The Knight Of Mahora Academy

Period 22: The Drive To Go On

Hey!

Welcome to my brand new story, The Knight of Mahora Academy! I always enjoyed Negima as a series and-

What? What's that? I already have a story? Well that's not true I haven't written anything in-

Oh dear god!

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

People took normalcy for granted.

Many people strived for a life of adventure and excitement over everything. And the idea of settling down and accepting the normal way of life was just boring and undesirable. Everyone wanted more in life and refused to settle for less.

This is why she thought normal things were severely under-appreciated.

What was wrong with just staying in for a night and watching TV? What was wrong with plain rice and miso soup for dinner? What was wrong with doing things normally and without trouble?

When people got stressed out, they liked things to go back to normal. When they were confused and worried, they wanted things to go back to normal. Even right now-

"Seriously! Don' make a move! I don' wanna go hurtin' this innocen' Nee-chan but I will if ya don' tell me wha' I'm doin' here!"

She'd like things to go back to normal. She didn't want to be held hostage at the end of this strange boy's absurdly sharp claws while he was naked as the day he was born after somehow appearing from the smoke of a lost, injured puppy they had picked up in the rain.

See? Was that so bad? Was being normal so wrong in situations like this?

"C-C-Chizu-nee?" Natsumi Murakami muttered with chattering teeth as she looked over at the fuller and more developed young woman she shared a room with, "T-This isn't happening right now, right? I-I just fell asleep getting cozy on the couch and now I'm having a weird dream, right?"

"I'm not sure, Natsumi-chan." Chizuru Naba placed her hand to her cheek and looked up in thought, "I feel like I have complete and total sentience and sapience while also recalling various childhood memories only I could have. So I don't think I'm just a figment of your dreaming mind."

"T-Then is this your dream?"

"I don't think so." Chizuru pinched her arm, "I feel this."

"W-Well maybe it's someone else's dream?"

"Do you feel those nails pressed into your jugular?"

"Very much so!"

"Hmm, we may be just figments of another person's imagination and we're only perceived to have awareness-"

"What the hell are ya talkin' 'bout!" The irritated young boy yelled, "Stop usin' big words that are freakin' me out!"

"C-Chizu-nee, is this happening?"

"I think so Natsumi-Chan."

"And is the kid behind me naked?"

"Indeed."

Somehow all of this was causing her head to reel in shock.

"Look, I don' wanna hurt either of ya. I can tell that'd leave a nasty taste my mouth so just listen t' me." The black-haired, wolf-eared boy growled as he stayed close to Natsumi's back, causing the freckled girl to cower and fidget in his grasp, "Tell me where I am, who ya are, and get me some clothes. Do that and I'll get outta ya hair."

Chizuru didn't show any hesitation or fear while faced with the strange young man. Instead, she simply gave a warm, disarming smile and tilted her head, "What's your name?"

"Huh?"

"Your name? Do you remember it? We were really worried about you and I think you have a fever. So if you can remember your name and why you're here that could help us."

"W-What does my name have t' do with any of that?! That's not what I asked ya for!" He yelled but saw that Chizuru's smile didn't falter for even a moment. With an annoyed grumble, he belted out, "Kotarou. My name's Kotarou."

"Kotarou-kun," She smiled pleasantly to the confused boy, "You have a fever, and you're hurt, and hungry. We want to help you, okay? So please trust us."

"I…" He stared at the young brunette as she gave him a beautiful, disarming smile. The young boy found the tension in his body start to fade as he lowered his hand. He released Natsumi who quickly stumbled away from him as the rush of energy left his body and the exhaustion started to hit again, "N-Negi-"

He groaned and fell face flat on the ground.

Natsumi and Chizuru stared down at him in concerned silence.

"Negi?" Chizuru repeated with a tilt of her head, "I think there's a wife's tale about leeks being used to-"

"Chizu-nee no! He's just a boy!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

The platform glowed with light before several young ladies and a boy appeared on it. Once they had exited the resort and returned to the cabin, they looked around eagerly.

"Alright, where the heck did Whiskers go?" Asuna grumbled as she ran up the stairs and out of the basement. She saw the front door was open and leading out to the rainy weather and murky conditions that persisted through the storm. Wow, they were only gone for an hour, weren't they? She frowned and called down, "Are you sure he wasn't anywhere in the resort?"

"We looked everywhere, but if he was still in there he was hiding well." Konoka quickly rushed up the stairs to stand by her friend, "Naruto-kun looked like he was heading towards the exit. And you're sure he didn't have too much of a head start?"

"With the time difference between the inside of the resort and out here, even though we had to wait a few hours for the time limit to clock out he should have only had minutes ahead of us." Negi looked conflicted, "Although minutes ahead for someone like Nii-San could put miles between us." The young red-haired Mage shifted anxiously before looking at his students, "And he left after seeing my memories in the book?"

"Uh-huh." Nodoka meekly nodded, "Naruto-sensei looked in the book with the rest of us, and when he saw what happened to you six years ago he, u-um-"

"Panicked." Yue finished in her normal monotone voice. The short, purple-haired girl looked only slightly perturbed after everything she'd seen transpire in the magical resort. Not to say it wasn't touching or left her intrigued, but that even then it was hard for her to show it on her face, "That's the best way I could put it."

"He frightened?" Ku Fei offered curiously, "Maybe seeing Negi-bozu's memories worry him-Aru? They made me feel scared too-Aru."

"No, that's not it. I didn't get that he was just scared watching what was happening to Negi-kun." Kazumi tilted her head in thought as she tried to listen to her instincts, "Felt like something more than that."

Setsuna silently listened to her companions as they tried to make sense of their TA's strange behavior the last time they saw him. She couldn't say for sure what his reaction was about but the way he looked so startled and confused and frightened…it made her feel terrible. She tried to reach out and calm him down but didn't react fast enough before he sped away.

Wasn't she supposed to be his partner and friend? How could she not help him in a time of need when he would have done more for less?

"Well we should look around-"

"Don't bother. He's not here."

The group of youngsters looked to the door before they poked their heads outside. Sitting underneath a dry portion of the roof as the rain came down hard just inches away was Kyūbi, resting his head on his paws as he looked out into the rainy dark, "He left a few minutes ago."

Asuna frowned, "And you didn't go with him?"

"He's in a mood. I know better than to intrude when that's happening."

"Well, where'd he go?"

"Dunno. Out on a walk."

"In the rain?!"

"He's walked in worse."

"Gah, that idiot." The green and blue-eyed girl grumbled as she turned and caused her bells to chime, "Guys go back to the dorm, okay! I'll look around for a bit and see if I can find that idiot!"

"I-I'll come too Asuna-San!"

"Allow me to join you!"

"We'll-"

"Leave him." Kyūbi piped up, earning their attention as the seven-tailed demon closed his eyes and rested, "He just needs some time to be alone and gather his thoughts. It happens sometimes. Crowding him and bothering him and pelting him with questions doesn't help anyone but yourself." The fox gave those parting words before resting his head down, Just leave him be. He'll come back at his own pace."

Asuna huffed in annoyance and went back inside. She grabbed her bag and stomped out the door as she used it to protect herself from the rain.

"A-Asuna-San, hold on! Let me shield us from the rain!"

"Did anyone bring an umbrella?"

"We run quick to home-Aru!"

The kids quickly made their way out into the rain and ran back to the school to weather the storm over their heads. Kyūbi simply watched their retreating backs in silence before closing his eyes again.

"So what was that bothering Dumbass, exactly?"

"Why do you care?"

"The look on his face was intriguing. Like he was just reminded of some terrible memory that haunts him to this day. A look I've seen and inspired in others for many, many years now-"

"Welcome to the club." The fox groused as he opened his eyes and looked aside to see Evangeline and Chachamaru in the doorway after everyone had left her home, "I don't care enough about it to tell you the story."

"Yet you care enough not to air his dirty laundry and tell those brats to let sleeping dogs lie?"

"Not my laundry to air." The fox stood up and stretched his legs before walking by their feet and back into the cottage, "It's warm in here. I'm staying at your place until the rain eases up."

"And who says I will let you do that?"

"Let me stay and we can talk shit about the Old Red Moron if you like. The rest of them admire him too much but I'm indifferent and can tell you some of his dumbest moments."

"Well, that sounds like a good time." She looked up at her android servant, "Chachamaru, go fetch us some good wine."

"At once Master. Would Kyūbi-San like to partake as well?"

"Put mine in a bowl please."

"As you wish."

Eva lingered in the doorway and looked out into nothing for a moment. She thought she felt…

Meh, not her problem.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

A figure walked into the streets of Mahora in silence as the rain pelted them. A tall form in a black trench coat and matching fedora to hide their features.

Among the rain and puddles by their shoes, three strange goops of slime slid along the ground. Small lights shined in the slime to signify their eyes, "Masterrrrrr."

"We're hereeeeeee."

"What nexttttttt?"

"Negi Springfield and Asuna Kagurazaka. They are the two main points of concern. We need to gather as much intel on their abilities as we can. However, there are still other figures Fate-kun warned us about. Be vigilant and keep your eyes open."

"What about you, Masterrrrrr?"

"Well, there was someone who came here ahead of us." The old man tilted his head and displaced some of the water building on his hat's rim, "I'll go pay him a visit."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

He felt ashamed.

Not in the 'stuck my hand in the cookie jar, gave up my diet oh well' kind of ashamed. The 'I made a fool of myself, worried my friends for no reason, and now I can't show my face properly' kind of ashamed.

What was wrong with him? What was he thinking? Sure it had been a tough time in his life that he struggled through back then but that was it - he struggled through it already! It wasn't something he actively tried to forget but he moved past the worst of it! It was settled! It was finished! He accepted what happened and moved on! But one little shock - one sudden reminder - and he goes running and gasping and panicking!

What the hell was wrong with him?!

He was pathetic.

Would Nagi have reacted like that? Or Rakan? Eishun? Al? Gateau? Takamichi? Lady Arika?

Would any of them have let it happen in the first place?

"Brr." After he had stopped walking down the street for a moment he realized just how cold he was in the rain. Running his hands over his arms for warmth he started looking around and saw an empty bus stop to the side. After he quickly made his way under it and away from the rain he looked himself over, "God I'm stupid. Should've grabbed an umbrella or something."

Was he dead set on doing the mopey cool boy in the rain part so bad he risked getting sick?

With no one around Naruto wildly shook his body and sent water drops flying everywhere to dry himself.

Even once he was no longer dripping he was still damp and soaked to the bone. His teeth started chattering and he shivered to try to get his body heat back. Hmm, could he use that to warm himself up and dry his clothes? If shivering was just a way for the body to retain heat and stop feeling cold, then maybe if he did it super fast he'd warm up and dry his clothes!

No, that wasn't possible. Only broken anime characters in series that seriously stretch the limits of reality were capable of doing that. And Rakan.

With a resigned sigh, he pulled the wet shirt off, grimacing at the cold sensation over his chest and head before it came off altogether. Once it was in his hands he started focusing, raising the heat along his arms but making sure any flame he made was weak and barely over the skin. The result was a steady amount of steam rising from the shirt as the water was evaporated. He'd have to do the same with his pants but in a way where he didn't take them off. No one was watching him but he wasn't taking the chance.

He'd been so absorbed in his thoughts that the most important part of this revelation was only now hitting him.

Negi was at the center of the conflict. His village had been the poor place that suffered such a tragedy. And he had never brought it up or freaked out about it as he did.

What did he think? What did he feel about what happened? There were so many questions running through his head that he wanted to hear an answer from Negi. Most of all he wanted to know his friend - his little brother was okay.

"Once the rain stops," He whispered to himself, "I'll find them and answer everything."

He had until the rain stopped to collect himself.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Well, I'm soaked," Kazumi stated as she pulled on her wet shirt and stopped the fabric from sticking to her bra underneath. Negi's face went red and he tried to look away only to realize that most of the other girls were in the same predicament. As he turned away the aspiring journalist chuckled, "Hey Setsuna-San, maybe next time you could use a technique to keep all of us dry?"

"I-I'm sorry." The young swordswoman bowed her head apologetically to the other girls, "I'm not that good at projecting the field of power yet. If I was more practiced-"

"I think she was pulling your leg, Setsuna-San." Yue said while lifting her ribbons and watching the water ring out of her hair, "We don't exactly hold something like this against you."

"S-She's right." Nodoka nodded, her hair matted down from the rain and her bangs covering more of her eyes than usual, "It's no problem."

"It just water-Aru! No big deal-Aru!" The young Kenpo master smiled before her expression grew big and peppy, "We should go to bath-Aru! Good soak to counter cold-Aru!"

"Now that sounds like a plan." Kazumi grinned and started heading towards the baths, with Ku leading the charge and Yue and Nodoka following after them, "Hey, we'll see you guys later. Call us if you need to talk about anything."

"Goodbye, Asakura-San." Negi waved them goodbye as they headed down the hall. Once they were gone he looked to the other three by his side, "What about you three? Do you need to take a bath to warm up?"

"I should be fine." Setsuna said while looking herself over, "I'm not all that wet considering."

"I had the umbrella so don't worry about me." Konoka smiled, "What about you Asuna? You were running ahead of all of us?"

"I'm a little wet but it's fine." The twin-tailed girl looked at her wet shoulders and skirt, "I'll just get in my PJs and stay warm there."

"That's good." Negi nodded in relief before perking up and raising his wand, "Okay, I'm going to go out and look for Nii-San." He started making for the doorway they just came through, "If I go looking from a bird's-eye view then I should-"

"Hold on!" Asuna reached and grabbed his collar, pulling him back before he could slip away, "What is wrong with you?! You just got back and it's raining!"

"Oh, it's okay Asuna-San. I have measures to protect myself from the rain-"

"No." The bell-wearing girl rubbed her eyes and sighed, "Look, you heard what Furball said, right? Whiskers just need to be alone right now before he comes back." The stern girl tried to rationalize even though she also had a frown remembering the fox's advice, "I don't like not knowing where he is either but we can't chase after him and try to get an answer like that."

"But-"

"Plus you just came back from spending over a day in about an hour! After training with Eva-chan! You can't go pushing yourself too far like that." Negi looked conflicted by her words but she put her hands on his shoulders to get his attention, "Please just rest. After the day/hour you had, you'd be doing everyone a big favor if you just took it a little slower."

"She's right, Negi-kun," Konoka nodded in agreement, "You must be tired after training and teaching and telling your story. Naruto-kun will be okay. Please stay in and relax a little."

Negi looked like he wanted to protest more than anything. But as he looked around at Asuna, Konoka, Setsuna, and even Chamo on his shoulder he knew they all agreed. The young Welshman conceded, "Okay, I'll wait for him to come back."

"Good job, Aniki." Chamo ran up his shoulder and nodded, "C'mon, you probably got a ton of work you still gotta do, right? Let's put some energy into that."

"Good idea, Chamo-kun. I'll get started."

Negi turned and headed for their room as the three girls watched him walk away. Setsuna looked on sadly, "He's really worried about Naruto-sensei."

"Probably hearing how he reacted to his past has got Negi-kun worried." The young Japanese princess' face tensed, "I also want to know what brought that on." As they stood in silence she saw Asuna shuffle on her feet uncomfortably and tilted her head, "Asuna?"

"I had no idea that Negi went through something like that…as a kid." The orange-haired girl closed her eyes, "I guess his crazy drive makes a lot more sense now."

"Negi-kun is a lot more driven than most people his age. I don't think there's anyone even in our class that could match him like that."

"And his father…" Setsuna remembered, mystified by the way Negi had seemed so amazed and moved by his father's heroic appearance in his time of need, "I see why he was so renowned, and why so many people respect him. Evangeline-San. Eishun-sama. Naruto-sensei."

"And Whiskers," Asuna groaned as she rubbed her hand in her face with a grimace, "God I can't even imagine. I always thought he was pretty stubborn too but if he knew Negi's dad when he was younger and looked up to him like Negi did…" She paused and remembered all the scars she'd seen lining his body when they were at the beach, "He must have had the same drive to grow and be better like Negi did."

Konoka smiled sadly, "They're more similar than I realized."

"I admire them for their strength of character and how far they're willing to push themselves." Setsuna lowered her gaze, "But…"

"Negi has been haunted by that day since he was a kid. And Whiskers has been following the example of his heroes all these years." Asuna rubbed her arm and looked at her friends, "Do you think they ever got a chance to just be kids? Would they have been happier if they didn't push themselves so hard?"

The trio of girls stood together in silence as the question lingered in their minds. Setsuna reached into her back pocket and felt the Pactio's outline.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"I'm sorry. I'm still very confused about this." Ayaka muttered in an irritated tone as she opened one eye to stare at the cause of her annoyance, "How is this boy related to Natsumi-San exactly?"

"He's her little brother, Kotarou-kun." Chizuru smiled to her blonde roommate, "We told you that already Ayaka, what's so hard about that?"

"They look nothing alike!"

Chizuru's eyes watered, "Her father wasn't faithful."

"Don't drag my dad's name through the mud like that!"

"Man, ya girls yell a lot." The new arrival grumbled as he started to eat his rice and ignored their yammering, "Don' ya wanna eat yer food?"

"How is he her brother?!"

"That's very small-minded of you Ayaka. For shame."

"Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes!"

"If all yer gonna do is scream an' stuff, guess ya don't need yer meat, right?" Kotarou reached over and nabbed a piece of Ayaka's entrée while she was distracted, "Moh, bis is gwood."

"Hey! You little ingrate! Do not pinch my dinner!"

"Oh Ayaka," Chizuru giggled while stuffing her mouth with a piece of stray meat, "Always getting so serious."

"She's right, Iincho." Natsumi nodded while pilfering some meat as well, "You shouldn't get so worked up about what he says."

"Stop it! I'm not going to have dinner if you all pinch my food like that! You all have perfectly good spreads on your plates - eat those!" The blonde woman frowned and eyed the boy across from her that was the cause of all this mischief, "You need to seriously consider your manners around new people, young man."

"Geez, ya talk like an ol' lady." The Kansai boy waved off her warning and irritated her further before smirking, "Ya sure yer a young lady, Ayaka-baachan?"

"That's it!" She screeched and reached across the table to pull his cheeks, "You are not going to get away with behavior like this you brat!"

"Ahhh! Ahh! Ma sheeks!"

Natsumi and Chizuru watched the argument curiously, "Wow Iincho, I didn't expect this kind of reaction out of you."

"Why not?! He's eating my food and being a menace!"

"Well yeah but he's a kid."

"So what?!"

Natsumi and Chizuru looked between each other before looking back at Ayaka silently.

"I can see the answer on your faces so just shut up! I prefer people who are well-behaved and have manners, not snot-nosed punks who just cause trouble!"

"A little closer," Kotarou moaned through his pinched cheeks as his chopsticks drew towards her plate, "Almost there-"

"YOU! ARE! INCORRIGIBLE!"

The fighting looked like it would begin anew before their doorbell rang. Ayaka felt a conflict arise in her chest between reprimanding this unruly child and properly answering the door like a lady. Her upbringing won out, her releasing her hold on Kotarou's cheeks before standing up, "I'll get it." She was about to turn away before she looked down at her plate and eyed her roommates angrily, "There are 6 pieces of meat left on my plate! Even one of them is gone when I get back, that child is sleeping in the rain!"

With her warning made she stepped up to the door, took a calming breath to compose herself, and opened it, "Hello? How may I - oh, um, can I help you?"

"Yes you can, my dear lady." The elderly gentleman removed his hat and smiled pleasantly at Ayaka. He held up a flower for her through the opening of her door, "I apologize for intruding on your time at this hour."

"O-Oh, that's fine. But how may I help you?"

"Well, have you seen a young boy around here recently?"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Aahhhhhh!" Haruna stretched out her arms, causing her breasts to jiggle as she lay in the water, "Nothing beats a hot bath on a cold rainy night!"

"Oh, looks like everybody was thinking the same thing, huh?" Kazumi noted as she found many of her classmates enjoying the warm bath as the storm raged outside, "Great minds think alike, eh?"

"Yo Asakura, where have you girls been?" Yuna looked back over her shoulder at the new arrivals as she and her friends poured water over their heads, "Weren't you following Negi-kun to see why he's been so drained lately?"

"Blood donation-Aru!" Ku instantly responded before Nodoka and Yue had to cover her mouth.

The other girls looked at them oddly, "Donation? Was there a blood drive or something?"

"No, that's not it." Ako shook her head and spoke up, "I think if there was any blood drive I would have heard about it at the nurse's office."

"Oh god, do you think he's doing some kinda underworld, shady bloodletting business here in Mahora?!" The busty basketball player pondered loudly, "Negi-kun, I had so much faith in you!"

"I seriously doubt Negi-kun is involved in something that disturbing." Akira shook her head and refused to hear her friend's crazy rambling.

"It's probably something to do with mag- NEVER MIND!" Makie yelled and dumped cold water over herself. As she shuddered and shivered from the cold she yelled, "Hey you guys wanna watch a movie tonight! Maybe Harry Potter - GAAAHHHHHH!"

As everyone present sent the peculiar gymnast a worried look, Nodoka muttered, "I-I don't think Makie-San can keep a secret very well."

"No. No, she can't." Yue agreed.

"You look like you could use a pickup, Makie." Yuna smirked as she reached down and pulled out a tube of ointment, "Well why don't we try out this super rejuvenating, moisturizing, weight loss bath gel I bought!"

"Ew! That's slimy, isn't it! I hate slimy stuff!" Makie quickly jumped out of her seat and ran for the water, "Girls, Yuna bought some weird product off TV again!"

"Oh yeah? This I gotta see!"

"We wanna see!"

"Let us try!"

Ako and Akira grimaced as their friend poured some over their hands, "And you're sure this stuff works?"

"Of course! The guy selling it on TV promises its rejuvenating qualities!"

As some of the others girls started to gather, Chisame leaned back in her corner of the bath and scoffed at what she heard, "Yes because god knows they'd never lie to sell products." She shook her head, "Make sure you don't get any of that slime in the bath! If it gunks up the filters we'll be in trouble!"

"No worries! It's supposed to dissolve pleasantly in the bathwater!"

"Whoa, this feels good." Misa giggled as she rubbed it over her arms.

Ako rubbed it over her stomach and sides, "I hope this stuff does work for slimming."

"Haha, and I make another great purchase!" Yuna announced proudly with a sheen of the slime she purchased over her chest and breasts, "Whenever you're looking for a fun time, just come to me and I'll be there to enrich your lives!"

"She really shouldn't use the word 'come' when she's got a layer of goo over her boobs." Chisame snarked as she made to stand up. But the instant she tried something shifted under her feet and caused her to trip. The orange-haired girl breached and gagged on the water before yelling, "Dammit I said to make sure you didn't get that gunk in the bath!"

"We haven't even gotten in yet!"

"Then what's the greasy crap at the bottom of the - GAH!"

"EEP!" Madoka squealed as something brushed her feet, "Is there something in the bath?!"

"Is it alive?!"

"Get it! Someone get it!"

Chao, Satomi, and Satsuki flinched as something brushed by them as well. All the girls in the bath felt something run along their legs and the girls outside of it tried to spot whatever was causing the panic.

They were so distracted they didn't notice a giant balloon of slime jump out of the water and engulf Nodoka, Yue, Kazumi, and Ku before slipping back down.

All except one person.

"Hey hey, Hakase~, can you give Chachamaru a call?" Chao whispered to her friend with a devious smirk, "We might need her to grab something for us."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Aniki, you okay? You look distracted."

"H-Huh?" Negi blinked and looked down at his ermine friend, "Oh no, I'm fine. I-It's just-"

"Hmm?" Konoka hummed as she walked out with a tray of tea in hand and placed one in front of Asuna, "What's wrong Negi-kun?"

"Nothing I-I - um - I just felt like something is…off?"

"Off?" Asuna questioned, "Like what?"

"I don't know." He quickly turned in his nook, grabbing his staff and jumping down the ladder before running for the door, "I'll be right back! Just checking something!"

"Negi wait!" They called after their young teacher before he disappeared. Asuna slumped over and groaned, "That kid is ridiculous! He never listens!"

"I wonder what could have gotten his attention-"

They didn't notice before it was too late that a sheen of slime with eyes had formed over their window watching them.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Setsuna paced in the hallway with her Pactio in hand. She had been wrestling with the best course of action ever since she had separated from everybody.

She could reach out with the card to contact him. But if she did what would she say? What could she say?

Something like this was better left in the hands of someone more adept at persuasion and conversation. Asuna was probably the best choice for reaching him. Or her mistress or teacher. They would have been better for this task.

But it rested on her right now.

And even though so many reservations and doubts stopped her from making the move, she remembered that if Naruto was the one making the call…he'd just do it.

And with his brazen attitude in mind, she just pressed the card to her head and called.

'Sensei?' She mentally reached out, 'Are you there?'

('Setsuna? Is that you?')

She perked up, 'Yes! Oh, I'm so glad you answered!'

('I wasn't expecting you to reach me through the card. Why didn't you just call?')

The swordswoman blanked and flushed in embarrassment, 'T-That thought didn't even cross my mind. Oh, we could have saved so much time!'

('It's alright. There's no promise I would have answered right away or…w-wait where is - where's - oh god, did I leave my phone back at Eva's? Ughhhhh, that's gonna be a fun trip.')

She heard him groan in her thoughts and she couldn't help but smile at his attitude. He already sounded more like his usual self, and whatever it was that worried him seemed to have passed. She closed her eyes, 'Everyone is concerned about you.'

('Yeah…not surprising. Not after how I ran out of there. Sorry about that.')

'I-It's okay! You don't need to apologize or anything! We just - we want to make sure you're okay.'

('I am now. I swear.')

'Then why haven't you come back yet?'

('Just getting ready. I promised that once the rain stopped I'd come back and tell you guys whatever you wanted to hear.')

'You don't have to do that. No one would force you to tell us anything.'

('I know…but I think it would be good to tell you guys.')

There was a pause in the conversation as they waited for the other one to talk…

('Negi…in Nodoka's book his village was attacked. By demons, wasn't it?')

She nodded and only then realized he couldn't see it, 'That's right. It happened 6 years ago when Sensei was 4-years old. Demons raided his village and attacked it.'

('And he survived. God…I can't believe it. How did he get away?')

'His father saved him.'

('Nagi?! He was there?! He saved Negi?! I…huh, so that's how he knew he was still alive. So how - what did Negi feel when it happened?')

'When Sensei was younger he always looked up to stories of Nagi-San and his heroics. He thought of him as a sort of Superman and wanted to meet him. And when he did…he swooped in and saved him and his older sister when they were in danger. He…he was a Superman.'

('Heh…yeah…that sounds about right.')

Setsuna shuffled on her feet, 'Sensei-'

"Secchan! Hi!"

Setsuna heard Konoka call her, "Ojou-sa-"

Only to find her childhood friend running up and waving to her au naturel.

"H-HA! HA! HAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

('Setsuna! What's wrong?!')

"K-KONO-SAMA - N-NO OJOU-CHAN - KONO-CHAN - OJOU-SAMA IS NAKED! SHE'S NAKED!"

('Easy girl, easy! Remember to breathe!')

"I'm so glad I found you!" The naked girl smiled as she approached her friend, "There's something I wanted to tell you."

"O-Ojou-sama, please-"

A line of slime shot out of Konoka's hands and ensnared Setsuna's. The Shinmei-Ryu swordswoman instantly tried to escape but another line shot out of Konoka's mouth and latch over hers. As Setsuna was restrained and a giant wave of slime fell over her, she heard Naruto-

('Setsu-')

Before it all went black.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Negi couldn't stop the feeling of dread. He wasn't sure what drove him out of the room but as he got closer to the uneasy feeling his stomach got more upset.

Negi noticed the ajar door and rushed to it before noticing Ayaka on the ground, "Iincho-San!" He dropped to her side and checked on her, "Are you okay?"

"Aniki! What's her situation?!"

"I-I think she's just asleep! But who-"

"N-Negi-kun, is that you?"

He looked up and rushed further inside, seeing Natsumi on the ground by an unconscious black-haired boy, "Murakami-San! What happened?"

"I-I'm not sure! Some old man broke into our room! Iincho was knocked out and Chizu-nee was taken and he beat up Kotarou-kun and pulled something out of his head!"

"What?! Why would he take Naba-San? That makes no - Kotarou-kun?!"

The dog-eared boy shuffled after all the screaming and sat up, rubbing his head and groaning, "Ah, that damn ol' guy packs a punch." He moaned before looking up and noticing Negi, "Negi? Negi? Negi! I-I remember now! Negi!"

"Y-Yes?"

"Fight me!"

"Not now!"

"Right, sorry!" Kotarou stood up and shook off the punches he got before nodding to the other boy, "Sorry I'm late! I was comin' here t' warn ya but I got sick and it was all fuzzy! That ol' jerk knocked me 'round but he helped me remember! Negi, there's a bad guy here lookin' for ya!"

"F-For me?"

"Yeah, and we can take care of him with-" Kotarou reached into his hair but as he felt around he found nothing, "Huh?! Where'd it go?!"

"K-Kotarou-kun," Natsumi murmured and got their attention, "I saw that old man pull something out of your hair."

"Dammit! He got the bottle!"

Negi asked, "Bottle?"

"Wait!" Natsumi yelled to get their attention, "B-But did you hear him after? What he said before he left?"

"Huh? No, what'd he say?"

"He said 'When the boy teacher shows up, tell him I'll be at the stage under the tree. That's where you'll find your friends.'"

"M-My friends?"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Something stirred her awake, possibly the sound of lightning crashing in the distance. Maybe it was the rain that was still pouring down and drenching her. Or maybe it was the tug on her arms that kept her on her feet even though she had been asleep. But as Asuna woke up her eyes blearily blinked open before clarity started returning. She raised her head, "Where…am I?"

"At the stage underneath your giant tree." She looked over and saw a refined older gentleman sitting in the front row of the theater. He seemed to care little for the rain falling on him as he stood up and walked closer, "I thought this place had the most appropriate atmosphere for the event we have planned tonight."

"Who are you?" She tugged on the watery chains around her wrists, "Why am I here?" She looked down, "And why - WHAT AM I WEARING?!"

"Ah yes," The old gentleman nodded as Asuna shrieked at the skimpy lingerie she had been changed into while she was asleep, "I thought it would be more appropriate for the captured princess to be wearing more accommodating attire than just her comfy PJs. I apologize that we didn't have a more royal outfit to dress you in-"

"BUT YOU CARRY YOUR FETISH GEAR AROUND WITH YOU, YOU PERV!" Asuna roared and lashed out, landing a fierce kick on the man's face and nearly breaking his neck. She growled at him as he dropped back and twitched on the ground, "I'm not your Barbie doll to dress up, you creep! I'd rather be naked than wearing whatever outfit gets you off!"

"Hey don't take what you got for granted!"

Asuna looked back in surprise at the other voices and saw three orbs of water behind her. Two contained Chizuru and Setsuna separately while they were unconscious. The last one held Nodoka, Yue, Kazumi, Ku, and Konoka as they tried to breach their liquid prison, "What are you girls doing here?! And why are you naked?!"

"That creep grabbed us in the bath!"

"Not even dry-Aru!"

"It's quite unsettling."

"I-I'd at least like a towel."

Konoka, being the only one in her PJs, chuckled nervously, "I feel bad being fully dressed in a situation like this."

The old man coughed and drew their attention, "Again, I would like to point out that it was my assistants that grabbed you in the bath. And I simply changed Asuna-kun's wardrobe because I thought it would match the situation better-"

"Pervert!"

"Creep!"

"Gross!"

"Go away!"

"Give us our clothes!"

He solemnly lowered his head, "I suppose I deserve that."

"You suppose?!" Asuna growled as she stomped her foot, "Why are you even here?! What is this about?!"

He lifted his head and pleasantly smiled, "Ah, so glad you asked. You see I was hired to do a little research on this academy." He stepped back, holding his hat on his head as he craned his neck back to look at the gargantuan tree that towered over everything else, "Quite a few things of interest to focus on around here." But he looked back down at the girls and smiled, "But I've also been asked to check on Negi Springfield-kun and his gang of friends. The little mess you made of the operation in Kyoto has brought quite a bit of attention on you."

"B-But what about Naba-San?! She's not involved in this at all!"

"Oh her? Well, she proved quite noble and intriguing so I ended up bringing her here while I was grabbing something." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a round bottle with a star carved on the front of it, "I thought she would be great motivation for one of the people that will come here. And for the rest of you, it should be quite clear." He reached into his other pocket and pulled out several Pactio cards and practice wands, "I see the gang has been dipping their toes into the fantastical, huh?"

"Heheheeee." The girls flinched as three puddles dragged along the ground and started to form bodies. Three little girls formed from the slime and started laughing at the captured girls while pointing at them, "You girls thought you could start using magic and you'd be strongggggg?"

"Normal people should stay in their lane before they get hurttttttt."

"How awful!" Konoka frowned and knocked her fists against the liquid cage, "Let us out of here! Free Secchan and Naba-San right now!"

"Oh, don't go making ordersssss." One of the girls giggled as she looked Konoka in the eyes, "That stuff's pH is pretty neutral right now but we can make it acidic whenever we wantttttt." Her threat got the girls to freeze in place. She stared into Konoka's eyes as the Japanese princess fumed and started getting teary-eyed, "Can you imagine your skin or bones start melting awayyyyy? Or would you prefer we use it on that other girl you like so muchhhhh?"

"Y-You-"

"Okay! We get it! You're tough!" Asuna barked as she glared the old man down, "So if Negi gets here then what? Do you talk? Do you fight? He's been training a lot lately so don't expect that to be easy!"

"Oh, I don't." He stepped up to the stage, brazenly walking towards Asuna as she shied away from him in anticipation. He pulled out a set of pendants before gently placing the necklace around her neck and holding the other one in his hand, "But I think this should help prepare for that."

"W-What is this?"

"I guess we'll just wait to find out." He stepped back down from the stage and smiled knowingly, "I'm sure I'll be able to talk and reminisce with Negi-kun when he gets here."

"Reminisce?"

"However there's another problem." He pulled out Setsuna's Pactio card and looked at the name on the back, "Even if I think I'm prepared for Negi-kun, there's another problem child to deal with around here, isn't there." He turned away from the girls, lowered the card, and smiled pleasantly up the stairs, "And he got here quickly."

A flash of lightning illuminated the area and when it did it cast the young man standing at the top of the stairs in a silhouette of rain and light. Once their eyes had adjusted they got a look at the whiskered blond teen glaring down towards the base of the theater.

Asuna smiled, "Whiskers!"

"Naruto-kun!"

"Oh thank god! Get us out of here!"

"Welcome, Naruto Uzumaki-kun." The old man removed his hat and made a flourish as he bowed gracefully, "I'm so honored to meet you."

"The feeling ain't mutual." The young Mage growled out, "Asuna! Girls! Are you okay?"

"We're not hurt! Cold but not hurt!"

"Y-Yeah, I see that." He raised an eyebrow, "Why are you all dressed like that?"

"He got us in bath-Aru!"

"I was getting comfy and ready to go to bed."

"THIS PERV DRESSED ME UP LIKE THIS! I DIDN'T DO IT MYSELF! JUST KICK HIS ASS ALREADY!"

"Alright, alright, I'm on it." After making sure they were alright, Naruto started making his way down the steps while eyeing the man responsible. His pleasant, amused smile didn't falter for a second while he had been talking with the girls. Looks like he didn't think Naruto's presence here risked whatever this operation was, "And who are you supposed to be?"

"My name is Wilhelm Josef Von Herman." The old aristocrat introduced himself under the blond boy's baleful glare, "It's a pleasure to meet someone of such renown as you."

"Like is said, I don't feel the same." Naruto snapped as he eyed the condition all the girls were in. Unconscious and ensnared but no clear injuries, "So it's pretty clear you did this as a publicity stunt otherwise you won't go all this way for presentation."

"That's correct. I'm hoping for a magnificent reunion with Negi Springfield-kun."

Reunion? Naruto narrowed his eyes, "Yeah well it's going to get cut short."

His hand blurred forward and released a blast of lightning magic at the older man. As the bolt arched towards him Wilhelm raised his hand to block it.

Only for the lightning spell to disappear completely.

"AAAHHH!" Asuna yelled as she felt a sharp, painful experience suck the breath from her lungs as the pendant of her necklace glowed. Her legs nearly gave out under her as she gasped, "W-What was-"

Naruto's eyes widened and he immediately pulled his hand back before he could fire another spell, "What did you do?"

"Handy little trinket, isn't it?" Wilhelm looked down at the identical pendant in his hands, "With these, I can project the young lady's Magic Cancel ability at a small distance. It makes ranged attacks rather pointless."

"So you just want me to come up close and wail on you? I can do that."

"Ah, not another step." Wilhelm held out his hand and warned Naruto, making the blond boy pause halfway down the stairs, "I want you to surrender your cards and any weapons you have on you."

"And why would I do that?"

"Well, the girls held hostage behind me make a compelling argument. Their lives hang in the balance."

"You wouldn't risk killing them because then you'll lose any leverage you have." Naruto warned, killing intent wafting off him as he eyed the aristocrat dangerously, "If you tried to do that…I would kill you without hesitation."

"That may be true…I'd lose the advantage I have if I killed them and it would certainly go against my code to take the life of a beautiful maiden. However…" Wilhelm's eyes glinted in the dark, "I can live with harming them if it meant I can get the job done."

"Do you want to risk what would happen to you if you did that?"

"Well, my boy that's what it boils down to; risk. Do I take the risk in threatening these girls, only to incur your unbridled wrath and sign my life away? Or do you take the risk that I am simply bluffing and wouldn't hurt them?" Wilhelm looked back at the girls in question as they flinched under his gaze, "Now true I couldn't bring myself to tarnish these lovely ladies when they can do so little in their situation…"

"But that demon hunter lass?"

Wilhelm noticed Naruto's body tense slightly as the elderly man's attention turned to Setsuna floating in her orb.

"Secchan!"

"You jerk!" Asuna struggled against her restraints and tried to rush the man holding them captive, "Don't you threaten Setsuna-San like that!"

"Why not? She is a dedicated warrior, sword practitioner, and a Ministra from what her card detailed, is she not?" He asked rhetorically before looking back at Naruto, "If she suffered acidic injuries, ruined her body until she was unrecognizable, even cost her the chance to use her sword again, but all for the sake of protecting her friends…I'm sure she'd make that sacrifice."

He was bluffing. He had to be. There's no way he would make a claim like that in front of Naruto if not to just get a rise out of him. Naruto stared into Wilhelm's eyes and tried to find a lie or doubt in them. They seemed so lifeless and void that he couldn't discern anything from them.

Wilhelm raised his hand in Setsuna's direction-

"Wait!" Naruto yelled out, giving the old man paused as he waited for an answer. The whiskered boy bit his tongue and pulled out his cards, "Damn you."

He tossed them through the air and Wilhelm easily caught them. Once they were in his grasp he smiled contently, "You know Naruto-kun, I heard quite a bit about you. If what I heard from our associate is true, you traveled with the legendary Ala Rubra in its final years, yes?"

From Wilhelm's side, the three slime sisters rushed off the stage and charged Naruto. They started striking at him, viciously swarming him from all sides as they lashed out with punches and kicks. He guarded against their strikes but they were relentlessly hellbent on overwhelming him now that he was unarmed and hesitant to make a move while his friends were in danger.

"I'm sure it must have been quite the experience to see heroes like that in action. The Mages and warriors of that caliber from the time of the war inspired a generation. For a boy such as yourself, you must have idealized them." Wilhelm noted as Naruto was swarmed, "Nagi Springfield. Jack Rakan. Eishun Konoe. Albiero Imma. Gateau Kagura Vadenburg. You must have witnessed all of these men at their peak. Truly awe-inspiring."

"Naruto-kun!"

"Sensei!"

"Dammit Whiskers! Just fight back! We'll be fine!"

"Ala Rubra were legends known world round for their exploits and adventures. And then they all just faded away. Some fell into obscurity. Some disappeared. Some just died. Legends…gone in an instant." Wilhelm lifted the brim of his hat and looked at the swarmed teen, "Tell me Naruto-kun, did you forgive them for disappearing like that on you? Have you ever resented them for that?"

"HAAAAA!"

A mighty roar exploded from Naruto's mouth along with a burst of elements and energy. The outburst shredded the slime girls to gunk that fell to the ground and mixed with the water. The girls looked at the sight in surprise and Wilhelm silently watched as Naruto picked himself up.

"Sorry, didn't hear you completely there." Naruto groused, standing up with barely any marks after the attacks he had taken, "Did you ask me if I held something against Ala Rubra? I'd rather not even answer but since you seem like the cranky type if I didn't then I'll say no. I didn't." The blond smirked in confidence as he said, "They did their part to save the world, and after they did they had other things to take care of. I don't resent them. If anything, they inspired me to keep going." He scoffed, "And they wouldn't have taken shit from some pervert hiding behind his hostages."

"Yeah!"

"Screw you creep!"

Wilhelm chuckled as the girls jeered him and Naruto refused to falter. He pulled his hat over his eyes and nodded, "I see. Perhaps that wasn't the question I should have asked. Let me try again."

He opened his mouth as the light started to build up inside it. Naruto's eyes widened and he shifted to make a move-

Only to realize his feet were stuck. He looked down and saw the slime girls had recovered enough to envelop his feet-

Wilhelm opened his mouth and fired a beam straight at Naruto. He tried to avoid its path but with his legs caught, he could barely move as the beam grazed his head. The moment it vanished the side of Naruto's head that was hit by the beam started to petrify and spread over his face-

"Sensei!"

"Naruto-kun!"

"Oh no!"

"WHISKERS!"

"A-A-Ahhhh." Naruto let out a strained gasp as the petrifaction spread over his right eye and temple. The girls could only watch in horror as a portion of his head turned to stone and the side that hadn't petrified tried to cope with the loss of function.

Wilhelm fired several more petrifaction beams. One hit his closed fist, another landed on his shoulder, and the last one turned his front foot to stone. The whiskered Mage toppled to his knee, gasping for air as the petrification moved to his neck and hindered his breathing.

"Stop it! You're killing him!"

"Serves him righttttttt! Big jerkkkkkkkk!" One of the slime girls yelled as she reformed, got in close to his gasping face, and ridiculed him, "He's not even supposed to be the star of this little show and he thinks he can come here and make threatsssssss. The heroes' gopher should learn his-"

"HAAAAAAAAA!"

With enough vicious scream, Naruto released a powerful discharge of lightning off his body that reduced the slime girls to bits. Once he was alone at the seat of the stairs, Naruto's raspy breathing halted before he took a deep breath that sucked air in like a vacuum.

"Oh, your throat is starting to petrify so it should be hard to breathe. And yet even with half of it closed off you can take breaths deep enough to compensate. You must have trained quite diligently." Wilhelm noted before continuing, "So answer me this, Naruto-kun; why do you fight?"

The sound of rain and thunder clapping was the only answer for several moments. Everyone watching believed that he couldn't even answer now…

"Cat…catch…"

"Easy lad. Pace yourself."

With one deep, struggling breath his answer came out in a raspy gargle, "Catch…up." Naruto pushed on, "Can't do…w-what they did…but have to…so I'll…c-catch…up."

Asuna watched Naruto as he spoke through the pained expression and closing airway. Seeing him like this…forced into this state…

Her eyes couldn't help but start to water.

"Heh," Wilhelm let out a mirthless chuckle, "Boys just can't help themselves. They grow up guided by the heroes of their youth and seek to emulate them. Follow them. Idolize them. They do so at any cost. No matter the pain…no matter the difficulties…" He looked up into the sky and smiled at the approaching shadow, "They'll rush in to be like their heroes."

"Sagitta Magica!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Negi let his arrows fly at the man Kotarou identified as their target. They flew through the air at blistering speeds with their aim straight and true.

Only to fade into nothing against the man's hand.

"AAAHHHH!" Asuna cried out in pain as the pendant activated again.

"W-What was that?" Negi landed among the seats as he and Kotarou jumped off his staff, "Did - did he cancel the attack?"

"Oh crap! Nii-chan?! That you?!"

Negi looked over as Kotarou ran towards a kneeling figure on the stairs. He realized who it was and panicked, "Nii-San? Nii-San?!"

"Aniue!" Negi ran over and joined the petrifying blond's side with Kotarou as Chamo came out on his shoulder, "Oh no! Aniki, he's being petrified!"

"Oh man, this sucked back in Kyoto!" Kotarou rubbed the blond's back as he was doubled over and breathing heavily, "Nii-chan, just hang in there, 'kay!"

"Nii-San!" Negi yelled in fright as he looked over his dear friend. Stone going over his arm, shoulder, leg, and part of his head. If his defenses were lowered then he'd have been petrified instantly but in this case, the process was slow and agonizing. Memories of his village suffering at the hands of petrification clouded his mind as he squeezed his older friend's shoulder, "H-Hold on, we'll get you help-"

"P-Pendant." Naruto wheezed out as he looked up between the two boys, "Asuna's…necklace…cancel…magic…help…them…"

"B-But-" Naruto's non-petrified hand reached up and grabbed Negi's. The whiskered boy lifted his head, staring into the young boy's frightened eyes to get across what he should focus on. Negi held his gaze and stared in silence before closing his eyes. When they opened again he had found his resolve and turned to face their tormentor, "Why are you doing this?!"

"I came to meet you, Negi-kun. Consider this an evaluation." Wilhelm nodded to the young boy, "My name is Wilhelm, and I have your friends and associates at my mercy. I will free them without harm if you can fulfill my one condition; beat me."

"Hey ya jerk!" Kotarou stomped his foot and scowled at the old man, "Don't think I'mma let ya just keep talkin' like I ain't here! Did you grab the bottle or wha'?!"

"Oh yes, this one?" Wilhelm withdrew the bottle with the star on it and showed it off, "I thought it would be best to take this out of the equation."

Negi spotted the bottle, "Is that-"

Before he could finish, Wilhelm crushed the bottle in his hand to pieces. The boys flinched in surprise as the remains dropped from his glove, "Now there's nothing left to interrupt us."

"Why are you going this far?! Why do you want to face me?!"

"I guess on both ends it's a professional responsibility…and cleaning up my messes." Wilhelm fixed his sleeves before raising his fists, "So then…shall we begin?"

"WRAAAAHHHH!"

"Kotarou-kun!"

"Jerk!" Kotarou flew through the air and kicked for Wilhelm's head as the older man ducked underneath, "Ya raid the apartment!" He landed and started rushing the older man, "Ya beat me while I'm weak!" He jumped again with Ki rushing off his fist, "And ya take Chizuru-neechan! I'll make ya pay!"

Kotarou punched at his head but Wilhelm caught his fist. He pulled him in, "Oh Kotarou-kun," He landed a powerful jab in the young Hanyō's gut and made him cough blood before he was sent flying, "You got yourself into this!"

The young boy was sent flying into the stairs as Negi jumped in to fight in his place. The boy teacher slid into place before the aristocrat, keeping his form tight and stature strong before he started making his moves. With the help of Cantus Bellax increasing his physical capabilities he started trading blows with the mercenary. Each kick and punch was thrown with the discipline he had honed through his time practicing Kenpo.

"Yeah! Go Negi-bozu!" Ku cheered, "Teach him glory of China martial art-Aru!"

"You've taken up martial arts since your trip to Kyoto?" Wilhelm roughly knocked the boy's arms away before throwing a punch. Negi barely dodged and jumped away, "Impressive."

"Ya serious Negi?" Kotarou jumped to his side after picking himself up, "Yer trainin' t' be a fighter now or somethin'?"

"I just thought it would be prudent to hone my skills after Kyoto."

"Hey, I ain't gonna fault ya!" Kotarou grinned and summoned his Ki, "Now let's put the hurt on this guy-"

"Wait." Negi held his hand in front of the young fighter and looked his way, "Your Ki and my magic will just be canceled. We just have to hold him off for now."

"Huh? Why wait?"

"Trust me."

Kotarou frowned before reluctantly agreeing and taking a stance next to Negi. The two boys tensed before rushing at Wilhelm to swarm him at once.

Asuna watched from the stage as the two boys tried to overwhelm the old man with numbers. But as they were restricted from using their attacks for fear of her canceling them, all they could do was engage in combat. And even if they had the numbers, the way this old pervert moved and the power behind his punches just wasn't fair.

And as she pulled her eyes away from the fight she spared Naruto a look. He was still hunched over and wasn't moving. Had the petrification turned him? Had it hurt him enough? Once again she pulled on her restraints and tried to-

"Ane-San! Hold on!"

"Huh?" She looked down and saw their ermine friend on her shoulder, "Pervy Chamo! What are you-"

"Aniki is keeping the guy distracted so I can remove that pendant thing!" He started fiddling with the chain around her neck, "Just hold on!"

"Hurry!"

"I'm trying! This ain't easy with paws! Just-"

"I see you."

A burst of wind slammed into Chamo and sent him flying into the wall.

"Chamo-kun!"

"Oh no!"

"O-Ow."

"That was very clever boys." Wilhelm congratulated the children, "Draw my focus why your familiar tries to even the field. I like the way you think." He raised his fists, "But I'm not making it that easy."

A flurry of heavy, devastating punches was thrown in rapid succession. Negi and Kotarou were forced to dodge as his punches went flying and released such powerful wind it shattered the seats behind them. Both boys desperately avoided the path of his attacks but the punches grew faster and stronger with every second.

The dodging turned to parry at the last moment.

Parrying resorted to guarding.

And finally the guarding turned into weathering the storm.

Negi and Kotarou tried to protect themselves as Wilhelm's jabs and crosses pelted their bodies. Both boys struggled through the pain as best they could. Kotarou gritted his teeth and growled before leaping up to strike the man-

"You boys," Wilhelm shifted aside, "Need to do," He punched up into the Hanyō's stomach and winded him, "Much better than this," He slammed a hammer fist into Kotarou's back and bounced him off the ground before kicking him into the stairs, "If you want to win. Especially you, Negi-kun."

"Huh?" The red-haired boy muttered as he slowly lifted himself, "What do you mean?"

"I sense no drive in you lad. You're so distracted right now. You don't know where to focus. Your students being held captive for our duel?" Negi's eyes turned to the girls on stage, "Naruto-kun petrifying off to the side?" He saw his older friend struggling to breathe, "Kotarou-kun and trying to match his pace so you can overwhelm me?" The Hanyō groaned as he tried to stand up, "Your attention is so divided you can barely do anything."

"W-What does that matter?! I can worry about all of them and fight you!"

Wilhelm stared at him in silence, "Negi-kun, why do you fight?"

"Huh?" Negi frowned, "I'm fighting you to save my friends and students!"

"No that's what you're doing. But I'm asking what drives you? What pushes you forward?"

The young Mage's hands tightened around his staff, "I-I hope to one day become a Mage as brilliant and powerful as my father, The Thousand Master! And in my path forward I'll discover where my father is and reunite with him-"

"That's not true."

"H-Huh?"

"That's a goal. Your ambition. What you aim for. I'm asking what drives you to reach that goal." Wilhelm pointed to the side, "Kotarou-kun's drive is simple but strong; he wants to be the strongest and therefore will take any fight he can. Naruto-kun on the other hand yearns to become like the heroes he once stood beside, and will even suffer through agonies like that if it will get him a step closer. You want to become a great Magister Magi like your father and find him…but you know what drives you, right?"

Negi narrowed his eyes as he tried to contemplate-

"It was that snowy night in the village we shared."

"What?"

Everything went silent as Wilhelm spoke, "That's what pushes you on. You can say you wish to be a great Mage and find your father, but that night in the village made you who you are. It molded you into a boy that pushes on, never gives up, and is willing to do anything to become better. A night like that would break and shatter most people…and yet it made you into the extraordinary boy you are now." He gently held his fedora and lowered it over his face, "You lost sight of that with all the fun and pleasantries and friends you made here. But will this help focus you?"

The hat lowered completely…

And Negi's body went colder than any stormy rain could make it.

Wilhelm's head had turned into a demon's. A demon that haunted his dreams for years. The one that petrified others and led the attack and that Grandpa Stan had captured. That bottle he saw earlier looked familiar because it was the one that captured this demon.

He…was here.

"Ah…there it is…that's the face I was looking for."

He jumped and flew at Wilhelm with a furious gaze. He pushed as much magic into his Cantus Bellax as he could. Ignoring all of his Master's warnings about overloading his magic, he poured everything he could into increasing his power. Reeling his staff back he swung it like a weapon towards Wilhelm's head only for the demon to block it.

The moment he touched the floor he dashed in, thrusting the end of his staff at the old demon as if he wanted to pierce him. But Wilhelm simply parried his strikes with a wave of his hand. He pushed on and on, intent on striking down the demon that destroyed his village years ago-

"Negi-bozu!"

"Negi-kun!"

"Negi-sensei!"

"Negi!"

More! More! Just a little more and he can-

"YA IDIOT!"

Kotarou tackled Negi's side and dropped him to the ground. The young teacher looked ready to snap and yell-

The Hanyō's fist swung in and struck his cheek, "What the hell is wrong with ya?!"

Negi blinked, "K-Kotarou-kun?"

"What the hell was that?! Were ya tryin' t' get yerself killed?! Sure yer super-strong an' stuff but yer fightin' sucked so bad he was barely even tryin'! Ya let him provoke ya and nearly got beat cause of it! I know yer angry and wanna get yer revenge or whatever, but focus jerk!"

Negi looked up at Kotarou and took a moment to catch his breath. He turned his attention to the girls on stage and realized he lost his clarity in that haze of anger. It was still there, only momentarily subdued by his breathing. But Negi did his best to push it down before nodding in agreement. Kotarou smirked and held out his hand as Negi took it and got pulled up.

"Oh Negi-kun, you were so close." Wilhelm's body shifted around as he took his original demon form in all its glory. As the boys stood their ground and prepared to fight, Wilhelm closed his fists, "Without your rage to guide you I'm not sure how you'll come out on top. Even with Kotarou-kun at your side, without magic-"

A shadow dropped down from the sky and landed on the stage. And before anyone could react a flurry of seven tails shredded the liquid prison holding the girls. The resistance they were pushing against suddenly vanished and they fell forward before looking up.

"There, freed." Kyūbi grumbled while at the size of a horse before sitting down, "Stop bombarding my thoughts with demands now, Brat."

"Kyūbi-chan!" The girls called out in relief once they saw the seven-tailed fox come to their rescue. His tails shot out to the side and pierced the bubbles holding Setsuna and Chizuru. Once she knew her friend was okay, Konoka rushed to the front of the stage, "Asuna!"

"Konoka!" She called out in glee as her best friend arrived at her side and grabbed the pendant around her neck. With a little extra force, the necklace was torn off and the Magic Cancel was nullified, "Negi! Kotarou-kun! The pendant is gone!"

That was all the boys needed. Magic and Ki started to build off their bodies as they prepared to start their next wave of attacks. Wilhelm sensed the power coming off them and looked down at the pendant in his hand. He crushed it as it was now rendered inert before he dropped the pieces and raised his fists. If these boys were going to go all in, then he had to answer in-

A hand latched around Wilhelm's wrist and squeezed it so tightly it was nearly broken. The demon looked down in surprise as he saw a stiff figure appear at his side.

The petrification had spread over Naruto's right forearm, left shoulder, right leg, and nearly the entire right side of his head. His throat had nearly closed from the process of becoming stone and it had almost reached both of his eyes. It should have been impossible to move in that state…

Which only made Wilhelm worry as the whiskered boy reeled his stone fist as far back as he could.

It flashed forward and lodged itself in the demon's ribs, nearly bending him around it completely as Wilhelm gagged on a rush of blood in his mouth. He quickly chambered his fist and prepared to strike the petrifying boy beside him.

"HA!"

Wilhelm's demon head jerked back as Kotarou slammed a knee into his chin. And before the mercenary had a chance to act, Negi rushed in and landed a palm strike into his chest. An electric shock ran through the demon's chest and made him nearly double over.

The three boys took their chance and attacked in unison. They refused to give Wilhelm even an instant to regain his composure. Naruto punched him across the face so that Kotarou could slash him across the chest and Negi could land a punch in his stomach. The noble demon was attacked relentlessly and without pause.

He tried to lash out against them but Naruto caught his fist and gave the others an opening to strike.

Wilhelm spat up blood as Naruto pushed him towards Kotarou, "Negi!"

"Right!" The young redhead nodded, "Ras tel Ma Scir Magister!"

As Negi started to recite his incantation and gather lightning around him, Kotarou rushed at Wilhelm and smirked, "This is for the beatins' ya jerk!" With his arms partially transformed he released a powerful burst of shadow power at the demon, "Vacuum Fang Crush!"

His attack pelted the demon's body and sent him flying back. Before he could hit the ground Naruto slammed his foot into Wilhelm's back before shifting his body. The petrifying blond stood in a vertical split with the exposed, injured demon resting on his upper foot. With a deep breath, Naruto used the last of his air to yell-

"NEGI!"

It was a risky move. Bringing a lightning attack down on an exposed foe with a comrade right underneath them. And trusting your partner to release an attack like that without missing. It was the kind of maneuver that would cause people to hesitate and risk the flow of battle…

Which made it all the more amazing that they finished it in an instant…

"Dios Tukos!"

Negi brought the ax of lighting down onto the beaten demon and listened as he let out a bloodcurdling scream in his defeat.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Negi-kun!"

"Naruto-sensei!"

"Negi! Whiskers!"

The girls jumped down from the theater stage after the fighting had finally halted. Wilhelm's smoking defeated body lay on the ground as Negi, Naruto, and Kotarou all rested around him. Naruto finally felt his resistance waver and toppled over on the ground.

"Whiskers!" Asuna jumped down and got by Naruto's side. She tried to lift him but found his head and shoulders much heavier than she expected. In a panic, she leaned down and heard small, uneven breaths escaping through his mouth, "Hey, he needs help! Konoka!"

"M-My artifact only works within 3 minutes! And he's been like this for longer than that!" The young Konoe said in a panicked, hectic tone as Setsuna started to regain consciousness in her arms, "I'm sorry!"

"Let's get 'im to a healer!" Kotarou announced as he picked up a stirring Chizuru, "If someone can heal 'im real quick then-"

Wilhelm snapped his fingers.

"GUUUUHHHH!" The stone creeping over Naruto's body shattered away and he took the deepest breath he could. Asuna and Negi looked on in shock as he sat up and started to cough, "O-Oh crap. T-That feels so much better-"

"You jerk!" Asuna grabbed him and hugged him so hard she nearly popped something, "You nearly died!"

"S-Sorry, I-"

"Just shut up for a second!" Asuna rubbed her eyes as he continued to catch his breath, "Just focus on breathing and shut up."

Negi looked on in relief as Naruto recovered, periodically getting either hugged or slapped on the arm by a worried Asuna. He looked around and saw the girls that had been captured coming to as well. Kotarou was helping Chizuru sit up. Konoka was explaining to a confused Setsuna what had happened. And the girls that had been caught in the bath were finding drapes or costumes left behind to cover themselves in. Even Kyūbi had returned to his normal size and sat on the edge of the stage watching everything happen.

"Why…" He turned to the demon smoking on the ground, "Why did you do that? Free him of your petrification?"

"You fought so hard and valiantly. Felt like it would be in poor taste not to reward you for your effort." Wilhelm acknowledged as he reached into his coat and retrieved the practice wand and Pactio cards he confiscated. Negi glared at him and took them from his hand, "What will you do now, Negi-kun?"

"About what?"

"About me? I am the vanquished villain that stole these girls and threatened your life. Not to mention I'm the vile demon that attacked your village and ruined your life 6 years ago." Wilhelm noted as Negi's shoulders tensed with each word, "If you wanted revenge…now would be the time."

Negi shuffled, his mind pounding with what he wanted to know and how he wanted to act. He resolved himself, "Why did you do it? A small village…in the middle of nowhere in Scotland…why attack it? What did you have to gain?"

"Nothing." Wilhelm answered honestly, "I didn't attack your village because I had some grudge against you or your people. I was summoned to attack that village and I did. Without thought for what it would mean to people like you or the consequences like Naruto-kun could tell you." Negi sent a look back at Naruto and saw his conflicted face, "If I lose my life because of the actions I made back then, so be it."

"Who summoned you? Back then? Was it that Fate boy?"

"No. He only recently released me and asked me to take this job."

"Then who brought you there 6 years ago?" Negi asked in a pleading tone, "Do you know why they wanted to attack my village?"

Wilhelm shook his head, "I'm sorry but I don't know. The person who summoned us didn't give a name or reason. They were completely unremarkable and forgettable…someone who could disappear altogether after a job was taken. I'm not even sure if they're still alive."

"You could kill me, couldn't you?" Negi looked down at Wilhelm as the demon stared up at the skies that had cleared after the last attack, "Every Mage learns a least nine spells before they leave for their advanced training. Basic spells like elementary healing or defense or even an attack spell to round it out. But you…you learned a spell far above your station, didn't you?" Negi flinched as he realized the demon knew the extent of what he had learned, "You could even kill me with that. It's difficult to kill high-ranking noble demons but you could do it with that spell. You could finish what you set out to do."

Negi felt his chest tighten as he tried to wait for an answer. He could feel everyone standing by and waiting for him. They weren't going to step in and tell him what to do. This was his choice to make.

"I…I won't."

"Oh?" Wilhelm hummed curiously, "I thought you would have jumped at the bit for a moment like this."

"Y-You were used by whoever summoned you to attack. And your freedom was used as a carrot for you to act today. It just - it doesn't seem right to take my anger out on a pawn."

"Even though I attacked your village and hurt your friends today?"

"The people in my village are petrified but still alive so there is hope. And even though you captured my students and hurt my friends I believe you could have done far worse from the beginning. You could have injured them instead of simply holding them hostage. And you could have struck Nii-San directly in the throat or heart to take him out completely."

"I think you're giving me too much credit, lad." Wilhelm noted with a content chuckle, "So let me ask you this; when the day comes when you find the people responsible for ruining your lives - and I truly believe you will…what will you do then?"

"…"

"Heh, you are a kind-hearted boy, Negi Springfield-kun. That's good quality, but I believe it will hinder you in the long run when faced with people and monsters far worse than I. How will you act when you must stop your foes but hesitate because you empathize or show them mercy? And if you do someday abandon that kindness, will you still be the boy you are now?" Wilhelm shifted and craned his neck back, "That girl, your Minstra with the lovely long hair?"

"Konoka-San?"

"She has a healing artifact and an extraordinary amount of magic. I think if she kept trying, one day she could even dispel petrification that has been in place for years." Negi's eyes widened in shock as he watched the demon settle back down, "That's just what I think."

The demon's body started to fade away as he disappeared and returned to wherever he came from…

"Goodbye, Negi-kun. I'm not sure we'll ever meet again but I hope to hear your name among a bevy of grand stories and adventures."

Wilhelm faded away and left them all in the theater alone.

Negi felt…frustrated. He didn't feel relieved or merciful letting Wilhelm go like that. He felt like he may have missed an opportunity. If Grandpa Stan and everyone could speak wouldn't they demand retribution? Would they have told him to act when he had the chance? The young Mage stood unsettled-

"I think I would have done it."

Negi flinched and looked back as Naruto walked up to him. The whiskered blond's voice was solemn and his expression was remorseful. In all the time Negi had known him he didn't think he'd ever seen the older boy look so… tired. He turned to face his friend, "Not because of the petrification or what he did here tonight. But because I don't think I could forgive him for what he did back then. What he caused. I couldn't. I wouldn't. That anger is still in me, and I think by the looks of it it's still in you too."

Negi tried to say something but couldn't. He lowered his head in shame as he realized he made the wrong choice-

Only for a hand to gently rest on his head and rub his hair. He looked up and saw Naruto smile at him. Not one that filled his face, but one that seemed to be at peace and proud of Negi.

"But I think it's what he would have done." Naruto faintly smiled at Negi's surprised face, "Good job buddy…you made your Superman proud."

Despite how hard he tried Negi couldn't stop the faint sobs from slipping out.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"You know when that damn fox kept bitching at us to bring him here I wasn't expecting such a show." Eva remarked from one of the World Tree's branches as she watched her pupil get surrounded and embraced by the others, "A shame that demon couldn't push Boya to go the extra step."

"I think it is good that Negi-sensei retains such kindness and mercy."

"Only because he can afford to. We'll see how that works out for him." Eva stretched and looked to her partner, "Chachamaru, take me back home."

"A moment Mistress." The android whispered as her vision magnified and she located the slimes that had been beaten in the battle. She retrieved a jar, "I've been asked to retrieve something and deliver it to the lab. I shall return soon."

Chachamaru's jets activated and she floated away to fulfill her job. The blonde vampire sat on the branch and hummed to herself before looking around, "How the hell am I going to get down from here?"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"So that's what happened last night?"

"Yes. Were you able to track him or anything?"

"Unfortunately no," Takamichi said after debriefing Negi in the classroom a few hours before classes would start. The dandy man shook his head forlornly, "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Negi-kun."

"I-It's alright Takamichi, at least I didn't do it alone." Negi tried to find some solace in the events that unfolded late last night. After a quick rest, he had been contacted by Takamichi and asked to report the strange events that occurred.

"Well, it shouldn't have happened." He said with a sigh as he reached for his pack, "We'll raise our defenses and prepare for anything like that from happening again. Negi-kun, if you're too tired from what happened last night you can take the day off. I can fill in-"

"Takamichi, what did Nii-San go through that involved my village?"

Takamichi only looked at the young boy silently as he pulled out a cigarette. He put it between his lips and retrieved his lighter, "You know about that?"

"I know something happened. When he heard about what happened to me 6 years ago he didn't respond like someone hearing about it for the first time." Takamichi stood up and walked towards the window as Negi asked, "If you can't tell me-"

"No I can, I just worry that Naruto-kun might be upset if I did."

"Nii-San said he'd be willing to talk about it, but he just seemed so tired and exhausted when we went to sleep that I couldn't ask. But I do want to know. So what happened to him years ago?"

Takamichi lit his cigarette and took a deep suck before he let the smoke lift up. He turned back to Negi and nodded, "To be precise it was the fallout and consequences of the attack you suffered that Naruto-kun found himself wrapped up in."

"Fallout?"

"It was a terrible and senseless attack on a human village in the old world by the hands of demons. That kind of action doesn't simply go unquestioned. There were acquisitions and questions flying about everywhere wondering why this had to happen. And Naruto-kun was there when it occurred."

He was there…dealing with the fallout of the village?

"Negi-kun, that tragedy ended up shaping both you and Naruto-kun in ways we never could have expected."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Done

I'm not sure what to say here. Give an excuse? Say I can write or not write when and what I want? Say I sorta fell out of focus of Negima and UQ Holder as they lost my attention? That I struggled with what to write for the next chapter and lost track of time?

Well it's all true. More than once I've just thought about putting this story to bed and ending it. Nothing was getting my attention. I wrote the first paragraph of this chapter two years ago and haven't touched it since.

But two things happened that changed my perspective.

UQ Holder ended and this story was just…put to an end. I won't say it was awful or brilliant, but even though there were so many threads left open and unfinished business there was just this simple beauty to seeing it end. The characters I loved moving on and going into their future. It resonated.

And also…my grandmother passed. She was old and I showed my love and she went in peace but I still lost her. And while the news kept getting more and more dire I tried to remember good times I had staying with her. And I remembered that years ago, when I was staying at her house while visiting, I read the entirety of Negima until the end of the Fate fight. This was the first time I was reading it so I skipped most of the fine details and just skimmed it for fun but it got me hooked. And as I read it again and again I retained more details and it started clicking more.

So with her passing…and UQ Holder ending…with finality on my mind…

I conceived an end for the Knight story if it ever went into UQ Holder. I didn't have anything in the middle - literally just the last chapter and that was it. But I just kept thinking more about journeys coming to an end, saying goodbye, regretting what you can't say anymore, and inevitably…accepting and moving on.

In this last week I wrote over 10k words for this chapter, outlined a rough draft for the rest of the story, details of things I hadn't figured out yet, and even wrote up a rough draft of how I want the end to be.

I've done more for this story in the last week than I have in years.

So I want to give it another go. With this fire lit under me I want to add it back into the rotation. I try to write 500 words a day for any story and it shouldn't be too bad to add this one back into the mix.

I can't keep a promise that I won't lose the spark again…you can't ever make certain of things like that. But as long as I remember what this series meant to me I should hopefully keep to it.

I hope you all are willing to give me that chance.

I've changed a lot as a writer since I last updated. And I hope that change can help make this story better.

ReadxReview

Thank You and Bye