(Welcome back guys, things in Kyoto are going to be getting better now that I'm introducing Negi's and Dustin's newest rivals. Enjoy away.)

Negi and Dustin were sleeping peacefully in their room until Mana and Kaede peeked in seeing them still asleep, "Still asleep." Mana said.

"We should probably wake them up." Kaede suggested as she walked in before Mana held her back.

"Don't worry if I know Dustin they'll be waking up real soon." The gunslinger said.

"How so?" Kaede asked as Mana smirked.

"Watch."

The girls looked as Dustin's alarm clock went off playing its song. Kaede was surprised as the song continued playing and turned to Mana, "Do you and Zazie hear that play?"

"Every morning." The dark skinned girl replied.

Dustin groaned as he woke up and turned the alarm off while Negi was awoken as well, "Oh what a night." Negi rubbed his eyes.

"Tell me about it." Dustin agreed as Chamo and Domino awoken as well.

"Good morning boys." Mana greeted as the two saw their roommate pactio partners.

"Good morning Kaede and Mana." Negi greeted.

"Yeah morning," Dustin greeted as he stood up, "Alright Negi what's on the itinerary today?"

"Well I'm hoping to take Rin and go deliver the letter to the chief of the Kansai Magic Association while the girls are on free activity." Negi explained.

"You're right; we got to get that to him now before more disaster comes up." Dustin agreed.

"Are you two sure you'll be alright?" Kaede asked.

"She's right, are you sure you don't want us to accompany you?" Mana added.

"We'll be ok Mana, if something does happen we know how to contact you." Dustin held out the copy pactio cards of Mana, Kasuga, Kazumi, Yuna, and Chao.

"Agreed." Negi said holding out Kaede's, Rin's, Sayo's, Makie's, and Ku's copy cards as well.

"Well you boys better get ready before the girls get to you all." Kaede warned them.

"Hai!" they agreed as the girls left them to get ready.

Ten minutes later Negi and Dustin looked irritated as they were walking with everyone in group 5 and Zyphon. Rin had tried to leave but ended up getting caught by Haruna, and so she and the others decided to go find Negi and Dustin so they could go look around the area.

"I'm sorry guys, I really tried, but there's no fooling Haruna. And even Asuna was getting suspicious" Rin apologized.

"What's done is done I'm afraid and you did what you could." Negi admitted.

"Yeah besides with Setsuna around she can always distract them while we head out later." Dustin added.

"Hey check it out!" Haruna gasped, "A picture booth! This calls for some photographic memories!"

Soon they went in different groups with Negi and Nodoka who was forced by Haruna, Konoka and Setsuna who looked nervous as always when around her Ojou-sama, Asuna and Negi, Dustin and Negi with their familiars, followed by one of Haruna and Yue with Dustin in the middle while Haruna nuzzled her cheek against his.

Suddenly they entered an arcade and Dustin's sunglasses lenses reflected the whole arcade in them, "Now this is some arcade," He looked around and spotted a dance dance revolution game, "And that's my number one game!" he went to try it out.

"Come on Negi-kun let's try the arcade version of the magic card game!" Konoka pulled Negi over while Rin joined them. Negi had been doing great for his first game getting all sorts of congrats from the girls.

Suddenly a newcomer arrived by the group. He had black hair tied into a ponytail and was wearing a white cap, "Ok if I join in?" he asked.

"Um of course." Negi answered and the two started going at it.

Dustin seeing this smirked seeing Negi finally getting competition in something new, while he himself beat the CPU of the game again, "Not challenging enough."

Suddenly another approached him catching Haruna's, Zyphon's and Setsuna's attention. It was a boy about Dustin's age with brown eyes and was wearing black boots, black jeans, a black zipped up leather coat, and had a black baseball cap turned around backwards.

"Ya mind if I join ya?" he asked.

Dustin seeing someone offering to challenge him smirked, "Not at all."

"Alright a challenge it is." Haruna smirked pushing her glasses up as she and Zyphon watched.

So both Dustin and the newcomer engaged in a dance dance revolution match with both of them keeping in perfect sync with the dance steps and giving it their all pushing each other to their limit while their spectators watched in amaze.

Soon enough both were getting tired and by a small slip up Dustin missed a step and lost, "Man almost had it." He panted.

"Hey ya did well, I haven't had a challenge like that in forever." The boy replied.

"Neither have I, you got some wicked skill." Dustin said.

"Same to you," The boy said, "Hey what's your name?"

"Dustin Bowers, and you?"

The boy smirked, "Alistair Savage," he extended his hand, "We should get together and have a round like this again."

"Yes, I think we should." Dustin smirked as he locked his hand with Alistair's as they shook on it.

"Well I gotta jet, see ya round." Alistair left.

Dustin watched Alistair leave but had a feeling there was something off about him but shook it off as he heard Negi, "Aww, I lost." Negi said disappointedly.

"No, that was very good for your first time, Negi-sensei." Yue reassured him.

"That's right," the boy that beat Negi said as Dustin joined them, "You're not bad at all, but you've got a long way to go before you become a proper mage." He held out one of the magi cards from the game which happened to be a frog card.

Dustin eyed the card and wondered, 'Hmm, could he be?'

Suddenly the boy ran off before Dustin could completely think things through as Negi tugged his sleeve, "Dustin, everyone's distracted now. We should hurry and make our escape."

"Right, Setsuna you and Zyphon stall and make sure no one attacks them." Dustin ordered.

"Right." Setsuna nodded with Zyphon as the three kids fled the scene.

Meanwhile Alistair and the boy who fought Negi at the arcade went around a corner and into the alley where Chigusa appeared, "Well?"

"He didn't suspect a thing on me thanks to this," Alistair touched his forehead as a small talisman patch appeared. When he took it off his body had changed. His skin became dark blue, his ears pointed, and his eyes became red. He removed his cap as a mop of messy black hair came to his waist (Hairstyle is of Raditz the Saiyan of Dragonball Z), followed by unzipping his jacket revealing he wasn't wearing a shirt underneath it "It completely camouflaged my appearance and kept him from sensing my dark spirit energy."

"And it's just as we thought Negi Springfield and Dustin Bowers." The one boy answered.

"Son of the Thousand Master and son of Roswell and Bianca Bowers the Catastrophic Duo, this is amusing. Well I'll make sure to make them and their partners pay for humiliating us the other day," Chigusa promised, "You've done well so far Kotaro Inugami and Alistair Savage."

"Yeah-yeah but can we get to the part where we can fight I'm eager to see if the western mage is as good as they say." The boy Kotaro replied.

"Agreed I'd like to see how Dustin can hold his own against someone like me." Alistair added as another voice spoke.

"Don't underestimate your opponent Alistair," Alistair turned and seeing next to Chigusa was a white haired boy with a stone cold face, and wearing a light blue school uniform, "After all you underestimate an enemy and they'll walk all over you."

"Like I need to be told that from you man." Alistair answered.

"That's enough squabbling," Chigusa replied as Tsukuyomi and a demon appeared before the woman, "Kotaro Alistair get going."

"On it." Kotaro nodded as Alistair projected a dark portal and the two entered it.

"Forgive the doubt Chigusa-san, but can they really pull it off?" the boy asked.

"I have faith they will manage well Fate, and if not that means it'll be up to you to clean up their mess."

"I understand." Fate replied stoically.

Back at the arcade Setsuna kept close vigil over Konoka who was having fun with her fellow library friends and Asuna. Zyphon glanced noticing Setsuna wouldn't take her eyes off Konoka and not just because it's her job.

"You know you can always join them Miss Setsuna, no one is stopping you." The robot suggested.

Setsuna's face immediately redden and she began stuttering, "I-I can't do t-that, I-I have to watch over her!"

"Master Dustin said it was important you rekindled your friendship with her otherwise it would only kill Miss Konoka inside, and you do know that." Zyphon reminded her and then watched her take out one of those 'Substitution Stencils' "What are you doing?" he asked curiously.

"I'm going to check on how those three are doing, I'm worried about them." She answered as the piece of paper flew off.

Back with the kids, they hopped the train and arrived at the entry way to the main temple of the Kansai Magic Association, "This is it huh?" Dustin asked.

"Yes according to the dean." Negi added.

"I got a bad feeling about this you guys." Rin said worried.

"Look on the bright side once we deliver this letter we can put it all behind us." Chamo said positively.

"While I should agree with you, I don't think it'll be as simple." Domino said as a little light approached and poof there floating before them was a small chibi Setsuna, "Everyone alright?"

"Setsuna is that you?" Negi asked.

"Yes I am a double in charge of communication, call me Mini-Setsuna." The mini girl bowed her head.

"So all we got to do is get through and deliver the letter right?" Negi asked.

"If only it were that simple," she answered, "No question a messenger from the east would be welcomed, so watch your step for anything fishy."

"Well then, adeat!" Rin summoned her staff artifact.

"Let's move." Dustin said as they hurried inside while watching them were Kotaro and Alistair.

"There they go, just as we thought." Alistair said.

"Whatever can we get on with it already?" Kotaro asked boredly.

"Of course, come on." Alistair said as they followed.

Meanwhile back at the arcade Setsuna was still relaying what was going on while Zyphon waited to hear more work Their thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Konoka shouting their names, "Se-chan, Zyphon!"

"O-Ojou-sama!" Setsuna shouted and quickly backed away from her charge.

"Why were you both spaced out like that?" Konoka asked curiously.

"No reason..." the two muttered simultaneously.

"You two can be so silly," Konoka giggled as she took their hands and lead them out of the arcade, "Now come on you two, let's go play!" he said happily, the robot just followed, while the black haired swordswoman weakly protested.

Unbeknownst to any of them, they were being watched from only a short distance away from where they were, by a familiar swordswoman, "Sakurazaki Setsuna-san, is it," Tsukuyomi said as she stared at the three, "And a robot named Zyphon…" she muttered before letting out a giggle, "Things are going to be interesting today!"

Back with the three kids they were still heading down the temple's path, "Looks like we'll be in the clear soon." Dustin said.

"Not soon enough!"

The three halted as Kotaro and Alistair appeared, "Sorry but we can't let ya pass, orders ya know." Kotaro said.

Negi and Rin noticed the one boy, "I know you! You're the one from the arcade!" Negi cried.

"Yup that's me Kotaro Inugami." The boy greeted with a grin.

Dustin turned seeing the second, "Wait a minute, are you?"

"That's right Alistair Savage." Alistair greeted.

"You're a dark warrior?" Dustin gasped.

"That's right."

"But why didn't I sense it off you back at the arcade?" Dustin asked confused wondering if his senses failed him.

"My employer knows an assortment of spells and talismans that was able to block your awareness to my dark aura." Alistair explained smugly.

"Employer?" Dustin asked.

"He must mean the monkey woman." Rin put in.

"So she sent you to grab Konoka?" Negi asked.

"Heck no, we're not for that line of work, we're more combat type than snatching type." Kotaro explained.

"So that means Konoka's in danger?" Rin gasped.

"We got to go back and help." Dustin said until Mini-Setsuna spoke.

"Don't worry Zyphon and I are still with her and have our eyes peeled."

"Like it'll matter they'll never stand a chance against Tsukuyomi." Alistair replied.

"Don't count Setsuna out, she's faced her before, and she'll do it again." Dustin replied.

"Less talking more fighting!" Kotaro said getting irritated.

"Rin, if it looks like Dustin and I are in need of assistance jump in and join us." Negi ordered.

"I will." Rin said standing back waiting.

The two boys from each side stood on opposite ends staring each other down. Chamo and Domino on instinct made a dinging sound like a bell and the four launched into battle.

Negi and Kotaro engaged in hand to hand combat until Negi summoned his staff firing a spell at Kotaro who used a talisman to deflect it only resulting in his cap being destroyed and revealing a pair of dog-ears that were hidden underneath the cap. The boy continued on with his attack and delivered a painful punch that sent Negi skidding across the ground.

Negi noticed this, "Dog ears? What are you?"

Kotaro smiled, "I'm an Inu hanyou or half one."

"A dog demon? Aniki you better step your game up, because this kid looks like he could mean business." Chamo warned Negi.

"Right." Negi said as he got into another stance as the two boys engaged in combat.

"Good moves, what kind of technique is that?" Kotaro asked as he blocked a punch only for Negi to use a drop kick sending Kotaro to the ground.

"I study Chinese Martial Arts under a master of the style." Negi explained.

While with Dustin and Alistair who ended up flying far from where from Negi and Kotaro were going at it were throwing punch after punch that were enhanced with either spirit energy or dark energy.

Domino watched and cheered, "Go-Go Dustin let's go!" he cawed.

Dustin blocked a punch from Alistair and threw him over his shoulder only to almost get blasted by a shadow gun; a dark version of a spirit gun, "Almost got me." Dustin muttered to himself.

"I take it this is your first time fighting a Dark Warrior?" Alistair asked.

"Actually yes, however I've had practice up to this point against shadow soldiers, a dragon fighter, and a computer virus." Dustin replied.

"No matter, I assure you against me you won't be leaving without broken bones." Alistair replied as he charged tackling Dustin who rolled on the ground kicking his opponent off him.

"I don't break so easily." He sent a spirit gun only for Alistair to dodge.

"Let me ask you something Dustin," Alistair began, "Do you hate dark warriors?"

"What?" Dustin asked.

"Answer my question, do you hate dark warriors?"

Dustin not sure how to answer that but knew one thing he could say to him, "Only the ones who try to kill me. Why do you ask?"

"No reason." Alistair answered as the two fought throwing attack after attack.

Back with Negi and Kotaro the two were still throwing all they had at each other until Kotaro struck Negi from his blindside.

"Negi!" Rin cried.

"Nee-san get in there!" Chamo called.

Rin nodded as Kotaro was about to strike until she slid in aiming her staff at him, "Ice fist!" a fist made from ice materialized from her staff and slugged Kotaro sending him back onto the ground.

The boy groaned as he got up, "Cheap shot!" he noticed who defended him, "Relying on a girl to fight for you? You Western mages are no good after all, you're so weak!"

"Hey!" Rin called, "No one talks that way to my friend! You mess with him now you'll deal with me."

Kotaro stood down, "Sorry nee-san but I can't."

"What?" she gasped.

"I have a no hitting girls policy and I remain bound by that promise." He explained.

Rin's eye twitched, "So you won't fight me?"

"No can do." He replied as he relaxed.

Rin frowned, "No one disrespects the Princess of Light!" she fired water from her staff as Kotaro dodged.

"I can't hit a girl, but I can do this." He delivers a spin kick but wasn't even anywhere close to her to land the blow. Instead the force of chi from his kick pushed Rin off her feet.

Negi seeing that frowned as he got back up, "No one harms my friend!" he grabbed his staff again prepared for round two.

While with Dustin and Alistair they held out their hands as energy formed in their palms, "Spirit Saber!" Dustin concentrated his spirit energy into his palm that took the form of a saber.

"Shadow Sword!" Alistair concentrated his dark energy into his palm that took the form of a jagged sword.

"Draw!" They called as they fought with their weapons clashing sending sparks of their respective energy around them. After much clashing they reached a stalemate as they tried overpowering each other.

"You are a persistent spirit warrior." Alistair struggled.

"I've been labeled worse." Dustin joked as he struggled to keep Alistair from slicing him.

Because they were constantly feeding their weapons extra energy their combined forces pushed both fighters into opposite sides and their weapons lost form. They struggled back to their feet, "Let's settle this here and now." Dustin said.

"Fine by me!" Alistair said as they powered up what energy they had and flew at each other resulting in an explosion of energy. Dustin looked seeing Alistair on the ground exhausted.

"Looks like I win." Dustin smirked still feeling weak.

Alistair scowled, "Hardly. Take note Dustin this isn't over between you and I." he created a shadow portal in the ground he laid on and faded into it.

"Great he's gone," Dustin sighed and groaned, "Oh man, that guy really wore me out. I don't have enough energy to get up."

"Dustin!' Domino cawed flying over, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, but I'm not strong enough to get up."

"But you gotta get back to Negi and Rin." Domino said.

"You go back to them and let me know of my situation."

"Will you be alright?"

"I'll think of something, now go!" Dustin ordered and Domino flew back to find Negi and Rin, "There's got to be something I can do. Wait maybe I can," He reached around in his pocket and by luck pulled out Mana's pactio card, "I hope she's not busy," He held it to his forehead, "Mana? Mana do you copy?"

Meanwhile Mana was sightseeing with her group until she heard Dustin's voice and went around a corner, "Dustin? What's wrong you sound weak?"

"Long story but Negi and I ran into a bit of trouble. I just beat my opponent but I'm too weak to move and I don't know if Negi and Rin won their fight yet."

"Hang on I'll be right there," Mana said pulling out a substitution stencil she had on her and made it into her, "You follow my group and pretend to be me."

"Right." The stencil said heading to catch up with the girls.

"Ok Dustin, I'm ready."

Dustin still on the ground held out his hard, "Partner Mana materialize!" he called as his copy card of Mana glowed and suddenly she materialized before him, "Oh thank goodness." He sighed in relief.

Mana went over looking down on him, "Wow, looks like you had a bad day?"

"Just not one of my best." Dustin admitted.

"Don't worry I got you." Mana said as she got down with Dustin using what energy he had to prop himself up while Mana carried him on her back.

"Thanks Mana, I knew I could count on you." Dustin smiled.

"That's what partners are for." Mana smiled until they saw an explosion of lightning magic.

"Whoa!" Dustin gasped.

"Negi! Rin!" Mana gasped as she ran for the scene of the explosion and came to a halt as they both saw Kotaro with a ripped shirt laying on the ground looking exhausted while Negi was barely standing with Rin trying to help him up.

"Negi! Rin!" Dustin called.

"Dustin! Mana!" Negi and Rin gasped.

"Everyone ok?" Mana asked.

"We're fine now." Negi said.

Dustin noticed Kotaro's condition, "What happened to him?"

"Negi went on a lightning magic barrage." Rin explained.

"Well come on we need to regroup." Mana said as they hurried off leaving Kotaro.

"Hey don't leave me here! I'll get you Negi Springfield!" the dog boy cried.

Soon the group was resting where it was safe, "I can't believe that monkey woman has a dark warrior in her group." Dustin sighed.

"Looks like he almost did a number on you huh?" Mana was checking his bruises.

"Yeah, man I never fought a guy so rough before even during training practice." Dustin said as he flexed his arm.

Suddenly Mini-Setsuna was fizzing, "I'm sorry but something's happening with the other me." She returned to a stencil.

"Something must be happening on Setsuna's part." Mana feared.

"I know how to find out," Dustin said as he reached into his other pocket pulling out an ear bud, "Zyphon? Zyphon do you read me?"

'Crystal clear master Dustin.'

"Negi and I just got out of a fix, how're things looking on your end?" Dustin asked.

"Well in a manner of speaking, not so well."

"Why what's happening?" Dustin asked worried.

"We're currently in Cinema Village, and that sword girl from before is fighting Miss Setsuna for Miss Konoka."

"Not your best choice of words." Dustin said seeing how wrong that sounded from a certain POV.

"Sorry but I've also got my problems here so I need to end my communication." Zyphon cut off.

"Oh boy." Dustin sighed.

"What's wrong?" Rin asked.

"We got cut off." Dustin answered.

"Shouldn't we go and help?" Negi asked.

"When we're already this close to the Kansai boss? We can't go back now aniki!" Chamo said.

"Chamo's right Setsuna and Zyphon should be able to handle things." Mana assured.

"Let's hope." Dustin said.

Meanwhile in Cinema Village Zyphon was blasting away at multiple talisman charms in the form of cartoon like monsters, while Asuna, Haruna, Nodoka, and Yue were watching the scene along with Ayaka, Kazumi, Sayo, Natsumi, Chisame, Zazie, and Chizuru.

"Don't mind this scene ladies and gentlemen just acting a scene for a new movie in the making!" Zyphon called to everyone close to him wanting to keep it casual while Kazumi and Sayo now briefed on magic and stuff knew something was up but couldn't blow their own cover.

"What kind of movie could they be filming here involving Zyphon?" Haruna asked.

"All I know is this is some good footage." Kazumi said taking snapshots of Zyphon fighting.

Zyphon finally finished off the last of Tsukuyomi's talismans, "Oh finally. Now to go and help Miss Setsuna," But before he could go they all noticed a bright glow coming from atop Cinema Village's castle, "Dear me what is that?"

As the glow died down they saw descending to the ground was Konoka in a kimono holding Setsuna dressed as a samurai warrior in her arms, "Oh thank goodness." He sighed in relief, "Was that Miss Konoka's hidden powers?"

Setsuna then whistled to Zyphon who flew over, "I await word Miss Setsuna."

"Right," she turned to Konoka, "Ojou-sama, as of now we'll be heading to your parents' house. We'll meet up with everyone there."

"Huh?" Konoka asked in confusion.

"Just trust me." Setsuna said as she started jumping off with Zyphon flying after them.

On top of Cinema Village castle was Chigusa and the boy Fate, "Dammit they got away. But we did get a glimpse of Ojou-sama's power. That means our plan should not fail when we acquire her."

"Yeah swell, I just wanna have another shot at Dustin. Man that guy can fight." Alistair said as he approached still looking bruised.

"Hey where's Kotaro?" Chigusa questioned him.

"Kotaro?" Alistair looked around, "Oh God I forgot all about him."

Back by the temple Kotaro was still on the ground paralyzed, "Someone? Anyone? Please!"

(And that's the chapter, things are more hectic than before now that Chigusa's launching attacks during the day and with two boys who were more than a match for Negi and Dustin. Will they be able to continue to protect Konoka before worse comes to pass? Tune in next time. And the OC Alistair Savage is owned by me so Negi isn't the only one with a rival.)