Bells, whistles, and electronic beeps sounded throughout the arcade as Sunset followed the others inside. She and the rest of the Library Exploration girls had caught Negi and Asuna trying to sneak away for free activity day and had decided to tag along. After wandering around Kyoto for a while, they’d wound up at a local arcade.
“Kind of defeats the point of traveling, doesn’t it?” Sunset muttered to Nodoka as they watched Haruna and Konoka race for a booth for the card game they’d been playing on the train. “I mean, they could have played games back at Mahora. We should really be taking this opportunity to see the sights around here.”
Nodoka shrugged staring down at her diary. She’d kept it out and had been staring at it off and on for the past hour. “I think this place has a few rare cards you can win,” she murmured distractedly. “Haruna-chan was saying something about that the other day.”
Sunset scoffed and rolled her eyes. “That’s why I think trading card games are so stupid. They keep urging you to collect them all. Collect them all! It’s just a giant scam.”
“Mm-hm.”
“And what’s more, they come out with a new set every year. Even if you did spend the insane amount of money it would take to get every card, there’d be another hundred or so new ones out immediately afterwards. It’s just an endless money waste.”
“Mm-hm.”
Sunset raised an eyebrow at her unresponsive companion. “Also, total non-sequitur, but I’ve had a crush on you pretty much since I met you and it’s only grown stronger over time.”
“Mm-hm.”
Sunset rolled her eyes and tapped Nodoka on her shoulder, causing the girl to jump and squeak. Adorable. “Seriously, Honya. What’s got you so spaced out? I could’ve just given you the Goddess of Love’s foolproof 12-step guide to winning the heart of the guy of your dreams, and you wouldn’t have heard a word of it.”
“S-sorry,” Nodoka said, blushing. “I’ve just been… thinking.”
“Obviously,” Sunset said dryly before glancing from the book in Nodoka’s hands to their teacher. “About magic?”
Nodoka nodded, smiling a bit as she watched Negi get dragged into Haruna’s game. “”It’s just, you have those amazing gauntlets and can light them on fire. And both you and Negi-sensei are mages, and Asuna-san is really strong and athletic.” She frowned and looked down at her book. “I guess… I’m just worried that I won’t be useful with just this book.”
“Spoken like a civi,” Sunset muttered. At Nodoka’s questioning glance, she elaborated. “I wasn’t just some random powerhouse back home. I was part of the mage corp, and organized unit of my country’s military. And while the royal guard may be impressive and the mage corp powerful, it was Abalone that we all relied on.”
“Abalone?” Nodoka questioned. “You… relied on shellfish?”
Sunset laughed and shook her head. “No, no. That’s just what the organization was called. It stood for Canterlot Internal and International Espionage Unit.” Seeing Nodoka’s confused stare, Sunset winced. “It, um, it worked as an acronym for ‘Abalone’ in my language.” Shaking off the awkwardness, she continued. “Anyway, it was our spy unit, and it was their intel that told us where to go and who to hit. Without them, we would have been blind.” Sunset smiled and placed a comforting hand on Nodoka’s shoulder. “That’s what you are, Nodoka. You’re the information network. You’re the support that holds everyone up. Without you and people like you, we powerhouses are lost. You, Nodoka, are Abalone.”
Nodoka looked back down at her book, at her artifact, staring at it as if it were a priceless treasure. She smiled fondly, laying a hand on the front cover, and looked up at Sunset, a determined fire in her eyes. “Th-thank you, Nichi-chan. I’ll try my best.” She then giggled and hugged the book to her chest. “Although, I don’t think I’ll be using ‘You are Abalone’ as a mantra.”
Sunset blushed and looked away and tried to pretend that it was just embarrassment over the translation error. “I-I’ll have you know that abalone are respected creatures back home,” she said imperiously, turning up her nose. “The proud shellfish which makes up a large portion of our seafood industry. Don’t discount-”
“Ah!”
“Kya!”
Sunset’s eyes snapped back to Nodoka. A young boy, about Negi’s age with a head of spiky black hair and dog-like ears, had bumped into Nodoka, knocking them both to the ground.
“Ha ha ha, sorry nee-chan,” the boy said, swiping a beanie from the ground beside him and jamming it over his head, quickly concealing his strange ears. He jumped up and sprinted out of the store, yelling back, “...for seeing your panties!”
Sunset glared after the boy as Nodoka got to her feet, blushing. “What a brat,” she muttered. Strange about the ears, though. Was it some sort of costume? Or… She sighed and shook her head before walking over to the other girls. “Hey, did you see that brat with the black hair? What was with him?”
“I’m not sure,” Konoka said, shrugging. “He just showed up and challenged Negi-kun.”
“Beat him too,” Yue added. “Showed us how you’re actually supposed to use a frog deck.”
“Oh give me a break!” Haruna shouted. “That kid just got lucky! I’ll show you how to use a frog deck here and now!”
Sunset frowned and walked away as they began their game, Konoka cheering them on while Setsuna watched. Frogs, huh? Could be a coincidence, but I don’t trust coincidences. Especially not with those ears. She grunted and shook her head. Not that I can do anything about it for now. Kid’s probably long gone. Better get back to- Sunset blinked as she looked up, barely catching the sight of Nodoka leaving the arcade in a rush. “...what?”
*****
Sunset caught up with Nodoka relatively quickly. She had seen Negi and Asuna sneak out of the arcade and had been tailing them. They soon arrived at a train station and boarded a few cars behind Negi and Asuna, sneaking up to the car right behind theirs so they could see when they got off. They followed them through Kyoto, staying far enough back to not be spotted. Negi and Asuna soon arrived at a path leading up towards a temple, lined with large red torii gates. Asuna pulled out her artifact - a large fan that she wielded like a club - and Negi his staff before the two of them charged up the path and out of sight.
“Oh no!” Nodoka cried, darting forward. “We have to- ah!”
Sunset grabbed her arm and easily held her there, shaking her head. “No need to rush. Wherever that path leads, I doubt they’ll be leaving soon. We can take our time.”
Nodoka blushed and nodded and they made their way up to the gates. They frowned at the “No entry” sign placed at the entrance, and also at the apparently empty path ahead of them. “That’s odd,” Sunset muttered. “As straight as this path is, we should still be able to see them.”
“You don’t think Negi-sensei would have left the path, do you?” Nodoka asked.
“I’m not sure,” Sunset said, looking down at Nodoka’s book. “But I do know how we can find out.”
*****
Sunset and Nodoka watched Negi’s thoughts as he and Asuna ran along the path for thirty minutes before they realized that something was wrong. Sunset had figured out the problem in five.
“Finally,” she muttered as Negi’s thoughts switched from determined to confused to panicked. “About time he caught on.”
“What’s going on,” Nodoka asked, confused. “Negi-sensei’s thoughts aren’t very specific on it.”
“Thinking more about his situation than the mechanics,” Sunset muttered before turning to Nodoka. “Their terminology is different, this ‘Infinite Time-Space’ spell, but it’s the same concept as the various bent space spells I'm familiar with. The spell forms a sphere around a glyph or a target point, with each point on the outside of the sphere tied to the point opposite it. You go through one, you come out the other. And unless you can find the center or generate enough power to crack the shell, you’ll be trapped inside forever.”
“Eh?!” Nodoka shot a panicked look up the path. “Then we need to help him!” She immediately darted up the path.
“Honya! No! Wai-” But Nodoka had already vanished. Sunset sighed and rolled her eyes, stepping forward through the first gate. Freaking love-struck teens. She looked behind her and, sure enough, could see the path flowing endlessly behind her. She turned forward and jogged after Nodoka, catching up to her quickly. “So, you’ve got a plan?”
“Well, um,” Nodoka slowed down a bit, realizing that she didn’t. “I’ll, um, I’ll think of something.”
“Good idea.” Sunset grabbed the back of Nodoka’s shirt and ground to a halt, pulling Nodoka with her. “Let’s do that before rushing blindly into danger.”
Nodoka blushed and looked down, nodding. She opened her diary and began reading again. “Wh-what’s this?!”
Sunset looked over Nodoka’s shoulder, her eyes narrowing. The picture depicted Negi and Asuna facing off against a giant spider-like creature. A young boy was perched on the creature’s head, his hair a spiky black and covered in a beanie. The boy from before. I knew it! “Looks like a fight,” Sunset muttered, watching as Nodoka flipped through the rapidly filling pages. Asuna took out the spider in one blow, rendering it back into the paper charm it had come from. Things took a turn for the worse after that, with the boy launching a full-on physical assault. Not a standard mage, then, Sunset thought. Looks like he’s more of a warrior unicorn with a couple of utilitarian combat spells. If Asuna can’t protect him, then Springfield’s… wait. Sunset looked up from the book as her ears caught the sound of crashing impacts. “What-”
Negi raced through the trees next to the path, the boy in hot pursuit as Asuna struggled to keep up. Sunset watched them pass before looking down at Nodoka. The girl had crouched down as she read and was completely engrossed in the book, muttering the situation to herself without realizing that the situation in question was occuring right behind her. Sunset rolled her eyes as Negi went flying behind her again, the black-haired kid laughing as he chased after and casually blocked Asuna’s attacks behind him.
“Right,” Sunset muttered, summoning her artifact. “Better step in.” She crouched down, setting herself and cocking a fist back. “Equis equis alicornus. Ianuae Magicae.” Her perception shifted suddenly, Negti flying past her side as the boy charged at her. “Hey kid!” she shouted, her fist flying forward into his shocked face. Her blow connected in a flash of fire and sent the kid flying over Asuna’s head and off into the trees. “Catch.”
“N-Nichi-chan?!” Asuna gasped, surprised. “Wh-what are you doing here?”
“Saving your and Springfield’s flanks, that’s what,” Sunset answered, lighting her fists and stepping past Asuna. “Get him back on his feet and get away. You can’t keep up with him, and Springfield’s no match.”
Asuna hesitated a moment before nodding and running back after where Negi had been thrown. Sunset glared between the trees at the young boy as he got to his feet. Hope you’re watching this, Honya. “You know, Springfield and I may not have the best relationship, but beating up on a kid who can’t fight back is just low. How about taking on someone who’s actually a challenge?”
The kid groaned as he stood, and Sunset noted that he’d lost his beanie, his dog-ears twitching as he frowned at her. “Who the heck are you,” he groused before looking behind her at where Asuna was helping Negi to his feet. “Nevermind, don’t care. I’m not after you, nee-chan. This is between me and Negi Spring-”
A bolt of fire shot between his ears, causing them to flatten as he flinched. Sunset’s eyes narrowed, her fist dropping lower to aim at his head. “And now it’s between you and me, brat. Keep your eyes on your opponent.”
The kid scoffed, but he did keep his attention on Sunset. “Sorry, nee-chan, but I don't fight girls. This is a fight between men.”
Sunset grit her teeth, her flames burning hotter and scorching the ground beneath her. “Let me give you a piece of advice, kid. There are plenty of insanely powerful women out there. And when you say that you ‘don't fight girls,’ it isn't noble or chivalrous.” Sunset's body erupted into flames, burning the nearby plants to ash and blackening the ground around her. “IT JUST PISSES US OFF!”
“Hey, hey,” the kid said, taking a step back. “It's not that girls aren't strong or anything like that. It's just that it's the man’s job to protect-”
“THAT'S IT!” The kid dove to the side as a bolt of fire exploded where he'd been standing. “Give me your name, you little brat. I need to know what to add to my list of victims!”
The kid looked from Sunset to the scorched ground she'd hit before turning back with a grin. “Alright, fiery nee-chan, I'll tell you what. You manage to hit me before I can land another blow on Springfield, and I'll fight you seriously. But if I win,” he jabbed a thumb brazenly at his chest, “then I, Inagumi Kotarou, get to do what I want without you interfering!”
Sunset returned his grin with one of her own. Gotcha. Nodoka, it's up to you now. “Deal,” she said, “but I think you'll find that I have a pretty significant advantage.”
“Oh? And what's that?”
Sunset jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “While I distracted you, Springfield and Asuna got away.”
Kotarou's eyes went wide as they darted to look behind Sunset. “Damn it!”
It was all he had time to shout before the fireballs started flying.