(Hey guys welcome back to my next installment. This chapter goes out to anonymous reviewer Mr. Dark who gave me this idea. Well enjoy my friends.)

On weekend afternoon at Mahora, Negi, Dustin, and the class were having a picnic. They were having some good food and beverages supplied by Satsuki and Chao. They were sharing a few laughs while relaxing under the bright warm sun. While hiding up in the tree was Toothless, Chamo, and Domino.

"If only we could join them." Toothless said.

"Unfortunately the girls here aren't accustomed to seeing a fire breathing dragon." Chamo reminded him.

"Oh well we can have our own fun up here." Domino replied.

"How?" Toothless asked.

"Well we could…" Domino began until a thought popped into his head as he grabbed some acorns of the tree, "Juggle acorns!" he started juggling while Chamo and Toothless watched him with dull faces.

"You bored?" Chamo asked.

"Yup." Toothless answered.

Down on the ground with the professors and students Dustin was sampling some of Chao's cooking, "Oh this is delicious. Chao you've really outdone yourself."

"I try." She smiled.

Suddenly Dustin felt a tap on his shoulder and he looked to the side seeing Cocone, "Dustin, feed me." She opened her mouth waiting.

Dustin smiled, "Ok-ok," He took some chopsticks and got some of the food and fed Cocone who ate it, "How is it?"

"Delicious." She answered.

Dustin chuckled until he saw the other girls of his brigade gathering around wanting him to feed them as well, "Ok girls, one at a time."

Near them was Ayaka and Negi sitting close to each other, "Here you go Negi. Open wide." Ayaka offered him some food.

Negi opened his mouth as Ayaka fed him, "Yum." Negi said in delight.

"I'm glad you liked it. I had it especially made just for you." Ayaka winked.

"Arigato, Ayaka. Now let me feed you some." Negi offered.

"Why Negi, that's so thoughtful," Ayaka said as she opened her mouth. Negi took the chopsticks and got some food in it before feeding Ayaka who ate it, "Arigato, Negi."

"You're very welcome Ayaka," he said before noticing a bit of food on the side of her lip, "Hold on let me get that." He plucked it off her face and ate it. This act caused Ayaka to blush and she thought.

'Oh what a glorious day to be here with Negi.' She thought in joy until everyone started hearing chopper sounds.

"Is that a chopper?" Makie asked as everyone looked up seeing a chopper above them and was slowly touching down.

"Ayaka couldn't you have left your chopper at home?" Asuna asked dryly.

"That's not mine Asuna," Ayaka answered until she looked at the crest on the side seeing it had the deisgn of a rose, "Wait a minute. I know that crest."

When the chopper touched down the door opened and out came two security guards. One secured the area while the second started rolling out a red carpet. Exiting the chopper was a young man about the girls ages dressed in a suit and red tie. He had short silver hair and would be described by what most teenage girls would call a bishounen. Following him was an adult man with neat black hair, wore spectacles, and was dressed as a butler.

They walked along the red carpet before approaching the class, "Um can we help you, sir?" Negi asked.

"Do forgive the intrusion my boy, but I'm looking for a Ayaka Yukihiro." The young man answered.

Ayaka got up looking surprised, "Raoul? Raoul Bara?"

"Ayaka? Is that really you?" the young man known as Raoul asked. He then looked filled with joy, "It is you!" he pulled her into an embrace, "Oh it's been so many years since we've last seen each other."

"I can tell." Ayaka agreed.

"Ayaka, who is this?" Konoka asked.

"You haven't told them about me?" Raoul asked.

"Sorry guess I never thought of it. Everyone I'd like you to meet Raoul Bara; earl of the noble house Bara." Ayaka introduced him to the girls.

"A pleasure to meet you ladies." He bowed his head in respect.

Some of the girls were blushing a bit from his good looks while Dustin scowled and whispered to Negi, "Women, they always go for the pretty boy types."

"Well it seems he goes for the pretty girl types." Negi replied noticing how Raoul was eyeballing Ayaka the same way Ayaka would eyeball him.

Soon a table was set up as Ayaka and Negi were having tea with Raoul as his butler poured it into their cups. Dustin meanwhile was watching from the side, "You know Dustin you were offered to join them." Mana reminded him.

"No way. Not this time. Not after what happened to me in New York." He replied recalling when he was turned into a dog the girl Clara made him have a tea party with her and stupidly poured tea on him and blamed him for getting the dress he was forced to wear by her dirty leading up to getting spanked for something that wasn't his fault.

"Will you need therapy for that too?" Mana asked.

"No." he admitted.

"There you go my lord." The butler said as he finished pouring tea for his lord.

"Thank you Claude, that will be all." He dismissed his butler.

"So you two know each other?" Negi asked Ayaka.

"Our families would have various business meetings." Ayaka explained.

"Since we were so young they would bring us with them where we'd play," Raoul continued, "She was my first real friend."

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to keep in touch more." Ayaka appologized.

"No trouble at all, after all when you're a student here and I'm now leading my parents company since their accident we tend to have full lives. So you're the iincho of your class are you?" he took a sip of his tea.

"Yes, it's a busy job but I'm more than capable of handling it." She admitted.

"Clearly. Even back then you could always handle things. The years have been extra kind to you Ayaka. You've really grown from that cute little girl to a gorgeous young lady." He winked at her.

Ayaka blushed a bit but held it together, "Well arigato Raoul, but I must ask was there a reason you showed up all of a sudden? I mean this can't just be coincidence."

"And you're right. It isn't," he answered, "For I Raoul Bara have come to Japan to make you Ayaka Yukihiro, my wife!" he declared making half the class spit up their drinks or choke on their food.

"Could you repeat that?" Ayaka asked looking shocked beyond belief.

Raoul took her hand, "Ayaka for years ever since we first met I've always felt a connection between us. Like we were meant to be. After so many years of not being able to see you I wondered why my heart ached more than I thought for you. And I realized it. I was in love with you. Think about it Ayaka, both our families Yukihiro and Bara united. Together with both our power and authority we can do extraordinary things. Like make the world and the economy a better place. Be my wife and we'll have it all."

The girls were surprised at his advances while Dustin and Negi looked disturbed. Ayaka however was feeling a sense of complete obsession coming from Raoul, 'Why do I feel like I'm looking in a mirror?' she thought to herself before replying, "Raoul, I appreciate the advances and offer, but I'm afraid I have to decline."

"What?" Raoul asked in shock, "Oh don't tell me you're already seeing someone?"

"Well in a sense, yes." She admitted while motioning to Negi who waved.

"What with your own sensei? And a child none the less? It's unheard of!"

"He may be my sensei, but he's a boy first. Plus he's pure, innocent, generous, and kind."

"I'm all that too, except I'm older," Raoul tried to get her to see reason, "Please Ayaka, I've never loved anyone as much as I've loved you, please say you'll reconsider."

"I'm sorry Raoul, but my education here at Mahora under Negi-sensei's teaching comes first." She made her final decision.

Raoul looked at her as if his heart was shattered into a thousand pieces. His hopeful expression shifted into a look of coldness and betrayal, "I see," he stood up out of his seat, "Sorry to have disturbed you all. Claude we're leaving." He said as he walked back for his chopper while his butler cleaned the table before accompanying his lord.

"Raoul." Ayaka pleaded not wanting him to leave on a sour note.

Raoul got into the chopper before looking back at the blonde iincho, "I would've thought all our years we spent together meant something to you, but I guess I was wrong." He held his tears in before closing the chopper door.

"Roul, I'm so sorry!" Ayaka called but he couldn't even hear over the sound of the chopper that took off, "Raoul." She said in worry.

Negi placed a hand on her shoulder, "Don't be ashamed, Ayaka. You did the right thing."

"But Raoul was my friend." She said.

"If he was your real friend he'd be more sensitive about your feelings and not act like a child over not getting what he wanted." Dustin replied.

"It may have been hard to do Ayaka, but if it wasn't what you wanted then you shouldn't force yourself to do something like that just to please him." Konoka added.

"What she said." Asuna agreed as the other girls giving her confirmation.

"Girls, you're right." Ayaka smiled.

Unknown to them they were being watched by a flower who looked as if it had an eye. From that eye watching them was Ragnarok, Pythor, Voltaire, Alistair, and Blood Thorn.

"This is absolutely perfect," Ragnarok smirked, "And well done planting your Venus spy traps on Mahora grounds Thorn."

"My pleasure master, now what shall we do?" Thorn asked.

"We should incorporate Raoul into joining our cause, after all the enemy of my enemy can be a friend." Ragnarok answered.

"Are you sure we can convince him, after all not many are willing to strike deals with dark warriors." Pythor said.

"You do not see it Pythor," their leader began, "Raoul appears to be the type driven by ambition and won't stop until he achieves it. He'd be desperate enough to accept anyone's help. Maybe even mine."

"Are you looking to find a replacement for Felix?" Voltaire asked questionably.

"Replacement? I think not Voltaire. I'm merely upping our forces."

"And you really think he qualifies?" Alistair asked while crossing his arms.

"Only one way to find out Alistair." Ragnarok smirked.

Later that day as the sun was already going down Negi and Ayaka were walking back to the dorms, "I'm so glad you decided to invite me over to your dorm room Negi."

"Well Kaede went to train in the mountains for her ninja training, but I decided to sit this one out so I could be with you. After all you had a long day."

"I know, and I appreciated you sticking by me." Ayaka said holding Negi close to her.

"You're my friend Ayaka, and I care about you like I do all my other partners and my students." Negi smiled while looking up at her.

Ayaka blushed at Negi's smiled. She then scooped the boy up into her arms as they stopped before the dorm room, "Let's have a pleasant sleep." Ayaka said pecking Negi gently on the lips before entering the room.

Meanwhile far from Mahora inside a mansion in the forest was the manor of Raoul Bara. Inside the manor he sat by himself at his dinner table with his dinner before him. He sat in a brooding manner as Claude and the maids were concerned, "My lord you must eat something, this isn't healthy for you." Claude pleaded.

"I'm not hungry." He answered.

"Now sir you may think that, but I can tell you…" Claude reached to comfort him but Raoul on reflex threw his arm to swat it away.

"I SAID I'M NO HUNGRY!" he shouted as he ended up swatting his dinner off the table and onto the floor surprising Claude and the maids.

"My lord." Claude gasped.

Raoul stood up with his head down, "I'll be in my room. Don't disturb me." He walked off.

"Oh dear." One of the maids gasped.

Raoul entered his room and threw his jacket onto the coat rack. He stood before his bed and dropped on it, "I don't believe this. After everything we've been through, she just tosses me aside for a child? It's not fair!" he pounded his bed.

"Maybe, but life isn't always fair." A voice said.

Hearing the voice Raoul shot up and looked seeing Ragnarok wearing his cloak and mask leaning against the wall, "Who're you? And how'd you get in here?"

"I have my own special doors," Ragnarok said while motioning to the shadow against the wall he was leaning on, "As for who I am. Call me the Shadow Master."

"Shadow Master? What do you want?" Raoul asked as he stood up.

"I come bearing a proposition for you, Raoul."

"A proposition?"

"Yes. I know what you desire and I can help you acquire it."

"How could you possibly know what I want?"

"Ayaka Yukihiro? Daughter of the Yukihiro family?" Ragnarok tempted him.

"How do you?"

"I have my sources," he answered, "I can make it so you and her become husband and wife."

"How?"

"With a very special power I can bestow upon you."

"Power?"

"Yes. A power so great you could have it all."

"I see. Ok I'm listening."

"Good. Here are my terms. I will bestow upon you the power you need to make Ayaka your wife, and in return I want you to eliminate two thorns in my side."

"Thorns?" Raoul asked.

"Yes, two boys who go by the name of Dustin Bowers and Negi Springfield."

Upon hearing the last name caught Raoul's attention, "Negi Springfield? He's a problem for you too?"

"Oh yes, in more ways then one. But with you working for me you will have Ayaka at your side and Negi off your back. How about it?"

"It all seems too good to be true. What's the catch?"

"Well the price of this power requires one to relinquish themselves to their darkest nature. You may end up not being able to go back to being the Raoul you once were should you accept this power."

Raoul looked at Ragnarok and then at a picture on his mantle of him and Ayaka as children, "Well I…"

"Come on Raoul, don't you love Ayaka?"

"More than anything."

"Then do it. Accept my power and become a warrior of darkness." He extended his hand out.

Raoul looked down at Ragnarok's hand and at the picture repeatively, "I-I don't know if this truly is the right thing for me, but if you'll help me make Ayaka Yukihiro my wife. I'll do anything you want!" he clapsed his hand with Ragnarok accepting the agreement.

"Then become darkness itself!" Ragnarok ordered as darkness was being transferred from himself all the way into Raoul who wasn't losing his grip on Ragnarok's hand.

Raoul started screaming in pain as he felt the darkness merge within his body. He started undergoing a transformation with his body turning dark blue and bursting out of his shoulders were two big rose thorns, his hair went from silver to crimson red like a roses petal, even his eyes started turning red. He wripped his sleeves off revealing thorned vines coiling around his arms.

Ragnarok smirked as the metamorphosis was complete, "Perfect. You're all prepared. Now rest up for tomorrow you will fight. And when you do show no mercy to your enemies."

"Yes master." He answered.

"Until then." Ragnarok teleported out.

"My lord!" Claude's voice came from outside the room, "Are you alright in there?"

Raoul hearing his butler spoke, "I'm fine Claude. No problem at all." He smirked sinisterly.

When morning came at Mahora Negi and Dustin were walking around campus with Ayaka, Rin, and Chizuru, "What a glorious morning." Negi said.

"Glorious indeed, Negi." Ayaka agreed.

"Yeah, all swell can we get something to eat I'm famished." Chamo said.

"Took the words right out of my mouth, Chamo." Dustin agreed while Chizuru giggled.

"I could go for a bite myself, why don't we head into town?" Rin offered.

"Good idea, Rin." Negi agreed as they continued on until Dustin stopped.

"Dustin-kun, are you alright?" Chizuru asked.

"Do you guys feel that… below us?" he asked.

The four were confused but concentrated and started feeling the ground shake, "What is that?" Ayaka asked until suddenly mutated vines started popping out of the ground.

"Whoa!" Rin gasped.

"What are they?" Negi gasped.

"Obviously not Satomi and Chao experimenting with radioactive fertilizer." Ayaka said.

"Attack!" Dustin called as the group started attacking the vines that tries grabbing them.

When one was about to go for Rin Toothless flew down and blasted it, "Thanks Toothless." She said.

"Toothless, go find Kaede!" Negi ordered.

"You got it!" Toothless flew off.

Dustin clicked his communicator watch, "Zyphon round up the girls and down to my coordinates!"

"Dustin look out!" Chizuru called as some vines were about to ensnare him until Chizuru launched a shotgun attack disintegrating them.

"Thanks Chizuru."

"Where are these things coming from?" Ayaka asked as she dodged the vines attacking her.

"From me." A voice answered.

"That voice…" Ayaka gasped as she looked by a tree seeing someone hiding behind it, "Raoul, is that you?"

Stepping out from behind the tree was Raoul whose new appearance shocked everyone, "Correction, a new and improved Raoul."

"Why does he look like that?" Chizuru asked.

"He's turned into a dark warrior, but how?" Dustin asked.

"I've made a partnership with someone who wants you and Negi out of the picture." Raoul answered.

"Shadow Master." Dustin frowned.

"Yes, and in return he offered me this power so that I can make Ayaka my bride."

"As if." Ayaka dejected him.

"Raoul, you made a contract with the devil when you accepted the Shadow Master's power." Dustin warned him.

"You've become corrupted." Negi added.

"I don't care what happens to me as long as Ayaka's mine." He answered.

"Then I guess we have no choice but to fight you." Rin said calling forth her staff.

"I'm not your only worries." He said as he conjured more of his vines from under the ground.

"We need an exterminator, seriously." Dustin said.

"One exterminator coming up!" Yuna called as she flew in firing a spirit gun at one of the vines followed by all of Negi's and Dustin's partners, Toothless, and Zyphon.

"We came as soon as we could." Kaede said landing near Negi.

"What're we up against?" Ku asked.

"Him." Negi motioned ahead to Raoul.

"Raoul Bara?" they asked.

"Yes, it's me. Only bigger and badder than ever!" he declared as he held out his hands and leafs from the trees were pulled down and were before him hovering in mid air.

"You're going to attack us with leaves?" Makie asked.

"Sounds weak." Kasuga said.

"You two probably shouldn't have said that." Akira warned them.

Raoul sent the leaves forward and some of them ended up putting scratches in Zyphon's armor, "Oh dear."

"Everyone avoid those leaves and the vines!" Dustin called as the group did so.

"I've got more help where they came from!" Raoul called as he summoned an army of shadow soldiers.

"You two ready for them?" Mana looked at Akira, Cocone, and Ako.

"Hai." They replied.

"Then let's go!" Dustin called as they went into battle against Raoul, the vines, and the shadow soldiers.

They each fought like they usually did, except this time Cocone was fighting with spirit energy. Akira conjured water from the moisture in the air and launched them like projectiles at the shadow soldiers. Ako then summoned up a giant syringe and aimed it at the soldiers.

"Time for your shots!" she started jumping at the shadow soldiers sticking it in them through their behinds and injected them with something. When she pulled the syringe out the soldiers started getting delirious.

"Good work girls!" Negi called until he saw the vines were getting bigger and started grabbing the girls one after another.

"Setsuna!" Konoka called as she was grabbed.

"Ojousama!" Setsuna called as she sliced through some vines but was eventually ensnared.

"They're squeezing the life out of us!" Kakizaki cried.

"I'm just glad these vines don't have dirty thoughts." Madoka said.

"Toothless!" Rin called as her dragon was flying around shooting lightning at the vines that kept coming at him but was eventually ensnared with his mouth clamped shut.

Raoul looked seeing his obstacles were negated and turned to Negi, "And now Negi Springfield. It's time for you to go!" he launched a dark thorn form his palm right for Negi.

"Negi, move out of the way!" Kaede called.

Ayaka seeing this was all happening partially because of her, and wasn't about to let her professor get hurt. Using all her strength she ripped the vines off her and jumped over, "Negi!" she shoved him aside as the thorn stabbed her through the stomach making her eyes widened.

Negi was shocked along with the other girls, "AYAKA!" Negi cried as the iincho fell to the ground.

Raoul scowled before rushing over and looked at her, "Hmm, didn't go as deep. So she can still be saved. Sorry everyone, but she'll be coming with me." He sunk into a shadow on the ground and the vines vanished releasing them.

"Negi!" the girls cried as they ran over to him.

"Are you ok?" Dustin asked.

"Ayaka, she saved me," Negi cried with tears pouring down his face, "And I couldn't save her!" he pounded the ground.

"Negi." Rin gasped.

Negi cried until Kaede hugged him, "It's not over yet Negi."

"Kaede's right, we'll get her back." Setsuna agreed.

"Somehow, someway we will." Dustin added.

Negi looked at his friends seeing they all looked determined to get their classmate and friend back. He put on a serious look, "Yes. We'll get Ayaka back no matter what it takes." Dustin smirked knowing he wasn't giving up.

Meanwhile at the Bara manor Ayaka was tied to a chair in vines with her stomach wrapped in bandages. She slowly woke up and realized her situation, "Hey what's going on?"

"Sorry about that," Raoul appeared, "But we really needed to tend to your wound. You're lucky it didn't impale too much otherwise you'd be dead."

"Raoul, I demand you release me at once!" Ayaka ordered.

"I don't take orders from you. Now then I will say it once again become my bride Ayaka."

"My answer to you is still… No!"

Raoul sighed, "I didn't want to have to do this, but you force me to take desperate measures." He said as a giant flower emerged from the floor besides him and opened up. He took a handful of dust from the petal into his palm holding it out.

"What's that?" Ayaka asked in worry.

"The key to your cooperation," He blew it into Ayaka's face making her recoil. Suddenly the dust got into her eyes and nose. She started looking dizzy and her eyes glazed as if she was in a trance, "Now then will you become my bride Ayaka?"

"Yes, Raoul. I will become your bride." She said like a zombie.

"Excellent." Raoul snickered.

(And that's the chapter. Ragnarok has taken advantage of someone's feelings and has captured Ayaka. Will Negi and his friends rescue her in time or will be too late to stop the wedding? Find out next time. Also remember Ako's artifact can be helpful to her allies with energy booster, and poison if stuck into her enemies. And Akira's pactio in the manga allowed her to use puddles of water and such as portals to other bodies of water within range, but I also made it so she could manipulate water like in the first anime. See you all around.)