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.
Various cameos are the property of their respective creators and owners, not me.
For those of you who have given reviews, or have attempted to get in contact with me some other way, I WILL get back to you shortly.
SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.
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"I must admit I was most surprised by who insisted she go free."
-Stephan Dilane. Personal Diary.
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Ala Alba in the World of Magic: Tales From the Fireside.
Chapter Written Number: Home at Last.
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(Mahora Academy, Japan.)
Albiero Imma knew readily available magical energy had been the main reason for placing his mortally wounded but stasis-preserved body beneath Mahora Academy's Library Island. Of course a secondary reason was that the location was easily defendable, should the enemies of the Ala Rubra wish him harm while in his vulnerable state.
Over the years, despite the limits of the stasis spell, he had managed to tweak what might have been a mortally boring existence into one marginally less so. While the doppelganger he manifested could only venture beyond Library Island during the World Tree's yearly time of increased energy output, at all other times it still had free run of the entire library. In addition, thanks to arrangements made during previous MahoraFest, through the medium of the doppelganger he was still able to enjoy his passion for tea and cakes.
As he picked at the latest arrival, a chocolate cake from the Balkans subtly flavored with a maraschino cherry liqueur, Al could feel none of his usual excitement over the culinary wonders available from around the Mundus Vetus.
There had been no contact of any sort with the Mundus Magicus for nearly a week. All of the gateports around the Mundus Vetus registered a miniscule trickle of energy, and his Pactio card with Nagi was still active, but neither could be considered useful indicators of what had happened.
For the first; with no word, and considering the evidence provided by Magus Dilane in Wales, it seemed as if the Life Giver had won and was now in the process of remaking Its World. The thin trickle of energy could only be the residue of the spells it was using leaking through the old connections.
As for the second; he had no idea if Nagi had hidden in the world of magic, or that of the mundane. His provisional contract with the Thousand Master could therefore not be considered proof-positive the world all of them had labored so mightily to protect still existed.
Whatever problems the possible destruction of the Mundus Magicus was causing amongst the remaining mages scattered across the Mundus Vetus, in Japan itself, the consequences were proving to be more than just a little troublesome.
Sooner than he had planned to do so, Eishun Konoe had been forced to return to Kyoto. Thanks to some unknown party, rumors of his daughter Konoka's possible death were already starting to spread. As a result, the simmering conflict between the Kansai and Kanto Magic Associations was threatening to erupt into an open shadow-war. Needing to be in Kyoto to head that off, he had departed Mahora to do so, even as Konoemon Konoe began working to keep things calm in Tokyo.
Evangeline McDowell was another, potentially very dangerous consideration. For the moment, she had retreated to her cabin, and according to Toko Kuzunoha's intelligence network, was sulking, but inactive. Even so, she was being watched VERY closely. If Negi was indeed dead, it was possible Eva now had absolutely no hope of ever leaving Mahora Academy. Despite the limits imposed on her powers by the Infernus Scholasticus curse, Konoemon and Toko were quite justifiably worried the little vampire might lash out in some kind of self-destructive act, just to bring an end to her potentially doomed existence.
Staring at the cake, Al finally realized he had no appetite, and so just dropped his fork. At that moment, he felt a completely unexpected surge in the lines of magical energy leading to Library Island from the World Tree.
Unable to believe his senses, he just stared off in the direction of the underground passageway leading to the gateport. Something had obviously come through the gate, but it was impossible to tell if it was from the now presumably destroyed Mundus Magicus, or just from another of the gateports scattered across the Mundus Vetus.
Not daring yet to hope, he stood up and started moving towards the passageway to the World Tree. Whatever had come through certainly didn't have a threatening aura about it, and if anything, gave off nothing more serious than a sense of overwhelming exhaustion.
Of the two exits from the gateport, the one through Library Island was closer than that through Saint Ursula's Church, so he hoped whoever or whatever had come through would choose the easiest way out.
Recognizing the person who eventually appeared out of the shadows of the passageway, Al couldn't decide if he was more overwhelmed by bewilderment, or joy...
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Collapsing to the floor of the Mahora Academy gateport platform, Zazie Rainyday lay there, panting, tongue lolling out of her draconic mouth as she struggled to catch her breath and stand up.
Ever since leaving the Estimated Prophet and Old Ostia to fly back to the dragon controlled territories on Elysium, she'd felt an increasing sense of unease. That sense of 'something being wrong' had grown so great over the last two days she'd been unable to even sleep. Now, finally back at Mahora after passing through the limited access gate controlled by the Dragon Clans, she realized what the source of that unease was.
She had originally been tasked by her dragon clan's elders with watching over Evangeline McDowell and, if necessary, with slaying her. The discomfort had come from the geas the elders had used to make sure she remained focused on that task. Since the geas was finally reasserting its influence over her actions, it could only mean the day walker had become a viable threat again.
Back now within the spell-field designed to restrain the Disciple of Catastrophic Noise and the geas' matching area of effect, the discomfort eased rapidly. Since a bed in the junior high girl's dorm was decidedly more comfortable than the cold stone of the gate platform, she gathered her remaining strength and sang the song necessary to return to humanoid form. Winding up on her hands and knees, she took several slow breaths, then rose shakily to her feet. From where it remained neatly folded nearby, she picked up her Mahora Academy uniform and dressed, then moved out along the exit towards Library Island.
Reaching the area occupied by Albiero Imma, Zazie spared the shocked-looking mage a disinterested glance, then turned towards the ramp leading to the surface.
"Miss Rainyday..."
So tired she knew that to stop or sit down meant quickly falling asleep, Zazie ignored Imma and kept walking.
"Miss Rainyday... Please...May we talk? I have a nice tea and some Torta Cokolada."
THAT stopped Zazie. Many of the most traumatic memories of her childhood centered around witnessing the murders of her mother and step-father, as well as having to live as an orphan, alone and friendless, in war-torn Serbia. Despite that, there were still many positive memories from her youth.
One was of her encounters with, and of the kindness of, an American soldier who had saved her life. She only knew him as 'Markham,' but it was easy to say the man had helped her survive a time when she could have easily died an unmourned, gutter death.
Imma's offer of tea and cake involved the other set of good memories. After growing old enough to do so, she'd started helping her mother cook. Though it was done under her mother's supervision, one of her proudest moments had been when she'd cooked the biscuits for the weekend dinner gathering of the circus troupe they traveled with. Another was of helping her make, and eat, the Torta Cokolada so loved by her step-father.
Much to Al's immense relief, Zazie finally turned away from the exit. Wiping at a bit of wetness on her chin, she moved to follow him towards the open-air tea room where the cake that seemed to have changed her mind awaited its fate...
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(Wales, England. Meldiana Magorum.)
Nearly a week had passed since Nekane Springfield had come to tell Ayaka Yukihiro she should start thinking about going back to Mahora.
Despite her best efforts to find out why, neither Nekane, or Dean Dilane, or anyone else seemed willing to explain to her the reasons she should do so.
Frustrated, Ayaka went to confide her worries to Chizuru Naba.
Recalling what she'd seen while helping Selena McGriff, Chizuru remembered what had happened on Mars, as well as the fear she'd seen in the woman's eyes. While she didn't fully understand the reason for that fear, or the connection Mars might have with her homeroom professor, when taken with everything else she'd observed around Meldiana over the last several days, she had to reluctantly agree with Nekane. As much as it pained her to do so, she advised Ayaka that yes, it was probably time to go home.
Having the person who had been her rock of support and encouragement during all the time Negi had been gone say there was no longer any hope robbed Ayaka of all her motivation. Quietly asking Chizuru to make all the arrangements, she retreated without another word to her room.
Even after Chizuru came in and went to bed, Ayaka remained in a chair by the window, staring listlessly outside as the stars and the moon turned through their paths across the sky. Thoughts about both her dead younger brother and her now missing professor raced unimpeded through her mind until exhaustion took its toll. Unable to remain awake, she leaned against the window frame and closed her eyes...
Dreams... or maybe nightmares... she couldn't tell which, immediately began to plague her restless slumber...
Professor Springfield, even many of her missing classmates, trapped in a confusing, dangerous world... forced to fight for their very survival against an implacable foe who spared no thought of mercy for those his actions threatened to destroy...
Negi struggled mightily, like the valiant soul she perceived him to be. Though there was a cost, he persevered, and she was left with the unshakable feeling that he WOULD be coming home...
With a start, Ayaka woke to find she'd been crying in her sleep, and that Chizuru had covered her with a blanket sometime during the night. Standing up, she gathered the blanket about her shoulders, and based on nothing more than the dream, left the room. Once outside in the chill pre-dawn air, she turned towards the place where she'd said goodbye to Asuna and started walking.
Reaching the stone marking that spot, she closed her eyes, and once the tension faded from her shoulders, invoked her 'Ayaka Yukihiro Style, Mind's Eye of Love.' As clearly as if it was a bright summer day, the path she needed to take appeared to her, so she started walking once more. Swirling mists closed about her, bringing a sudden chill, so she just pulled the blanket more tightly around her shoulders. Thoughts that she should 'go someplace else' were ruthlessly suppressed and ignored. All that mattered was that she 'knew' Negi would be coming back, and he would do so at a place her mind could only define as 'out there.'
Finally cresting the last of several rolling hills, Ayaka opened her eyes and found herself looking down across a gently sloping, mist-filled valley. As she stood there watching, the sun slowly rising over the eastern horizon began to burn away the mists. Eventually, a massive Stonehenge-like structure started to become visible out in the center of the valley. Just as she began to wonder why she'd never seen any reference to such a massive construct before, there was a brilliant flash of light.
When the light faded, and Ayaka could see who had appeared amongst the gathering up upright stone slabs, she immediately started running down the slope and out across the valley with a level of energy she'd not felt in a very, very long time.
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Waking up and finding Ayaka gone wasn't a surprise to Chizuru, but not finding her anywhere she might be expected to be was. Worry sent her to see Nekane Springfield, and a search was quickly organized. Just as the initial effort was completed and everyone involved began discussing what to do next, the sun made its appearance on the eastern horizon. Moments later, there was a barely perceptible flash to the west, outlined by the last remaining vestiges of the waning night.
Much to Chizuru's surprise, that small flash drew a great deal of attention from several of Meldiana's teachers and staff who were gathered nearby. Nekane, staring towards the west, whispered her cousin's name, then took off running... Dean Dilane and several others soon followed... After telling Madoka Kugimiya to take charge, Chizuru did so as well.
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With the fading of the teleportation spell's activation flash, Negi opened his eyes to find himself standing among the stones of the Wales gateport. A partial turn allowed his gaze to meet Asuna's. He gave her hand a firm grip of thanks, then let go and turned to face the rest of his companions. "Well, we made it..."
As Springfield's students began to crowd around, hugging and clapping him on the back, Tsukuyomi moved over to kneel before Konoka. When the girl and her guardian finally focused their attention on her, she bowed and held out Ukeire with both hands. "Konoe-sama. I cannot say what our futures might hold, but for the moment I am at the mercy of you and your companions. As my own Shukun is not available, I humbly ask that you accept my weapon into your personal safe-keeping."
Turning from the deferential little Shinmei-Ryu, Konoka looked towards Setsuna. Her guardian, hair once more dyed black, gave a small nod, so she turned back and reached out for Tsukuyomi's blade. "Tsu-chan. Whatever else there is between us, you have wielded Ukeire with honor. It shall be my privilege to keep it safe for you."
Deepening her bow slightly, Tsukuyomi thanked Konoka, then stood. As she did so, Takamichi Takahata was there, causing a sudden increase in the tension of the situation.
Looking down at Setsuna's rival, Takamichi could see the loathing Tsukuyomi had for his gender in her eyes. Wishing silently for a cigarette, he remained calm, trying not to project any kind of intimidation as he waited for the little blonde Shinmei-Ryu to relax. Slowly, though perhaps not inevitably, the girl's wariness faded until she no longer looked at him as if he was a clear and present danger. "Miss Tsukuyomi. When we get to Dewin Ilan you will be confined until arrangements can be made to return you to Japan and the Kansai Magic Association. However, in light of your recent actions, if you promise not to misbehave, you will not be physically restrained. Are these terms acceptable?"
Even considering all the time she'd spent with Fate Averruncus, Tsukuyomi realized she'd never really thought about him in terms of gender... Fate was simply Fate. She felt a similar reaction to Negi Springfield. He was simply a powerful, worthy foe she hoped to perhaps duel some day. Takamichi Takahata though... other than prudent caution and wariness, all she sensed from him was a willingness to accept her simply for who and what she was, rather than the normally expected desire of some repulsive male creature wanting to lord himself and his gender over a female. A little surprised at herself for doing so, she gave the man a respectful bow. "It shall be as you wish, Takamichi-han."
Happy a potentially bad situation had been dealt with, Negi opened his mouth to suggest everyone start heading towards Dewin Ilan, but was interrupted by a shouted voice he'd not heard in over two months...
"NEEGII-SENSEIIIII!"
Turning towards the rising sun, everyone in the group could see a tall blonde, long hair and a blanket flowing out behind her, rushing across the open ground surrounding the gateport structure.
Takane Goodman had the look of someone starting to worry about a mundane managing to find the place, but after sharp looks from both Negi and Takamichi, she relaxed and put the new wand she'd purchased in Megalo-Mesembria away.
Ignoring everyone else, Ayaka ran straight to Negi and swept him off his feet. Beside herself with relief, she began to shower the suddenly blushing boy with a veritable storm of affection.
Doing his best to keep from being smothered, Negi gave Asuna a look telling her to leave Ayaka alone while also trying to fend 3A's Class Representative off without touching anything... problematic... "Please! Miss Yukihiro! It's getting difficult to breathe!"
Suddenly contrite, Ayaka stepped back and began fussing over the mess she'd made of Negi's clothes. Straightening out the oriental-style shirt he was wearing, she first saw the thin scar on his arm, then noticed countless other faint scars covering his arms and face. Suddenly angry, she turned on Asuna to berate her for failing to protect their Professor. Seeing in the girl's eyes a look of deeply rooted stress and trauma, the words of chastisement died in her throat. Realizing several other classmates had similar distant stares, she quietly gave Negi one last hug, then turned and held out her hand to Asuna. "I'm sure whatever happened was terribly complicated, and I hope someday you'll tell me about it Asuna, but for now, please just let me welcome you home."
Whatever curiosity Ayaka might have over what happened since they'd parted, Asuna could see in Ayaka's serious expression someone who wouldn't press the issue, and who would also go out of her way to keep anyone else from doing so. Without hesitation, she reached out for her rival... for her 'friends,' hand. "Thank you Ayaka. I'm glad to be back..."
"NEEGIII!"
Turning towards the new voice, Negi immediately recognized the form of the person now rushing towards the gateport. Quickly followed by everyone else, he took off and ran to meet his cousin Nekane.
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Though Dewin Ilan and the nearby Meldiana Magorum had erupted into a celebratory uproar over the news the Mundus Magicus had survived, Negi wanted nothing more than what most of his companions did; to be left alone by the rest of Ayaka's group and the excited members of a quickly growing fan club so he could catch up on two months worth of lost sleep. Fortunately, other responsibilities had precedence and provided a convenient excuse to tell all those wishing to talk that he would do so 'later.'
First was wondering how he was going to explain his absence with so many of the girls from his class for so long. As worrisome as that was, Meldiana's Headmaster Stephan Dilane explained that he and Konoemon Konoe had been dealing with the problem, presuming of course, with their fingers and toes all crossed, that Negi and his students would eventually return. 'A sudden chance for exchange student study' seemed a bit... contrived... as an excuse, but the Headmaster assured him that as long as he could keep the students who had come to Wales with him from talking too much about what they'd seen and done, he shouldn't need to give the matter another thought.
Second was dealing with Yuuna Akashi. From what he'd heard from Makie and Aisha, he had his suspicions about what had happened. Under the pretense of needing to be examined for a possible disease she might have picked up, he sought her out, then went to see Headmaster Dilane.
Under hypnosis, the headmaster confirmed what he suspected; the brown-haired girl had fallen under Evangeline McDowell's thrall again. He wanted to become angry at his training master for what it seemed she'd done, but after being shown the memories of Yuuna's first days in the Mundus Magicus the little vampire had deliberately blocked, realized he didn't have the heart to do so.
Unfortunately, it was much too late to completely heal what Eva's actions had wrought. Reassured by the Dean that magic existed which would help make it very unlikely Yuuna would ever remember what she'd done, and that it was also possible to sever the 'master - servant' relationship that would normally exist between Eva and Yuuna, Negi left the girl in Stephan Dilane's care and departed.
Finding Asuna would allow him to deal with the last of his major problems...
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With Konoka still worried about Asuna, Negi found his first Ministra in the healer's room along with Setsuna. "This is actually better than I expected. I needed to talk to all of you."
Looking up from her examination of Asuna, Konoka smiled at Negi. "Anya said she's looking for you as well, Negi. Do you want to talk to us now? Or after you see her?"
His eyes briefly widening in reaction to a sudden idea, Negi soon began to rub his chin in thought. "Do you know where Anya is?"
With her Shukun busy again, Setsuna turned towards Negi. "Miss Cocorowa asked us to tell you she would be at the place where the petrified villagers are kept."
Hearing Setsuna's words gave Negi the last bit of information he needed to make a decision. "Everyone. If you don't mind; please come with me. There's something important I need to do, and that's the perfect place for it."
(-)
Though Makie Sasaki knew she wouldn't be getting one anytime soon, Chamo was perfectly willing to explain to her, Yuuna and even a 'trying not to look too interested' Ku Fei exactly how the Pactio Card system worked. Negi eventually came and took Yuuna to see Meldiana's Headmaster, but he, Makie and Ku remained in their library alcove, continuing their discussion. The little rhythmic gymnast had just about convinced him to try to get Negi to accept her as a partner when, most distressingly, a past misdeed came back to haunt him...
A mage-trainee, her hair a shade of pink similar to Makie's, rounded the corner into the reading alcove and suddenly pointed at him in an extreme fit of recognition and anger.
All Chamo could recall about the girl was that her name was Louise, and he'd stolen a particularly fine pair of panties from her just before leaving Wales to find safety with... er... to become Negi's familiar. Bolting from his chair, he ran past the little flat-chested mage and out of the alcove. She ignored his companions and quickly came after him, shouting a promise to wreak a long delayed form of vengeance which easily violated every rule concerning ermine welfare then in existence...
With the little mage trainee and her sword-wielding familiar in hot pursuit, Chamo desperately made his way out of the library. Eventually managing to leave the extremely dangerous, explosion casting girl behind when one of Meldiana's professors appeared and told her to calm down, he spotted his Magister leading several 3A girls towards the door to the storage area for Dewin Ilan's petrified inhabitants. Since that seemed as safe a place as any to hide, he rushed across the intervening distance and slipped through the closing door just as its anti-entry wards snapped back into place.
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Using a soft chamois cloth, Anya Cocorowa finished removing the slight accumulation of dust covering the mage Negi called 'Stan,' then moved over to her mother. Carefully, with the same light touch, she repeated the process. Once that was finished, she moved up and put her arms around the petrified woman's form. "Mama... I'm home..."
Silence was the only possible answer, but in Anya's mind's eye, she could feel the remembered warmth of her mother's embrace, holding her close until she finally began to cry.
"Anya?"
Startled, Anya woke up from her semi-conscious dream to find Negi standing close by. Wiping at her tears, she turned to face her only true childhood friend. "What do you want, Negi?"
With Asuna, Konoka and Setsuna waiting a discrete distance behind him, Negi took a few more steps forward. "You wanted to see me?"
Wiping at her tears, Anya glanced at Negi's friends before letting a haunted expression come over her face and turning to face him. "Negi... I understand with certainty that everyone here is still alive. However, my reasons for doing so will doubtless give you little cause to be very happy."
As Anya began and worked through her story about what had happened in the Mundus Magicus before meeting up with Negi in New Ostia, Konoka began to grow upset. Many of the things she'd surmised while treating Hau Pepelu began to make more sense... Petrification wasn't simply a suspension of someone's existence; it was more like a living death. That there were ways to cope still didn't keep her from growing slightly ill as the little red-haired fire-mage continued her story. Forcing herself away from such depressing thoughts, she turned instead towards the idea that there WAS a cure for Eternal Petrification. Hau's partner, as well as Kaede's dragon friend Mat'tari had both been victims of Eternal Petrification. The idea she needed to try and destroy a world just to have enough power to reverse the effects was obviously insane. Therefore, the answer had to lie in the efficiency of how she used her artifact, her natural healing abilities, or a combination of the two. It might not happen anytime soon, but she HAD cured victims of Eternal Petrification. Given the time to practice, grow stronger, and to do the necessary research, she swore she would do so again!
Having finally finished her story, Anya waited as Negi processed what he'd heard. Eventually, as expected, he finally realized nothing could be done at the moment to help the petrified villagers. Stepping forward as he sighed and gave a tired shrug, she leaned in close and whispered something else that also caused an expected reaction. Poor clueless boy that he was, Negi stared at her flushed face for several seconds before he realized she was serious and became just as red as she in response. When he finally backed away and began to babble, she glowered and reached out to grab his collar. ("Negi you ninny! After everything that happened, even if nothing ever comes from it, I wanted you to know how I feel!") Relaxing her grip, she stepped back. "Now, if you can contain yourself, I have a question I'd like to ask you..."
Recalling the hot-blooded temper she'd shown in the past, Negi thought about what Anya had just told him and realized by her trembling hands how much self-control it was taking not to just punch him and run off. Sighing, he reached up and took her hands in what he hoped she would interpret as the grip of a friend. "Please Anya, go ahead."
What Anya saw in Negi's eyes made her want to punch him even more. That look of his... if it was something she thought he really had any control over, she would have punched him. Instead, she gave an annoyed huff and let him go. "My mother said you had fire magery in you, and that you could help me learn more about how to use the fire spell-booster she taught me. After my training in London is finished, is it okay if I ask to be sent to join you at Mahora to train further?"
Surprised by Anya's simple request, Negi nodded and smiled. "Sure! Considering your Meldiana grades, then with a recommendation from me you might not even need to take the entrance exam."
Relieved to have Negi's encouragement, Anya took a deep breath, then pointed at his companions. "Why did you bring them? I've said some pretty embarrassing things, and I was hoping for a bit more privacy!"
Glad to see the Anya he was used to back in full form; Negi gave his friend a happy smile which quickly turned serious. "Anya. Asuna had a command matrix programmed into her while she was held captive. Getting rid of it could prove damaging, but I think I've figured out a way to make it next to impossible for anyone to use again. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate your help in taking care of that."
Though Asuna was a strong rival for Negi's attention, because of what Zo Connel had done to her, Anya understood what it meant to have no control over your own fate. As a consequence, it was easy to be sympathetic and willing to help. "What do I need to do?"
After first indicating for Konoka and Setsuna to come forward, Negi directed them to stand next to Anya, then turned to face Asuna. "If something unusual happens in the future, Asuna, what I'm going to do means even I might not be able to control you. However, it should keep anyone else from doing so as well. Are you okay with that?"
With the risk and danger probably being equal in either case, if the choice was between doing nothing and trying to make a change where everything she did in the future should be by her own will, then Asuna knew the answer was obvious. "Do it Negi."
Hoping it was the last time he would ever need to do so, Negi took a deep breath, then looked straight into Asuna's eyes. "Asuna Vesperina Teotanasia."
Feeling her body stiffen in response to the command mantra, Asuna mentally reached out to clasp hands with the shade of her younger self. "Yes, Negi?"
Seeing the slight change in Asuna's eyes and recognizing it meant her younger self was present as well, Negi held his own gaze steady so there would be no mistaking his determination to proceed. "Unless all those now present in this room are present in the future, NO ONE, not even me, may issue you ANY command. Is that understood?"
Looking beyond Negi, Asuna saw only Anya, Konoka, and Setsuna, but her younger self also saw an ermine hiding in a corner, as well as over two-hundred petrified villagers. "Yes Negi. I understand. Thank you for doing this."
Asuna closed her eyes as Negi watched, but after just a brief pause, she relaxed and opened them once more. "Asuna?"
Reaching up, Asuna gave herself a good stretch. "You know something Negi? Before we came down here I still felt really tired, but now it seems as if a huge weight is gone from my shoulders!" Jumping forward before her Magister could think to react, she draped her arms affectionately around him from behind.
Unsettled by Asuna's suddenly open expression of her newfound liveliness, Negi struggled to break free. "Asuna! Please let me go!"
Seething, Anya marched forward and by an equally surprise attack, managed to interpose herself between Negi and his grabby Ministra. "Hey big-chest! Can't you see you're bothering Negi?"
With just a step, Asuna was able to move up so she could loom over her diminutive challenger. "I'm Negi's Ministra. His FIRST Ministra. It's my job to stick close so I can protect him from any... 'little bumps in the road,' that might cause him problems!"
Willing to meet Asuna's attempt at intimidation head-on, Anya puffed out her chest, such as it was. "I thought you still had your sights set on Professor Takahata! In any case, at least I'm not always trying to smother Negi with a pair of what looks like over baked mounds of Plum Pudding!"
Wanting to be helpful, Konoka stepped forward and held up her hand. "Anya-chan. In Japan, you should say; 'a pair of wrinkled daikons.'"
Everyone in the room turned to stare at Konoka, but she continued smiling as if she'd said the most innocent thing in the world.
Flushing slightly from a statement that sounded bad, but that she didn't quite understand, Anya turned back to Asuna. "An... anyway, stop being so clingy just because you're Negi's Ministra!"
Crossing her arms, Asuna turned slightly and leered down at Anya. "Sounds like the 'little-girl' from Wales is just a bit jealous!"
As Anya began thinking of another comeback, Negi stepped forward, waving his hands at the two equally determined girls. "Please! If you have to argue, let's go it where we won't have to worry about collateral damage!"
Looking like they wanted to tell Negi to be quiet, Asuna and Anya turned to face him but were both quickly disarmed by his pouty, mildly angry expression.
Uncrossing her arms, Asuna gave a relaxed shrug. "Well, I guess this is a silly argument anyway..."
Equally contrite, Anya turned away from the confrontation but remained silent.
Seeing the innocent smile on Konoka's face as the heavy atmosphere faded, Setsuna had to shake her head. Considering how long she'd known Konoka and how she like to think she knew the girl, it was always impossible to tell if her 'helpfulness' in such situations was truly clueless innocence, or deliberate mischief.
With everyone finally calmed down, Negi pointed towards the stairs. "It's nearly time for dinner. Shall we go?" In response to a round of positive nods, he quickly led the way out of the basement.
Unfortunately, upon stepping through the entrance, Negi found their way barred by an angry crowd of female Meldiana students. Only a few were carrying magic lanterns or torches, but all were after the sorry hide of a certain white-furred ermine...
(-)
Sitting on her bed, back against the wall of the small room where she'd been confined, Tsukuyomi looked up from a book she'd found inside the room's rough-hewn side table to see Konoka Konoe walk in carrying a tray of food. Outside, Takamichi and Meldiana's Headmaster stood warily by as the Onmyouji girl deliberately closed the door and tuned to face her once more.
Walking over, Konoka placed the thick wooden tray before Tsukuyomi, then sat down at the foot of the bed. "I've been told by Professor Takahata that he has contacted the Kansai magic Association and the Shinmei-Ryu to make arrangements to send you back to Kyoto."
Setting the book of plays by The Great Bard down, Tsukuyomi picked up the tray and moved it into her lap. All of the food was cold, and placed directly on the tray, but there weren't many options when her jailors wanted to make sure nothing she had access to could easily be made into a weapon. "Well, I helped in Fate-han's attempt to destroy the Mundus Magicus. I'd expect they might have a thing or two to say about that."
Watching as Tsukuyomi began nibbling on her meal; Konoka didn't know what to think. "Aren't you worried about what's going to happen?"
Finishing with a piece of meat, Tsukuyomi picked up some sliced cheese and bread. "Not really. I need to go back to Kyoto to have any chance of freeing Chigusa Amagasaki, so how I get back isn't really an issue."
Thinking about the battle in the gateport, as well as about how hard Tsukuyomi had tried to defeat Setsuna, Konoka found it difficult to reconcile that image with the one of the girl responsible for saving both her and Setsuna's lives. Standing up, she went back over to the door, then turned to face the little Shinmei-Ryu once more. "It's all a pose isn't it, Tsukuyomi? You're not really as bad as you pretend to be, are you?"
Looking up, Tsukuyomi gave Konoka an amused look. "You think not?"
Faster than Konoka would have thought possible, Tsukuyomi was out of the bed and across the room. Dropping the food tray, she gave it a kick into the small gap beneath the room's door and the floor, tightly wedging the door shut within its frame.
As Konoka gasped in surprise and Takamichi began pounding on the door from the outside, Tsukuyomi twisted the chocolate-haired girl's arm back and pinned her to the door. "I can be very, very bad, Konoka Oujo-shama."
Staring into Tsukuyomi's grey eyes, Konoka saw equal parts danger, desire, and jealousy. Even though she wasn't being hurt, the position her arm was being held in prevented any resistance as the little Shinmei-Ryu rose up on her toes for a full-mouthed kiss.
With a sigh of regret, Tsukuyomi released her captive and kicked the tray out from under the door. "Give that to Sempai for me."
Takamichi quickly pushed through the now freely swinging door, but before he or Dean Dilane could do anything, Konoka held out her hand. "Don't touch her. Tsukuyomi was just proving a point to me about something I'd best remember in the future."
Climbing back into her bed, Tsukuyomi gathered up the scattered food and watched as Konoka, fingers lightly touching her recently kissed lips, turned for one last odd look.
As Tsukuyomi began eating again, Konoka gave a sigh of resignation, then lead her two angry guardians back out of the cell.
(-)
A loud clank as the magically-sealed bolt on the door to her cell slid back woke Tsukuyomi out of a guarded sleep. Expecting some kind of punishment for what she'd done, she waited warily for the restraint spell which would surely follow someone bursting through the door. Instead, when nothing happened, she cautiously got up. The door was definitely unlocked, so she slowly opened it and stepped outside.
Ukeire was there on the floor outside the door, holding down a small envelope. Inside the envelope were several unexpected gifts which would make it easy for her to travel, as well as a note on a small card. Written in a generic magical script, it gave no indication as to who her benefactor might be.
'You have three days. After that, the Magic Association of England will do everything in its power to capture the escaped, rogue Shinmei-Ryu Tsukuyomi.'
Looking about and not sensing any obvious traps, Tsukuyomi swiftly made her way towards the outside entrance to her basement cell. The guard at the top of the stairs was asleep, an Ofuda sleep talisman placed in the center of his forehead. As she passed by and cautiously looked outside, she noticed the talisman had a timed destruct function. Soon, within minutes or even seconds, it would dissolve, leaving no evidence of such a thing ever being used.
Not knowing how much time she had, Tsukuyomi slipped out into the night and began moving as quickly as possible towards the edge of the village. Like most other places mages occupied in the Mundus Vetus, Dewin Ilan's defenses were designed more to keep people out than to keep people in. She easily slipped through the wards, then took off at a run for one of the closest, but least obvious transit stations capable of quickly connecting her to the London-South Wales rail system.
Fate had dismissed the need to do so, but as a precautionary measure, she'd made it her business to investigate such things when they had originally traveled from London to reach the gateport terminus outside Dewin Ilan. Now that effort would pay off.
Sure, the number of kilometers to the station was in the double-digits, but thanks to her training, Tsukuyomi knew that to be, even in the dark, across unfamiliar terrain, nothing more than a light workout for a Shinmei-Ryu such as herself.
(-)
(JAL Flight 402. Heathrow to Narita.)
Using her new laptop to communicate silently with Chachamaru via a USB connection, Chisame furiously typed out a question: ("What do you mean you didn't keep a copy of Chao's program?")
Though her eyes were closed as if she were asleep, nervously twitching ear-antennas clearly indicated Chachamaru's processors were quite active. ("I presumed we would recover the program before we left the Mundus Magicus, so I did a full transfer download instead of a copy download. I understand there are serious issues if V-Chao was destroyed, believe me I do, but if the space had not been available in my memory, I would not have been able to absorb the Nyandom heavy attack programs in time to come rescue you in Argyre.")
Grinding her teeth so loudly she attracted the unnoticed attention of Kazumi Asakura, Chisame wondered if there was really anything which could be done. She had a suspicion that V-Chao had survived, but had been unable to confirm that as fact due to the hasty departure from Megalo-Mesembria. ("Well, at least cycling my artifact let me recover Daiko like I expected I could, but we're still going to have to come up with some kind of plan to see if we can confirm exactly what happened to V-Chao...")
Ear antennas suddenly growing still, Chachamaru moved her seatback into its fullest recline. Since the issue about V-Chao seemed to be resolved for the moment, she decided now was as good a time as any to run a long delayed troubleshooting system scan. ("Agreed.")
Turning back from Chisame as the hacker sighed, then put away her laptop before matching Chachamaru's posture, Kazumi Asakura returned her attention to the ring she held. Along with a small note, the ring had appeared in her pocket as they departed from Ala Alba's second day of testimony before the Megalo-Mesembrian Senate. 'This once belonged to Negi Springfield's mother.' was all the note said. She suspected it might have come from Regina Karkolova, but the only person to have bumped into her on the second day was a blonde senate staffer who looked oddly like Negi's cousin Nekane...
Shaking her head, Kazumi returned the ring and its note back to the small envelope they'd come in and put them away. She would give them both to Negi after they returned to Mahora. Reclining her seat, she settled Sayo's doll-form comfortably in her lap, then closed her eyes and thought about nothing more than trying to go to sleep.
Looking across the aisle to where Negi sat with Ayaka Yukihiro, Asuna gave a resigned sigh. After sending her private jet home, 3A's Class Representative had insisted her group had just as much right to fly back to Mahora with Negi and the English Culture Research Club as Professor Takahata and Takane Goodman's groups did. Ayaka somehow having the ticket necessary to sit next to Negi had been mildly irritating, but she had scored the seat next to Takamichi, so the arrangement was easy enough to accept in this case. "Hey Negi... Did anyone ever figure out what happened to Tsukuyomi?"
Though asleep, Ayaka had previously insisted on holding Negi's hand. Much to his embarrassment, every time he moved in his seat, she unconsciously clamped down, as if worried he might disappear again.
Turning towards Asuna, Negi shook his head in response to the girl's question. "Magus Dilane says the Magic Association of England is looking for her, so she shouldn't get away, but he has no idea how she managed to get out of Dewin Ilan without being seen."
Glancing towards another set of seats, Asuna could see Konoka and Setsuna, leaning against each other and sound asleep. "Well, those two didn't seem very worried about it, so I supposed it won't do any good for me to be concerned either."
As Asuna turned and moved her seatback into position for sleeping, Negi nodded and did the same. Just as he was about to drift off, he heard someone hissing his name.
("Negi! Wake up!")
Blinking, Negi looked around in a daze for a moment, then leaned out to look at the cage beneath the seat in front of him. "Chamo, you really need to stay quiet..."
After a moment's delay to make sure Ayaka was still asleep, Chamo stuck his paw through the cage bars, holding the audio ear buds Negi had given him to help pass the time. His Magister had saved him from a skinning by the girls of Meldiana, but only at the price of a promise to keep the panty-thieving ermine locked up in a cage until his return to Mahora. Though the flight attendant had given Negi an odd look, the ear buds had been a gift intended to keep him from growing bored, restless, and eventually noisy on the flight back to Japan. ("Negi! Listen to me! I heard something on the news an hour ago, and they're about to repeat it! I think you really need to hear this!")
Managing to reach down without disturbing Ayaka, Negi took the ear buds from Chamo, then sat back and put them in. He immediately sat up when the news report began.
"...rch continues for the Argentinean-registered MV Jacobus Rakan, a World War Two tanker converted to carry cargo containers, which vanished without a trace two days ago while on a voyage from Norfolk, Virginia, United States, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Despite a massive air-sea rescue effort by the United States Coast Guard and Navy, as well as armed forces of other nations, no trace of the vessel, its crew, or any of its cargo has yet been found."
Listening to the report, Negi finally understood the odd message Captain Adenaur had asked him to deliver. It had been designed to tell her associates here in the Mundus Vetus it was safe to send the ship through.
"While searchers wish to emphasize that they will continue their effort, if no trace of the 15,000 ton vessel is found, then it will be the largest such unexplained disappearance in the area known as the 'Bermuda Triangle' since the USS Salem in 1946, while on its transfer of ownership voyage to Argentina."
Sighing, Chamo accepted the ear buds as Negi returned them, then lay down in his cage. ("I don't think we have to worry about your aunt being able to fix up her ship, Negi.")
Shaking his head, Negi closed his eyes and lay back in the seat again. ("I'll have to remember that trick... It might come in handy someday...")
There was a soft 'ding,' from the public address speakers of the JAL 777, and the pilot's voice came on to announce a slight course change due to weather. There was a brief pause, then after announcing he was doing so to reflect the nighttime darkness outside the aircraft, the pilot lowered the illumination level of the cabin lights.
An unexpected touch woke Negi from the sleep he'd drifted into, but it was only Ayaka, covering him with a blanket. Soon, his breathing slowed once more, and he began to dream.
Oddly enough, the dream was about Chao Lingshen.
As a young girl, close perhaps to his own age, she was sitting in the lap of an older man whose face he couldn't see and listening as he told her a story...
tsuzuku.
(-)
Author's Notes:
Over the years I have been writing 'Ala Alba in the World of Magic,' my story has become tied together with that of Kafka'sdragon's 'Markham Chronicles Negima,' 'Markham Chronicles Negima: Other side of the Mirror,' and, 'Markham Chronicles Negima: Key of the Twilight.' As a result, we occasionally reference events which take place in one another's stories.
If you have not done so already, then I certainly recommend reading 'Markham Chronicles Negima.'
Albiero Imma's body: For events detailing how he came to be injured, see Kafka'sdragon's 'Markham Chronicles Negima: Other Side of the Mirror.'
Zazie Rainyday and Phillip Markham Junior's relationship: See Kafka'sdragon's 'Markham Chronicles Negima: Other Side of the Mirror.'
Torta Cokolada: A multi-layer chocolate cake from Serbia.
Ayaka Yukihiro's 'Mind's Eye of Love:' See the Maho sensei Negima manga, volume four. The Kyoto arc.
The Great Bard: William Shakespeare. Widely regarded as the greatest playwright and writer in the English language.
JAL Flight 402. London to Narita: Japan Airlines actually operates this flight, using a Boeing 777 aircraft.
MV Jacobus Rakan: (Merchant Vessel.) A former T2 oil tanker built during World War 2. Many ships of this type were converted in the 1950's to carry cargo containers. As such, they were the first incarnations of the massive container ships traveling the oceans of the world today.
Elysium gateport: This is a limited access gateport controlled by the Dragon Clans of Elysium. While transfer between the Mundus Magicus and the Mundus Vetus using this gateport is possible, its capacity is VERY limited, and it IS NOT a point which permits the transfer of significant amounts of magical energy between the two worlds.
Bermuda Triangle: This is a one-way gateport between the Mundus Vetus and the Mundus Magicus. Accidentally discovered and used by the USS Cyclops in 1918. Deliberately used by the Adenaur's to transfer the USS Salem in 1946. Its exact location and how it is activated is literally an 'I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you and your entire family' level secret of the Adenaur Family of Ariadne. How long this one-way gate has been active is unknown, but it operates on a cycle similar to that of the World Tree in Mahora, Japan. As such, it may actually be on a reciprocal cycle. When the World Tree enters its cycle of greatest illumination, approximately every twenty-two years, a short time later the Bermuda one-way gate also becomes active.
Unfortunately, sometimes accidents occur... Like when five Avenger torpedo bombers were carried through the link along with the USS Salem...
Thusly, do we come to the end of most of the Ala Alba and its associates involvement in the story.
Chapter Fifty-four: Epilogue.