Author's Note: It took me a while, but here it is! All, but Daniel, are not mine!

A New Master

When Setsuna can out of the infirmary she reluctantly declined Konoka's offer to walk her back to her dorm. She told her she had something important to do. Setsuna headed to the forest and took a path until she reached a lone cottage in the woods. Setsuna walked up the steps, but hesitated at the door. Do I really want to do this? There's no turning back... She shook the doubt from her mind. No…I have to do this. Setsuna took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Immediately the door opened. It was Chachamaru in a very cute maid outfit. She bowed politely, "The master saw you coming and told me to let you in."

"Thank you," Setsuna responded bowing back. Setsuna stepped into the cottage and had a look around. It had shelves with creepy looking dolls that gave Setsuna shivers. Chachamaru instructed Setsuna to sit down at the table.

"Would you like some tea? I just brewed some."

"That would be nice. Thank you."

As Chachamaru poured her some tea, Evangeline walked into the room, "Well well...it's Setsuna." Eva was wearing a small black dress that made her look like the dolls on her shelves. "What do you want?" Eva sat down across from her and helped herself with some tea.

Setsuna cleared her throat, "Evangeline-san, I need to become stronger. Stronger so that I can protect Ojou-sama."

Evangeline sipped her tea, seemingly indifferent but listening.

"When I should have been there for her I let her down..." Setsuna said, her voice thick with shame. She was remembering what had happened the other night. "I need to be the one to save her. Evangeline, no matter what the cost is, I must get stronger! Please, help me!"

Eva set her cup down. She looked Setsuna straight in the eye, "That's not the only reason, is it?" She ignored Setsuna's confused reaction, "It's that Daniel-bozu, isn't it? You're afraid that Konoka is going to fall in love with the guy with the bigger balls? So you think getting stronger will help?"

"I wasn't able to save her... I should be the one to save her. Not him."

Eva smirked, "Aww... looks like our little hanyou is jealous."

"I am not...Ojou-sama's safety is my top priority..."

"BAH! Do you really think that I would believe that shit? Jealously is no reason to go out seeking power!"

Setsuna abruptly stood from her seat, "I'm not jealous! The other night taught me that in my current state I am too weak to fend off threats! You are the only one who can help me! You helped Negi-sensei, why can't you help me?"

Evangeline stood up, too, "Boya obtained great power, yes, but he's still obsessed with finding his father! One reason why he tried to gain so much power was to satisfy that obsession! Do you know how many times he was almost killed? What good will a dead bodyguard be for your precious princess?"

Setsuna thought about it for a moment. She knew that with great power came great responsibilities and the risk of her dying was always there. I have no choice. Setsuna walked up to Evangeline and even though it hurt her pride, she got down on her knees, Ojou-sama is worth more than my pride. "Evangeline-san, please. I am begging you. Please, help me get stronger..."

Evangeline turned her back on her. Seconds turned into minutes before she turned to her again, "...fine...There is little that I can teach you, but I know one thing that I can probably help you with." Eva snapped her fingers as a cue for Setsuna to stand up. Setsuna followed her into a room that had nothing but a small bottle on a stand. Eva reached out for her hand and started chanting. Setsuna's body felt dizzy and light as she and Evangeline transported into the bottle.

When Setsuna could see, she was in awe of how massive Eva's resort was. She had been here before, but every time seemed like the first time.

Eva smacked her arm, "Quit gawking and come on. There's a lot of work to be done..."

Setsuna followed her to a wide area where Eva would train Negi, "So what do I do now?" Setsuna asked.

Evangeline folded her arms, "This is serious. This training will damage your body and potentially kill you if you don't have the willpower or guts to continue. I do not train wusses. Do I make myself clear?" Setsuna nodded. "Okay, good... First I want to see what you are made of." She quickly chanted a spell and flames of ice engulfed her hands. The flames shaped themselves so that they looked like blades, "Don't hold back. If you do, you will definitely die."

Setsuna nodded and drew her sword. She didn't have a moment to think before Eva was in her face. Startled, she drew back. But Evangeline kept pushing foreword into her perimeter. Eva swung her arms like swords, but each hit met blade. Setsuna tried to at least nice her, but her swings matched Eva's. For hours they went on like that, neither of them damaging the other. Setsuna was trained to fight for long amounts of time, but she was beyond her limit.

Suddenly Evangeline drew back and canceled her spell. Setsuna was confused, but saw this as an opening. Setsuna charged at Eva, but at the last moment she moved out the way with speed that would have suggested that she had just begun fighting and tripped her. Setsuna fell flat on her face.

Eva chuckled and clapped, "Good job, hanyou. That was good for the first session."

Setsuna panted and struggled to sit up. Instead she leaned over and coughed up blood. Evangeline-san was right, Setsuna thought, That training did take a lot out of my body...

Eva rolled her eyes, "Come on, get up." Setsuna used her sword to prop herself up and used it to stay standing. "There you go! Ugh, just look and you...well I guess I can't send you home looking like this... Chachamaru! Go get her something to eat!"

Chachamaru brought back a few steamed pork buns for Setsuna and she wolfed them all down in minutes.

"That's so you don't collapse on the way home. Meet me here everyday after school. What? You thought you were finished? Wrong. You're not even close to started. The training sessions will get longer and harder. The real training begins when you are able to beat me."

Setsuna hobbled her way back to her dorm room. I made it back alive...somehow... All she wanted to do was go to sleep. She felt like it has been hours, but in reality it was less than thirty minutes. Maybe I can get some shut eye for a bit. About as soon as Setsuna closed her eyes there was a knocking at the door. Ugh, figures... "Come in!"

The door opened and Konoka walked in all alone. No Daniel in sight. Setsuna's heart soared, I'm all alone in my room with Kono-chan...

Konoka walked over to Setsuna's bed and sat by Setsuna's waist, "Hey Set-chan," she beamed, "Where were you off to?"

Setsuna hated lying, but she had to keep her training a secret, "It's nothing Ojou-sama. I just had to meet up with a teacher to get my homework."

Konoka nodded. She knew her friend was lying to her, but she didn't pry, "So, do you want to do something? There's a whole rest of the day that I don't want to waste!"

Setsuna shifted comfortably into her bed, "Well actually, Ojou-sama, I'm very tired and I was going to take a nap..."

"Nap? But wasn't that the only thing you've been doing in the infirmary?"

If only you knew. "Yeah, but I guess I'm still tired... What about Asuna?"

"She's out with class rep and Negi's hanging out with Nodoka-san..." Konoka sighed. She looked over to Setsuna then climbed over to the other side of her.

"O-Ojou-sama?"

"I guess I'll just have to take a nap with you." She felt Konoka settle behind her. Setsuna didn't feel comfortable on her side so she flipped onto her back. Konoka wrapped an arm around Setsuna's waist and pulled her closer. Konoka snuggled closer and let out a small sigh. She felt completely safe now that she was with her knight.

Soon Setsuna heard Konoka's breath slow into a steady, rhymester pace. Setsuna, too, closed her eyes and feel asleep to Konoka's warmth.

END

Another awesome chapter! And for those who are confused, when it says "END" it means end of the chapter. Sorry for any confusion!