Megalo Bay towards its destination. A short distance behind and above, the Hellas Empire Whaleship Pampanito continued serenely in its wake. As soon as both passed by, Mat'tari took off, leaving her former prey to see to itself.
(-)
(Megalo-Mesembrian Mage Council Office Building,)
From the lofty platform of the Speaker's Promenade atop the Mage Council office building, Interim Mage Council Speaker Freidrich Jurgen watched as Ariadne's Estimated Prophet maneuvered itself in to dock against one of the piers extending out from Megalo-Mesembria's gateport facility. Nearby, the Hellas Empire Whaleship Pampanito had landed in the bay and was moving nose-in against a second pier. On the opposite side of the causeway leading out to the gateport from the city, a black dragon of impressive size had come to rest in the gateport's outdoor plaza.
Turning sharply from the scene, Freidrich quickly re-entered his office. Neither of the delegations from Ariadne or the Hellas Empire had made any mention of the incident in the Megalo Bay Narrows, and if they did not intend to do so, he would keep quiet as well. ("That fool of a Whaleship captain will need to be dealt with, but that's something for later.")
In the center of his desk was a copy of the original bounty notice against Negi Springfield and the other members of his 'Ala Alba' organization from two months ago. Picking the document up, Freidrich examined the different faces and thought about all the things he'd heard the group of children from the Mundus Vetus had accomplished. ("For all that the Thousand Master's son and his companions might prove useful, it's better for now if I can get rid of them as quickly as possible...")
Dropping the paper, Freidrich moved to sit down, but was interrupted by a knock on his office door. Immediately after, Regina Karkolova and Mifune Hayase entered the office. "Well Councilors. It seems the successors to the Ala Rubra have arrived."
Regina merely nodded, but Mifune seemed upset.
Noticing his fellow councilor's mood, Freidrich stepped around the desk. "Anything wrong, Councilor Hayase?"
Starting at Freidrich's words, Mifune shook his head. "No... Not really, Mister Speaker. It's just that where the two delegation ships insisted they be permitted to dock is... unsettling..."
Sighing, Freidrich went over and placed a reassuring hand on Mifune's shoulder. "I understand that some might believe Megalo-Mesembria to be under Estimated Prophet's guns, due to where they docked, but if they're given nothing to worry about, then Megalo-Mesembria has nothing to worry about."
Seeing the calming look in Freidrich's eye, Mifune finally let himself relax. "That is true. I suppose."
After giving Mifune's shoulder one last reassuring squeeze, Freidrich turned to Regina. "Councilor Karkolova, if you don't mind, please dispatch an administrative Praetorian escort to request Mister Springfield and his companions appear before the Mage Council starting today. Sooner started means sooner finished."
"At once, Mister Speaker." Giving a slight bow, Regina turned and left the office.
As soon as she was gone, Freidrich put his arm around Mifune's shoulders once more. "If you can spare me a bit of time before we depart, Councilor Hayase, there are a few things I'd like to discuss with you..."
(-)
(Megalo-Mesembrian Mage Council Building. Internal Affairs Committee Chamber.)
Since Third Princess Theodora and Captain Adenaur were serving as neutral observers, both were sitting in a separate part of the committee chamber. Fortunately for his peace of mind, Negi Springfield still had Takamichi Takahata sitting nearby. His fellow Mahora professor was a welcome presence as a red-haired mage councilor began rapping a gavel to bring quiet to the chamber.
Setting her gavel down, Regina Karkolova first bowed to acknowledge her fellow councilors, then turned to face those seated before her. "This session of the Committee for Internal Affairs is now in session." With a nod, she deferred the floor to Speaker Freidrich Jurgen.
After first giving Regina a polite nod, Freidrich turned to Face Negi Springfield. "Mister Springfield. I am Interim Mage Council Speaker Freidrich Jurgen. Before we begin, I would like to make several things perfectly clear."
As Freidrich paused, Negi stiffened slightly.
"While any testimony you give today will be taken under oath, this is not a trial, it is an investigation. Secondly, as a part of the agreement whereby you consented to appear before this committee, should the need for a full trial be determined, you and your companions will be allowed to depart Megalo-Mesembria, should you wish to do so."
In response to Freidrich's friendly tone, Negi relaxed slightly.
Sparing first Kaede Nagase and Ku Fei a quick glance, Freidrich lingered for a moment on Asuna Kagurazaka, then returned his attention to Negi. "In addition to the main subject of your Ala Alba's involvement in the gateport attacks, this committee will also touch on several related incidents. Unless you have any objections, then there is only one last thing I need to make clear before we begin."
Negi quickly shook his head. "No Sir. I have no objections."
Nodding, Freidrich leaned back in his chair. "Though this is not a trail, you are still entitled to advisory counsel. Is there anyone present at this time whom you wish to use as such counsel?"
Preceded by the scraping of a chair against the floor, Takamichi stood up. "Mister Speaker. My Name is Takamichi Takahata. I will act as advisory council to Mister Springfield and all others in the Ala Alba."
With a smile, Freidrich glanced between Takamichi and Negi, then indicated for them to move to a separate witness table with an outstretched hand. When they were settled at the new table, he leaned forward slightly and placed his interlaced finger on the committee rostrum. "For the record, Mister Springfield, please stand and state your full name. At that point, you will be considered under oath to tell the truth to the best of your ability."
With a nod, Negi rose. To the far left, Donnet McGuiness sat, controlling a small army of stenographic sprites. Before him were the three Megalo-Mesembrian mage council members he'd heard had dealt with Saseru Enteofushia's grab for power within the Northern Alliance.
On the left; Regina Karkolova, whose oddly cold look left him feeling uneasy. On the right; Mifune Hayase, whose attitude was one of controlled hostility. In the center; Freidrich Jurgen; Interim Speaker of the Mage Council, and a distinguished older man who seemed genuinely interested in the testimony he was about to hear. "My name is Negi Springfield."
Freidrich quickly indicated for Negi to sit. "Is the rumor true that you are the Thousand Master's son?"
Losing his nervousness in the face of Jurgen's continued non-accusatory attitude, Negi nodded again. "Yes Sir."
Beside Freidrich, the other two councilors straightened up, while he leaned back to rest against one of the arms of his chair. "Well then, Mister Springfield, please tell us about how you came to be involved in the recent crisis."
After one last look at Takamichi, Negi took a deep breath before facing Freidrich Jurgen once more. "Well, Mister Speaker, it all began with my desire to find out more about my father..."
(-)
(Praetorian Armory.)
As humiliating as doing so had been, Chamo had asked Collet to smear his fur with a Midnight-Blue dye he'd acquired for the purpose of 'checking something out.' Negi had been appalled; asking if what Chamo intended to do might get the Ala Alba in trouble. After just about the best job of convincing he'd ever done, Negi finally relaxed and let him go.
Actually, he hadn't really expected it to do so, but his words had been turned into a lie.
Sneaking through the darkness using abilities only an Ermine possessed, he had entered the Megalo-Mesembrian Senate Internal Affairs Committee chamber. Following the scent he'd first noticed during the hearings earlier in the day lead most unexpectedly to the Praetorian Guard Main Armory. Though the place was heavily defended, his stealth coloring allowed him to slip through the small undefended gaps in the armory's security until he had nearly reached the quarters of the Armory Commander.
Pausing slightly to wonder why the scent had lead him here, he was suddenly confronted by the tip of a sword. Looking up, he saw a most displeased looking Kit-Jin male on the other end of the blade.
"And where do you think you're going, my fury little friend?"
His eyes nearly crossing, Chamo stared at the tip of the blade, unwaveringly hovering just millimeters from his nose. Laughing nervously, he finally took a hesitant step back. "Uh, right back the way I came?"
Shaking his head to say that wasn't going to happen, the Kit -Jin suddenly cast an unincanted holding spell. Unfortunately for him, Chamo had learned from the lesson of Kotaro's shadow-wolf, and was prepared to depart from any situation, post-haste.
Activating his own unincanted friction spell, Chamo was able to avoid slipping on the waxed surface of the armory floor, and bolted back in the direction he'd come from just as the holding spell activated. The Kit-Jin shouted in frustration, then in alarm. Faster than Chamo would have thought possible, the entire armory was in an uproar. It took every bit of evasion skill he'd learned in all his years of panty-thieving, as well as a short 'Ermine-Tyranus-Deflexio,' to escape the building he was in. Even though the perimeter of the armory was quickly sealed, there were still flaws in its defenses. Exploiting one he had scouted out earlier, Chamo slipped back out into nighttime Megalo-Mesembria and was gone.
(-)
Surrounded by alert Praetorian's, Regina Karkolova waited in slightly irritated silence until Gijou finally retuned. "Well? What's going on?"
His expression openly embarrassed, Gijou gave an annoyed sigh. "I'm not exactly sure Councilor; I spotted an Ermine with obviously dyed fur attempting to sneak into your quarters. However it seems, despite our best efforts, that it managed to escape..."
Hiding her outward reaction was somewhat difficult, but Regina couldn't suppress her internal thoughts ("An ermine? Could it be that one...")
Nodding and attempting to look grave, Regina gave a sigh. "Double the guards, but make sure to tell them that if this ermine comes back, he MUST be captured alive!"
Giving a salute, Gijou acknowledged Regina's orders, then turned to carry them out even as she returned to her disturbed slumber.
(-)
(Megalo-Mesembrian Gateport piers.)
Nodding to Yue, who was standing a guard watch as a Valkyrie with Collet Farandole, Asuna went down Estimated Prophet's accommodation ladder and began trotting over to the Pampanito's pier.
Her turn to be questioned had come after Konoka and Setsuna on the second day of the Ala Alba's testimony before the Megalo-Mesembrian Mage Council. Giving her an unexpectedly harsh look when she stepped up to the witness table, the Councilor named Friedrich Jurgen had begun to question her as if he was trying to uncover something unrelated to the gateport attack. She managed to stand up to him quite well, with an inner calmness keeping her relaxed until the committee broke for lunch. Things had become especially heated again when her questioning resumed, centering on her involvement in the murder of the Magistrate of Tengboche.
At that point Princess Theodora, thoroughly scandalizing Jurgen with her violation of protocol, had stood up and announced that Asuna Kagurazaka was by distant blood the heir presumptive of Argyre. She had gone on to say that if Jurgen continued his harassment of a Peer of the Empire, when other evidence clearly indicating involuntary compulsion exonerated her, it would be a most distressing situation indeed.
As Theodora took her seat again, and Jurgen just sat seething, the councilor named Karkolova had calmly asked if Asuna could provide evidence proving her ancestry.
The commotion which occurred when Emily Sevensheep, dressed in her officer's Class-A uniform, brought Caliburn from the Estimated Prophet and into the committee chamber was nothing compared to the silence which descended when Asuna actually drew out the blade.
After a few tense moments, the councilor named Hayase had leaned over and whispered that, considering the current state of affairs, and in light of the aforementioned evidence, it seemed unwise to provoke the Hellas Empire over such a small matter. With seeming reluctance, Jurgen had agreed, and Asuna had been dismissed.
Kaede and Ku had been called next for questioning, but Asuna could feel Jurgen's eyes brush over her occasionally for the rest of the day.
Wanting to thank Theodora for her help, and also to talk about what being a 'Peer of the Empire' might mean, Asuna continued on her way until she came to the gangway leading into Pampanito's hull. There was a short delay as her identity was confirmed by the guard stationed there. Once that was done, she was shown the way to Princess Theodora's quarters.
After passing another inspection by an Inu-Jin guard, then going inside and closing the door, Asuna heard a familiar voice. Not wanting to interrupt anything, she paused, listening for the proper moment to announce herself.
"It's a little big. Do you think it will fit?"
"Sure. Why not. Why don't you give it a try?"
"OUCH!"
Suddenly filled with emotions she couldn't describe, Asuna rushed down the short hallway and turned to find...
...Takamichi Takahata leaning over Princess Theodora as she sat at a desk, holding a bit of wire and sucking on the finger she'd apparently just stabbed with said wire...
Looking up, Takamichi blushed slightly at who he saw standing there. Giving a cough, he stood up and resumed his normal relaxed attitude. "Asuna... This is a bit of a surprise, but a welcome one. Theo... I mean, Princess Theodora has been wanting to speak with you."
Not failing to catch Takamichi's slip, Asuna moved forward several steps as Theodora stood up. On the Princess's desk were what appeared to be the clappers for several tiny bells. Still caught up in the image of what she thought she'd heard, Asuna had to fight not to consciously glare at Theodora. "Well, perhaps I've come at the wrong time, Princess Theodora..."
Seeing the look of jealousy in Asuna's eyes, Theodora thought about what had just been said and quickly realized the girl was a long way from being over her infatuation for Takamichi Takahata. "Oh, certainly not, Princess Teotanasia. I was simply helping Takamichi out with a gift he wanted to give a, child, he knows..."
Remembering her four ribbon bells, now stored in a small box on the Prophet, as well as their original purpose, Asuna realized Takamichi knew how important they were to her, and was trying to make them useful again. That still didn't increase her willingness to back down from the challenge she felt coming from Theodora. "Well, at least he isn't giving them as a gift to someone so, mature, they might be days away from needing a walker or a cane!"
Holding out his hands, Takamichi tried to make a placating gesture. "Now now, I thought we needed to discuss a few things?"
In unison, Asuna and Theodora turned to face Takamichi. "You stay out of this!"
Jolted as if by a lightning Sagita, Takamichi threw up his hands if self-defense, then turned away to look for some chance to escape. Behind him, the politely barbed conversation continued unabated...
(-)
(Megalo-Mesembrian Gateport Plaza.)
As Kotaro cautiously followed Kaede towards the resting Mat'tari for his first good look at a real-life dragon, Natsumi Murakami wandered over towards a large relief map mounted on a free-standing panel near the sealed entry door to the main gateport building.
Standing before the map, Natsumi quickly identified several of the towns she'd been in, then felt her brow wrinkle in confusion as she began to look more closely at the titles for the different continents and regions of the Mundus Magicus...
(-)
(Estimated Prophet.)
"Finally! We're done with guard duty and can go get out of this armor!"
Cradling her helm in the crook of an arm, Yue Ayase nodded and followed Collet Farandole down into the Prophet's crew galley before turning towards the passageway leading to their quarters. They'd not gone more than a few steps when a still blue-tinged Ermine appeared before them.
"Hey Little Miss. Have you got a few minutes?"
Startled slightly, Collet hesitated until she realized Chamo was speaking to her, and not Yue. "Sure, I guess. What's up?"
With a sigh, Chamo sat back on his haunches, then crossed his arms. "I stopped by an Ermine Society Branch today to check some things out after I sent Zo Connel's books back to that Mage Knight in Zephillia, and I think I've figured out something you're going to like." Turning slightly, he looked over at Yue. "Yue, you and Collet go get Negi's staff and your broom, then meet me in Negi's cabin."
Just as confused as Collet seemed to be, Yue shrugged, then moved with the Beagle girl to followed Chamo's instructions as the ermine turned and trotted away.
Not far behind Chamo, Yue and Collet knocked on the door to Negi's cabin, then walked inside with the requested items to find the small mage and Captain Adenaur waiting for them behind a faintly glowing Magic circle. Negi seemed a bit flushed, but the captain's attitude was just that of an interested observer.
Stepping forward, Chamo stood up on his haunches again. "Well, the two of you could have taken the time to get out of your armor, but it doesn't really matter." Bounding first up onto a chair, then the room's desk, Chamo finally faced the two armored girls again. "Okay then, Yue, you come over and stand in the circle with Negi."
Instantly turning bright red, Yue began shaking her head. "Wha... what for? I thought there wasn't any need to do something like that unless I form a permanent Partnership with Ne... Professor Springfield?"
Colored slightly himself, Negi held out his hands to Yue. "Don't worry, Yue. This isn't about anything like that. Since it hasn't come out since you were on that island, Chamo thinks there's a way to replace your Artifact broom with the one you made." Turning slightly to face Collet, Negi felt himself flush slightly. "Miss Farandole, Chamo had to haggle with the Ermine Society over the matter, but he convinced them to re-issue Yue's original broom as a minor artifact. If you agree it is a fair exchange, I'll form a Provisional Partnership with you as payment for finding my Father's Mage Staff."
Stunned beyond words, all Collet could think to do was nod vigorously. In terms of item rarity, A Provisional Partnership Card from the Thousand-Master's son was every bit as good as the staff she now held with white-knuckled intensity.
Seeing that everyone was more-or-less agreeable, Chamo looked to Yue again. "You really don't have to worry so much, Yue. It's not like you have to do a full-on kiss like you did on Library Island. For what we're going to do, even a peck on the cheek will work."
Reassurance from Chamo still didn't stop Yue from seeing visions of a hurt Nodoka in her mind's eye. In truth, she actually wanted to kiss Negi, to make up for her tight-lipped kiss from before. Still, if all it would take was a little cheek-smooch, maybe her friend wouldn't mind just that... "O... okay then. Let's get to it!"
(-)
Out at the top of Estimated Prophet's accommodation ladder, Emily Sevensheep, standing guard with Beatrice Monroe, noticed movement out along the causeway leading to Megalo-Mesembria and turned slightly to get a better look at who it might be. Rushing along from the Praetorian Guard Station on the shoreline were what looked like the Secretary from the Mage Council and a gray-stripped Tiger man. After pointing the two people out to Beatrice, she activated her armor's communication system. "Miss Kumagami. It looks like we have unexpected visitors approaching along the causeway."
Down in Prophet's CIC, Ma'ii Kumagami heard Emily's report and activated one on of the ships outside monitors. Focusing on the pair in question, she quickly recognized Donnet McGuiness, and shortly thereafter, Calizone Bagera. "They're unexpected, but authorized visitors. Show them to the Captain's cabin as soon as they board the ship."
(-)
"Captain Adenaur. Donnet McGuiness and Calizone Bagera are approaching the ship. I've asked Third Lieutenant Sevensheep to show them to your cabin as soon as they board."
Turning from watching Collet bounce up and down, kissing the card she now held, Katrina focused briefly on Negi, then reached for the phone on the cabin wall. "Ma'ii, this is the Captain. I'll be there at once." Glancing once more at Negi, she caught his eye. "Negi, gather your people in the crews galley."
Without asking why, Negi grabbed his few personal items from the cabin's desk, stopped to whisper quietly to Collet and Yue, then as Chamo jumped up on his shoulder, lead them out the door.
As soon as Negi was gone, Katrina focused her attention on the phone again. "If you would please Ma'ii, bring the ship to Battle Stations, quietly. Don't sound the alarm."
Used to her captain's instinctive ability to sense the approach of danger, Ma'ii's answer was completely without hesitation. "At once, Captain."
(-)
As the Prophet's crew rushed to their battle stations, Negi gathered the Ala Alba from their rooms, then did his best to keep them calm and out of the way. He tried to answer their questions, but was growing increasingly tense until a clang announced the arrival of someone big at the top of stairs leading down into the crew galley from the main deck. "Professor Bagera! Miss McGuiness! What's going on?"
Panting with exhaustion, Bagera nearly collapsed as he reached the bottom of the stairs. "Ne... Negi... you've got to leave..."
Looking to Donnet, Negi saw her shake her head and realized she didn't know what was happening either. Moments later, Natsumi Murakami came down the ladder from the deck, followed by Kotaro and Kaede. "Professor Springfield! We're on Mars!"
As everyone else stared at Natsumi like she was somehow crazed, Bagera pointed sharply at her and nodded his head vigorously. "Ye... yes! That... that's why you need to leave!" Finally handed a glass of water, Bagera sat down on the deck, drinking the water slowly and trying to catch his breath.
Turning to Donnet, Negi gave her a questioning look. "Is that true?"
Seeing all the incredulous looks coming from Negi's students, Donnet realized that small bit of information, which she took for granted, was something these children new to the Mundus Magicus would certainly find surprising at the very least. "Yes. It is. No one who lives here ever gives it any thought, but it is true."
Sensing Negi's thoughts starting to run in a circle as he tried to come to grips with the potential connections of their trip and Chao Lingshen's claim to be a Martian, Chisame Hasegawa shook her head and stepped forward. "Listen people. You won't find anyone more willing to think the idea of an inhabited Mars is nuts than me. For now though, let's just accept that it is, like some science fiction alternate-dimension or something. What's more important is understanding why Professor Bagera says we need to leave."
Downing the last of the water, Bagera handed Chisame the glass and nodded in thanks. "Okay then..." Pulling himself up, he faced Negi. "From what I've been able to extrapolate from the Ostian gate, the cross-world connections for ALL of the gateports should have been re-established, just barely, by that spell your Ministra sent out of Old Ostia. Now, none of them are strong enough to permit travel back to the Mundus Vetus, since the connections are so weak, but there is a possible exception..."
Giving Bagera a confused look for a moment, Negi suddenly remembered what one of his Ministra was capable of. ("Asuna...")
Nodding in response to the unspoken name, Bagera pointed at Negi. "Exactly! If you boost the connection, you should be able to go home!"
Suddenly confused again, Negi shook his head. "Why do we need to hurry though? I mean, beyond the fact we're already late getting back to school?"
With unbelievably complex explanations about orbital dynamics suddenly springing forth in his mind, Bagera had to force himself not to start babbling. Looking abound the galley, he spotted Natsumi Murakami. "You! The girl with the freckles! You recognized the map out in the plaza as Mars! Can you explain to Professor Springfield why your group needs to go home NOW?"
As everyone turned to look at her, Natsumi started to shake her head, then finally just gave a sigh and closed her eyes. With some difficulty, she finally dredged up her memory of the last time she'd seen Mahora Academy's planetary model. Positioning all the different planets in her mind's eye, she quickly ignored all the outer planets, then mentally zoomed in on those closest to the sun. Setting them in motion, she watched all the interconnected globes spin along their summer and fall paths several times until she suddenly realized what Bagera meant. Opening her eyes, she glanced about frantically for a moment before rushing over to a table containing some fruit and a checkers set. Grabbing an orange and four checkers, she quickly arranged them as a simple model of Sol's inner planetary system. "Mars and Earth... I mean, the Mundus Magicus and the Mundus Vetus, are moving apart..." As everyone gathered around, she set the third and fourth checkers in motion. "The later in the year we go, the further apart they'll get. If we have to rely on a weak connection, then stretching the distance is bad..."
Watching as Natsumi slowly pushed the third checker ahead of the fourth; Bagera nodded and gave Natsumi a grateful smile. "EXACTLY! Thank you for such a brilliantly simple explanation!"
As Natsumi flushed from Bagera's praise, Negi turned to Donnet McGuiness. "Can we get into the gateport?"
Trying her best not to seem excited, Donnet instead put on a stern look marred by a raised eyebrow. "The gateport is sealed pending departure of the Ariadne and Hellas delegations. No one is authorized to enter it until reconstruction resumes, presumably in a week or two."
Looking around and not seeing Asuna, Negi turned to Nodoka. "Do you know where Asuna is?"
Unexpectedly, Collet and Yue raised their hands. Knowing Yue probably had things she'd need to do, Collet stepped forward. "She went to the Pampanito. I'll go get her!"
Negi watched the beagle girl go, then turned to his class. "Get all your things together. We're going home tonight!"
(-)
(Praetorian Armory.)
Looking up from her desk as Gijou came through the door unannounced, Regina Karkolova realized something potentially bad was happening by the look on his face. "What is it?"
Jerking a thumb back in the direction of the armory entrance, Gijou gave Regina a worried look. "The guard post at the head of the gateport causeway reports that it looks like Estimated Prophet has manned all its weapons. As for the rest... you'd better come look..."
Rising, Regina quickly followed Gijou out of the armory. Across Megalo Bay, a faint glow, visible in the deepening twilight, was emanating from the normally dark gateport building. "Alert the Guard Captain. Have him call out the Praetorians, but he is under no circumstances to approach the gateport without my expressed permission."
"Yes, Councilor." With a nod, Gijou ran back into the armory. Watching as the glow coming from across the bay began to build, Regina smiled slightly. ("Good luck to you and yours, Negi Springfield. You're going to need it if you're doing what I think you're doing.")
(-)
(Megalo-Mesembrian Gateport.)
Asuna had come back in an angry huff with Collet, Takamichi, Mana, and Takane Goodman's group. After listening to Negi's explanation of the situation she calmed down slightly, and without even being asked, went over and punched one of the magic talismans sealing the entry doors for the gateport building. There was a crackle of energy, and the talisman fell to the ground.
While nearly everyone else followed Donnet McGuiness through the now open door, Nodoka, the book she'd taken from the library in Dracogenia held tightly in her hands, hesitated. As she watched, Chisame also held back, arguing with Chachamaru about some missing program and trying to recover the last of her Sprite mice using the connection through Professor Bagera's PDD. When they finally finished and Negi and Professor Takahata were the last two besides herself still outside, Nodoka gulped and stepped forward. "Negi! I really need to show you something!"
Turning from Takahata, Negi didn't see the worried look come over the older professor's face when he recognized the book Nodoka held. "Nodoka... We really do need to hurry..."
Not allowing her determination to wane, Nodoka opened the book and thrust it boldly towards Negi.
Looking down, Negi felt his jaw drop as he beheld a picture of his father, smiling and holding his arms wrapped around a very pregnant woman who looked exactly like a younger Captain Adenaur. Without even hearing Takamichi's call to stop, he turned and bolted towards the Estimated Prophet.
With a sigh, Takamichi Turned to look down at Nodoka. "You know he's just going to be hurt, don't you Miss Miyazaki?"
Lips trembling as a single tear rolled down her cheek, Nodoka nodded. "I didn't know for sure until just recently, but since we have no idea when he'll be able to come back, don't you think he deserves to know?"
Reaching into his pocket, Takamichi took out his package of Mundus Vetus cigarettes. Much to his disappointment, and to Nodoka's relief, he found it empty. "Well, I suppose I can't argue with that." Tossing the package into a waste bin, he turned and led his former student into the gateport building.
(-)
(Estimated Prophet.)
After all but flying up the stairs to the bridge, Negi rushed over to Katrina as she turned away from Emily Sevensheep and stood up out of her chair. "Ca... Captain...!"
Seeing the desperate hope in Negi's eyes, Katrina tried to remain calm, but the tears still began to fall.
Holding his arms out, Negi took a step forward. "Are... are you my mother...?"
Shaking her head, Katrina stepped forward, knelt, and put her arms around Negi. "No Negi. Forgive me for never saying anything, but it seems like I'm doomed to hurt you either way..."
Feeling Katrina's tears falling on his cheeks, Negi felt his heart harden slightly as he took a step back... "She... she's dead, isn't she..."
Knowing there was only one way to answer to that question, Katrina reached up and brushed at the tears on her nephew's face. "My twin sister Anna, your mother, died in Kyoto soon after giving birth to you." Feeling the heat on her own cheeks, she sniffed and tried to ignore the annoying wetness. "The body was eventually returned to the Mundus Magicus. If you ever wish to visit her, she's buried on the Adenaur estate..."
Wanting to hate his aunt for her deception, but seeing such an intense feeling of loss in her eyes he couldn't sustain the emotion, Negi moved forward again and put his arms around Katrina's shoulders. "I... it's okay... I'm happy to finally know I do have more family than just my cousin Nekane..."
Watching from nearby, Jay Cabot felt a few of his own tears fall. He'd always known the captain wasn't as cold as some of the crew thought, she'd shown that at the memorial service for the ship's dead in Old Ostia, but he'd never actually seen her cry before...
Hearing Chisame shout for him to hurry through her Pactio link, Negi finally stood up and started to turn to go. Before he could, Katrina stood and reached out to stop him.
As Negi turned around, Katrina took a small box from her pocket and held it out. "I've had this since my sister died, but I think, as your mother, she would have liked you to have it..."
Taking the small box, Negi opened it up. Inside, on a soft bed of cloth, was an Ala Rubra badge with several rust-red stains. "Is this..."
Fighting to hold back her own tears, Katrina nodded. "You... your mother's Ala Rubra badge. I think it may have been your father's before that. You wouldn't know about such things, but men sometimes give something they hold very dear to the woman they love as a symbol of that love."
No longer holding back, Negi let his tears flow unchecked. "Tha... thank you..."
Seeing additional Praetorians starting to gather around their guard post at the shore-end of the gateport causeway, Katrina put her hand on Negi's shoulder and guided him towards the stairs leading down from the Prophet's bridge. "You'd better go. Don't worry about the Mage Council or anything like that. Theodora and I can deal with them."
Closing the box, Negi looked up at Katrina, nodded once, then took off.
From the perch of her ship's bridge, Katrina watched as Negi ran down the pier to the gateport plaza, waved at Mat'tari as he passed her, then disappeared into the gateport building itself. After silently wishing her nephew a safe trip, she turned back to face Emily. "As I was saying, Yue's armor registered as an additional Pactio Uniform when Chamo and Negi modified her card. There wasn't time to figure out why before she had to leave, so I'll write you a letter accepting full responsibility for its loss before we return to Ariadne."
Still worried, despite Captain Adenaur's reassurance, Emily shook her head. "I'm the one who asked for that extra armor... I can't imagine what Grandmistress Seras is going to say about my losing it..."
Having known Yue much longer than Emily, Katrina gave Vexillary Sevensheep's commander a serious look. Do you trust Miss Ayase or not?"
Surprised by the question, Emily found herself at a momentary loss for words. Captain Adenaur seemed willing to wait for an answer, and it wasn't long in coming. "Yes. I do."
Smiling, Katrina turned from Emily to watch as the main gateport building began to glow softly. "Then trust her to do the right thing by you and the Valkyries. The next time you see Miss Ayase, I'm sure she'll have a pleasant surprise for you."
Finally understanding there was nothing she could do, nor any reason to continue worrying; Emily sighed and just leaned back against the armor of Estimated Prophet's conning tower.
With Emily's worries finally resolved, Katrina reached for her phone and punched the connection to the CIC. "Ma'ii. I imagine we're going to have a bit of explaining to do before too long. Contact the Pampanito and let Princess Theodora know I'll be over shortly."
Only sounding mildly worried, Ma'ii answer was immediate. "Understood, Captain."
(-)
(Main Facility Chamber, Megalo-Mesembrian gateport.)
Entering the place where he'd been so gravely injured what seemed centuries ago caused a twinge in Negi's right shoulder. Flexing his hand to work the muscles, but otherwise ignoring the pain, he ran out along the still damaged pathway leading to the center of the chamber. As his students shouted for him to hurry up, a voice came over the gateport's public address system.
"Negi. This is Donnet. Professor Bagera and I are in the control room. Everything here is still set for the connection to Wales. I'm not really sure how you intend to get through on such a weak link, but you'd better have everyone stay as close together as possible."
Though he didn't know which direction to look to be facing the control room, Negi nodded in response to Donnet's words.
"One other thing... If you happen to be concerned about such things, the security system is still down. There will be no record of whatever it is you intend to do..."
After nodding once more, Negi turned to face his companions. "I'll need a bit of room to work, but otherwise I want everyone to hold hands and get as close as you can to what's left of the anchor stone."
Moving to place himself in the center of the group along with Negi and Asuna, Takamichi glanced at the young girl who no longer seemed to need him as a guardian, then turned to face his old students. "Things might get a bit bright, so I suggest everyone close your eyes."
After giving Takamichi a nod of thanks for making a needed suggestion, Negi took Asuna's hand and walked up to the remains of the gate pathway's anchor stone. ("Asuna...")
Knowing what needed to be done even before Negi had established his contact telepathia link; Asuna looked down at her Magister. ("Do it, Negi!")
Nodding, Negi faced the anchor stone and closed his eyes. ("Asuna Vesperina Teotanasia.")
With awareness of her immediate surroundings beginning to fade as her younger self took over, Asuna tightened the grip she held on Negi's hand. ("Yes, My Master?")
His thought-voice expressing only sadness at Asuna's words, Negi mentally shook his head. ("No. That's wrong. I am NOT your Master. I am your friend, and I am simply asking for your help.")
Old habits die hard, and it took conscious effort for Asuna's younger self to change what for her was a long ingrained response. ("How... How may I... help... you?")
Now Negi projected a mental smile at Asuna. ("Spell boost please. Strengthen the link to the Mundus Vetus. Continue to do so until the teleportation spell activates.")
Looking up at Negi, even as her older self looked down at him, the younger shade of Asuna Kagurazaka saw the closeness the two shared, and finally understood the real meaning of what the first Teotanasia had established, so long ago...
("Yes! My friend, and my partner!")
(-)
In the gateport control room, Donnet watched as the various visual and status monitors came to life in response to the energy building out in the gateport chamber itself. The glow coming through those showing the chamber itself continued to build until, with a sudden flash, the teleportation spell activated. When she could see into the main gateport chamber once more, the anchor stone platform was now empty of its previous occupants. With a resigned sigh, she turned towards her companion. "Well then, Professor Bagera, I guess we'd better go get ready to face the third degree from the Mage Council!"
Seeing Donnet's worried look, Bagera had a sudden mischievous thought. He shrugged, and the grin which began to spread across his face did nothing to reassure his companion. "Ah well. After everything I've been through, what's a year or two as an ermine?"
(-)
(Megalo-Mesembrian Mage Council Office Building.)
After a most divisive three days the Ala Alba hearings were finally, though prematurely, over.
As she walked back to her normal office for the first time in over a week, Regina Karkolova though about what had brought them to a sudden close and had to shake her head.
Having the most important witnesses vanish, apparently with the help of what were supposed to be the neutral observers from Ariadne and the Hellas Empire, had nearly made Mifune Hayase apoplectic. He wasn't ready to demand the Northern Alliance go to war over the matter, but he had suggested that the bounties immediately be reestablished, and did demand explanations of their actions from Katrina Adenaur and Theodora Hellas.
Both calmly reminded the Mage Council that the Ala Alba had preformed a great service to the Northern Alliance, as well as their own countries, and suggested that forgiving this one last indiscretion by the Ala Alba, as well as everything else, was a small price to pay for what they'd done.
Freidrich Jurgen, after a mildly out of character bout of angry questioning on the second day of the hearings, was now quite calm, and finally convinced Mifune that it was best if the matter was dropped completely. The Ala Alba was gone. Evidence seemed to suggest they were innocent of everything they were accused of. Wouldn't beginning the work necessary to arrange the elections needed to fully reform the Mage Council be a more productive use of their time than pursuing the Ala Alba?
After a long, moody period of thought, Mifune finally nodded. Mumbling about an already growing 'Negi Springfield Fan Club,' and how he hoped the Ala Alba never came back to the Mundus Magicus again, he voted with his fellow councilors to drop all charges against the Ala Alba.
Stopping outside her office, Regina waited patiently as her Kit-Jin bodyguard went inside to make sure there were no unpleasant surprises. Mifune Hayase and Freidrich Jurgen had both seem relieved and happy the Ala Alba had gone. She was as well, for reasons which were... personal, close to her heart, best left unspoken, and ultimately, even un-thought. At least she'd managed to return Kasayo McDowell's favor. Doing so had been a risk, but also one which let her sever one more tie with a past best forgotten.
"Everything's clear Ma'am."
Relieved, Regina walked through the empty area normally occupied by the support staff for the Councilor of Internal Affairs, then on into the Councilor's office itself. Sitting down at her desk, she turned on the computer and waited for it to power up.
When it did, she received a huge shock. Front and center in the screen was a small window which both warned her that the office network was nearly at its capacity for storage, and suggested that she should consider deleting, or saving and storing items in removable memory.
Looking down to where Negi's Sprite-mouse icon normally was, she saw instead a simplified panda face, like the design a child might use for a cookie. Moving her cursor over the icon, she sat back and waited.
After a few moments, the screen went blank, and was soon replaced by the image of an apparently Chinese girl wearing something that probably wouldn't have been out of place amongst the ruling class of China's old kingdoms. After seeming to look right at her, the girl knelt, placed both hands of the 'floor' before her, and made a very deep, formal bow.
"Councilor Regina Karkolova. I beg your forgiveness for the problems my occupying your system may cause, but when the Megalo-Mesembrian servers collapsed, this was the only place large enough for me to safely take refuge."
Leaning back in her chair, Regina contemplated the subservient girl? program? for a moment, then began to laugh softly. "For persons supposedly on the run, the Ala Alba was amazingly successful in manipulating and using the media and the MahoNet. Am I correct in assuming you were partially responsible for that, Miss?"
After glancing up at Regina for a second, the girl bowed once more. "Please refer to me as V-Chao, Councilor Karkolova. And yes. I did assist the Ala Alba in their work, though in truth, it was to my own, and my creator's ends."
Considering the warning she'd seen on powering up her computer, Regina realized this, 'V-Chao,' was probably in an extremely vulnerable position. "What is it you wish of me?"
Though she kept her eyes pointed demurely at the ground, V-Chao finally sat up. "Only that you permit me to continue to occupy your system until such time as I can safely return to the MahoNet as a whole. Though the situation seems to have changed from what she originally anticipated, this will permit me to continue to carry out my creators wishes. In return, I offer you my capabilities in computer security and information manipulation."
Considering the various plans she herself had in motion, the possibility of having access to the program used so successfully by the Ala Alba's hacker was a heady, difficult wine to resist. Taking several deep breaths, Regina worked to calm the rush such an idea had brought to her head, then finally leaned forward so she could speak more privately through the use of her keyboard.
("Okay then, Let's talk.")
(-)
(Two Weeks after 'The Fourth Battle of Ostia.')
(Dean's Office, Tantalistica Magorum.)
"Dean Enomoto. Your One O-clock appointment is here."
Looking up from his review of the supplementary budget requests from the school's various departments, Dean Enomoto's expression went from annoyed boredom to pleased excitement in an instant. At last! Please show Professor Bagera in, Miss Kamishakuji!"
Looking worn and a bit thin, not really surprising, considering what he'd just been through; Professor Calizone Bagera entered the office and gave a polite bow.
Making a motion with his hand, Dean Enomoto caught his secretary's attention before she could exit the office and close the door. "Miss Kamishakuji. Please hold any calls until Professor Bagera departs."
Nodding, the short, glasses wearing woman exited and closed the door.
Coming forward again, Professor Bagera held out a hand as the Dean stood, leaned over the desk, and held out his own. "Well, I'm back, Chihiro." After a quick handshake, Bagera placed a small attaché on the desk, took out several packages which he quickly slid forward. "There's my written report, including a copy of the chip in the PDD I used, as well as my expense report. You might find a few oddities in that, so if you'd like to discuss it..."
Shaking his head, Dean Enomoto indicated for Bagera to sit. "Nonsense! I'm sure it's all proper and correct! What I'd really like to hear about are the people you met! Was that boy really the Thousand Master's son...?"
(-)
Nearly two hours later, Professor Bagera finally departed, claiming a desperate need for rest. Setting everything else aside, Dean Enomoto made a quick review of the professor's report. All was neat and concise. Names were used when necessary, but never to simply embellish. The report was an excellent example of the simple reporting of facts. Detailed analysis and insanely long dissertations would come later, when people with nothing better to do got hold of the data contained within Bagera's PDD chip.
Professor Bagera's recommendation that the event he had witnessed be called 'Raphael's Mantle' might be a bit presumptuous, but would likely be accepted.
Turning to the expense report, Dean Enomoto was surprised by the unusually thick document. Professor Bagera was zealously frugal and concise in such matters, and even when combined with an unexpected stay in Megalo-Mesembria, such a long report was strangely out of character.
Reaching out for his kouhi, Dean Enomoto took a sip as he read through the expected preliminaries of the expense report. Talking another sip, he dropped his eyes to the first listed item.
Kouhi instantly sprayed from his mouth and nose, splattering the desk and nearly causing him to choke. Dean Enomoto's wheezing and coughing became so bad, his secretary had to rush in and start pounding him on the back until he could breathe again. Finally assured he was okay, Renko Kamishakuji warily left the room.
Gathering up the report, Dean Enomoto made sure the pages were in order, then began reading again... without his kouhi.
Research vessel: IECS Estimated Prophet...
Vessel Captain: Katrina Adenaur...
Vessel Navigator...
Further down, within the list of over fourteen-hundred 'Research-assistants' and 'Site Workers,' he began to see names that were familiar because of news reporting on recent events.
Research Assistant: Negi Springfield...
Research Assistant: Yue Ayase...
And below that:
Site worker: Chisame Hasegawa...
Site worker: Kaede Nagase...
Setting the report down, dean Enomoto began to shake his head and laugh.
What kind of 'Research Vessel' could so easily help a ship from Ariadne shoot down the Northern Alliance flagship, while at the same time fighting and destroying five God Soldiers?
'Vessel Captain?' Katrina Adenaur was a Dean such as himself, and head of one of the most important families in Ariadne! Several of the 'Research Assistants' and 'Site Workers' were recently acquitted terrorists!
Dean Enomoto began laughing so hard his secretary peeked in on him again. What Calizone Bagera had done was so audacious it bordered on the insane. If he accepted the professor's expense report, including the ridiculously small payments for each item, (twenty-five Drachmas to 'lease' the 'Research Vessel' indeed!) then combined with the council issued permits authorizing entry into Old Ostia, everyone involved would have shaky, but quite legitimate reasons to be within the historical ruins preservation zone. With the kind of lawyers the Adenaur family could bring to bear, anyone with thoughts of attempting a prosecution for 'unauthorized entry' would be in for a rude surprise!
As for firing its weapons? The 'research vessel' had fired in defense of an allied vessel. A perfectly legitimate act. Destroying the God Soldiers was pure self-defense, and also quite proper.
Taking out a handkerchief, Dean Enomoto shook his head while wiping at his numerous tears of mirth. Finally reaching the last page of the report, he took out his signet stamp. Firmly and without hesitation, he made a stamp mark in the box where it most assuredly belonged...
APPROVED.
tsuzuku.
(-)
Author's Notes:
It's a little late to say this, but Calizone Bagera is actually named after a cat a friend of mine's mother once had, NOT the character from 'Jungle Book.' Except that the cat WAS named after that character! (Something I didn't realize at the time. I just liked the name!)
About Konoka curing Aer and Raeil Kitar's Eternal Petrification: (As well as that of Eien Pepelu and many others.) This was only able to happen due to the world changing strength of the spell which came out of Old Ostia. Since Konoka cannot yet control an equal amount of magical energy, she will be unable to duplicate curing Eternal Petrification again in the near term. There would be one exception... All the Ala Alba would have to do is move all the people from Negi's village to the Mundus Magicus, close off all the gates but one, let all the magical energy gather at the remaining gate, then risk the destruction of the world in the hope that they would be able to duplicate the circumstances from before...
Kazumi Asakura's group photo. The following is a list of everyone who participated:
Class A: Negi, Kotaro, Chamo, Asuna, Nodoka, Yue, Haruna, Konoka, Setsuna, Kaede, Ku, Chisame, Kazumi, Sayo, Akira, Ako, Natsumi, Yuuna, Makie.
Anya's Crew: (Anya, Collet, T'fa, R'th.)
Yunna's Posse: (Craig, Chris, Aisha, Lynn.)
Estimated Prophet: (Katrina, Cabot, Ma'ii.)
Takane-tachi: (Takane, Mei, Misora, Cocone.)
Ariadne Cadets: (Emily, Beatrice, Jei, Sachi.)
Mahora Enforcers: (Takamichi, Mana, Jack.)
Additional participants: (Zazie, (dragon-form,) Tsukuyomi, Clark, Kys'shira.)
Concerning Theodora Hellas and Takamichi Takahata: I had decided ever since c233 of the manga became available in scanslated form that I was going to pair them together. In any case, another young lady has already caught Jacobus Rakan's eye...
Also concerning Theodora and her status as the 'Third' Princess of the Hellas Empire. However Ken Akamatsu meant it to be, for the purposes of 'Ala Alba,' I have interpreted this to mean she is literally the 'Third Princess,' as in she has two older sisters, and not that she is the third in a multi-generational line of persons in the Hellas Empire to hold the title 'Princess.'
Mahora Academy's planetary model: For those of you who have seen the second, (Negima! ?) anime, I am imagining the planetary model shown in that series.
For the time period involved; approximately August 2003, to October 2003, Mars starts out close to Earth, but the later in the year you go, the further behind in its orbit Mars falls compared to Earth. I have confirmed this using an on-line planetary model.
IECS Estimated Prophet: Independent Educational City-state Ship Estimated prophet.
HES Pampanito: Hellas Empire Ship Pampanito.
MMS Phobos: Megalo-Mesembrian Ship Phobos.
There should only be one chapter left. After that, I will create a compendium of various information and begin my final edit of the entire story.
Chapter Fifty-three: Home at last.