A Keychain of Girls

"I didn't hope to see you again so soon Danny. I figured it would be sixty or seventy years at least." A kind voice came from behind him.

Danny turned around to find Samantha standing there in a gorgeous white dress. She looked thirty years younger. Her face was wrinkle free, her hair was long and beautiful. Her eyes were the same and she looked as kind as ever. He slowly realized what this meant.

"Samantha...then I take it he succeeded in killing me..." Danny said, realizing what it meant.

"Well...that's to be determined." Samantha said quietly.

"If I'm not dead, then don't keep me here! If there's a chance I can go back, I need to fast! He's probably massacred a third of Tokyo by now! If there's a chance I can stop him, I have to!" Danny cried desperately.

"Danny...calm down...time means nothing here." Samantha reached out and touched his hand.

"What do you mean?" Danny asked, confused.

"Whether you go back now or later, time does not pass. Just calm down for a moment. Neither of us knows what's going to happen." Samantha said, letting go of his hand.

Danny sighed and looked around, putting his hands in his pockets.

"So what am I supposed to do about him?" Danny asked.

"Who? Xexas?" Samantha asked.

"He seems so impossible to kill. What am I supposed to do if I do go back?" Danny asked.

"Impossible? Danny, I gave you all the magic you would need to kill him, even if he became nigh-immortal with Demon Magic." Samantha said, "You should be able to mop the floor with him."

"How? I used every ounce of magic I had. I had to protect all of Tokyo from him in order to try and save their lives. It took almost everything I had. I couldn't fight anymore if I tried." Danny sighed.

"Danny, are you kidding?" Samantha asked, "Do you trust yourself?"

"Yes." Danny said flatly.

"Do you trust in the magic?" Samantha asked again.

"Yes." Danny wasn't following.

"Now...do you trust in your own heart?" Samantha said seriously.

"I...Yes, I do." Danny stuttered for a moment.

"You're lying. You don't trust yourself at all." Samantha said.

"What? How do you know that?" Danny asked.

"Because, you're relying on the magic with all you have...you don't even trust your own strength of heart." Samantha said.

"What? Even if that was true, what would it matter?" Danny asked suddenly.

"If you don't trust yourself, how can you possibly ever win over anyone?" Samantha said, "You wouldn't rely on a friend who you didn't trust, would you?"

"Oh I...well...I suppose not..." Danny mumbled, scratching his head.

"Learn to trust yourself and you won't know what your powers are capable of." Samantha said, her voice starting to get distant.

"That is so cheesy..." Danny shook his head.

"Trust yourself as you trust the sprites." Samantha was starting to disappear, "Trust yourself as you trust your mother."

The world started to spin and darken around him.

*******

"He's dead! It's all mine now! Nobody can stop me!" Xexas cried happily.

Danny sat up and saw him standing on the edge of the roof, staring over the city. The woman who had seen him was sitting near him, a look of shock on her face.

"Get out of here, now." Danny whispered hoarsely.

"O...Okay..." She said quietly and she scurried through the open door.

Danny got to his feet, feeling wonderful. He checked his wounds. They were all fully healed and magic flowed strong in his veins. Something was different about himself and he felt a power like no other. It began radiating out from him, creating a glowing aura that rippled away from him. He stepped forward and made a slight crunch on the roof.

Xexas turned and looked at him. It didn't register at first and then fear spread across his face. The glowing gold aura around Danny made him seem ghostly and angelic. Xexas stumbled back in fear, catching himself with magic.

"H...How...I...I killed you..." Xexas stuttered, full of fear.

"I will not stand for you to harm another innocent soul." Danny said, stepping towards him.

"N...No...this cannot be...I...I'll just kill you again!" Xexas cried, lunging forward.

He swung a dark blade at Danny. Danny backhanded the blade and it dissipated. Xexas swung again, trying for Danny's neck. The blade completely disappeared when it came across Danny's holy aura.

"You're done terrorizing people Xexas. I gave you a chance to live. I let you reside inside me. Afterward, I let you leave without chase. Now you do this." Danny said, feeling Xexas' dark blades and fire dissipate on his holy aura.

"I. Will. Kill. You." Xexas cried, slashing angrily at him with four different shadows.

"No Xexas, you are finished." Danny said, holding his hand forward.

He pointed two fingers at Xexas and a single beam of burning holy light burnt from his fingers. It struck through Xexas' heart and shot into the distance, cutting through the clear skies like a shooting star. Xexas' face was one of complete shock. His mouth was open and he groaned, falling forward.

"You will not take another life Xexas." Danny said, holding his hand flat towards him.

A thousand blades of light exploded from his hand and wrapped around Xexas. It caught his purple spirit as it came out of the dead corpse. It roared and smashed around inside the glowing light, trying to escape madly.

"Die." Danny stated.

The ball of light clenched into a tiny speck, burning Xexas' spirit.

"I will return and reduce this world to nothingness!" Xexas' voice called from nowhere.

A single blade of shadow shot from nowhere, aiming right at Danny's head. It cut through his forehead, above his left eye, and into his skull. It screamed in agony and fell to the ground. Lights blinked around him and he passed out.

Chapter 35 - Magic Revealed

Danny was lying in a haze. He couldn't move any of his limbs and he really didn't feel like he wanted to. His eyelids weighed a ton each and he had no inclination to try and wake up. However, he could hear a television nearby. A young lady was giving a news broadcast about a very interesting subject.

"We are officially in day seven of Tokyo Magic Outbreak." The lady said, "Seven days ago, the reports started to pour in about hundreds of thousands of people around Tokyo mysteriously gaining magical powers."

Danny felt a spike of fear inside his heart. It was his magic that caused this. He tried to sit up, but his body resisted all movement and refused all commands.

"Even I have experienced quite the magical power. Look, I'm flying." The woman said, apparently floating off the ground or something of the sort.

"Jenny, we've got the CDC Director and the Chief Surgeon from Tokyo General here for the interview." A man said.

"Sir Director, what is your prognosis on these magical powers?" The broadcaster asked one of the men.

"Well, so far I am yet to see very much of a threat beside what people may do with these powers. I've been keeping a close eye on Tokyo General and they've been doing miracle work with it." The Director said, "If this is a permanent thing, it may lengthen the average human life by twenty years, all the while it's a chance at world peace I think."

"That's a lot to expect from just a single city of magic." The lady said.

"But it is magic after all, also, how do we know that this is just our city? Maybe it's happening all over the world." The Director pointed out.

"So, onto the Chief Surgeon. Sir, what 'miracles' have you been performing at Tokyo General?" The woman asked.

"We have cured nearly every disease that has come through our doors. We have cured cancer! Just yesterday, I healed four people of terminal cancer with my own hands. I thank god every second for these powers because every day, we are helping more and more people. If this keeps up, all we will need is a walk in clinic. I kid you not, we had a man come in who had been in a car wreck. Before, I would have called his injuries terminal with a slim chance of survival. But now, between myself, another doctor and four nurses, we healed him to almost perfect condition and he walked out a few hours later." The Chief Surgeon exclaimed happily, "I can only pray that this is permanent and not a fleeting thing. But if it is, we are going to heal all that we can in the time we can."

"Amazing, simply amazing. Stories of heroism, miraculous healing and feats of worldly wonder from all over.

The television clicked off and someone sighed.

"So do you think the MIS is going to come after us for this one?" April asked.

"Are you kidding? They are definitely going to hunt us down and end us." Chiu said.

"Even after they freed us a few days ago?" Koto asked, "Plus, why is it taking them this long to do so?"

"Maybe they figured it was an irreparable event?" Joshua pointed out.

"Even if that was so, they would still hunt us down if they were going to. It's not exactly a mystery where we are either." Chiu said.

"So then what's going to happen?" Jen asked with a tone of fear in her voice.

"I couldn't say...I mean...he did expose magic to an entire city. Not only expose it, but he awoke powers in twelve million people." Chiu said.

"Yea...but look at all the good that's being done. maybe they'll overlook it." Jen said hopefully.

"Doubtful." Chiu said.

"How do you know that? This has never happened before. How do you know what's going to happen?" Koto said, "Maybe it could turn out for the better."

"Somehow, I don't think something on this scale can 'turn out for the better'." Chiu said skeptically, "What was he thinking, using that much magic? I know he's strong, but where did he get that much magic anyway? I mean, from what I've pieced together from the news reports, he made an eight square mile shield over the entire city. What on earth would he need to do that for?"

"If you don't know, why would we?" Joshua asked.

"I just wish he would wake up..." Jen asked quietly.

"I told you, he had a sub-cranial laceration. Without all that training from the Gladiator Tournament, there's no way I would've been able to heal him. Even now, I don't know if I healed his brain correctly. Without magic, he would've died on that rooftop." April said darkly.

"Oh there must be something I can do. I can't lose him. I know he's been hurt before, but I was never around and he was always healed. Now he's lying out cold in front of me and there's nothing I can do!" Jen cried, "What kind of a mother am I?!"

"You're a fine mother, look what your boy has done!" April said, "He gave his all to destroy an Armageddon-bent demon and might've paid a high price for it."

"God no!" Jen sobbed, falling over Danny's chest.

"I've spoken...wrong...Jen, Danny's going to be alright." April said, rubbing Jen's back as she grasped the blankets on top of Danny.

"Danny! Don't leave me! Not like your sister!" Jen balled, "Not like...your father!"

Danny's heart ached at his mother's sorrow. He could feel her body shaking as she cried and he tried everything to try and move. His arm inched up and he managed to touch his mother's side.

"M...Mom..." Danny said hoarsely, opening his eyes.

"Danny...? Danny?! Danny, you're okay!" Jen cried out happily, crouching over him.

She kissed him and hugged him tightly. Danny managed to wrap an arm around her. He laid his arm down tiredly and turned his head to look at the girls.

"Hey...how am I doin...?" Danny asked quietly.

"Oh...I think you're doin' pretty cute." Koto smiled.

"Well...we know Koto's doing okay..." Danny chuckled, lying back.

"Get some sleep." April said, "That injury is not a simple one."

"Okay..." Danny laid back into the pillow and closed his eyes.

*******

Danny woke with a start. He was lying in the same bed, the television was on and the room was empty. He sat up and looked around the room. The lights were on and there was no one in sight. He got to his feet and stretched. His body felt incredibly stiff and he couldn't move very fast. There was a large bandage around the left side of his head and he was wearing cotton pajamas.

"Hello? Jen? Koto? Chiu? April?" Danny called, walking around the house.

He looked out the window of his bedroom, it was night time. Stepping out of the apartment, he walked upstairs and onto the roof. A cool breeze blew past him and he saw five figures standing on the roof.

"Honey, you're up!" Jen called, walking over to him.

"Yea, what's going on up here?" Danny asked, shivering slightly.

"The MIS sent me a message to come to the roof about this time." Chiu said, "Although, I bet we can all imagine what for."

"So then this is it?" Danny asked.

"No, we're going to take the blame. You have a family, we don't." April said as Danny joined them at the edge of the roof.

There was a crack of noise above them and a tower of light slammed into the roof. It blinded them momentarily and three figures appeared in the light. The light cleared and Danny observed the men standing there. The center was a man in a crisp white suit with red underlay and slicked back fiery red hair. He stood with a cane in front of him and both hands on it. The men on either side of him wore dark black formal suits and dark black glasses. Their hair was cut short and they each had a skin colored earbud in.

"Danny. I have heard much about you." The man in the center said, "As you have no doubt guessed, I am President White, director of the Magical Investigation Squad."

"Actually, no I hadn't. A massive laceration to my brain tends to scramble things a bit." Danny said, touching the bandage above his left eye.

"Condolences, but I have more important matters to speak with you all." President White said, stepping forward.

"I'm sorry about what has happened here in Tokyo, but it's my fault." Danny said before the girls could say anything.

"Danny!" April said suddenly.

"I won't let you take the fall for me again." Danny said, "You have a family too you know."

"Nobody's taking a fall, I'm not here to arrest anyone." President White said.

"What? But I revealed and awoke magic in millions." Danny said, confused.

"And that's what I'm here about." President White said, "To thank you."

Everybody was quiet and stunned about it.

"What on earth?" Danny asked, confused as hell.

"I'm going to be blunt with you Danny...keeping magic a secret in the Mundane World is an absolute bitch. With this complete and unequivocal reveal that nobody can deny, the jobs of the MIS just became a ton easier and a ton harder at the same time." President White explained.

"How's that? And if you wanted magic in this world, why not do it yourselves?" Danny asked.

"Because I could never get the government to agree with me and we had no way we could do it ourselves. But you, you did it in one grand spell that released enough magic over all of Tokyo to awaken everyone's magic in the entire city. Nobody in the world will be able to deny a city of more than twelve million magicians. But at the same time, it creates a new problem for us..." President White said, turning to the bright city lights, "We now must monitor magic, not only in our own world, but this one too."

"I thought you already did." Danny said.

"We monitored for the irresponsible release of magic in this world, not the fighting or destructive use of such. That requires more agents and more strength. Which is why I have come to you. As the most prominent magician in this world, you have the ability to reveal magic to everyone in the world, not just Japan. No doubt, this is spreading over the world like wild fire, but I want your help in one more great spell." President White said.

"What's that?" Danny asked.

"We want to release a grand amount of raw magic into the jet stream of Earth and spread magic over the planet, making more of the world into magicians. This will ease tensions between magical and mundane as well as cement a bridge between our worlds." President White explained, "We've had this plan for years, but never had anyone or any group with the magical strength that you and your Sprites do. So...will you help?"

"I need to rest some. I can feel my magic, but it's not very strong. Give me a week. However, you will have to consult with the Sprites if you want their help." Danny said.

"Well, we must act fast because Magicians all the world over are coming out of hiding and I'm afraid that there may be outbreaks of violence between them and the Mundane." President Snow said, "The quicker everyone's magical power is awoken, the better."

"I don't see much of a problem, I'll help." Koto nodded.

"Me too, I'm in. I've seen some of the stuff people are doing with their magic. The people of Earth are, in the greater majority, using their magic for good. The idea that magic was given as a gift for good is spreading like wildfire." April said.

"I can't go against both my sisters, so I'll help. It seems like a good idea as long as people keep doing good with the magic." Chiu agreed.

"Wonderful! As soon as you're feeling better, we will do this. Each of you will be positioned at a different place around the world's air currents. You will release as much magic as possible alongside a few of the agency's greatest and strongest. If all goes well, over ninety percent of the world's population should become magicians. This will cement bonds between this world and the Magical Realm for all time." President White said, "Until then, I am going to go to the City Hall and speak with the mayor. We need to begin diplomatic relations between our worlds as soon as possible."

The three of them disappeared into a ball of light that zipped off into the distance.

"Can you believe it? We're off the hook!" Koto cried happily.

"And your going to make the entire world magical!" Joshua exclaimed.

"Yea...let's hope it all works out okay." Danny smiled.

"Come on, let's get you back to bed." April said, putting an arm around Danny.

*******

Danny whooped and hollered in success. He had been studying Chiu's spellbook for nearly a week now. Since magic had been released into the entire world, he and the sprites had been freed from all bonds. They were living in Xen's cathedral-like house with Joshua and Jen. The house was more massive than any of them knew. Hallways twisted and turned for what seemed like miles. Each of them were given huge room of their own.

He had been looking for the spell to free the Sprites and he had found it. It wasn't very complicated, but it required his full concentration on the keychain in order to remove their bindings to it.

"You're going to do it? Really?" Chiu cried happily.

"We're going to be free!" Koto squealed.

"And we're going to live normal lives!" April hooted.

It didn't take him very long to set up the spell and before anyone knew it, he was chanting it and the keychain was glowing in the air before him. Three ghostly streams of light floated out from the keychain and touched each of the girls. Danny poured his magic into the keychain and the spell binding them to it unraveled. The girls themselves started to glow brightly. A light radiated out from the keychain and suddenly burst, blinding them all. As the spell faded, the mundane keychain fell to the floor with a clatter. The three girls were left standing, slightly dazed.

"It...It worked...I can feel it!" Koto exclaimed.

"She's right, the keychain no longer controls us!" Chiu laughed.

"Come on, let's have lunch!" April said, rubbing her hands together.

"Always the one for domestic bliss aren't you?" Jen chuckled.

"I love cooking and cleaning, it's wonderful to care for others!" April said.

"How can you be my sister..." Koto chuckled, shaking her head and her tail.

"How can you be mine?" Chiu said, looking at Koto accusingly.

"Good point." Koto laughed.