(Hi guys. Back again with the next chapter. Now we'll see just what the combined talents of Negi, Dustin, Kotaro, and Fate can really be. And a little back story on Fate.)
Last time after getting special training inside a resort made by Evangeline, the girls had gotten a peek at Negi's past seeing what it was that drives him to become a great mage, and even getting a glimpse of his father in action. Upon returning to Mahora the girls were abducted by three amoeba girls being led by a man known as Herrman. Before the boys were ready to go after him Kotaro and Fate from Kyoto arrived offering them their support. With reluctance Negi and Dustin allowed them to support the two.
That very night by the stage near the Wolrd Tree the three liquid girls were looking at all the water spheres encasing Negi's and Dustin's partners. Off to the sidee was Pythor, Diabound, and Herrman, "So these are the girls who pose a threat to my employer?" Diabound asked.
"Yes, they're a horrible bunch indeed. Especially that girl." Pythor frowned at Yue having not forgotten how she bit his tail.
"If your master thinks so then they're obviously worth more than they appear," Herrman said as he looked at Rin, "So that's the one you've been after Diabound?"
"Oh yes, it's been years since I last saw her in person." Diabound answered.
Rin was struggling to break through the water sphere using her magic as Herrman said, "Seems the sphere won't hold out if she keeps this up they'll all break free."
"Not to worry my friend. I can put a stop to that," Diabound said as he walked towards thes sphere, "This will sting girls." Hhe released a stinging sensation into the sphere shocking the girls with Rin holding in a scream.
The princess thought looking toward Diabound, 'Oh man this hurts!'
'Ah to torture again, how delightful.' He thought.
As Rin continued to try fighting back using her magic to break the sphere Herrman explained, "It's useless, you won't be breaking out of this water sphere."
'Negi, Dustin, where are you guys?' she thought, 'I can't let him win! This jerk of a man isn't who he appears to be..." she thought before speaking, "Son of a…" her eyes suddenly started glowing dark blue making the girls surprised.
"Rin what's wrong?" Konoka asked.
"Are you ok?" Kasuga asked.
Rin said nothing but screamed as magic surrounded her and expelled only herself out of the bubble making her gasp for air.
"Rin's out!" Konoka gasped.
"How?!" the three liquid girls gasped in shock as the man, mage, and serpentine saw her.
'This is it the power.' Diabound thought.
Rin looked up, "You can't keep me down."
Herrman looked to Diabound and Pythor, "Well what're you waiting for do something?"
"Gladly." Diabound said as he and Pythor got ready.
Rin looked up glaring at the two while trying to get up. Diabound was about to use magic on her until Toothless' lightning blasted the ground taking everyone by surprise. The group looked up seeing their rescuers flying down with Dustin humming Ride of the Valkyries.
'Guys.' Rin thought with a smile.
The group landed on the ground as Dustin declared, "The jig is up Herrman!"
"You really think so? Well I beg to differ." Herrman answered as the boys saw who was on top of Rin.
"Pythor!" Dustin called.
"So sorry to cut things short, but time to go." Pythor said as he went invisible.
Negi saw Diabound step into a dark portal, "Wait! Diabound?" Diabound only smirked as he entered the portal that closed, "It was him." He said to himself.
"Negi-kun! Dustin-kun you guys came!" the girls cheered while Mana and Kaede smiled knowing they would.
"And we brought back up as well." Dustin answered as Kotaro and Fate took a stand.
"Wait a minute, aren't they?" Konoka asked.
"The boys from Kyoto?"Yue said.
"Who?" the cheerleaders, Chizuru, Zazie, Ayaka, Cocone, and the twins asked.
"Kotaro Inugami and Fate Averruncus." Setsuna explained.
"Why're they here?" Yuna asked.
"We're here to help." Kotaro gave a thumb's up.
"Alright Herrman, release the girls at once!" Negi ordered.
"You want them, you'll have to get past me." The old man said blocking their view.
"With pleasure." Dustin answered as the four boys and Zyphon took off to fight the old man.
Rin watched as the boys were fighting the old man dn looked to the bubble, "Don't worry girls I'll get you out!" she was blocked by the three girls.
"We don't think so." Purin said as they started darting around her like mosquitoes.
"Fight Rin, fight!" the girls cheered as Rin continued trying to swat them.
Suddenly Tootless fired his blasts at the three who dodged and launched slime at him pinning him to the ground, "Toothless." Rin said trying to pull the slime off.
"You won't be able to pull that off him!" Ameko warned him.
Rin suddenly got a brain blast, "Well then let's try this!" she said using fire magic and aimed it at the slime.
"Hey stop that!" Suramui shouted.
"If you can stand the heat get out of the kitchen!" Rin snarked.
Toothless finally burst out of the heated slime and called, "Finally!"
The water girls tried to attack the two only to be hit by a sword. They looked seeing it was being wielded by Fate, "Hands off the princess." H warned them.
"Fate…" Rin thought with a ghost of a smile.
Fate turned to her but before he could say anything Dustin called over as he was dodging Herrman's punch, "Fate! Am I interrupting?!"
Fate turned to Rin, "Be right back." he went back to join the boys in the fight against Herrman.
"Alright girl, it's just us now." Rin said as she and Toothless went at it with the three liquid girls.
Herrman meanwhile was fighting the four boys and Zyphon with little to no diffuculty as the boys were throwing all they had at him. Kotaro jumped Herrman throwing his arm back before launching it forward calling out, "Inugami Ryu Air Fang!" he sent a blast of chi taking the form of a dog at Herrman who evaded but ended up getting a kick from Negi.
"Good move Negi!" Kotaro gave him a thumb's up.
"Thanks for distracting him." Negi replied.
"Very good forms in terms of teamwork," Herrman admitted, "But I am far from being finished."
"That gives us more times to knock you around!" Dustin called as he launched at Herrman throwing punch after punch enhanced with his spirit energy.
"Your power is impressive for such a young spirit warrior." Herrman said as he was blocking the punches.
"I was trained by two of the greatest spirit warriors after all, my father Roswell Bowers and Darius Mikael."
"Ah yes, two of the greatest warriors in their generation. I assume they expect you to one day surpass them." Herrman noted.
"Yes and I will surpass them as all genrations have to their predecessors."
"Such confidence, but taken for granted and it bites you back!" Herrman kicked Dustin sending him flying back only for him to aim his spirit gun at his opponent.
"Spirit gun!" he fired the blast as Herrman extended his hand out catching it but the force was strong enough to make him slide back while his feet remained on the ground.
"Dustin-kun's attack wasn't enough." Chao gasped.
"Who is that guy?" Kazumi asked.
"I've been sensing a demonic aura coming off him." Mana said.
"Demon aura?" Ayaka asked.
Herrman smirked at Dustin's attempt but felt something behind him and spun grabbing Fate's sword before he could make a connection, 'Fast.' Fate thought.
"A pitiful attempt." He said as he slugged Fate and even with his own barrier shielding him was still forced back.
"You alright there Fate?" Negi called.
"Never better." Fate replied as he got up.
"Zyphon missile barrage!" Dustin called as his robot unleashed a barrage of missiles onto Herrman who started dodging them but then saw the four boys coming at him from behind ready to launch their attack.
Herrman however launched a powerful kick knocking them all back and landing on the ground, "Kotaro are you ok?" Negi gasped.
"Of course I am!" Kotaro said shaking it off.
Herrman looked over at the four, "What, don't tell me that's it? You were all moving so well before. Have you lost your touches this soon? What a disappointment, especially you negi Springfield."
"Disappointment?" Negi gasped at that insult and frowned as he took his chance to attack with his magic arrows only to miss and receive another attack from Herrman.
"Now I take back what I said," Herrman continued, "You Negi are actually not giving it your all!"
"What did you say? Of course I'm giving it my all!" Negi shouted.
"Is that so? I heard the son of the Thousand Master was good. I was so looking forward to meeting you! Instead you are the complete opposite of him! You are not suited for battle at all!"
"Can you believe he's saying that?" Ku asked in outrage.
"Who does he think he is putting Negi-sensei down?!" Ayaka fumed.
"Girls!" Domino cawed as he flew above them with Chamo on his back, "I got this for you!" the ermine threw a practice wand into the bubble while the liquid girls were distracted by Rin and Toothless to even notice.
"Why give us this?" Kakizaki asked.
"If all of your who're aniki's partners concentrate enough you may be able to get out!" Chamo called.
Negi's partners looked at each other before nodding and gather around holding the starter wand in the center as they concentrated their magic inside hem, "Practi bigi naru Ardescat!" they announced as a giant flame was ignited and evaporated the bubble.
Rin, Toothless, and the water girls looked seeing them escape, "They're out!" Ameko gasped.
"Girls!" Rin cheered.
"Now we can help Dustin-kun, and Negi-sensei." Chizuru said.
Unaware to them Pythor was poking around a corner smirking, "We'll see about that." He said to himself before snapping his fingers summoning the shadow soldiers.
"Shadow soldiers." Kasuga gasped.
"We'll have to fight." Kaede said.
"What? In our birthday suits?" Madoka gasped as she and several of the girls tried covering up their bodies with their arms.
"No time for modesty." Mana said as she summoned a gun.
Taking her word for it the girls started fighting the shadow soldiers while overhearing Herrman lecture Negi.
"Tell me Springfield, why do you fight?"
"What do you mean 'why'?" Negi asked.
Herrman sighed as he motioned around them starting with Kotaro, "Kotaro there appears to fight because he enjoys it. Your friend Dustin fights because not only is it in his code as a spirit warrior, but because he feels responsible for those he cares about. That boy Fate I sense fights as a form of loyalty," Fate squinted his eyes at Herrman as the man continued, "But what about you Negi? Is it because of your friends? So very mundane. If so then it's too disappointing."
"What're you saying?" Negi frowned at the mockery.
"One fights for one's own agenda. That-and only that-is reason to do so," Herrman continued, "Anger, hatred, desire for revenge. All good, in their own way. Anyone can fight all out with those types of motivations. There's also the concept of 'joy comes from building one's strength like Kotaro and Dustin for an example. Fighting for none of these reasons though, now where is the pleasure in that?"
"You're wrong!" Negi called, "Fighting isn't suppose to be for pleasure. And the reason I fight is…" he was interrupted by Herrman.
"Because of guilt for involving your mundane girlfriends? Some sense of duty which comes from wanting to save them? Is that sense of duty truly enough? Or perhaps the reason you fight is that you want to escape the memories from that night in the snow?"
At that moment Negi, Dustin, and the girls were shocked upon hearing Herrman say that. Negi stuttered in shock, "How, how could you possibly know that?"
"Because Negi, I was there when it happened. I took part in that invasion."
"You what? Wait a minute, Herrman are you a demon?"
Herrman smirked, "You catch on quick, but I'm not any demon," he said as he removed his had while covering his face. When he lowered his hat he revealed his true face to him which shocked Negi and the girls for his face was demonic and had familiar horns on the sides of his head, "I'm that demon!"
Konoka gasped, "It's the demon from Negi-kun's memory!"
"The demon that petrified Mr. Stan and Nekane." Setsuna gasped.
"Well, how does it feel Negi? Staring into the face of the demon who took your village and those closest to you away? Does it fill you with hate, anger, revenge?" Herrman tempted him as he put his human face back on and his hat.
Negi stood there frozen in place warped with emotion and revelation, "Negi, are you ok?" Dustin asked.
"Negi?" Kotaro asked until Negi shot off from his standing position and started throwing all he had at Herrman in blinding speed.
"Whoa!" Dusitn gasped.
"Amazing," Fate gasped, "He's moving even faster when he fought me."
"Negi." Rin gasped as she fought the water girls.
"Yes! Yes this is what I've been waiting for!" Herrman cheered as he was getting the living crap beaten out of him, "This is exactly how the son of the Thousand Master should fight!"
As Negi was about to fly at Herrman ready to deliver a pounding slug the demon launched a blast for the boy but in a flash Negi was knocked away by Kotaro who both escaped a lethal attack.
"Kotaro?" Negi gasped. Kotaro fornwed and whacked Negi on the head, "Ow! What was that for?!"
"You baka!" Kotaro scolded him, "No matter how much power you have if you don't use strategy you're gonna get your butt kicked!"
"I agreed with the dog," Fate approached, "We're all in this togeher, that's why we joined you."
"Who're you calling dog you…" Kotaro argued but Dustin cut him off.
"What they're trying to say is trying to do too much on your own will only distance yourself from others. Or have you forgotten them?" Dusitn motioned to his partners fighting off the shadow soldiers.
"Girls." Negi gasped as he felt Kotaro and Dustin put their hands on his shoulders.
"Let's win this together!" Kotaro said.
"You're right!" Negi smiled.
Herrman smiled, "That was good fighting Negi, but do you all honestly believe you can defeat me?"
"We don't just believe, we know we can." Dustin answered.
"Let's go!" Kotaro said as they got ready and attacked together.
Rin continued blocking the water girls before smirking, "Alright girls, I've been going easy on you, but here's a little something courtesy of my trainer!" she uttered an incantation an unleashed a surge of ice magic turning the three liquid girls into ice sculptures.
"You did it, Rin!" Makie called.
"Now to finish these ones off," Chizuru began as she thrusted her spirit powered up arm back, "Shotgun!" she blasted the remaining shadow soldiers until they were gone.
"Way to go Chizuru!" Yuna gave her a thumb's up as the bosom girl giggled.
Pythor watched with a frown, "Oh well, time to pack it in." he retreated into a dark portal.
As the boys fought Zyphon joined them, "As always I'm here to offer my help!" the robot declared.
"Thanks, Zyphon." Dustin said as he dodged an attack from Herrman.
"Guys I have a spell that I've been saving and now's a good time to use it, can divert his attention while I get it ready?" Negi asked.
"Like you need to ask?" Kotaro asked as the boys and Zyphon went forward and distracted Herrman while Negi started his incantation.
"You boys are truly wonderous fighters, however I'm only interested in Negi!" Herrman called as he tried to attack Kotaro only for Fate to block his attack thus giving Kotaro an opening. The dog boy responded with a pound to Herrman's gut.
Dustin appeared behind the man and spoke, "Let's see you block it this time! Spirit Gun!" he fired the attack at Herrman's back making him crash onto the ground but got up.
"Where is?" he froze seeing Negi slide in using her Chinese martial arts moves knocking Herrman back before uttering his spell.
"Lightning Axe!" he used the lightning spell on Herrman resulting in an explosion.
Watching from on top of the world tree was Evangeline and Chachamaru. The robot spoke, "You seem to have been on edge mistress, you are glad he's safe right mistress?"
"No more than you are, Chachamaru," Eva admitted teasing the gynoid, "Watching the boy go all out like that made watching this fight worth it." The vampire smirked.
Back on the ground the smoke cleared as Herrman laid on the ground weakend, "You did it guys!" Kazumi cheered.
"It was a team effort." Dustin answered as they approached Herrman.
"Here are your helpers." Rin tossed the three frozen little girls onto his chest.
"The win is yours Negi," Herrman began, "Are you sure you don't want to finish me off after all I did to your village and your loved ones?"
The girls and guys looked at Negi with worry until Negi scowled and answered, "No I won't."
"No?" Herrman asked.
"What you did in the past I'll never forgive you, but what happened back then should stay back there. If I destroy you here and now that's not going to bring back all those you've petrified."
"True, so are you just going to let me live?"
"No. I'm putting you back where you belong." Negi held up the bottle meant to be used on him.
Herrman replied, "What's wrong you can't finish the job? How weak."
"Showing mercy is not weak!" Kaede called only for Negi to hold an arm out to silene her as he spoke.
"It's what separates me from murderers and demons alike." Negi finished.
Herrman looked at him and let out a chuckle, "You amuse me Negi, I've never faced a mage with such heart and soul. You obviously were deserving of this win."
"Goodbye Herrman." Negi said as he uttered the incantation and the bottle started absorbing the demon and his three girls back into it.
"Mission accomplished." Dustin smirked.
"We did it!" Ako and Makie cheered while hugging each other.
"Is everyone ok?" Negi asked the girls.
"We are thanks to you guys." Sayo admitted.
"We're very relieved." Fate said.
Kaede, Ku, Setsuna, and Mana scowled and were about to strike until Rin blocked them, "Girls wait!"
"Rin you know who he is?" Setsuna asked reminding her.
"I do, but he's not what he made himself out to be in front of all of you!"
"He isn't?" Yuna asked.
"The princess is correct," Fate began as he showed them a crest on his jacket that had the symbol of an alicorn and Night Fury dragon, "I am in fact a knight of the Kingdom of Light."
"WHAT?!" they gasped.
"A knight?" Negi asked.
"That's right." Fate nodded.
"Before we get into detail can we go someplace else?" Chamo asked.
"Yeah it's getting chilly out here." Kakizaki hugged herself to keep warm.
"Here girls." Zyphon said as he opened up a hatch on his torso and pulled out multiple towels which the girls used to cover themselves up before they headed back to the dorm.
When they got back the girls were as before relaxing in the bath having not been able to get a proper wash, while Negi, Dustin, Kotaro, and Fate were waist wrapped in towels soaking as well.
"This place is great." Kotaro said as he relaxed.
"Very pleasant." Fate admitted.
"So Fate, you're really a knight for Rin's kingdom?" Makie asked.
"Yes, and not just a knight, but her loyal guard as well."
"Guard?" Ako asked.
"Fate's more than a guard, he was my first friend before Negi." Rin explained.
Fate nodded and explained, "I was a war orphan and was founded by King Lucas; Rin's father at a young age. I discovered I had some talent in magic within me, but when I proved to have a skill in knightship I was drafted into the training facility for future knights and guards. My first task upon completing my training was to serve as Rin's loyal guard when her father could not look after her."
"Fate and I grew up like siblings, he protected me and cared for me." Rin explained.
"Just like you and me, Setsuna." Konoka giggled while Setsuna blushed.
"Of course." She admitted.
"But one day I was called away on a private mission," Fate continued, "It was classified so I couldn't tell Rin, but my mission involved me keeping an eye on the Kansai Magic association, particularly Chigusa and monitor to see when she would make an attempt to to conquer the region. Then you all showed up and dealt with us."
"But what you did to Rin when infiltrating the headquarters and pertrifying everyone there!" Negi accused as Fate calmy explained.
"I was undercover and had to make it very convincing. The spell I used was actually temporary but seeing you all decided to reverse the affect on your own made it easier to cover. As for what I did in the baths to Rin, I explained to her my mission and told her to go along with it which she graciously did. Although I had not counted on fighting the Dark Evangel, so my guard was thrown off."
"Well for someone who was only pretending you sure did a number on Aniki!" Chamo chided.
"But it only made him stronger." Fate countered.
"Indeed it did." Negi admitted.
"So what now?" Konoka asked.
"Now that I've completed my mission I can return to my post as Rin's guard." Fate explained.
"And hopefully the success of this mission will get me in good graces with Eishun-jiji." Kotaro added.
"Well if you do, can you help us because we're in a situation still?" Dustin asked.
"What's the problem?" Kotaro asked.
"Well we've still got a villain pursuing us, any of you two heard of the Shadow Master?" Negi asked.
"I have." Fate answered.
"Who's that?" Kotaro asked.
"A dark warrior of a higher class. No one knows who he is, where he came from, or his real name." Fate answered.
"Well he's gunning for both Negi and I, for reasons we have no idea." Dustin explained.
"But he's got allies that're tough opponents like Herrman." Negi explained.
"And someone you know too well, Alistair." Dustin explained as Kotaro became shocked while Fate raised a brow.
"Alistair? He's working for this Shadow Master now?" Kotaro asked.
"That's right." Dustin answered.
"But we feel he's not a villain, there's good in him and we're trying to bring it out of him." Negi said.
"Well good luck with that." Kotaro said in sarcasm.
"Don't be so sure Kotaro," Fate but in, "Even dark warriors can be good just as spirit warriors can be bad."
"Well you got a point." Kotaro admitted.
"So will you two help us against the Shadow Master?" Dustin asked.
The two looked at each other as Kotaro answered, "If it means fighting some really strong opponents count me in!"
"As long as Rin is here, then I shall remain as well." Fate answered.
"Thanks guy." Negi smiled.
"Isn't it great?" Fuka asked.
"We have more allies now!" Fumika cheered.
The girls giggled as Rin thought to herself, 'Diabound.'
At the Shadow Master's domain, Ragnaork was fuming, "Dammit! Not even a demon can stop those two?!"
"I guess the old man got too carried away with his mockery." Pythor said as he and Diabound chuckled.
Ragnarok turned to them glaring daggers with his eyes, "And just where were you two in all this?"
"Herrman requested he handle them alone, so I honored his request by staying out of it." Diabound explained.
"And I sent the shadow soldiers there, sir." Pythor reminded him.
"Regardless, next time I send either of you in a group do not expect one to do it on their own." Ragnarok warned them.
"Yes sir." Pythor hissed before slinking off.
"Of course." Diabound said bowing his head before taking his leave.
Ragnarok frowned as he looked at an image of Negi and Dusitn in his viewing window, "You two may have new allies, but mine still increase."
(And there's the chapter. The boys were successful in stopping Herrman and rescued everyone with the help of Kotaro and Fate. Since I'm rewriting Fate's backstory and all not being the villain all connections he has with the manga villains will not be included. And with Kotaro and Fate officially their allies they can now get in on the action as well. Don't miss next time guys.)