(How's it going guys, I'm back with yeah another chapter marking off number 50. Well enjoy and review my friends.)
Far away from Japan or America in an isolated land lied the Kingdom of Light; Rin's home. Inside a throne room sat a young in his late 20s. He had spiky dirty blonde hair, blue eyes like Rin's and he was wearing robes of black and white. As he was signing documents a soldier ran in holding something close to his body.
"Your Highness I have important news!"
"As long as it gets me out of all this paperwork," The king sighed. The soldier moved his hands showing a small pink blossom, "What? What is that?" the king gasped.
"I think it's an actual flower not a Snow White but an actual one I found it blooming in the snow."
"But that's impossible!" he shot up, "Our kingdom's climate has been nothing but cold weather and snow. A simple summer blossom could never grow in weather like this."
"Then how could this have come to be?" the guard asked in confusion.
The king thought and realized it. He spoke hastily to the guard, "Send a message to Dean Konoe of Mahora. Rin, Negi, and Dustin must come to the kingdom at once!"
"Yes your majesty!" the guard nodded and left the throne.
Meanwhile in Japan, outside Eva's cabin Dustin and Negi were sparing in hand to hand combat while Eva, Chachamaru, Zyphon, Domino, and Chamo supervised them. While in the sky Rin was flying on Toothless while smiling. She looked down seeing the boys sparing.
"Those two keep getting stronger and stronger," she looked to Toothless, "But then again, I am as well."
"You certainly are," Toothless agreed. Rin smiled but suddenly felt something, "Rin, what's wrong?"
"I don't know, but I got this feeling something's not right with my home." She said breathing hard. Her body started glowing while switching form normal to a crystal glow and shine.
Down below the boys looked up seeing what was going on above, "What's going on?" Dustin asked.
Rin was holding onto Toothless but her grip became loose and she slipped off and started falling, "Rin!" they called.
"Hold on!" Toothless glided down catching her on his back.
"Thanks boy…" she said as her dragon brought her down.
Negi, Dustin, and the others ran over, "What happened up there?" Negi asked.
Rin got off Toothless while her body still glowed before fading back to normal, "I don't know." She panted.
Suddenly Takahata arrived, "There you all are."
"What's the matter Takamichi?" Negi asked.
"The dean wants you three to come to his office, there's something you have to know." He explained.
Dustin spoke to Negi while helping Rin along, "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
Soon the three kids, Zyphon, and the two animals were in the headmaster's office, "So what's the problem sir?" Negi asked.
"I'm afraid there is a crisis in the Kingdom of Light." The dean stroked his beard.
"What?" What's wrong?" Rin asked in worry.
"I'm afraid the kingdom is losing its winter."
"And that's bad how?" Dustin asked.
"Our kingdom is dependant on winter," Rin explained, "Think of it like the arctic melting due to global warming. If we lose our winter there, there'll be nothing left," She thought, 'And I won't have a home to rule.'
"What's causing the winter to diminish?" Negi asked.
"They do not know yet, I'm afraid." Dean Konoe answered.
"I have to get home." Rin said.
"Not alone, we have to go with." Negi said.
"Uh one problem Negi, we can't just pick up and leave school." Dustin reminded him.
"I don't think that'll be a problem seeing as how we have some spies in our midst." Rin said motioning to the door.
Negi opened the door and discovered his and Dustin's partners, Evangeline, and Chachamaru were listening, "Girls?"
"Yeah sorry guys, but we couldn't resist." Yuna said sheepishly.
"You're all not thinking of going alone are you?" Sayo asked in surprise.
"So the Kingdom of Light is melting is it?" Eva asked, "Well it can go just like the Ice Age." He joked.
Rin glared at the little vampire and glowed with magic, "Don't ever mock my home like that again!"
"Ok-ok, no need to get so heavy." Eva waved her arms.
Negi calmed Rin down, "Yes, that won't solve a thing."
"If it's help you need, we're all over it." Mana offered.
"Still problem, what excuse are we gonna give the rest of class if we, and the lot of you take off?" Dustin asked.
"Takahata sensei and the dean should be able to handle our cover, but getting there is a problem. It could take several days and I doubt we know of a fast enough way." Setsuna warned them.
"You won't have to travel, all you need is me." Rin smirked.
"Ok, I'll bite." Yuna said opened for suggestions.
"Just meet me outside when you get your essentials." She ordered.
"You heard the princess, move out!" Dustin ordered as the girls left to get ready.
Soon the Profs left followed by Rin who thought, 'Dad, I'll be home soon.'
Outside, Negi, Dustin, their partners, Zyphon, Toothless, Chamo, and Domino stood ready while Eva and Chachamaru watched them off, "So how're we gonna get there?" Kaede asked.
Rin walked into the middle of the group, "With a little something I've been saving." She pulled out a necklace out of her shirt of a crystal heart with glowing trims.
"What is that?" Makie gasped.
"It's pretty." Sakurako added.
"It's our ticket to my kingdom," Rin answered. She started muttering a spell, "Spirit of Earth, Wind, and Ocean be my guide and transport us to the Light… Amour Aeternus!"
Suddenly the group was surrounded by a light, "Is this part of the process?" Sayo asked.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Negi asked looking at Rin.
"How do you think I came here in the first place?" she asked with a smile. A dome covered them as they disappeared into thin air.
Eva crossed her arms and spoke to herself, "Good luck boys."
Chachamaru noticed Eva's face knowing she knew the truth, "Do you have some idea what's behind this attack on Rin's kingdom master?"
"This isn't an attack Chachamaru," she began, "It's a curse coming undone and a figment from the past returning…"
Soon enough the group landed in the middle of a town square with a crash landing, "Everyone ok?" Negi asked until he saw Dustin lying on the ground with Mana's chest in his face and Yuna lying on his body as well.
"This was a soft landing, for my face at least." Dustin said before Mana got him off and they all got to their feet.
Rin looked around the place, "I'm really home." She gasped.
The group looked seeing they were in the Kingdom of Light which was composed of a town square with numerous shops, markets, and stands, and in the center was a tall castle. The ground was covered in snow but for some reason it didn't feel cold.
"Whoa." Yuna and Makie gasped.
"This is the Kingdom of Light? Why isn't it cold?" Dustin asked.
"Because the snow is slowly melting." Rin feared.
Suddenly some nearby children noticed the ground and spotted Rin amongst them, "Princess Rin!"
"She's come to save us!" a little girl said as the children crowded her.
"Looks like you're quite popular for a princess that's been cooped up half her life." Kazumi said.
Rin laughed, "There were times I'd sneak out to be around my subjects."
Then the older villagers saw her, "It's Princess Rin, has she returned to fix the land?"
"Of course, she's the king's daughter. If she's anything like him, she'll know how to set things right." another said.
"Rin our home is melting." A girl cried to her.
"It's ok, I'll find out what's happening." She assured her.
"Will we still be able to have the Crystal of Time Festival its tomorrow?" a little boy asked.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure nothing happens to ruin our tradition." She assured.
Kakizaki looked at Negi, "Crystal of Time Festival?"
"Of course, this festivity happens around this time." he explained.
Then two guards came over to Rin, "Your highness, your father's been expecting you."
"Alright," she turned to her subjects, "Don't worry everyone my friends and I will figure this out."
"Long live Serenity!" the subjects declared with a bow.
"You really are honored." Chao noted.
"The name Serenity is special; here it is a sign of hope and love." Rin said as they walked to the palace seeing a large symbol on the door. It was of a Night Fury dragon and a white creature that looked like a combination of a pegasus and a unicorn both chasing each other.
"A dragon and an alicorn playing?" Dustin asked.
"A what?" Makie asked.
"An alicorn," Negi explained, "A creature that is both a pegasus and a unicorn."
"The Night Fury and alicorn are the royal family animals," Rin continued, "Every leader will find one eventually. The Night Fury represents night and the moon and the alicorn represents day and the sun."
"Amazing." Ku said.
"Have you found an alicorn yourself?" Konoka asked.
"Not yet, but if I do, I'll already have a name picked out."
The group walked inside as they group marveled at the castle, "Wow this place is amazing, just like in the games." Yuna said checking the place out.
"Do not wander Yuna, you can easily get lost in a place like this." Setsuna warned her.
As they entered the throne room, Rin saw her father on the throne, "Papa!"
They looked seeing the king get up, "Rin!" he got off his throne and hugged his daughter.
"So that's Rin's dad?" Sakurako asked.
"He looks so young, even younger than Mr. Bowers." Sayo noted.
Rin stood before her father facing her classmates, "Everyone this is my father; Lucas Ventus Hikari the 12th King of the kingdom of Light."
The whole group bowed as the king spoke, "Welcome students of Mahora, you are welcomed in my kingdom," he noticed Negi, "And it's good to see you again as well Negi."
"A pleasure to see you again sir." He replied.
"Ahem." Dustin cleared his throat.
"Oh right, your highness this is my long time friend from America. Dustin Bowers."
"It's a pleasure Dustin I was told a lot about you by the dean I'm glad to know Spirit Warriors are growing strong."
"And we'll keep getting stronger." Dustin assured.
"And these are some of my fellow classmates; Sayo, Yuna, Kazumi, Ku, Kakizaki, Makie, Sakurako, Chao, Mana, Ayaka, Chizuru, Madoka, Zazie, Konoka, Setsuna, Kaede, and Kasuga."
"This is some place you got here sir." Kasuga said.
"Thank you, been in my family for generations." Lucas explained.
"And we're honored to be standing in it." Ayaka added.
"Dad, what's going on here?" Rin asked.
Lucas looked out at the melting snow, "I feared the very thing from our past has come back to take revenge," He held his sword as it glowed with a crystal floating over, "You see Rin the Kingdom of Light wasn't always a land of ice and snow, it was green and full of life." he said.
The crystal glowed showing the kingdom in a beautiful spring time image, "Sounds like a nice place." Dustin admitted.
"It was, but our ancestor the first Lucas was at battle with his brother; the dark King Zalder." The image of a man came up, and he looked like a darker version of the first Lucas with spiky blue hair, pale skin, and yellow eyes.
"A dark king?" Sayo trembled while the other girls freaked seeing the image of the kingdom turn black and crystal like.
"Zalder had attempted to turn the kingdom into his own dark empire." Lucas continued as Negi saw images of the people in chains and being treated like slaves.
"How horrible." The boy gasped.
"Yes," Luca continued, "But then my ancestor dethroned him and banished him to the artic but not before he casted his own spell on the land. He said never again will this land know spring nor summer forever shall winter reign until the item which was lost is found life shall never come around."
"Ok, but if he cursed it so the land would never know summer or spring, wouldn't this be what the kingdom's been long overdo for?" Kazumi asked.
"That is true, we are overdue for it, but the people here and I only know of snow and ice."
"In other words, you've gotten so used to the curse you can't handle the change?" Negi asked.
"Exactly. Rin, I fear Zalder will inevitably invade the kingdom once al the snow has melted."
"Oh no." Konoka gasped.
"Well how can we stop it?" Setsuna asked.
"You must reclaim the crystal heart; the kingdom's sole defense against Zalder. Because when he stole and hid it away, we had to use a barrier to keep any of his essence out, but now that barrier has weakened."
"But where can we find it?" Ayaka asked.
"That, I do not know," He admitted, "I also want your help with the festival. With everything else going on I'm not sure we'll be able to have it one time."
"We'll do whatever we can." Mana assured.
"The best place for finding information is a library, we should start from there." Negi suggested.
"Good idea Negi, everyone follow me." Rin said leading the group.
Soon they all met inside the castle's library that had what seemed like endless shelves of literature, "Nodoka and Yue would have a fangasm if they saw this." Madoka said.
"Well there must be something in here we can use." Dustin said.
"While I may not be book crazy like Nodoka and Yue, I am still part of the library exploration club." Konoka said.
"And I know this library like the back of my hand." Rin added.
"Let's hope there're no giant statues that come to life here." Ku said remembering the horrors of Library island.
"Say what?" Rin asked.
"Long story." Konoka giggled.
"Well let's get cracking," Dustin ordered, "Zyphon see if you can find anything in those higher shelves."
"I'm already on it." He activated his rocket boosters and flew up.
"There should be some history book somewhere." Rin looked around.
"If we can find them." Kaede said picking out one after another.
"We have to." Negi said.
Chizuru pulled out a book, "Guys, I think I got something."
Everyone hurried over as Chizuru showed them a book with a picture of crystals on it, "This is it!" Rin gasped. She opened the book and they looked through it, "Huh, that's weird. It mentions the festival, but everything looks so different."
"Different?" Makie asked.
"Like different traditions back then before our current activities these days." She explained.
"Hey, they had jousting back then," Dustin noticed, "Now there's a sport back then I could call fun."
"You have so many different old traditions." Konoka noted.
"It must have been before the dark king, during the days of our first queen the first Serenity." Rin said.
"They sure knew activites." Yuna admitted.
Rin gasped, "I know, maybe if we introduce these old traditions, maybe it'll help the people relax."
"Yeah, a combination of previous activities with current ones." Chao added.
"Sounds wicked." Dustin admitted.
"Wicked like a witch?" Zazie asked.
"I'll pretend you didn't say that." Dustin said.
'While they do that we gotta find that crystal heart and re-power the barrier.' Rin thought.
Soon enough the girls along with the boys were preparing for the festival, "This is just like preparing for the festivals at Mahora." Yuna said while setting up a stand.
"Yeah, but this is for a whole kingdom, not a school." Kasuga reminded her.
"Remember we have to do this for the people's sake." Chizuru told them.
Zazie meanwhile was dressed in her jester outfit, the cheerleaders were wondering what sort of performance cheers they could do, while Makie was thinking of what moves she could do with her ribbon. As Mana was helping Kaede with another stand she spoke, "I wonder if the king will pay us handsomely for this extra work?"
"Always thinking about payment, huh Mana?" Kaede asked.
"Hey, ya gotta make a living by something." The gunslinger replied.
"Come on girls, chop-chop we got a festival to put together here!" Domino barked orders.
Chao, Ku, and Konoka were by a food stand preparing some food, "I sure hope they'll like these special pork buns." Chao said.
"Yeah, after all what better food to eat in a cold area?" Ku asked.
Meanwhile Rin was walking around the castle with Toothless, "I have to dins out where Zalder his that crystal."
Negi spotted her, "How's the luck?"
"Still trying to figure it out." She answered but froze up followed by heavy breathing.
"Rin?" Negi asked as he and Toothless calmed her.
"I can feel it, Zalder's trying to make his way inside," She touched the castle wall trying to create her own barrier, "I can add some of my own magic to strengthen it temporarily."
"Don't use too much." Negi warned her.
"I'll try." She said.
Meanwhile at the fair, all the villagers looked around seeing it was different from how they normally celebrated it seeing other activities as well.
"They're sure curious about the changes." Kaede noticed as she saw some enjoying Zazie's acrobatics and juggling.
"That's good isn't it?" Yuna asked.
Mana spoke while eating some corn on the cob, "Curiosity is just what we need them to feel."
They suddenly overheard more of the villagers gossiping, "Aren't these some of those old traditions our people used to hold for the festival?" one asked.
"Yeah, I almost forgot what they were." Another said as they smiled and went off having fun.
Another who was doing arts and craft spoke to another, "Hard to imagine our ancestors used to enjoy old stuff like this."
"Yeah, but you know I think the festival did something important with something…"
"Yeah, something with a heart I think…" they both gasped, "The crystal heart!"
The girls hearing that were shocked that they recalled it from their history, "Do you really think Princess Rin has found it?"
"If anyone can, it's her."
Setsuna turned to her classmates, "We have to do what we can to keep their hopes alive until Rin and Negi can find it." They all nodded and continued with their activities.
Back with Negi and Rin the girl spoke, "Negi bring me the book, there must be some clue as where to find it."
Negi held it up, "Well I'm looking… Here it is." He showed a picture of the heart.
"Location, location, location," Rin skimmed through it until she noticed something, "What's this?" Negi looked at a picture with her that showed the heart whole and solid followed by a picture of the heart that had a smaller heart shaped hole in it.
"It looks like something was carved into it." Rin said.
"Or carved out." Negi corrected her.
"Carved out…" Rin reached into her shirt taking out her necklace. Negi saw it and noticed it was the perfect heart shape matching the one in the picture, "Negi, my necklace is part of the crystal heart?"
"Rin, how'd you get that necklace?"
"It was back when I was even littler. I was playing hide and seek with Toothless in my father's throne room." She began to flashback.
A younger Rin and a younger Toothless were playing around the throne room, "Toothless I told you it was your turn to seek me. I can't hide if you follow me."
The dragon roared and bumped into a shelf knocking it down and revealed a black door, "What's that?" Rin asked as she opened it seeing a long dark staircase going downward, "Wait here Toothless I'll be right back." She ordered while walking down.
As she walked she saw a small light at the bottom. When she got down she saw the crystal, "Pretty." She picked it up as the room shook and a dark voice spoke.
"Who dares touch the crystal?"
Rin shook while holding said crystal close as the voice continued somehow taking notice of the girl, "I see."
The place suddenly started getting darker and a shadow took the form of an arm the grabbed her leg, "Come now child, it's very rude for a princess to leave someone."
Rin got scared while trying to break free, "Papa! Toothless!" she cried.
Suddenly a blast of lightning was fired at the shadow making it release its hold on Rin. Toothless growled as he defended Rin, "Toothless!" she gasped and looked up to the entry, "I have to get out of here. Come on boy!" she called as the dragon flew her back up and to the door where they started pushing it shut.
"Close, close!" Toothless helped push it and it shut, "Yes, we did it!"
"Did what?"
Rin looked up seeing her father, "Father." She gasped.
"Rin, what were you doing down here?" he crossed his arms.
"Toothless and I were just playing and we knocked over the shelf and found this door." She explained until her father got down to her level holding her.
"Rin, promise me you'll forget all about this place."
"Dad?"
"There are things here that are better left to not know." He explained and she only nodded.
Present Rin continued to Negi, "I kept the crystal a secret and I made it into a small necklace."
"So you mean to say you've been carrying a fragment with you all this time?!" Chamo cried in outrage.
"Well she didn't know what it was, and neither did I." Toothless replied.
"Still we got us a clue." Negi noted.
"I think we have to go to the throne." Rin suggested.
"Then let's go!" Chamo called and they rushed.
Back at the festival, Dustin and the girls were constantly helping out at the festival preparations, "Things are going smoothly, but they won't forever unless they find that crystal." Dustin said while organizing a stand with tossing balls into buckets.
"If Zalder's essence breaks in we'll have to fight." Mana said.
"Fight till the end I say." Zazie said while juggling some balls.
"You girls are right, if he gets in I'll blast him with my Spirit Force."
"But won't that leave you high and dry like back in New York?" Madoka asked.
"We'll need to wait and see what Negi thinks." Ku said.
Suddenly Negi's voice came on a walkie talkie Dustin was carrying, "Dustin do you copy?"
Dustin took his walkie talkie and spoke into it, "Negi, I read you, over."
"Rin and I may have found the crystal and we're on our way to get it. How're things looking on your end, over?"
Dustin looked up at the barrier seeing it pulsate, "Doesn't look like it'll be holding for long, and the girls are still keeping everyone in the kingdom calm as they can, over."
"Well hang in there, we'll be there ASAP."
"Roger that, over and out." Dustin ended his call.
Negi, Rin, and Toothless arrived in the throne room, "It was supposed to be here, I know it." They looked around.
"How did you find it the first time?" Negi asked.
"Well Toothless knocked over a shelf."
"Then we'll have to find the one that covers the entrance," Negi said until they saw multiple shelves in the throne room, "Oh no."
"Dad did such remodeling while I was away." Rin scowled.
"It'll take forever to find the right one...wait maybe…" Rin said taking off her necklace holding it out, "But maybe this piece is all we need to find to door." Negi, Chamo, and Toothless watched.
She held it out and they saw a light emit from behind one of the shelves, "Over there!" Chamo called as they went to it and Toothless moved it exposing the door from before.
"This is it." Rin said as they opened the door.
Negi pulled out his staff and he and Rin flew down to the very spot she was years ago, "This is it the exact spot, and look there's another door."
"Be careful, it might be booby trapped." Negi warned her.
Rin walked over and opened the door seeing nothing but darkness, "Oh great, Negi give me some light," Negi used his staff creating a light as they entered cautiously, "Be careful, whatever tried to grab me back then could very well still be in here."
Chamo was quivering on Negi's shoulder while looking around hoping nothing would jump out and grab him. Rin then noticed her necklace glowed and when she held it out it started pulling her forward, "Looks like we got our seeker." She said as they followed it.
Back outside the barrier was fading fast and Makie spoke, "Guys, I don't like the looks of this."
"Neither do I." Chao agreed.
"Um, what is that?" Sakurako asked looking at the entry to the town seeing something dark outside it. When the barrier broke the dark essence entered the square and took form.
The villagers stayed close as a woman spoke in fright, "The Dark king!"
The Dark King Zalder approached with a smirk, "It's good to be home!" he noticed all the trembling people, "Ah my subjects. You all didn't think I was gonna stay locked in ice forever did you?" he laughed as he was walking into the square preparing to head for the castle only for Lucas to block his path while holding his sword.
"Dustin, you and the girls get the villagers to safety. I'll deal with Zalder."
"Your majesty don't be foolish, you can't possibly have the strength to take him on alone." Dustin injected but Lucas replied.
"It's my duty as a king to protect my kingdom and my people."
"I understand, come on girls let's go." Dustin said as they all headed to protect the people.
Back with Negi and Rin the room was just getting darker and darker, "I can't see a thing."
"It's getting darker and my light doesn't seem to be making it any better." Negi added.
Rin stopped, "Wait this could be Zalder's dark magic to make sure no finds it a place of endless darkness no light..." she said and realized the one who tried to grab her back then was small piece of Zalder left behind to ward anyone away from trying to get the crystal heart.
"So that's it huh, we're screwed?" Chamo asked.
"No I don't think we are Chamo, because Zalder is foolish and doesn't understand." Rin corrected him.
"You got a plan?" Toothless asked.
She nodded, "I'm going to need you help Negi I think if we combine our magic…" Rin started and Negi finished.
"We can extinguish the darkness."
The two took each other's hands and spoke a spell together, "Powers of all life and good lend us your strength. Bring us to the true path which we seek," Naegi's staff glowed taking in both their magical auras, "Tel ma Amorista!" they called.
Suddenly the darkness was extinguished and the room looked to be made of pure crystal, "Beautiful." Rin gasped.
Negi looked seeing in the middle of the room was the crystal heart on a stand, "There it is!"
Rin went to it and noticed the small carving in it. She took out her necklace preparing to put the piece back into it until she stepped on a certain part of the floor that started glowing with bell bongs ringing, "Uh-oh."
Negi and Toothless knowing something was going to happen ran over and pushed Rin out of the way only for the two to get trapped inside a black crystal prison, "Negi Toothless!"
"Don't worry about us." Toothless called.
"Take the heart and bring it to the square." Negi ordered.
"Alright, don't worry I'll make things right!" she hurried.
Meanwhile back in the square Zalder and Lucas were going at it in swordplay, "Oh my, such strength for a child." Zalder mocked.
"Don't think you can work your mind games on me. I've read all about you in the historical archives." Lucas warned him while defending with his sword.
Zalder laughed, "Then you know the peak of my strength. Do you honestly believe you have the power to match the one who started this family tree?"
"The next generation always surpasses the previous." Lucas replied as the two continued fighting.
Rin meanwhile was climbing down the castle wall seeing the girls and Dustin, "Hey guys! Up here!"
They looked up seeing her, "Rin!"
"I got it!" she held up the heart.
Zalder seeing the girl holding the heart growled, "I will not let you ruin my revenge!" he called while extending his sword toward her launching a dark energy blast. It nearly hit Rin causing her to fall toward the ground.
"Rin!" the girls cried in fright.
"The fall will kill her!" Dustin flew up planning to catch her.
Rin reached for the heart and her necklace glowing with it. She then put the piece back in the heart and it was restored with it making the crystal whole. As Dustin flew up planning to grab her he noticed the sun and moon were already at the bring of twilight hour and saw both of them glowing, "Is this a good sign?" he asked himself.
Suddenly the blast was repelled by something that protected Rin and caught the girl on its back, "What?" Dustin gasped seeing something else managed to save her in time.
Rin slowly opened her eyes wondering what she was riding, "Toothless?" she then noticed it was an actual alicorn with a white coat, and its mane and tail were black, "Who're you?" she gasped.
The alicorn spoke telepathically with its horn, "Don't worry everything's going to be ok."
Rin landed with the alicorn on the ground as Zalder spoke to the girl, "Be a good little girl and give me that heart, so I can properly dispose of it."
Rin held it, "Why should I give it to you who took it from us, your very people, and cursed out land in endless winter?"
"But my curse became a blessing for you all, you should be grateful!"
"Maybe it was a blessing… But that's not how I see it anymore," Rin lectured the ancient leader, "I have been somewhere where the land is spring, and I want to share that feeling!" she looked at her subjects, "Give me your hope!"
Soon everyone started sharing with Rin their hopes and beliefs causing the girl and the crystal to glow, "What?" Zalder gasped.
Rin raised the heart high up and the kingdom that was melting with the snow started clearing up. Grass and flowers started growing back and trees were gaining leaves. Everyone looked around in wonder as Rin spoke to Zalder.
"It's over Zalder! Our kingdom won't be melting now that I've restored spring, but don't worry winter will come back just like it comes to every continent. Only it won't be covered in your curse."
Zalder looked at the girl in shock, "Just what are you?"
"I am Princess Serenity Kaname Hikari the 17th; I am the future ruler of the kingdom, and you are just a shadow of the past not wanting to leave!"
"Then let's get rid of this pest." Dustin suggested as he and Negi stood by her side.
Rin nodded as she called her staff. She, Negi, and Dustin stood ready as the Negi and Rin aimed their staffs while Dustin pulled his arm back, "Altogether boys!" Negi and Rin fired blasts of magic while Dustin fired his shotgun attack.
Their combined blast struck Zalder in the chest putting a hole through him, "What, no! No! I can't lose! I can't!" he started dissolving and soon was gone for good."
Everyone looked around seeing it was all over and started cheering in joy. The three kids smiled as the girls rushed over congratulating them. Lucas approached pulling Rin into a bear hug, "Well done daughter."
"Thanks dad." She smiled.
"Everyone gather around, we have something extra to celebrate!" Lucas announced and soon everyone had started to party.
Negi and Rin were off to the side, "That was very brave what you did today Rin." Negi said.
"Well you helped pull it off Negi." Rin reminded him.
Suddenly both felt their heads ruffled. They looked up seeing Kaede, "You both did great."
"Thanks Kaede." Rin replied.
Dustin watched them from the side, "You know I had a part in this too." He said to himself.
Mana smiled and kissed him, "I know you did Dustin, we all did." She motioned to the rest of his partners who smiled and nodded in agreement.
Rin spoke to her friends, "Thank you everyone for what you did to help save my home."
"You're one of us Rin, and we look after our classmates." Yuna reminded her.
"Yeah, and as Negi would say, 'we're your homeroom teachers, of course we would help you'." He did a Negi impression.
"Is that what I sound like?" Negi asked.
"Afraid so." Dustin replied and the girls laughed.
Rin noticed both Toothless and the alicorn were getting along well, "A night Fury and an alicorn." She said seeing they were just like the symbol on the entry.
"Good thing Toothless doesn't see her as a meal." Makie noted.
"And it's good she does not fear him either." Chizuru added.
"But where did she come from?" Ayaka asked.
"It's weird, it's like when the sun and moon were meeting at the twilight moment of dusk, she just materialized." Dustin explained.
The alicorn approached Rin with her horn glowing as the girl explained what it was doing, "She's communicating telepathically."
"You have done well in protecting your home Rin." The alicorn spoke.
"Well I almost wasn't able to make it if you hadn't caught me."
"I came because I could sense your spirit calling out for help."
"And you really heard me?" she asked.
The alicorn nodded, "Yes, for I could sense in you a kind and caring soul, willing to give your life for those you hold close."
"I'd do that a hundred times again for everyone here." Rin pat the alicorn's mane.
"So what do we call her?" Toothless asked.
Rin looked at the alicorn, "How do you like the name Cadence?'
"Cadence? I actually love it." Rin smiled at her new friends approval.
Lucas approached the group, "I thank you all for your courage and protection. Enjoy the rest of the festival, there's something Rin and I have to discuss." He said seeing the moon was ready to be fully risen.
The two walked inside, "Dad are you still worried about me and my curse?"
"Truth be told, I am."
"Dad you saw what I can do out there. Don't you think I can take care of myself?"
"I know you can Rin," he touched her shoulder, "It's just you're my only child. But I have read what's been going on; you've really made some interesting friends." He moved her bangs away.
"They're the best dad." She smiled.
"Yes, especially Negi, he's definitely changed when I last saw the kid."
'You have no idea.' She thought.
"Well if you still want to continue living at Mahora, I will accept it, but I want you to promise me something if at anytime your forehead hurts or burns you are to tell Negi and Dustin right away don't hide it." He instructed her.
"Yes father, I've learned I can trust them with my life." She replied as Lucas hugged her.
As the crescent moon was fully up, the girl transformed into a little white tiger. Lucas pet his transformed daughter, "Don't worry Rin, the curse on you will break just like it did here."
"I know father. I know."
Meanwhile Negi, Dustin, and the girls were listening in from behind the door, 'Her forehead burns?' the girls thought.
Dustin spoke to his pal, "You know anything about this?"
"I'd hoped I wouldn't have to say it, but certain times her forehead would burn up." Negi explained as he recalled the times, "At first it wouldn't be too much a bother, but it would get worse if magic healing wasn't applied to it. From what the king says it's the one who cursed her trying to find her."
"You mean the dark one Diabound?" Setsuna asked.
"Yes, normally he's been away for many years in hiding trying to heal himself up since King Lucas injured him badly. But whenever he thinks about her she would act up."
"You never did tell us exactly who this Diabound was." Ayaka said while she, Chizuru, and the cheerleaders remained confused.
"He's the one that cursed Rin." The English boy explained.
"He's a dark mage who travels around looking for girls with strong magic. If he finds one he ends up forcing them in a pactio. But Rin's pop refused to let that happen. In retaliation Diabound cursed her with a spell that would happen every night turning her into a different animal depending on the moons look. Hence why we use illusion spells after dark on her." Chamo explained.
"So you think he's gonna try and come back for her?" Kakizaki asked.
"Only if he completely heals himself." Negi replied.
"How much longer are you going to stay out there?" Lucas asked while his daughter was asleep.
They entered sheepishly as Kasuga spoke, "How long did you know we were out here?"
"The whole time. I am a mage myself you know."
"Sir, you think Diabound is going to come back for her one day?" Dustin asked.
"It's what I fear." He said as Rin purred in his arms.
"And that's why you've kept her locked up not because of her curse, but because he may be out there somewhere." Kaede realized.
"That's right ninja, it is because my daughter is my ultimate treasure. It was a dark day when he came. It was the 1000 year anniversary of our kingdom's founding. Rin was still a few months old when it happened. Diabound came with millions of dark creatures following. He came and offered to make my daughter into a powerful mage through his dark teachings. I refused it and he attempted to take her by force. Through battle I wounded him greatly. But before he fled he put that curse on her that would take hold each and every night."
"The poor girl." Ayaka said in sorrow.
"Yes, it pained me for keeping her held up here, but I didn't want to risk letting her out. But thanks to you all for showing me how much she's changed I can be at ease knowing she's not alone."
"It's what we're here for." Sakurako replied.
"Now then it's been very late and I'll bet you all want to be rested up for tomorrow you'll be back off to Mahora."
"Thank you sir." They all said as a guard came to escort them to their rooms.
Lucas looked out the window smiling, "Sweetie, our daughter has really grown up. She's just like you."
Meanwhile far from the kingdom, Ragnarok entered an underground cavern and saw a man with long black hair, glowing eyes with one being red and the other yellow. He appeared to be looking like he was nothing more than skin and bones and on the brink of death, "Well if I'm not mistaken you must be the dark sorcerer Diabound." He smirked.
The weakened sorcerer looked seeing the teen dark warrior approach, "And you are?"
"I am Ragnarok; the Shadow Master of dark warriors."
"A dark warrior, I thought your appearance looked familiar. And why pray tell would a dark warrior come all the way here?"
"Because I have been looking for you for quite some time."
"Have you now?"
"Yes, you have power and skills that can help me in my plans of crushing not only spirit warriors alike but all good mages as well."
Diabound just laughed at his claim, "You honestly expect a single dark warrior can do what stronger ones or stronger mages have tried to do and failed?"
"I'm well aware of that, but I have no intention of accomplishing it alone. That's why I've come to you."
"What makes you think I'd help some dark warrior dreamer?"
"Well for starters I can properly heal your body."
Diabound's interest suddenly perked up, "You have my attention warrior."
"Good, tell me have you ever heard of a mage who went by the last name Springfield?"
"Nagi Springfield the Thousand Master?" Diabound gasped knowing his reputation.
"Oh yes, but he is not my target. I have another in mind, his child Negi. And to top it off I also aim to eliminate the boy of the Bowers couple."
"Roswell and Bianca Bowers had a child?"
"Correct, those two boys have been foretold by several oracles and witches I've consulted with to be the ones destined to defeat me. I cannot let them stand in the way of my conquest. I've sent numerous of my followers to do away with them, but they have proven failure."
"Good help is hard to find I know." Diabound admitted.
"So I came here in hopes of forming an alliance of sorts. Should we reign victorious we'll each get what we want." Ragnarok continued.
"How would you know what I desire?" the dark sorcerer questioned him.
"Oh I know everything Diabound, you desire women for a pactio armada."
"Guilty, but I could have all the women in the world, but one truly matters to me." Diabound admitted.
"The princess of the Light Kingdom?" Ragnarok guessed.
Diabound did a double take at his guess, "Yes, but how?"
"Because I know where she is."
"You what?!"
"That's right, I happen to know for a fact she is friends of my enemies."
"Interesting." Diabound admitted.
"And to top it off she and the boy Negi have forged a pactio making her stronger." Ragnarok tempted the sorcerer.
"Someone dare lay there lips upon my treasure?!" Diabound growled.
"Don't get yourself in a twist, after all just because somebody got first shot doesn't mean you can't do it yourself." Ragnarok reminded him.
"Very true." He admitted.
"So Diabound about my offer?" Ragnarok asked seeing he tempted him with enough information.
Diabound looked at Ragnarok and back at himself seeing for the last number of years he's been stuck in the cavern without the taste of food and water, hanging by a whim, using only his ambition to fulfill his goal as means to keep going on. He then decided, "Very well Ragnarok, I will help you achieve your desires provided you help me achieve mine."
"It's a done deal." He held out his hand and shook on it with the sorcerer.
With a snap of Ragnarok's fingers he summoned the shadow soldiers who helped Diabound onto his feet.
Diabound thought, 'Just you wait little Rin, I'll be coming for you.' And with that they disappeared. While back at the castle Tiger Rin's head burned a little as she tried shaking it off and soon it died down.
The next morning Negi, Dustin, Zyphon, and the girls stood outside the castle with Lucas and Cadence preparing to see them off, "So this spell you got will send us back to Mahora?" Negi asked.
"Precisely." Lucas nodded.
"Isn't Cadence coming with us?" Makie asked.
Cadence answered, "Do not worry, if Rin ever needs my help I will be there to help her."
"Well guess we better get going or we'll be late for class, and we got a lot of explaining to do to our roommates. Thank Kami Asuna goes to bed early, she'd probably think I was out late at night and that I'd be in the bathroom before her." Konoka giggled.
"Easy for you to say, compared to the rest of us." Yuna said as she and several of the other girls were going to have to make up some elaborate tale to tell their roommates about where they were yesterday and last night.
"Well girls it's time." Dustin said.
"Goodbye and thanks again." Lucas smiled as he started his spell and like before the group was teleported back to Mahora.
The group returned at the very spot they were teleported from at Mahora and looked around, "Well come on we better get back to the dorms and get ready for class!" Ayaka called as they all hurried.
(And that's the chapter. I got inspired by the first two episodes of the third season of MLP Friendship is Magic. Don't miss next time where Negi and Dustin go someplace that's every anime and comic fans dream. See ya then.)