All Purpose Negima Fanfiction Thread

"Wait, wait," Yuuna suddenly said. "I'd almost forgotten, before we get to do the Mahorafest arc, shouldn't we be doing the mini-arc where Asuna goes on a practice date with an aged up Negi-kun?"

For once, Asuna and Ayaka did agreed on something and joined forces to stuff Yuuna into her school locker and leave her there despite her protests.

Shiho-chan had called in the middle of classes, so Akira had to excuse herself on a splitting headache. That meant 'Sailor Senshi business' in the code they had agreed with Negi-sensei, so Sensei just nodded and wished her good luck on her way out.

Akira honestly didn't know why they bothered with the code, though. Other than Natsumi, Chizuru, the twins, and probably Zazie and Satsuki (Akira wasn't too sure on the last two, and she really didn't want to ask?) it wasn't like there was anybody in the class left out by this point, which was all sorts of depressing when you thought about it. She probably could just slip out the back door after gesturing some shorter, more discreet code to Sensei, and the result would have been the same.

Oh well. at least he didn't try to tag along anymore. Good thing he finally was trusting them more on their own safety. And they at least they didn't have the same token excuse poor Saber-san had been left with for her Grail War issues.

'Incoming diarrhea bout', really? Who had thought of that one? Again, Akira did not know and did not wish to as.

—-

"I, I heard you'd found another Senshi," the blond woman slurred, refilling her glass with ceremonial sake stol— borrowed from the temple's basement stash. "So I, I just wanted t'come here an' congratulate you on a, a well-done job. I, I realize I don't support you that much that often...!" she whined nasally, pinching her nose before taking another large gulp of liquor, "But I, I'm always busy, you know, at th' Gates of Time an' all that, and don't think that's an easy job, nooo, that's maddening, being there, day after day an' night after night, and..."

Venus gave Mars a piercing stare. "So you called us over a drunk skank who somehow found us out and decided to crash here in cosplay. Couldn't you just wipe her memories off and send her away? Your sempai taught you how to do that, didn't she?"

"Give me a break, the way she was acting when she showed up out of nowhere, I thought she was there to warn me about a new enemy or something!" Shiho protested. "She started all mysterious and coolly cryptic, and didn't get this plastered until I called you guys!"

"You, you're all so young and pretty, cute little things, jush like Ayanami," the older blonde sniffled, rubbing her nose."An' of course, the longer yuh go, the younger yuh keep getting, too," she lamented, taking a moment to absently flip Shiho's skirt up, making her yelp. "Heh heh. Not much room for us old ladies in this biz anymore, I guess..."

"Pluto-san?" Akira swallowed, walking past the arguing Shiho and Minako towards the woman she recognized from Kyoto. "What happened to you? You weren't acting like this when—"

"Yeah, well," Sailor Pluto muttered, helping herself another drink, "Then, well, that wasn't this day. Don'tcha worry, I only get this drunk one day a year. Tomorrow, I'll be the same stuffy know-it-all reveal-nuthin' gal who impressed yuh so much back dere. 'Course, tomorrow I won't be here either, so eh..." she shrugged before slurping the following shot down.

Minako blinked. "Mercury? Are you seriously saying this is the real Sailor Pluto?"

Akira nodded twice.

"Oh geez," Minako grimaced as Shiho facepalmed.

"It used to be," Pluto said distantly, "I used t'have a friend to drink with durin' these days. But... well, we grew apart, she started datin' some other woman, they moved in together, shit happens! Ever since, I've been spendin' these anniversaries drinkin' all alone at home, with my cats, but... but..."

The three girls simply watched at her in a perplexed, confused silence.

Sailor Pluto shook her head and closed her eyes. "You wouldn't understand. Sorry I disturbed you, I jus' wanted to say hello, to Mars and Venus that is, since this is th' only free day that was assigned tuh me, but... I guess I didn't bother to check the time... heh, the time, that's almost funny... I'll be going now, sorry I made yuh waste yur time." She stood up on shapely but wobbly legs, gave two steps, and dropped back on her butt. "Aw crap."

Shiho sighed. "I'm sorry about your mother or father," she said then.

Pluto stared up at her.

"I'm an orphan as well, you know," Shiho said, kneeling before her and taking the glass off her hands. "I've been there, even if I don't know the det—"

"My mother," Pluto's voice cracked slightly. "She killed herself."

"Ah," Shiho said quietly. "Well, I can't really say that was the case with—"

"Before my eyes."

"No, definitely not that, either."

They smiled sadly at each other.

Akira and Minako sat in silence, shortly behind.

This most likely would take quite a while. But sometimes, they guessed, being a hero meant more than killing demons well dead.

Nodoka felt like she was in a massive shopping mall. Only she was shopping for deities and beliefs.

The Parthenon was filled with people looking up the temples and churches, and setting up vendor stalls for quick, easy to eat food. The odd beggar could be spotted, too, asking for money. Some priests were happy to provide, others would take them for more.

Providing one beggar with a full gold coin, Nodoka felt pleased with her generosity, and continued her quest for a god.

While she didn’t know which god stood for which portfolio, she did have one criteria in mind on account that she was a wizard.

She was looking for the god of magic.

Asking around, she was directed to one Nethys and told to look for the solitary tower. So she looked up.

The tower was built with the concept art of the eight schools of magic, and was definitely built with the aid of magic, formed into a nonagon with the colors of their schools. The ninth side, the front, would have represented the universal magic. It featured the face of Nethys, a face split into two colors, black and white, above the door. The top featured a brazier with eight spikes siphoning power into it to keep it lit.

Nodoka had to admit, that wasn’t bad at all. Made her wonder how long the Parthenon has been around here. As she walked up to the door, she could feel the hum of magic resonating. It was subtle enough to be undetected by regular folk but any practitioner could pick it up. She had enough to know what it was.

It was… for lack of a better word, evaluating her personally. The magic field surrounding the tower probably wouldn’t allow anyone through. Guess that was why those wandering through that area were swerving without knowing they were to avoid the tower.

Nodoka found no trouble at all walking up to the door and reaching for the handle.

The door opened without her even touching it. It just led into a small room, with a second door. Nodoka shrugged and walked in, cautiously. Magic has a tendency to do the unexpected.

Once she got into the center of the room, the door behind her closed and the walls lit up blue, yellow, red and mauve, surrounding her. Nodoka stood still, hoping that it wouldn’t attack her as long as she stood still.

It went silent after a few seconds and the second set of doors opened for her. Nodoka had to admit, that was a scary moment.

But what was the point of that?

“It analyzed you for arcane powers,” a voice inside called to her, “and found yours to be… unusual.” She stepped in to see who was talking.

“You have a most powerful gift.” The one talking was dressed in black and white… rags, for lack of a better word, with half his head shaved and tattooed in white markings while having black hair on the other half. He had a bandolier of scrolls, with a knife somewhere on there and holding a book with Nethys’ mask on the front and a snake-themed sceptre in the other.

The tower was a library on the inside with hallways going further up along the walls. As with the outside, the nonagonal walls represented each of the schools of magic, with abjuration books on one shelf and necromancy on another, etc. There were others inside as well, consulting books or walking the hallways.

“I wouldn’t call it a gift,” Nodoka responded as she walked in to see the interior and felt a bit happy to see so many books in one place. The only place that surpassed this collection was Library Island, but it probably didn’t have this many books on magic and knowledge of magic. “It’s more of an achievement.”

He turned to see her, and frowned at her. Maybe it was because of what she was wearing. She wouldn’t know, she didn’t have her artifact out. “I say, this is what allows you to dress as such?” He asked and that answered that question.

“Among other things,” she answered. Nodoka wasn’t one for high quality fashion, but she did like pretty dresses and this was one of the better one she has worn over the years. At least he hasn’t figured out her focal ring. “I came here looking for a patron and as Nethys is the god of magic, I thought I’d give him a try.”

“Ah, good choice, girl,” he said and motioned her to come closer. “Nethys embraces all who is willing to use the Art, and we all know that to use the Art for its own sake is the highest calling of all.”

Nodoka nearly balked. “I’m sorry, magic is to be used for the sake of magic itself?”

“Yes. Nethys is all magic, from the simplest healing to the vilest necromancy,” he elaborated. “To use magic is to ask for His blessing and He encourages all to seek knowledge and power wherever it exists.”

To Nodoka, it sounded more greedy than she was content with. She wasn’t above seeking knowledge and power, but only as long as it served her own purposes, rather than just to acquire power. And her purposes revolved around protecting people. “But what about the people outside? Those ungifted with magic or unable to learn?”

“Them?” He scoffed. “Hardly worth the effort. Even the lowliest novice is more worthy of status than any of those people.”

“So, as long as you don’t have magic, you’re not worth the effort to protect you at all?” She asked, and he nodded. She shook her head and headed for the door. “I’m sorry.”

The door closed before she reached it and she figured no way was Nethys involved in this. “Open the door, please.”

“No,” the priest said behind her. “It’s too soon.”

“Too soon for what?” She asked and noticed that the two of them were drawing attention from the others.

“You have magic unlike anything we’ve seen and I wish to learn.”

Oh, great. Back in Menzoberranzan, it was expected to keep your powers secret and for Nodoka, a wizard being taught in a completely different style of magic which had an endurance and variety advantage over the local style, that went double. In fact, Master Gromph had instructed her not to display her powers to such an overt extent and to keep its source hidden.

Now this man was blackmailing her over a simple door. “What about free choice? I do have the right to leave.”

“And I have the right to stop you,” he countered. “And I also have the right to keep you here until you concede to show me.”

She sighed. “So it’s to be like that, then?”

“As I said,” he said with no hesitation or remorse. “He encourages all to seek knowledge and power wherever it exists.”

So what do I do to make him stop? Shundou to him with a magic arrow empowered fist? Blind and rush his defences? The Darth Vader?

“Now-” He started, but stopped on account that something was grasping his throat. Hard.

Darth Vader, you are a true inspiration.

She held up her hand to show that she was doing it to the priest and couldn’t resist the opportunity. “You know, it is very easy to choke on your ambitions.”

He raised a hand, but her other hand was faster, sending a magic arrow of light straight into his face. He was knocked back, into one of the bookshelves.

"And you just helped me make up my mind,” She said and opened the door with anger, making it public for the spectators that she would not come back.

While in theory, Nodoka thought that Nethys wasn’t evil per se and He would no doubt give His blessing to her whenever she used her powers, but if He attracted power-hungry wizards like the one back there, He probably wasn’t the One for her.

“I know how we can settle this,” Madoka said with an air of somber finality, slamming a thick history book on the table. “Sakurako, close your eyes, open a page at random, and point at any spot you feel like pointing at. That’s sure to give Saber-san’s identity away!”

Saber blinked. “Surely you cannot be serious.”

Misa smiled smugly. “Oh, she sure can. Good thinking, Madoka-chan! That’s real smart from you!”

Madoka smiled back. “Well, thank you. I’ll admit it’s kind of cheating, but all’s fair in love and war, and by now, this guessing war’s open warfare on 3-A!”

Sakurako hummed, closed her eyes, blocked them with a hand, flipped the tome open on a whim, and stabbed a pointer finger on one of the pages. Then she pulled her fingers away and stared at the name she’d just touched on the page.

King Arthur. Ferocious enemy to his adversaries. Undefeated in battle. The best warrior of his time.

That was the footnote to a striking picture of an armored figure ramming a spear right through another’s stomach.

Sakurako’s eyes tilted nervously towards the impassive Saber, who was suddenly sharpening a pencil for no seeming reason, and making as if to actually stab the writing utensil into the sharpener as she did so.

“… well…?” Misora asked. “What did you get?”

For some reason, the other girls gathered around the table seemed hesitant to lean closer to the book and look for themselves.

Sakurako swallowed, laughed nervously, and closed the volume. “Girls, do you know what’s the most important part of good luck?”

“Not tempting it?” Haruna said.

“That’s riiiiiight,” Shiina confirmed. “You know, I’m growing tired of this game, what if we ask Eva-chan for her Mario Kart?”

Sitting aside while reading another book, Negi shook his head quietly to himself.

Seriously, he needed giving them a proper course on the history of the Isles as soon as the current crisis had passed.