(How's it going guys? I'm back with another chapter. I hope you're ready for more fun and laughs as always.)
It was a Sunday morning after the group got back from the field trip. Most of the students were using this time as a day of rest but Dustin and Negi were just too excited to be back and done with the catastrophe that took place in Kyoto.
The two boys were sitting in the dorm lounge sharing a bottle of cola, "Ah finally some real downtime Negi." Dustin kicked back while sipping from his cup.
"I know, after all that's happened I'm glad class is back in session." Negi agreed as Zyphon poured him another cup.
"Negi! Dustin!" Rin called coming downstairs.
"Rin, what's up?" Negi asked.
"You look all worn out sweetie." Chamo noticed.
"You know how I decided to stay over at the dorms rather than return to Evangeline's the night we got back just for that night?"
"Yeah." Dustin replied.
"Well she wanted to tell me this sooner, but she said she needs me there immediately." Rin said.
"You in trouble?" Domino asked.
"I hope not, so I was hoping you'd all join me?" she asked.
"Of course." Negi said as the boys, their familiars, and Zyphon followed the girl.
When they reached Evangeline's cabin they saw the vampire herself and Chachamaru waiting on the stairs, "About time you showed." Eva said.
"Um yeah, what's up?" Rin asked.
"I've wanted to tell you since I made it to Kyoto, but there is something here that apparently knows you."
"What?"
"Right this way." Chachamaru showed the group around back.
Rin looked and smiled seeing behind the cottage was a horse sized black dragon sleeping all curled up, "Toothless!" she cried.
Hearing that name the dragon lifted its head up looked and upon seeing the girl smiled. Rin hugged the dragon and spoke, "It's so good to see you." The dragon licked her and she giggled. The boys were surprised while Chamo shuddered.
"Just who is this?" Eva asked impatiently.
"This is Toothless he's my familiar and my close friend from home." Rin explained.
"A Night Fury dragon your allie?" Eva asked.
"Yeah despite the rumors about them being the incarnation of lightning and death he's very docile once you've tamed him." Rin pat the dragon.
"How do you understand him?" Chachamaru asked.
"Well unlike how our Dragon Rider friend's dragons can speak I've communicated with him through our senses. And that's how I communicate with him."
"Well I find it annoying since the rest of us can't understand it. So I'll fix that for everyone else's sake." Eva snapped her fingers as magic surrounded Toothless.
"Hey what the heck were you trying to…" Toothless realized what he was doing, "Hey, I can talk! Rin I can finally speak!" he nuzzled with Rin, "Finally I thought I'd never learn to speak like several other dragons."
"Only Chachamaru was able to translate for him and it got annoying." Eva explained.
"He said he came here by order of your kingdom." The gynoid said.
"Dad's orders?" the girl asked the dragon.
"Yes, sorry I know in your letters you said you were doing fine but he caught word of what was going on in Kyoto and sent me right over here."
"Well it's a good thing you did." She replied.
"Yes, now that you're back he can find someplace else to crash." Eva said motioning to the dragon who spoke while smiling smugly.
"I don't think so fangs I kinda like it out here. Plus I'm closer to Rin that way."
"How dare you talk to me like that!" Eva scolded
"Eva, let me handle him." Rin said.
"Then he's your responsibility for whatever he does or damage he makes." Eva warned her.
"I understand," Rin replied as she brought the dragon over, "Well Toothless you've met Evangeline and Chachamaru."
"Obviously." He replied.
"You know of Negi of course."
"Negi, so good to see you again," Toothless licked his face and spotted Chamo, "And you look as tender as ever Chamo." He licked his lips.
"AH! ANIKI SAVE ME!" Chamo cowered in Negi's coat.
"You know he's only joking, Chamo." Negi replied.
"And allow me to introduce you to my three newest friends, Dustin Bowers, Domino, and Zyphon." Rin introduced them.
"Nice to meet you boy," Dustin pat the dragon's head, "I've always wanted to see a Night Fury."
"Your scales are as black as my feathers." Domino admired as he perched on the dragon's head.
"A pleasure Mr. Toothless." Zyphon rubbed the dragon's head.
"You really made quite a crop of friends at this place." Toothless said to Rin.
"Tell me about it." Rin agreed.
"Although Evangeline, since we're all here I'd like to make a request of you." Negi spoke.
"A request?" she asked.
"Yes, since both Dustin and I have made new partners and exposed them to magic and such…" Negi began as Dustin finished.
"We wanted to gather them all here and properly train them in their pactio's and what not."
"Hmm, well given the fact they were able to hold their own in Kyoto was a bit of luck. Very well, gather them up and bring them over here in the afternoon and we'll work something out."
"Thank you Evangeline, thank you!" Negi thanked her while shaking her hands wildly until she pulled them back.
"Release my hands, boya!" she turned and blushed while looking at her hands.
"We'll go round the girls up, but first Dustin and I have to speak to the headmaster." Negi said as the two boys ran off.
At the headmasters office the two boys entered and saw the dean was lying down on the floor with a large icepack on his back. Also inside the room were Takahata, Mana, Setsuna, Konoka, Yuna, and Professor Akashi.
"Headmaster, oh sorry are we interrupting something?" Negi asked.
"Oh, Negi-kun, Dustin-kun, just in time," the headmaster said, "Mana and Setsuna were just telling me of the report in Kyoto. Thanks to you that son of mine is finally keeping everyone under control."
"And it's all thanks to you two." Takahata replied.
"Well we didn't do it alone," Dustin admitted, "After all if it weren't for our partners we wouldn't have lasted half as long in the fight." Dustin answered but realized Professor Akashi was standing right there, "I-I mean we were…"
The adults chuckled, "It's ok Dustin, Akashi-sensei is one of us." Takahata explained.
"He is?" Negi asked as he and Dustin turned to the adult.
"That's right, and Yuna's told me quite a story at what happened in Kyoto." The professor said as Yuna smiled.
"Then you know what I?" Dustin asked.
"Yes," the adult patted Dustin's shoulder, "Thank you, for looking out for my daughter."
"No problem." Dustin replied.
"Soon as I got home dad and I talked and I found out exactly about my mother's death. Turns out she was a mage that fought in a battle years ago, and my dad was her ministra." Yuna explained.
"I see." The spirit warrior boy said.
"I had wanted Yuna to grow up as a normal girl, but she takes so much after her mother I knew one day this would happen." Akashi sensei explained.
"So was there anything else you boys needed?" The headmaster asked.
"Well actually we were looking for our partners." Negi said looking to Konoka while Dustin motioned to Mana, Setsuna, and Yuna.
"Is something wrong?" Mana asked.
"Not at all, but we were hoping you'd all meet us at Evangeline's cottage." Negi explained.
"You know, a sort of partner and master get together if you will." Dustin added.
"Of course, since Asuna's still sleeping I don't have to worry about her." Konoka said.
"And I also must accompany Ojou-sama." Setsuna added while Konoka sighed knowing breaking that habit of hers will not be easy.
"We'll come, won't we Mana?" Yuna asked the gunslinger.
"Of course." She nodded.
"Excellent, and Domino." Dustin motioned to his crow.
"Yes?"
"Go find the others and tell them where to rendezvous, and hurry."
"You got it, boss!" Domino flew out an open window.
"Well then, shall we go?" Mana asked the boys and they nodded as the group left the office.
Soon they arrived at the forest outside campus seeing Domino leading the other girls Kaede, Ku, Makie, Kasuga, Sayo, Kazumi, and Chao. Dustin noticed a small dark skinned girl dressed in a cute sailor fuku was walking alongside Kasuga. What shocked him was she looked almost like a miniature version of Mana.
"Hey girls, glad Domino found you." Dustin said.
"Well he insisted we come." Kazumi said.
Dustin noticed the girl with Kasuga, "Hey Kasuga, who's this?"
"Oh sorry, you two haven't met. Dustin-kun this is my first Magister Cocone Fatima Rosa. Cocone, meet my two homeroom teachers Negi Springfield and Dustin Bowers my Spirit Warrior master." The nun girl introduced them.
The girl approached keeping a stone face as she extended her hand out, "Nice to meet you two, Misora's told me much about you two," she shook Negi's hand and then Dustin's, "Especially you Dustin-san."
"Well, I really had no intention of stealing your ministra from you." Dustin told the girl.
"I understand." She nodded.
"Well come on, don't want to keep Evangeline waiting." Negi said as the group continued and reached the cottage where Eva, Rin, and Chachamaru were waiting.
"About time you all showed up." Eva said squinting.
"Sorry for the wait Evangeline." Negi said as the girls stood behind the boys.
Makie then noticed Toothless peeking out from behind the cottage, "Hey what's that?" she asked as the girls went around the cottage and gasped seeing the dragon.
"A dragon!" Yuna gasped.
Before any of them could scream Rin blocked them from trying to attack him, "Everyone calm down, Toothless is harmless."
"What she said." The dragon replied.
"It can talk?" Konoka asked.
"I'm a 'he' not an 'it'." Toothless replied.
"An actual Night Fury," Mana approached him, "Such a rare breed of dragon."
"How do you know this dragon Rin?" Kaede asked.
"Toothless is my familiar from my kingdom."
"Wow, he's so cool." Yuna said as she and Makie started petting him.
"I got to get a picture." Kazumi was taking pictures of the dragon.
Eva was getting annoyed and spoke, "Alright, the boys didn't invite you all here to dote over a dragon!"
"Right," Dustin said as he stood before everyone, "First of all, we're glad you all could come. The reason we called you all here is now that each of you know the existence of magic and mine and Negi's secrets due to the events in Kyoto…"
"We felt it's in yours and our best interests if we train you all in terms of combat if you really want to be our partners." Negi finished.
"You mean you're going to teach us magic?" Konoka asked in joy.
"Well part of it, of course, and for you all to continue to improve on your pactio abilities." Negi explained.
"Awesome, I'm totally up for it." Kazumi said with a thumb's up.
"Yeah, me too." Sayo added.
Mana smiled with Kaede, "Even though we've had plenty of time to train with our pactios, some extra practice couldn't help."
"Agreed." Kaede replied.
"Well alright, let's get this thing underway!" Yuna cheered with Makie.
So they divided it up with Negi teaching Makie, Sayo, Kaede, Konoka, and Ku a few beginner's magic using little beginner's wands while Rin was joining in just as a refresher course.
"Practi Bigi Naru Ardescat!" Makie said waving her beginner's wand a little before sticking it out conjuring a small flame.
"Wow Makie, you finally did it!" Sayo cheered.
"That awesome!" Ku cheered.
Negi smiled watching the girls work so hard. While over by Dustin's party the girls were practicing with the ability to use the spirit gun. Mana as always was doing superb work with her expertise with guns gave her the advantage, while Kasuga also being Dustin's partner longer than the others also had the spirit gun down as well.
"Doing good girls, remember to concentrate, aim, and shoot." Dustin said pacing back and forth like a drill seargent.
Chao and Yuna did just that as they focused their spirit energy into the tips of their index fingers, "Concentrate." Yuna said.
"Aim…" Chao continued as they each aimed at an empty soda can.
"Shoot!" they called blasting their spirit gun shots at the cans knocking them over.
"Fabulous ladies! Absolutely fabulous!" Dustin applauded.
"Ok my turn!" Kazumi said doing the same, but unlike the others she was blasted backwards from her own attack, "Owie!" she groaned.
"Word of advice Kazumi, you fire it, it doesn't fire you." Dustin said standing above the reporter.
"Thanks for the heads up." Kazumi groaned.
Once Kazumi managed to get the spirit gun attack down like the others, Dustin moved onto the next phase of spirit warrior training.
"Flying?" Kazumi and Yuna gasped.
"Of course, all spirit warriors are capable of flying. See?" Dustin asked as he flew off the ground and around the group to give them a demonstration.
"That is so cool." Kazumi gasped.
"It's awesome!" Yuna cheered.
Dustin touched back down, "Alright girls, give it a shot."
"But how?" Kazumi asked.
"Just concentrate to the soles of your feet and feel yourself being lifted off the ground." Dustin explained.
"Yeah like this!" Kasuga said as she concentrated and flew off the ground.
"Show off." Yuna scowled.
"Actually it's much easier than it looks." Chao said as she was already off the ground floating around.
"Alright we're coming up!" Yuna declared as she and Kazumi tried to fly up to join them but when they made a jump they hovered for a minute but fell on their faces.
"Eating dirt girls? That's some diet." Kasuga joked as the two lifted their heads out of the dirt.
"Oh shut up." Kazumi said.
So Kazumi and Yuna continued to try improving a bit with each try but kept falling flat on their faces. Setsuna who was also using her spirit energy to fly rather than her wings was helping Kazumi along while Dustin was helping Yuna.
"Just pretend you're going for a slam dunk Yuna! Take that big leap and envision yourself going higher." Dustin continued to demonstrate for her.
"A higher leap for a dunk," Yuna said getting the picture and pretended she was playing basketball and when she headed for the basket she jumped up and suddenly found herself flying up to Dustin's level where she stopped in mid air and looked down, "I don't believe it! I'm really flying!"
"All it took was the right motivation." Dustin said patting the girls back.
After a bit of flying around in the air the group touched back down with Kazumi and Yuna crashing and replying they need to work on their landings. After joining up with Negi and his group they all started working on their pactio abilities.
Kaede was using her cloak to shroud herself, Makie was using her ribbon to grab and catch certain objects too far away for her to grab on her own, Rin was using her scepter to conjure some elemental attacks, Ku was practicing using her staff in conjuncture with her martial arts, Sayo was using her pactio ghost powers to fire blasts of ectoplasmic energy, duplicate herself, levitation, and Konoka was using her powers of healing on anyone who got a bruise or hurt themselves while practicing.
Evangeline watched with Negi feeling very impressed, "It's amazing at how adjusted they've become in one whole afternoon. Especially Konoka."
"I know, I'm so proud of them." Negi smiled.
Eva smirked, "You know boya, if Konoka continues to practice enough with her power she just might be able to one day remove the curse that plagues Rin every night."
"You think so?" Negi gasped as Eva smirked.
Dustin watched with Cocone as his own partners were practicing with their own style of using their spirit energy. Mana was using her spirit bullets nailing target after target, while Yuna was using her spirit basketballs tossing them and aiming them at other targets, Chao was firing smaller shotgun blasts at training dummies she and Ku set up while practicing her kung-fu as well, Setsuna summoned a spirit sword in the same style as her own blade and practiced with it, Kasuga fired her own cross shaped spirit blasts at extra training dummies Chao and Ku brought, while Kazumi was using her spirit energized camera to record the spirit energy levels of her fellow classmates.
"I feel like a proud father watching his children grow up." Dustin said wiping away a fake tear.
Soon it the group stood before their teachers, "Well girls, not a bad work out." Dustin said.
"But remember, it's important that you all not only keep up your grades, but these abilities as well, for we may need you again. Hopefully not too soon." Negi said.
"Hai Negi/Dustin-kun!" the girls cheered.
"Not bad boys," Eva began, "I'm actually impressed you taught these girls so much in one afternoon."
"Wow a compliment from Evangeline, this is a special occasion." Dustin said.
Eva squinted at Dustin and turned to Negi, "And you boya, I have a gift for you."
"A gift?" Negi asked.
"Yes, as a congratulations for doing such a splendid job in Kyoto I would like you to have this." She tossed him a ring.
"A ring?"
Makie gasped, "Eva-chan, you don't actually intend on marrying Negi-kun at this age do you?"
Eva blushed, "No, you stupid girl! That ring boya will help you in your magic."
"How so?"
"Since I can tell it'll be tricky performing martial arts while clutching your staff at the same time, you can use that ring as a substitute for your staff if you need to go hand to hand in a battle. A gift from teacher to student."
Negi's eyes lit up, "Thank you, Evangeline! I'll wear it proudly."
"See that you do." Eva replied.
Kaede was petting Toothless, "So Rin, how did you end up getting Toothless for a familiar?"
"Well to understand you'll need to hear about Toothless' ancestry." Rin said.
"And I'd be happy to enlighten you girls." Toothless said as he narrated his tale.
Hundreds of years ago during the time of the Vikings, dragons and Vikings were always at war with each other. Vikings would hunt dragons down just to keep themselves safe. But one day my ancestor the first Toothless was shot down by a young boy who was son of the Viking leader. The two then formed a bond, and that bond opened the eyes of the boy's people showing that both Vikings and dragons could coexist together. You might even say they were the first to have started Dragon Riders. I was give to her when i was just an egg. She hatched and raised me as her own. And when she started riding on me, it was like we did an aerial ballet. I never let anyone else ride me unless it was her.
"Amazing." Dustin said.
"That sounds cool." Kazumi said.
"But hold on, your name is Toothless, but you have teeth in your mouth." Makie noticed.
Toothless showed them his mouth and suddenly his teeth were sucked into their gums, "Wow retractable teeth." Kasuga said.
Rin noticed the sun was about down, "Uh, Negi."
"Oh dear the sun." Negi said as everyone watched as Rin was glowing.
Suddenly in her place was a panda cub. The girls stared in confusion until Rin made a panda noise. At that moment Ku and Chao squealed.
"Kawaii!" they began nuzzling panda Rin.
"What an adorable little panda!" Chao cooed.
"I know, just like the kind back home!" Ku cooed while panda Rin's face was turning blue.
"Master do it." Negi said as Eva watched in amusement while Rin was mob cuddled by the two Chinese girls. She then snapped her fingers and her illusion on Rin was casted making her look human.
"Rin, what happened to you?" Makie asked.
"It's a curse, Makie."
"A curse?" Yuna asked.
"Yeah, every night I turn into a different animal depending on the moons phases. On the quarter moon you see now I turn into a panda cub, on full moon nights I'm a snow furred wolf, new moons I'm a raven, and on crescent moon nights I become a white tiger cub." Rin explained.
"She's dealt with this for years now, until she came to Mahora and Evangeline offered her an illusion spell that allows her to look human during nighttime, but her reflection reveals what she really looks like at night." Negi explained.
"It must be hard going through so many different transformations every night." Sayo said.
"Well I've gotten used to it." Rin admitted.
Kaede noticed the time, "It's late we better get back to the dorms."
"Can we take a bath first, I'm sweaty." Makie said.
"Agreed." Mana replied.
"Hey Eva-chan, Chachamaru wanna join us?" Yuna offered.
"Well, I suppose." Eva said as Chachamaru nodded.
"Come on Dustin-kun, come with us." Chao linked Dustin's arm with hers.
"You too, Negi-bozu." Ku held him close as the girls dragged them off with the others.
Soon the group managed to get into the bathhouse before any of the other girls showed up and were relaxing with all of them resting in the pool, "Ah this is sweet, right girls?" Dustin asked putting his arms around Yuna and Mana.
Mana turned to Dustin seeing what he was doing but smiled, "Indeed it is."
"Yes, it's nice in here." Negi said as he relaxed with Kaede and Rin on both his sides.
As they continued relaxing Kasuga spoke, "So girls, what did you like so much about Negi-kun and Dustin-kun to want to make a pactio with them?"
The girls were taken aback by the sudden question while Eva watched eagerly to see just what was it about the boys the girls wanted to make pactio's with them.
"Where's this coming from all of a sudden Kasuga?" Mana asked.
"Just curious is all, well come on we won't tell anyone else." Kasuga said.
The girls were curious but were unsure if they really wanted to confess until Konoka spoke, "Well I wanted to make a pactio with Negi-kun not only to save his life, but to also thank him for keeping me safe during the trip. I owe a lot to him," Konoka smiled at Negi who blushed, "Ok now for someone to say what they feel about Dustin-kun, Se-chan, you next."
"Wha, me?" Setsuna blushed as everyone stared at her waiting for her to spill. Seeing no way out of it she decided to confess, "Well Dustin was the one who gave me a good lecture on how I've been pushing people away preferably you ojou-sama. He even shared with me his spirit energy so I'd have enough power to save you. And when I tried to leave the next day he helped me realize one little quirk about me doesn't make me as different as anyone else. So that's what I cherish about Dustin, he can change people for the better."
"Well not everyone." Dustin admitted still wondering what happened to Alistair.
"Ok I'll go next," Makie spoke, "Well, I like Negi-kun not just because he's cute, but because he acts so mature for someone his age. I mean take a look at me."
"Well you do act childish." Kasuga said making Makie pout until Cocone spoke.
"You're not so grown up yourself."
"Cocone!"
"Well Kasuga you're next." Kaede said.
"Well, I always found Dustin-kun to have a good sense of humor, and not to mention I'd always wanted a pactio with a spirit warrior. But aside from that, I also like how he keeps himself in good shape like I do." The nun explained.
"I may as well go," Rin said, "Negi's been my first real friend outside Toothless, he accepted me as a person and not just a princess. Plus he didn't run and scream like I was some kind of freak when I first turned into an animal."
"Oh Rin." Negi smiled.
"Alright my turn!" Yuna cheered, "Well I always admired Dustin because he's always been one to look for fun. But it got just as better when we found out him and Negi-kun saved us when Eva turned us into vampires. Hearing him say I was his in such a protective tone made me feel, this boy is the real deal. And when he helped us reach the basketball finals with his training and we won only made me realize how much I cared about him, especially since we're both motherless. Dustin will always be very special to me." Yuna said twirling one of her fingers through Dustin's spikes making him blush.
Sayo spoke, "Ok I guess, I'll go. Well Negi-kun was the one who made me noticeable to all of you. Everyone just looked right through me as if I wasn't there. Even though I'm a ghost it did make me feel lonely. But because of him I was finally able to be seen by all of you, and I can now feel solid things. I really do hold Negi-kun close to me, even though I am not living." She blushed.
Kazumi smirked and spoke, "Well I really do like Dustin-kun a lot, because when it comes to news and gossip he does have a lot to talk about. But he also helped me to realize while it's good to find interesting news, I should also be weary of how this affects the person I'm talking about. That's why I'll always be there to keep his and Negi-kun's secrets safe from any other public reveals. Plus you should see how he looked when I held him to my chest."
"Kazumi!" Dustin called as Mana eyes him.
Ku spoke, "I find Negi-bozu to be perfect disciple in learning martial arts. No other person could learn about as half as much as he could in such a short time. I truly hope one day he will match me in one on one with no special enhancements like his magic-aru."
Chao then started, "I really like Dustin-kun for his skills in fighting, but for his brains as well. Such a combination is hard to come by. And he always compliments my cooking even the time I almost burned his mouth off." She laughed sheepishly.
"Also the fact was you kissed him before half the class on our bowling day." Yuna added still a little irked.
"Well you also kissed him too Yuna." Kasuga reminded her.
"Only in front of a few of you." She replied.
Kaede then spoke, "Guess it's my turn. Well I was the first to have discovered Negi's secret. And right form the moment I had no intention of telling anybody his secret because we're all entitled to our own. He's got a goal and intends to stick by it, and I will always be there for him. I really do care about him." She wrapped an arm around Negi.
Suddenly everyone's attention turned to Mana, "Alright Mana, this is it." Yuna said.
"Spill!" Makie called.
"What makes you so into Dustin-kun so much?" Kazumi asked.
Mana looked around seeing the girls were eager to hear while Dustin smirked awaiting to hear as well. She then smirked, "Well I could tell you a lot of things as to why I like Dustin so much, but there is one reason that stands out above all other reasons."
Dustin was blushing wondering what was so charming of him above everything else she liked about him. While the girls were waiting as Mana answered, "It's because… He has squashy cheeks." She blushed with a smile.
"What?!" Dustin asked.
Mana turned to him, "You heard me Dustin, you have squashy cheeks. And that's what I like about you."
Dustin felt his face, "They're not that squashy."
"Let me see." Yuna said getting closer.
"I wanna try." Kazumi added.
"After me." Chao said as Dustin's partners minus Mana and Setsuna were surrounding him in the pool.
"Not in the face, not in the face!" Dustin cried as the girls started pinching his cheeks determined to see how squashy they were as Mana, Negi, and his partners watched the spike head get pinched.
"You were teasing him weren't you?" Eva asked.
Mana smiled, "Sort of." And they all laughed, even Dustin through the face pinching he was being put through.
(And that's the chapter. Negi and Dustin got a chance to work out with their partners so they can hone their abilities and Rin's got a familiar herself. The dragon idea was from Hikari Ino the author which she got inspired from Dreamwork's movie How to Train your Dragon, while this OC dragon Toothless was made as a descendant of the original Toothless that lived years ago. Don't miss next time where Negi and Dustin get back to classes and bonding with their students. See ya then.)