Crumbling Pillars
Author's note:
Hi everyone! This is my first fanfiction ever! I am not a writer so any suggestions or criticisms are welcomed and most appreciated. I know I have terrible grammar, and since I have no one to proof my work, veteran writers will be sure to spot numerous errors. As before please, please tell me so I can fix them as best I can. I hope you like the story I have had it in my head for a while and just now decided to put it to paper (a feat much more difficult than it seems). Read on and enjoy. ^_^
-Merrow
Story Notes:
This fic was inspired by Anach Cuain an Irish melody for the harp sad and slow but very inspiring. It is a story of the truth behind the relationship between Zagato and Emeraude and the history of the pillars of Cefiro as I imagine it.
*disclaimer* I do not own Magic Knight Rayearth it is the brain child of the talented manga group CLAMP. I but borrow their world to make a bit of it my own.
Prologue:
It was a system falling into ruin long before the last pillar fell; a world like the other where happiness was unable to reign supreme. The cracks formed years back and stress did naught but increase their size as they delved deeper beneath the smooth outer surface. Cefiro was a world supported by a crumbling foundation that came crashing down with Emeraude, never to be truly whole again.
Chapter 1: Dreams and Destiny
Umi lifted her ocean blue eyes to the small egg shaped clock on the far wall, 2 AM. She was exhausted and in the chair beside her Hikaru was fast asleep. Her puffy pink bangs ruffling slightly with each breath her mouth hanging partially open. She sighed and leaning back slightly in the chair closed her eyes. How long was this going to continue she pondered? For months Hikaru had been up late nights quelling the ever rising monster population in Cefiro. Sometimes she would sneak out alone so as not to burden the other two knights. It was lucky that Umi was still awake tonight so that she could help Hikaru. It was too much to ask her to shoulder Cefiro's burden alone. It was far scarier to think that with each passing night Cefiro relied more and more heavily on the former pillar of Cefiro. Would Hikaru be forced into a position of accepting the sole burden of this world. Umi shuddered at the thought. She knew Hikaru's heart was not devoted to only Cefiro, and she did not want another Emeraude. It was too much to bear once, and impossible to bear again with one so close to her heart.
Hikaru had abdicated the pillarship long ago giving the power to all the people of the world. Despite this Hikaru's heart was still closely linked to Cefiro and it strength was relied upon in times of need. However daily the need grew greater and Hikaru was more and more spending time alone in prayer. Umi was afraid to think where this was going. Even Clef had confided in her that he had been troubled by dreams. Running a hand through her hair Umi stood up and gently shook Hikaru.
"wake up, Hikaru. Lets go back to bed." She spoke softly and watched as Hikaru's large ruby red eyes flickered open and groggily looked up at her. Umi smiled. "Lets go."
"Did I fall asleep? I didn't realize how tired I was." Hikaru mumbled her usual cheerfulness smothered in a sleepy yawn. Slowly she stood and looked back at Umi. "Don't be so gloomy. I am sure this will all work out." She beamed a bright smile that dissolved into a yawn before she trudged out the door and down the hall toward her room. Umi sighed looking at the empty door way.
"I hope it is as easy as you think Hikaru" and flicking off the lights Umi followed Hikaru down the hall.
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Clef sat up with a start. His pale lavender hair wet with perspiration, bangs clinging uncomfortably to his forehead. He quickly swept them back only to have them flop back against his sweat sheened skin. The path to the pillar it was back and with such great force no doubt the pillar system had risen from the rubble and was setting itself right. Fearful his dream…no…it was no dream, but rather a nightmare and now it seemed to have come to pass. Had Hikaru's nightly sessions gone beyond their usual bounds? Had she finally been pulled into becoming the pillar? Clef grabbed his staff and plodded silently but quickly down the halls.
His mind ran wild with memories of his dreams from pervious nights. The dream started off so peaceful and unalarming. It opened in a lush green garden where Emeraude was playing, a joyous laugh escaped her small lips and her eyes were all smiles, so unlike the tear stained face and watery eyes of the pillar Clef remembered in life. In the dream, Emeraude was not the pillar but all seemed well. Then he noticed it, the shadowy figure in the background. Clef could never make her out despite his best efforts. It should not have worried him except for a gleam that caught his eye as he looked at her. The undeniable proof of the Pillar sat as a golden ring gleaming on her head, and just as she seemed about to come into the light, Clef awakened. Was this dream the past or worst yet a future soon to come? Was it Hikaru? Questions swirled in a chaotic cacophony of thought within his head. He turned the corner and stopped. There she was.
She was facing away from him. Her golden hair fell in long rippling waves to the ground and spread in tendrils of gold across the smooth floors. She turned her white gown whispered softly across the floor with the movement. Then he saw her most familiar eyes, wide and innocent brimming with unshed tears. Blinking a few sparking droplets fell to the floor and she managed to draw her lips into a thin and painful smile. Clef's breath caught and with what voice he had left he called to her …. "Princess Emeraude?"
Well, what did you think? I hope you are sufficiently interested to read more. I am almost done with the second chapter "destiny and deceit". I have found it much more difficult to write and if anyone is interested in proofing my work or just pre-reading it, so I have someone to bounce ideas off of that would be great. Thanks for reading and please review!!
-Merrow