Magic Knight Rayearth
Left in Cephiro
This is the story of what would have happened if not all three girls returned back to Tokyo Tower after that fateful, painful, final day in the magical land known as Cephiro…
Chapter I: Return to Tokyo Tower! One, two, wasn't there three?!
After their many adventures in Cephiro and their first and final meeting with its Pillar, Princess Emeraude, the three girls from another world finally return to Tokyo Tower crying in each other's embrace. The sorrows they felt, the people they met…they would never forget.
"We're back," one says to the others.
"It really did happen, did it not?" the second remarks.
"I'll never forget, I'll never forget any of it," the last of the three girls speaks with tears still flowing down her cheeks.
The three girls break away from their tender embrace as they wipe the tears from their eyes. Now they finally have a chance to smile, they had returned home.
When their journey began, they were strangers in a strange world. The lively and passionate red head, Hikaru, was the quickest to adapt to their unusually new surroundings. Umi, however, was perhaps the slowest to adapt, caring only about returning to Tokyo. However, in spite of their weaknesses, and the differences in their individual strengths, all three girls grew and matured through their experiences.
Hikaru, an energetic young girl, quickly assumed the role of the unofficial leader of the Magic Knights. She was passionate and had a strong desire to help others. She was also quick to find solutions to dangerous situations such as discovering the weakness of the mud monster after meeting Presea in the Forest of Silence or the time when she discovered that it was blood that attracted the monster that abducted Umi and Fuu. However, she had a very naive nature, and trusted everyone she met. When they first met Ferio, she had no qualms about letting him join them on their journey through the forest. Although Ferio did turn out to be a good and kind hearted individual, were they to have happened across someone else, or were they all so open to Ferio's company, they might have been taken advantage of.
Fuu maintained the balance between Hikaru and Umi. It was Fuu who decided to follow Clef's instructions after first arriving in Cephiro, whereas Hikaru intended to follow the Master Mage's words without thought or hesitation, and whereas Umi intended to use the griffon to find a way back to Tokyo, not trusting in Clef at all. Throughout their journey in Cephiro, Hikaru was overzealous, whereas Umi tended to be less than enthusiastic about their adventures. Fuu, instead of blindly following the path before them and instead of denying the reality of their situation, carefully judged and weighed their options. It was Fuu who had been skeptical of Ferio, and kept him at a distance, and by observing his mannerisms uncovered his true intentions. As a result of not being too friendly or too cruel to Ferio, he became their ally, and someone Fuu could never forget. However, despite her ability to thoroughly examine all possible options in any given situation, Fuu had the knack for stating the obvious. Such as was the case at the Spring of Eterna, pointing out the plainly obvious 'line.'
Umi, throughout their adventure, had been selfish, only thinking of returning back home. When they first arrived, she did not want to help save Cephiro, feeling that the people of Cephiro should be the only ones to have to deal with the problems of Cephiro. However, it was Umi who grew and matured the most while in Cephiro. As she traveled with her newfound friends, she discovered the value and incredible power of friendship. She came to care more about her friends than her own selfish desires. It was because of this sudden change of heart and maturity that Umi was able to turn Ascot from an enemy to a friend.
The girls break away from their tear ridden embrace to catch their breath and to sigh deeply from all of the sorrow that their last moments left in their hearts. They look at each other as they try to give one another a reassuring smile, but that smile doesn't come. Where three girls should be looking at each other with tearstained eyes, only two stand.
"WHERE IS SHE?!" the one screams to the other, a flood of tears returning to drown her cheeks.
The other looks around and shakes her head. Their friend appears not to be anywhere nearby.
"It would appear that she is not here, but that simply cannot be."
The two girls look at each other, unable to fathom what happened.
"She must be here! I know I heard her voice!" the shorter of the two remarks to the taller.
"I felt her tears! I heard her cries! All three of us were standing together! Where is she?! WHERE IS SHEEEEEEEEEEE?!"