(Hi guys good to see you again. This chapter brings me into the next part of my fic where things get even more hectic, and this time the boys will be having help.)
Somewhere in a citadel, Negi and Dustin were sparing against the trio of Evangeline, Chachamaru, and Chachazero. The two were fighting to their fullest pulling out whatever stops they could with magic and spirit energy but in no time the trio pinned both boys to the ground with Evangeline pressing her bare foot on Negi's right cheek.
"What twenty seconds, is that all? It may be three to two but at least make it worth it by lasting a minute against me," Eva lectured them in disappointment, "At this rate neither of you stand a chance against Alistair or any of the other dark warriors."
"Harsh, Evangeline." Dustin groaned.
"Master…" Negi began only to get an upward kick sending him flying into the air.
Evangeline flew up to Negi, grabbing him by one arm and socking him in the chest, "And if you boya are hoping for pity… THINK AGAIN!" she launched lightning magic at him before uttering an incantation, "Come forth, O lightning form the void, and cut down mine enemies. AXE OF LIGHTNING!" she used the lightning attack on Negi who used a magic aura shield to protect himself but Eva's attack burst through it leaving Negi on the ground twitching. Off to the side was Chamo, Domino, and Zyphon watching like an audience.
"That had to hurt." Domino said.
"Yeah." Chamo cringed at how his pal took the hit.
"Oh poor masters Dustin and Negi." Zyphon sighed.
Negi looked up seeing Eva approach, "Master, what was that?"
"That? That was a highly efficient, lightning-class spell of the ancients. It was also a favorite combo of the Thousand Master." She smirked.
"Father?" Negi asked in curiosity.
"It wouldn't hurt for you to remember it. The way you are now you can definitely use it." She smiled.
"You mean it?" Negi asked hopefully while Eva only smirked.
She then turned to Dustin, "And you Bowers, the Spirit Force is a powerful attack but can be fatal if used carelessly."
"I figured that much." Dustin said as Chachamaru helped him up.
"Not only does using it drain a spirit warrior dry if their power level isn't incredibly high or strong enough, but for warriors starting out it can only be called upon under extreme stress as you've shown when fighting Alistair and Felix. Learn to focus it and you will be able to call upon it at will." The vampire explained.
"And that's what all this extra training is for." Dustin groaned.
"Yes. Once you boys have recovered we'll start in on some pyhsical combat for another two hours or so." Eva instructed.
"Yes master." Negi panted.
"What?" Domino squawked.
"Again? She's already had them going at four hours now!" Chamo called, "I tell ya Domino the time they spend all this training keeps getting longer by the day. I mean its been tough on them before but this is beyond brutal."
Domino looked around the citadel, "And this resort of hers is a fine piece of work. Makes training all the more easier."
Suddenly Eva gasped and fell into Chachamaru holding onto her head feeling dizzy, "Mistress." Chachamaru gasped.
Eva panted, "Guess you wore me out a little boya. I think it's time I collected from you another installment on your tuition.
"What?!" Negi gasped, "But after yesterday I thought that you'd…" Negi began until he was cut off as Evangeline lowered heself down until she was on top of him and cupped his face with her hands bringing him close to her own face while giggling.
"I haven't even begun to collect what you ow me," She blushed with a smirk making Negi blush up a storm at how close she was to his face. Before she did anything she turned back to the spirit warrior, "And as for you Bowers. I'm expecting an installment of your own tuition as well."
Dustin sighed, "Yes, master."
Eva smirked and turned back to Negi still cupping his face, "Now where were we? Ah yes." She moved into his face.
Some time later that night at the dorm rooms Negi had returned to Kaede's room with Chamo looking completely exhausted, "Evening Kaede."
"Evening, Negi," She said before noticing his condition, "Negi, are you ok?"
"Yes, just tired from that extra training." Negi panted.
Kaede sighed, "Negi I know you and Dustin requested extra longer training from Evangeline, but this is getting rediculous. You've been coming home these past few nights more worn out than before."
"Hey when you got Eva for a master, she's brutal with a capital 'B'." Chamo reminded her.
"I'm going to clock out now, got a lot of plans for tomorrow's class." Negi said as he plopped onto the bed.
Kaede smiled and shook her head knowing how stubborn he can be and put the young professor to bed, "Goodnight, Negi."
"Thanks, Kaede." Negi eventually fell asleep.
In Mana and Zazie's room, Dustin stumbled in, "I'm back."
The girls looked seeing Dustin who looked just as worn out as Negi, and he was even wearing his sunglasses crooked, "Dustin, once again you come home looking like a mess." Mana sighed.
"This extra training is killing you." Zazie added.
"It's worth it, because I'm getting stronger than ever." Dustin said as he clutched the wall trying to hang on until Zyphon helped him up.
"Don't worry girls, I'll take care of him." Zyphon assured the girls as he helped put Dustin to bed as Mana watched knowing there was something he wasn't telling them.
Meanwhile in Ragnarok's lair, the Shadow Master had been reviewing his past attacks on the boys, "Negi and Dustin are getting too problematic. I need to do away with them fast, but how?"
Suddenly Diabound appeared wearing latex arms and legs to cover his robotic joints, "Planning are we?"
"Diabound, do not pop in on me like that!" Ragnarok ordered.
"My appologies, but I am correct aren't I?" the dark mage teased.
"I'm debating on what to do about Negi and Dustin this time. After Voltaire's loss I need stronger help," he started thinking until he froze, "Wait! I know what to do."
"I'm all ears."
"I think it's time I brought out an old acquaintance of mine. One Negi will know very well." Ragnarok smirked.
"And just where is this old friend?" the mage asked curiously.
"In Kyoto."
"Kyoto?"
"Yes, he's currently held up in the prison under the care of the Konoe family."
"Then I'll go just there." Diabound said.
"Hold on, getting there is one thing, but getting inside is another. So I'm sending you help. Pythor get in here!" he called.
Pythor slinked into the room, "You called oh wicked one?"
"I'm sending you and Diabound to Kyoto for a special mission."
"Kyoto? What're we going to find there that's of any worth?" the serpentine questioned Ragnarok.
"Someone whose been bottled up for so many years." Ragnarok smirked giving Pythor the hint who smirked back.
Sometime later that night, Dean Konoe was in his office before receiving a phone call. He answered his cell, "Hello? Oh Eishun, what a surprise. Hmm? What escaped?"
The very next morning in class, Negi and Dustin were giving the girls their lesson while still looking drowsy from last nights training. As they gave their lesson the girls took note of their fatigue.
"What's wrong with Negi-kun and Dustin-kun?" Kakizaki whispered to Fuka and Makie.
"They look so tired." Sakurako noted.
"Maybe summer fever's come early for them." Makie guessed.
When the bell run Negi spoke, "That's all for today class."
"See you tomorrow." Dustin finished as the boys stumbled out of class while Zyphon, and their familiars follow them out the door.
"Are they ok?" Natsumi asked.
As the two walked down the hall way, Mana and Kaede peeked around the corner watching them, "There's no way they can be that exhausted after only two to three hours." Kaede noted.
"We should find out what's going on." Mana said until they suddenly realized the rest of Negi's and Dustin's partners were already behind them, even Cocone and Yue.
"Training with Evangeline are they?" Kazumi asked.
"They're even tired when they train with us in the morning too." Ku added on behalf of herself and Chao.
"Look there they are running into Eva and Chachamaru." Sayo spotted.
Kazumi grinned, "Training two to three hous and both of them coming back so worn out. You don't think they're doing 'that' do you?"
"Doing what?" Rin asked having a bad feeling about that.
"Oh you know 'behind-closed-doors' stuff. Getting their groove on. That kind of stuff." Kazumi grinned while Makie, Akira, Fuka, Fumika, and Ako trembled at that possibility while Sakurako burst out.
"Them doing wild and forbidden love?!"
Ayaka blushed while hiding a nosebleed, "There's no way, Eva-san wouldn't do a thing like that."
"I agree, besides she doesn't see Dustin-kun in that kind of way." Kasuga added while Cocone remained stoic.
"She better not!" Yuna called.
"Rin, don't you know what they do when they stay behind after group practice?" Akira asked.
"No I immediately take off for flight practice with Toothless." She answered as the Mini-dragon popped out of her pocket waiting for the pill affect to wear off.
"We better go check this out." Setsuna said as the whole group followed until Makie noticed Yue.
"And why're you following us Yue?"
"Yeah you don't have a partnership with Negi or Dustin." Fuka added.
"I don't, but I'm still interested in seeing what this is all about." The girl answered.
So they followed their profs and Eva out of the school making sure to keep a good far distance from them so Dustin or Zyphon couldn't pick up any of their spirit energy signals. As they continued they started feeling drops of water.
"Uh-oh, looks like a wash out." Kasuga said.
"Umbrellas!" Konoka called as they opened up their umbrellas having been aware it was supposed to rain that afternoon.
They continued following their senseis and Eva all the way to the cottage where they watched the group enter, "There they go. They're training inside due to the rain." Ku noted.
"How's that possible it's too small for them to train inside." Rin noted as Toothless landed on the ground turning back to regular size.
"I still stand by my theory that they're…" Kazmi grinned only for Madoka to call.
"Kazumi enough of that!"
"Come on!" Ayaka ordered as they rushed to the cottage and peeked in seeing no one in the house.
"No one's home." Fumika gasped.
"Sayo." Kazumi turned to the ghst who nodded and went inside unlocking it for the girls.
They entered the cottage looking all over seeing no sign of Negi, Dustin, Eva, or anybody.
"This is strange, we know they entered the house together." Kaede said.
"No one's in the toilet or bath either." Ku added.
"People don't just vanish into thin air." Sakurako said.
"Guys, down here!" Kasuga called as the girls saw the athlete and Cocone rush over.
"Find something?" Mana asked.
"Yeah down in the basement." Kasuga answered.
"Since when do log cabins have basements?" Kazumi asked as they followed the two girls down to the supposed basement.
"Look at that." Cocone motioned to something up ahead.
They looked seeing a pedestal and resting on top of it was a glass sphere that had a miniature citadel inside of it.
"What is that?" Sakurako asked.
"Some kind of ship in a bottle type of model?" Fuka asked.
"Can't be it's too detailed." Chao said.
"Maybe it's a hologram." Kakizaki guessed.
"Cocone and I swore we saw Negi-kun and Dustin-kun fighting inside it." Kasuga said as the little girl nodded.
"What? Them inside of that?" Yue asked looked at it again.
"How is that possi…" Yuna was cut off as they got too close and were suddenly engulfed in a bright light and were no longer surrounding the glass sphere.
Suddenly the group found themselves on ground again, "What happened?" Ako asked.
"That felt weird." Makie said.
"Um guys, look at where we are." Yue said.
They looked and suddenly realized they were standing on top of the tower of the citadel located inside the glass sphere.
"Where the hell are we?!" Makie, Ako, and the cheerleaders cried.
"This looks like the tower model inside the sphere we were looking at." Yue noted.
"Did we shrink?" Sayo asked in worry.
"It's logial." Chao confirmed.
"Maybe Negi-kun, Dustin-kun, and Eva-chan are here." Yuna believed.
"And if I'm not mistaken they must be over there." Kaede motioned to the center platform across a no railing bridge.
"Let's go." Ku said until Makie spoke.
"What you mean cross that bridge at this high up?"
Fumika looked down off the platform, "And that looks like a very long drop.
"Let's just move across it nice and easy, and don't look down." Mana warned them as they nodded and did just that crossing the bridge, or in Sayo's case fly over it.
When they made it across they started looking around, "Wow there's so much training space." Ku marveled.
"Now this is right for training." Chao added.
"They could be anywhere around here." Ayaka said.
"Rin Eva didn't tell you anything about this place?" Konoka asked.
"Nothing." Rin admitted.
Chizuru was walking by some stairs until she stopped and listened closely, "Girls, I think I hear something going on down below."
They rushed over and heard som faint speaking before going down some stairs, "It's gotta be them." Setsuna said as they got closer and could finally make out who was speaking.
"Yes boya, give me some more." Eva's voice was heard in a purring fashion.
"But I'm so tired." Negi's voice said with a whine.
"You'll bounce back because you're young! Take a break, and we'll start again!" Eva ordered.
"No! Please!"
"Hurry and whip it out!"
"Evangeline, no we musn't!"
"Call me master boya," she laughed through moans, "And you Bowers a little firmer if you will."
"Ok." Dustin sighed.
"Oooh that's it."
As the girls listened they started getting weirded out by the tones in their voices while Kazumi grinned, "I knew it, they have to be doing it."
Ayaka screamed before bursting into the room the voices were coming from, "Eva-san, what do you think you're doing to Negi-sensei and Dustin-sensei?!"
Suddenly the class rep fell to the floor when she saw Negi was sitting on the bed groaning while Eva was nibbling his left arm while she was getting a shoulder massage by Dustin who looked disturbed at what he was doing. As they did this Zyphon, Chachamaru, and the familiars were watching from behind them.
"Evangeline, you're taking too much again!" Negi moaned as Zyphon spoke.
"Um, I believe we've got company."
Eva and the boys looked up seeing Ayaka and the others who looked disturbed at what was happening between the three, "What're you doing here?" Eva asked bluntly.
Ayaka shot up, "WHAT'RE WE? What're you doing with them!"
"Just collecting some tuition the boys owe me for training them. I get a little blood from Negi to recharge," she began before pulling Negi over and pecks him on the cheek turning his face red, "And he gets a kiss in return. And as for Dustin, he has to give me a shoulder massage after every practice. He's very good with his hands." She admitted.
"I've had practice when I've had to do this for Master Darius." Dustin said with a deep shudder.
"Kay, so where are we?" Kazumi asked.
"Yeah, what is this place Eva-chan?" Makie asked.
"This is a resort I made many years ago but haven't used it in awhile. To give the boys extra training I dug it out." The vampire explained.
"So this is where they come after our group training and in the morning before they join Ku and I?" Chao asked.
"Yes, but I should warn you all this place is designed to be used in one day increments. Don't be making any plans for the next twenty four hours." Eva explained.
"WHAT?!" the girls cried.
"We can't leave till tomorrow?!" Ku gasped.
"You picked a fine time to tell us!" Kazumi called.
"And we have classes tomorrow!" Akira called.
"QUIET ALL OF YOU!" Eva bellowed, "Let me explain it clearer. Time is different inside here. An entire day spent inside here is actually an hour outside. This way the boys get at least two to three extra days of training in the span of two to three hours."
"WHAT?!" the girls gasped as Konoka spoke.
"Negi-kun Dustin-kun, does this mean after you work all day as a teacher you work another whole day training here?"
Evan answered for the boys, "Well it wouldn't be much progress squeezing it between lessons now would it?"
"Why didn't you tell us you were training in an awesome place like this?" Makie asked.
"Yeah we could've gotten in more practice days ago if we trained here too." Ako added.
"Well you girls do have your own free time and we didn't want to take it away." Negi said.
"But you guys need free time as well, besides don't you think you're over doing it?" Kaede asked.
"Maybe but you say how these attacks have been going on, Felix, Raoul, Pythor, and Voltaire have proven to be some of our toughest opponents yet," Dustin explained, "And even Alistair's getting stronger. So we can't take any chances."
"Hey as long as we're here why don't we all get some training done?" Rin asked.
"Good idea, Rin." Kazumi smiled.
"Is it ok if we start training here Evangeline?" Ayaka asked.
"Well I suppose, but are you sure you want to? After all you'll end up aging faster because of it. Just like Takamichi."
"Takahata-sensei?" the girls asked.
"He's trained here too?" Konoka asked.
"Yes. Takamichi was actually younger than Nagi, Roswell, and all the members of their group back then. He spent a lot of time training here without even leaving after the last magical war back then. Because of that he ended up aging faster due to time passing by in here than outside."
"So then that means Takahata-sensei is younger than he appears?" Yue asked.
"Precisely." Eva answered.
"Well I guess all my senior citizen jokes to Asuna about him are all… Oh who cares Asuna's never going to know anyway." Ayaka crossed her arms.
"Well what're we waiting for? Let's get some training done!" Ku called and the girls cheered while Eva let her head drop.
Meanwhile outside the resort around Mahora's town, the rain kept pouring out but from one of the rain puddles looked like a pair of bulgy eyes who spoke to itself, "Negi Springfield. Dustin Bowers." Suddenly it sank back into the puddle.
Ragnarok was sitting in a lotus position in a room until a shadow soldier appeared at his side grabbing his attention, "Hm?" the shadow soldier whispered something into his ear making him look surprised, "What? What do you mean they haven't found them?"
"Exactly what I meant sir, there's no trace of the boys or their partners anywhere on campus." The minion explained.
"People don't just vanish into thin air, especially them. Tell them to keep looking or I'll bottle them back up!"
"Yes sir.' The soldier vanished leaving Ragnarok scowling.
"You can run boys, but you can't hide."
Back at the resort all the girls were honing in on their powers along with the boys, even Toothless and Zyphon were honing their own strengths. Off to the side Yue was using a practice wand given to her by Negi and started uttering an incantation.
"Practi Bigi-Naru Ardescat!" Yue cannounced while waving the practice wand and a small flame appeared at the tip.
The girls gasped as Negi spoke, "Well done Yue, I'm very impressed."
"Yeah, pretty well casted for a beginner Yuechi." Chamo added.
"How kind of you to say so." Yue replied.
"Yes for an amateur with a handicap," Eva cut in, "The air here's so rich in magic an amateur can probably get one to two spells right."
"Even so, it's a good try." Dustin replied.
Fuka and Fumika were concentrating on their own powers and Fuka suddenly found herself multiplying like Kaede was capable of, "Wow I did it!"
"Let me see if I can try it," Fumika said as she concentrated and summoned multiple versions of herself, "Alright!"
Dustin spoke, "Spirit energy clones, very impressive especially in conjuncture with your own ninja training."
"You two practice more and you'll catch up with the rest of us in no time." Kaede added as the twins saluted.
Soon Negi was practicing the lightning spell Evangeline used on him yesterday during their last training round, "Come forth, O lightning form the void, and cut down mine enemies. AXE OF LIGHTNING!" he announced as his attack hit an empty soda can he set up to be used as a target.
"Alright, Aniki!" Chamo cheered, "That's what's I'm talkin' about! And that takes two to three months to pull off!"
Negi chuckled sheepishly, "Nope. Still no good. The spell had no power, and the sagitta magica never even manifested. If I can't do it here where magic's easier, then what chance do I have?"
"Negi you're not giving yourself enough credit," Dustin said, "So what if the magic in the air in the resort makes it look like you're improving more. The fact is you are. If you weren't then there's no way you could've done what you just did."
"Dustin's right, Negi," Rin put in, "You are a strong mage, you just have to keep on believing you can do it. Without belief than you won't stand more of a chance against the Shadow master's forces."
Negi smiled seeing his two closest friends were right. Soon enough the girls were about to call it for the day inside the sphere as the sky was getting dark and the moon was coming up.
"Come on guys, Chachamaru says there're plenty of beds in the guest quarters of the resort." Kazumi said.
"Good, I'm exhausted." Makie stretched.
Akira looked up at the moon, "Wow it's hard to imagine that while it's nighttime here it's actually still daytime outside."
"Yeah." Ako agreed.
Kaede looked over seeing Negi was looking out from the tower up at the moon. Curious she and the rest of the group approached him, "Negi?"
"Oh yes?" Negi asked.
"We're all ready to hit the sack before we can get out of here, aren't you coming?" Ayaka asked.
"Actually girls I was wondering… would it be ok if I told you all a story?"
"Huh?" they asked.
"A story?" Yue asked.
"What kind Negi?" the twins asked.
"The tale behind why I try so hard to become a strong mage, all because of six years ago I met my father the Thousand Master."
"That story?" Kaede asked.
"Yes, I only gave you a small detail about how I met him last time, but this will be the uncut version the full story."
"Oh this I have to see." Evangeline said looking excited.
"How long will this take?" Kakizaki asked.
"Actually I have a better way of telling you the story."
"How do you plan to do that?" Sakurako asked.
"By showing you it through my memories." The boy answered.
"You can do that?" Ku asked.
"Of course. Conciousness synchronization magic is the best way to show past events through the eyes of the user."
"Chamo get to work," Negi ordered as Chamo started drawing up a giant pentagram on the floor big enough to hold the whole group, "Everyone in the circle and link hands, Kaede you get in the middle."
So everyone gathered in and started linking hands until ass the girls were linked up with Fuka and Fumika holding onto Kaede's shoulders. Negi who was kneeling on a step was able to be about Kaede's height as she kneeled before him on a lower step.
"Is this ok, Negi?" Kaede asked.
"Yes. It's easier so our eyes can meet," Negi explained and spoke to everyone, "Ok everyone I need you all to close your eyes and concentrate. Kaede when I start the chant our foreheads must touch so that you can see my memories, and as long as everyone's linked up together and you two holding onto Kaede everyone can see what I've seen."
"Ok boya, get to it." Eva ordered.
Negi started chanting as the group closed their eyes and concentrated, "Mater musarum, mnemosyne… Ad se nos alliciat!"
In a flash of light the girls opened their eyes and found themselves standing in a small village during winter, "Hey where are we?" Ako asked.
"You're all in a small village, deep in the mountains, where I used to live, six years ago…" Negi's voice was heard.
Suddenly the girls looked down and saw they were all buck naked, "Hey, why're we naked?" Yue cried and the other girls started feeling uncomfortable, especially Makie and Ako.
"Sorry but this is the way the spell works." Negi explained.
"Don't worry you're not actually naked, this is merely projections of ourselves." Dustin assured them.
"Thank kami this is only a memory otherwise we'd be freezing with this snow falling around us." Yuna said.
"Hey guys look over there!" Kazumi said as they looked ahead and spotted a five year old Negi talking to Nekane.
"Is that Negi-kun?" Makie asked.
"He's so kawaii!" Konoka cheered.
"How adorable." Ayaka blushed seeing her crush even younger.
"Shh, they're talking." Mana shushed them.
They listened in on the memory as little Negi spoke to Nekane, "Why can't I ever see father again, Nekane? Did he go far away?"
"That's right. To a very far away land. That's what 'died' means." Nekane explained.
"And if I'm in trouble he'll come in save me just like a superhero?"
"Not exactly…" Nekane tried to continue explaining until another voice spoke up.
"How dumb are you?!" they group looked and to their surprise saw an even younger Anya, "Once someone's dead that's it. Your dad's the Thousand Master and you don't even know that much?"
"Anya?" the girls asked.
"Yes, when she was younger as well." Negi replied.
"Even back then she always did have a smart mouth." Dustin added.
Little Negi frowned at little Anya, "That's not true! He will come and save me!"
"You're so dumb Negi, you don't even know what 'dead' means!" Anya argued while Nekane chuckled to herself.
"Seeing two children bicker pointlessly is quite adorable to watch." Chizuru giggled.
"Hey over there! You hurtin' on my pal again, Anya?" another voice asked as they looked seeing a six year old Dustin and his father Roswell.
"Dustin!" Negi cheered as the young spirit warrior rushed over as the boys did their handshake.
"Hello Negi, Nekane, Anya." Ross greeted them.
"Mr. Bowers, it's so good to see you and Dustin." Nekane smiled.
"That's really you Dustin?" Setsuna asked.
"Yup, that's me at age six."
"Dustin-kun, you're so adorable!" Sakurako squealed as she flew over attempting to hug the even littler version of him only to pass right through.
"Sakurako, this is a flashback you know?" Madoka reminded her as the redhead felt sheepish.
"Oh right."
"Dustin and his father would visit us time to time," Negi explained, "We were the best of friends, almost like brothers."
"Here Negi, you can have this," Anya gave Negi a practice wand, "Your starting your magic studies next year aren't you? It wouldn't hurt to get a head start."
"Anya." Little Negi gasped.
Anya spoke, "If you ever hope to be as good as your father you'd better start now."
Little Negi nodded as the scene shifted to a bar where Nekane, Ross, and the boys were having a drink. Of course Negi and Dustin being under age were drinking milk. As they enjoyed myself an old man started speaking, "Nagi? I tell ya he was nothing but trouble that boy. If it weren't for him this whole village wouldn't been quiet."
"Stan it's not nice to verbally bash someone while having a drink." Ross chuckled at the old man.
"That's just Stan for you Mr. Bowers." Nekane answered.
"So father was bad?" Negi asked the old man.
"He was the worst I tell ya!" Stan continued, "I don't know how many times I had to clean up after his messes. And finally when he passed he did us all a favor!" he was unaware of Negi's eyes getting teary.
"Stan!" Ross said and turned to Negi, "Don't listen to him Negi, your father was a fine man. I knew him better than most people."
But Negi didn't say anything he just bolted out of the bar, "Negi!" Nekane called.
"Don't worry Nekane, I'll go get him." Dustin said running after him.
Ayaka scowled at the old man, "Well that's just plain rude. Verbally bashing a man in front of his own child?"
"Don't worry about it Ayaka, Stan always did spit random stuff about me father but he never meant anything harsh."
"But in a sense the old man was right about him." Eva agreed making half of Negi's partners scowl at her.
They watched as the memory shifted to Negi and Anya seeing Nekane off, "I'll see you in a month then." Little Negi said.
"You take care now, Negi."
"I will."
"Now where's Nekane going?" Kasuga asked.
"She studied in Wales and I'd only see her during vacationing or break."
The memory once again shifted to Negi practicing beginners magic in his uncles guest house, "This is where he was practically raised?" Zazie looked around.
"With the way things were he may have well been just living alone." Kaede said.
They then saw Negi drawing something on a piece of paper with crayong while singing, "And there! When you need him the most! He appears just in the nick of time!"
They looked seeing he was drawing a picture of what his father was like, and being a child he didn't exactly have artistic talent, "This is just too sweet." Ayaka smiled.
"He really idolized his father." Rin nodded.
They continued watching as Negi was practicing his magic before a bull dog that was tied up. His magic ended up breaking the dogs leash and it chased the boy around much to the amusement of Evangeline and Dustin. Soon Negi was lying against a tree and spoke to himself.
"I guess the trouble I'm in isn't enough," he then spotted the lake, "I know…"
The girls looked shock, "Negi you didn't…" Akira began until they heard splashing.
"He did." Dustin nodded.
Soon enough they were at the cabin as Nekane rushed in with worry, "Is it true? Negi almost drowned?!"
"He's fine Nekane, although his fever is 104." The doctor answered.
"What'd I tell ya? Like father like son," Stan began, "If he were anyone else, he'd be dead."
"Jumping from trees, teasing dogs… where does it end?" Nekane asked.
"It just goes to show he's a normal healthy boy." The doctor explained.
"Jumping into a lake like that? Negi-kun what were you thinking?" Konoka called.
'I was a child Konoka.'
"And it's normal kind of behavior of getting into trouble," Dustin added, "Why one time at Harvard I jumped off the roof of a fraternity house attempting to recreate a Mary Poppins scene. I even had my own umbrella."
"Why would you do that?" Cocone asked as the girls stared at him.
"For a laugh, the fraternity guys found it funny and they praised me for attempting such a stunt." Dustin chuckled.
"You didn't use your spirit energy to save yourself did to?" Chao asked.
"Partially otherwise I would've had a broken leg," Dustin admitted, "But no one knew."
They watched as Nekane spoke with Negi, "Negi, why would you do such a thing?"
"Because I thought that if I was in enough danger father would come and save me." He explained.
Nekane looked only more shocked as to his motivation and embraced the boy while crying, "Negi, please don't ever do that again.
The girls were surprised seeing Nekane so sad compared to the bright smile they've always seen on her face as little Negi spoke, "I promise, sister. Please don't cry."
As time passed they saw Nekane returning home from her studies. The girl looked into the distance and gasped, "Oh my, what is that?" she looked in the distance of the sky seeing a flock of something flying right for the village.
"What's that?" Yuna asked.
"It can't be." Setsuna gasped until the memory shifted to little Negi who was busy fishing.
The little boy got up looking overjoyed, "Nekane comes home today! I better hurry and get back!" he grabbed his practice wand and started running back for the village. "Nekane!" he called but suddenly stopped in place as he saw the village going up in flames.
"What's going on?" Makie asked in worry.
"Something bad's happening to this village." Mana said.
"Yes, this was the day that changed my life forever." Negi explained as they watched little Negi run into the village.
The little kid ran and to his horror saw several of the mages had been turned to stone, "Uncle?" he asked himself seeing one of the statues was his uncle. The girls and Dustin watched as little Negi's eyes started swelling up with tears, "This is all my… If I hadn't kept trying to be in danger I thought father would come. This is all my fault! I made this happen!" he cried.
"Negi!" the girls cried seeing the little tyke blame himself.
They were cut short as they saw an armada of demons appear just like the ones in Kyoto, "Demons." Mana squinted her eyes.
"There are so many of them." Ako gasped.
"And Negi-kun's in the line of fire!" Kakizaki cried.
A large demon came forward baring its giant fist back as Ayaka cried, "Negi get out of the way!" but being a flashback Negi could not hear her for he was too caught up in his own grief.
As the demon's fist was swung forward little Negi kept crying, "Father. Father! FATHER!" he screamed.
And suddenly the demons fist was caught by a man wearing a cloak and weilding Negi's staff. The girls gasped as little Negi stood in shock.
"No way is that?" Kaede gasped.
"It can't be." Chizuru gasped.
"It is," Evangeline gasped finally seeing it with her own eyes, "Nagi."
The demon was at a stand off with the interceptor of his attack as Nagi uttered an incantation before calling out, "Lightning Axe!" he used the same lightning spell Eva used and Negi began learning.
Everyone watched in shock as Nagi continued attacking the armada of demons as if they were play things, "This is amazing." Ku gasped.
Nagi unleashed a blast of lightning magic destroying just about every demon in plain sight. The group and little Negi then saw Nagi holding a single demon up by its throat. The demon chuckled and spoke.
"Ah you so are him…The degree of your power. Tough to tell which of us is the monster huh?"
In respond to the demon Nagi broke its neck, "Ouch." Fuka and Fumika clutched their throats.
Little Negi wrapped up in fright of what suddenly happened started running away, "Negi!" Kaede called.
"What's he doing running away, there could still be demons lurking around!" Yuna called.
They floated after little Negi until the boy stopped in his tracks seeing one demon was still alive and opened its mouth about to blast Negi. Little Negi braced himself only to feel nothing hit him. They looked and saw Stan and Nekane shielded Negi from the attack. The attack that hit them was actually petrification magic that started turning them to stone from down below. Nekane's legs who had been turned to stone ended up breaking off when she tried to walk and fell down passing out.
"Nekane!" Little Negi cried.
The demon and something coming up from a puddle of water tried to attack Negi only for Stan to throw a magic vial at them and uttered an incantation that absorbed the two attackers sealing them inside.
"Are you alright, Negi?" Stan asked with a cough.
"Stan!" Negi cried as he saw Stan's body was turning into stone due to the magic.
"Whoever's responsible for this attack couldn't be any ordinary magic user." The old man explained.
"Stan!" Negi cried.
"Sorry Negi it's too late for me, take Nekane and run. If I can't protect you then he'll never forgive me. Find someone to heal Nekane or she'll be gone too. Leave me and…" but Stan had already turned to stone just like all the others.
"Stan!" Negi cried and ran to Nekane, "Sister! Sister wake up!" he cried until Nagi reappeared and used his magic to teleport them safely from the village as they watched it burn in the distance.
"Forgive me. I've come too late." Nagi said in guilt.
Negi rose to his feet holding out his practice wand looking determined to prtoect Nekane even from whoever he was. When Nagi looked at the boy he looked shocked, "You. You're Negi aren't you?" Negi said nothing but stand his ground as the man approached, "I see, so you'd protect your sister."
Negi shut his eyes tight prepared for something bad to happen but suddenly felt the man ruffle the boys hair, "You're so big my son."
Negi's eyes opened as he looked up at his father who had his face shrouded in his hood. He saw his father hold out his staff, "This is for you. Take it and may your magic grow strong like yourself with the years to come."
"Father?" Negi asked as he held the big staff.
"A little heavy for you huh? Don't worry you'll grow into it," Nagi said as he looked at Nekane, "I'm afraid we're out of time. Nekane will be fine. The petrification has been halted. Fine someone to properly heal her. I must leave now." He floated up.
"Father!" Negi cried as he tried to catch him but to no avail.
"I have no right to say this, but grow up strong and healthy. And remember I shall always be watching over you. And hopefully one day we'll meet again." He suddenly vanished into thin air as little Negi dropped to his knees.
"FATHER!" Negi cried.
The girls watched and started shedding tears while Dustin who saw this before through Negi's memories also shed a tear.
"Sorry I know how painful it looks." Negi's voice said.
"So what happened after?" Kaede asked.
"Nekane, I, and whoever was left were rescued three days later. They took us to Wales, deep in the hills, to a magician where we've stayed. For five years I studied as hard as I could at their magic academy."
Did you find out what happened to your village, Negi?" Sayo asked.
"No. All the adults said that it was something I shouldn't worry about. Being a child I was never told anything other than what I witnessed. I studied countlessly to learn everything I could about magic. I found I had determination that I wasn't even aware of. Really I wanted was to see my father again. Sometimes I looked back and still feel that what happened was divine punishement. I wanted to see my father so badly that what happened to my village was my wish coming true for being in danger big enough for him to come."
Suddenly the memory ended and the group opened their eyes seeing they were back at the resort, "Negi!" the girls cried as the mage's partners wrapped themselves around Negi comforting him.
"I had no idea your trauma was as severe as you made it out to be!" Ayaka cried.
"But Negi-kun, what you said about that attack being divine punishment isn't true!" Akira added.
"Akira's right, Negi-kun." Ako agreed.
"What happened back there wasn't your fault." Konoka said.
"Nobody could've seen tha coming." Ku said.
"Girls." Negi gasped.
"Don't worry negi we're all going to help you find your father. We promise." Kaede said.
"We promise, Negi-kun!" the girls cheered.
Negi filled with reknewed hope smiled at everyone, "Arigato everyone. You're the best group of friends I could ever ask for."
"We're stuck with ya Negi, for life." Dustin smirked.
"Indubitably." Zyphon agreed.
"What he said." Toothless added.
"Well it's late in here and we better get some sleep." Kaede suggested as they all left for the guest rooms.
Soon when the sun came up inside the resort everyone woke up and were permitted to exit the resort and saw it really was still the same day. After bidding their farewell to Evangeline and Chachamaru they headed back to the dorms with their umbrellas due to it still raining. When they got back the girls headed for the baths while Negi, Dustin, and Zyphon left to find something else to do.
In the bathhouse the girls had entered and started soaking while feeling thankful they were the only ones using it, "Man all that training in Eva's resort combined with what we do out here will really get us pumping." Yuna said.
"Yeah, we'll be getting stronger in no time." Ku added.
"And we have to in order to help Negi-kun and Dustin-kun." Chao put in.
"That's for sure." Madoka agreed.
"Even though I'm not a partner if I learn enough magic I should be of assistance as well." Yue replied.
Unaware to them the door to the bath opened and a puddle of slime slinked into the bath and rising up from it was three tiny girls, "There they are, Purin Suramui remember our orders." One said to the two.
"Hai, Ameko!" the second known as Purin agreed.
"Then let's go." The third known as Suramui said as they slunk back into the puddle that oozed its way into the water.
The three swam for the group of girls as Makie spoke, "Ew, something's wrong with the water. It's all slimy!"
"Didn't they clean the baths out?" Kazumi asked.
"Yeah I don't get it." Akira replied.
Suddenly the girls were lashing around as a slimy feeling was surrounding their bodies and screamed as they were dragged down into the water.
Mana looked seeing the three slime girls and thought, 'What the?'
'This is bad.' Setsuna thought as the slime girls covered the ground and vanished into thin air.
As Negi, Dustin, their familairs, and Zyphon were in the dorms foyer relaxing with Toothless shrunken down to relax with them as Rin was bathing Zyphon's scanner went off, "Boys we got trouble."
"What's going on?" Dustin asked.
"There's an unidentified signature coming from the bathhouse." The robot explained.
"Oh no!" Negi gasped.
"Rin! The girls!" Toothless gasped.
"Come on!" Dustin called as they hurried for the bathhouse.
When they entered they looked around seeing the place was deserted, "I don't see anything." Domino said.
"No something's here, I can feel it." Dustin said.
"So do I." Negi agreed.
"Uh guys, look over there!" Chamo gasped as they looked seeing an old man decked out in a black trenchcoat, pants, boots, and a hat stood.
"Hello Negi Springfield and Dustin Bowers." The man greeted them.
"Who're you?" Dustin demanded.
The man tipped his hat pleasantly, "My name is Graf Wilhelm Josef Von Herrmann."
"Graf?" Dustin began recognizing that was a rank for a noble, "You're a Count?"
"Actually I'm naught but a hired hand these days." He answered.
"Why're you here?" Negi asked.
"And where are our friends?" Dustin frowned.
"I've collected them in order to stir you all up. If you want them back safe and sound you must fight me." The old man explained.
"Glady!" Dustin said ready to attack only for Herrmann hold out his hand halting the boy.
"We'll do this elsewhere. I'll be waiting for you at the stage beneath the giant tree in mid-academy. If you two care for your friends safety I'd advise against you seeking aid elsewhere." He said as slime surrounded and consumed him before vanishing.
"Wait!" negi cried but was gone.
"Where'd he go?" Chamo asked.
"Where he said he'd meet us." Toothless said as he grew giant sized again.
"Then we better go too!" Dustin said prepared to head out only for Negi to stop him.
"Dustin wait, for all we know this could be a trap."
"Well what choice to we have Negi? He's got the girls and we need to save them."
"But we'll need help, let's go get Evangeline and Chachamaru." Negi suggested.
"No time for that, besides you heard him say not to seek aid elsewhere, it'll be too late for the girls." Dustin replied.
"Then allow us to come to you." A voice said catching the boys off guard.
They spun around seeing none other than Kotaro Inugami and Fate Averruncus from Kyoto. They were the very boys who fought along side Chigusa the monkey woman who tried to unleash the stone ogre onto Kyoto.
"Kotaro? Fate?" Negi gasped.
"What're you doing here?" Dustin asked in shock.
"We heard that trouble was coming to this academy." Fate explained.
"So we came right over." Kotaro smirked.
"Kotaro, did you break out of lockup in Kyoto?" Negi asked.
"No. Old man Eishun let me out on parole so I can help track that Herrmann guy. And if I succeed in helping you I get out early." Kotaro explained.
"What about you Fate? Why're you here?" Dustin asked.
"I've come to lend you my help as well." Fate answered stoically.
Negi scowled, "Don't hand us that. You expect us to accept help from you after what you did in Kyoto?"
"I understand your lack of trust in me due our last encounter, but I assure you I am on the level with you both."
"Yeah this guy's got a hell of a story to tell you guys." Kotaro added.
"Sorry but I don't except help from guys who tried to kill us in the past." Dustin replied.
"Look we can argue about this later but right now we have to secure your partners and take down Herrmann." Fate said.
"But how?" Negi asked.
"With this," Kotaro pulled out a vial, "All you'll need to do is chant one spell-word and you can seal them all into this bottle. Old man Eishun gave it to me to deliver to you."
"Thanks Kotaro." Negi said accepting the vial.
"I suggest we get going now." Fate instructed.
"Hold on, Negi can we really trust them? Kotaro I can see is trusting, but Fate?" Dustin asked.
"I'm afraid Fate is right about us having not time to argue." Negi replied.
Dustin sighed and spoke, "Alright we'll let you join us, but any funny stuff and I'll blast you so hard with my spirit force you'll be hospitalized for months."
"Can we go now?" Fate asked ignoring the threat.
"Right, let's go!" Negi said as he got on his staff with Chamo and Fate climbed on as well.
Zyphon put Kotaro on his back as he flew up with Toothless and Dustin. Soon the new team flew off through an open window in the bathhouse determined to save the girls.
(And that's the chapter. Long I know. Now that Negi's history has been revealed to the girls they now know Negi's motivation. Bad news they're captured by someone Ragnarok has unleashed and has captured the girls. Can the boys trust their new allied partners Kotaro and Fate? Find out next time. And I should say this now, but fate Averruncus in my fic isn't going to be like the one in the manga seeing how I don't plan the magical world arc. In fact I'm giving him a completely different backstory. See you all next time.)