Rose of Silence

Velvet

Summary: Long after the Magic Knights stopped fighting, their three daughters dwell in Tokyo, completely unaware of who their mothers are, and if their parents really exist. Their views are forever changed after a trip to the Tokyo Tower...

The sunlight danced with the shadows of hundreds of middle-school students as schools took their field trips to the tower. Far back in the corner, where no person ever bothered to look, stood a shorter-than average girl with scarlet-red eyes. Her dark hair was pulled into a thick braid at the base of her neck. She donned a pair of short denim shorts, and a white tee. She sighed.

Why on earth did I even bother? Reiko wondered, putting a hand to her forehead in agitation. I know that I have a free week from school, but how I ended up here is unknown, even to me. She sighed again and lifted her gaze from the floor.

Small cliques of giggling girls passed by, a few guys watching them. Something else caught her eye. Reiko narrowed her pupils and peered intently into the crowd, and sure enough, there appeared another girl.

The other girl was of medium height, her bright blond hair reaching down just above her shoulders. Bright green eyes glittered out from her face, as she seemed solemn, barely talking with her friends. Sometimes she would laugh as a joke was made, or reply to a comment, but never was bold enough to add something of her own.

This behavior puzzled Reiko, who raised an eyebrow. Then, something else attracted her attention. This time, it was another girl her age.

This girl was tall, and finely featured. Her blue hair was worn down, stretching to reach the middle of her neck before curving around her cheeks. Her eyes were a magnificent sapphire. Both of the odd girls wore their school uniforms, the taller, sapphire-eyed girl's was navy and black, while the blond's was composed of greens.

Reiko relaxed. So, they were both just normal middle schoolers after all, She thought. Then, it happened.

As if it were magic, all three made eye contact. All they did was just...stare at each other. A strange feeling washed over them. Just as suddenly, a bright flash of light expelled outside the windows of the Tokyo Tower, making all the schoolchildren cover their eyes to save themselves from being blind.

The floor melted, warping and twisting like water. Reiko's sneaker-clad feet slipped, and were grasped by the water. She glanced feverishly around, wondering if anyone else could see her. The blue-haired girl and blond were getting pulled under too.

The floor covered her head now, and she was sucked into a terminating darkness. The force of the water-floor was pressing all around her, threatening to suffocate Reiko, but she could somehow still breathe.

She wondered what her three uncles would do if she ended up missing. She couldn't mind that now, not when her life may be at stake. The force of the water-floor retreated, and Reiko and the others were pushed out into clean air, which filled Reiko's lungs.

Looking down, she soon discovered that they were falling. She opened her mouth to scream when:

"Oh My God!" Came the shriek of the sapphire-eyed girl as she plummeted alongside Reiko. A shrill scream erupted from the blond as she fell. Reiko shrieked. Suddenly, they stopped falling. Reiko was surprised to find herself being borne through the air on the back of a giant eagle.

Reiko's mouth hung open in shock, and the others mimicked her. "I don't think we're in Tokyo anymore." The blond added calmly, but sweetly. "No, ya think?!" Shrieked the sapphire-haired. Reiko winced.

"So, what are your names?" She asked lightly. Both of them turned around, apparently oblivious to the fact that Reiko had been there.

"Oh me? My name's Suu!" The blond replied cheerfully. The other smiled. "I'm Kaede." She said. "And I'm Reiko, but this is no time for formal introductions. Where are we?"

"I have absolutely no idea."

"Me neither."

"Well then, we'll have to find out won't we?" Reiko countered. The other two gave her a queer look. Their steed was fling low, under the canopy of a forest now, the sun's light splashing from in between the branches down on their faces and the black feathers of the bird. A flash of blue hair caught Reiko's eye before some small creature attacked her head.

"Give it up, Hikaru! Hand Lantis back to me!" Screamed a shrill voice. Kaede's hands latched around the small humanoid body and yanked it off of Reiko's face. A pixie with long, wavy blue hair struggled in the girl's grasp, wrenching and tugging to free herself. Small crystalline wings were tucked against her back to avoid getting ripped in Kaede's grip of iron.

"And just who or what are you?" The girl boomed. The pixie quivered, but regained her bold exterior.

"Primera." She answered. Kaede smirked.

"Do you know where we are, you vile little thing?" She asked, glaring at Primera from a close range. Small beads of sweat began to form on Primera's brow.

"It used to be the country of Cephiro," She replied. "Now that the Magic Knights have saved it and diminished the pillar, it is no longer that. Do you mind?"

Indeed, Kaede was crushing the life out of the pixie. She began to shake the small girl in her hands. Reiko watched them, tilting her head to one side like a curious cat. Suu stepped in, setting a thin hand on Kaede's wrist.

"Take us to the capitol of this place, please, Primera." She said in an almost pleading tone, which made the pixie cross her arms. "You'll owe me for it later, but, I shall take you to the castle." With that, she flickered off.

The great eagle swerved and turned to follow the small blue speck leading onward. The landscape passed by, trees there for a moment then gone the next, flat plains, dense forests, until a great crystal castle appeared. Suu gasped, and Kaede's mouth hung open.

The great eagle gave a screech as it neared the castle, finally lowering the three onto a small garden near the entrance. They bounded off the creature, Reiko and Suu giving it a head rub. Kaede huffed, but smiled warmly and bowed to the eagle, thanking it for getting them there.

Reiko led the way up the steps, halting momentarily at the door, searching vaguely for a handle or knocker or doorbell of some sort. Though she knew it wouldn't be there, it was worth a try. Taking in a deep breath, she set her hands on the handles and after a great deal of pulling and tugging, flung the doors wide open with the help of the other two.

Only to reveal the surprises that would come within...