NOTES: I forgot to tell that but please note that "pillar's emblem" is just that thing that was once Emeraude's crown, later Hikaru's light-sword and now is her medallion. I just got no idea how this item was generally called in english so I'll just call it the emblem
And guys PLEASE review! Write positive OR negative if you think that it's crappy. I don't fear critique (However positive reviews would be encouraging to continue that story). If you won't review, for me this means that… nobody's reading my story! :O And that's a good reason to quit writing.
Chapter 4 – Black and White
Guru Clef was standing in front of a big window in a meeting chamber. He was staring on Autosam ships, floating in a distance on a night-sky, often illuminated by lightnings. From half an hour he was doing nothing than observing those ships.
He couldn't sleep. He had too much on his head right now, to fall asleep. Not even talking about war in Cephiro. It was nothing if compared to his real dilemma. And that dilemma was Umi.
He has changed. He was no longer looking like a young boy. He now had an adult look. About 25 years old. He was making excuses before himself, that he needed more charismatic and serious appearance than 10 years old boy. He was now Cephiro's most respected defender after all.
But real reason of his change was her. The magic knight of water. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't suppress his feelings. Practically he changed his look to be in perfect age for that young girl. Love was stronger than mind with experience earned through 749 years.
But he couldn't ever think of binding with her. Such couple would be sick, not to say pathological. With that age he could be her far ancestor. Nothing good would result from such coupling. Even if she loved him back. And she did.
So he promised himself that if she returns, he will do anything he can, to make her bind with Ascot. He was more appropriate for her. Besides, he also loved her. Yes, that was better choice for Umi.
Doors opened wide and dark-haired, tall man wearing shiny, black plate-armor entered chamber. A little fairy-like creature was flying around his head and speaking with certain tone
-"…and that's a far better strategy. That's it! Lure them and give a solid punch in both flanks. Of course your tactic is also good, but I think that as head commander of Cephiro's army you should be a little more creative…"
Lantis maintained his poker face. He wasn't ignoring her, but he just got used to Primera's never closing mouth and wasn't showing any emotions for her long lecture.
-"You're late" –said Guru without turning back
-"I know. I found another squad of scouts on northern border of forest" –Lantis replied
-"…and they ran immediately when they seen us. Ha! We are invincible aren't we Lantis?" –fairy ended with excitement
-"Primera could you leave us for a moment? We have important things to discuss with Lantis"" –asked Clef turning on them
Fairy stopped in place like a humming-bird and frowned at Guru
-"What? Oh no no no. Why should I…"
-"Do as he says" –Lantis interrupted her –"It's really important"
Primera looked at him in question but she didn't dare to argue with him. She lifted her chin and left chamber with offended look.
-"So they've returned" –said Lantis when doors closed behind Primera
-"Yes. How do you know?" –asked Clef
-"It would be hard to not know. The castle is boiling with news about glorious return of the magic knights together with pillar. Guards at the main door were so astonished that they forgot to ask me for a password" –he explained
Clef sighed
-"Girls got back sooner than I expected" –he said
-"Are they ok?"
-"Yes. There was a little… confusion but we already got rid of it"
-"And what about Hikaru?"
Clef looked down and sighed again
-"It seems nightmare scenario came true"
Lantis looked at him with half-closed eyes
-"Can we turn it back?"
-"I'm afraid it's too late" –replied Guru
Lantis swore and started walking nervously in circle. After a minute he asked
-"Is it that bad? Can we do anything about it?"
-"Well… We are still able to weaken symptoms. But we don't have much time. She has already started to use black magic. Fortunately she didn't start to shift yet. But it's just a matter of time before she will. And she MUST be able to control herself before this happens"
-"Did you tell them?"
-"No I didn't. They were already too shaken. Besides, I wanted to wait for you, Geo and Ascot. I think that everyone should be aware of danger. I told them that I must search my notes a little" –Guru explained
-"Not bad pretext"
-"Well, I will tell them at the breakfast"
Lantis looked down
-"Is she sleeping in her old room?"
-"Yes. Go but don't wake her up. She needs rest" –Guru warned him
-"I won't wake her up. I just want to… have a look" –Lantis replied and went in direction of doors.
-"Lantis?"
He stopped and turned around
-"Yes?"
-"You know that… If things will get out of control… we will have to reach for final means. We cannot sacrifice Cephiro" –Clef said with sadness
Lantis closed his eyes and stood in silence for a moment.
-"I will never let that happen. I swear" –he said and left the chamber
***
It was night. She was walking a hallway for a long time. Although she couldn't remember how long. Her mind was lost in stupor. Nothing had sense right now. As she was unable to remember anything she just gave up on observing and letting her body do what it was about to do.
She knocked two times in orange colored doors.
-"Who's there?" –said Presea's voice from inside
-"It's me" –Hikaru replied
Voice of steps began to reach her from inside. Immediately after she heard a click of a lock she kicked doors with a force of a battering-ram. Doors flew in the air and hit the wall with a deafening clang as they were ripped from the hinges by Hikaru's kick.
She stepped inside the room and looked around. A small bed was standing under wall on a right. A wooden desk under wall on the left. Small battle-axe and grey rag were lying on it. It appears that Presea was cleaning her weapons before a moment. Finally her eyes rested on Presea kneeling under the wall in front of Hikaru. A blood was running from her temple and over her cheek. Although still stunned by hit of a heavy metal doors, she lifted her head slowly on Hikaru with eyes half closed from pain.
Hikaru only smiled, pointed her hand at Presea and said –"Death ray"
A Black beam shot away from Hikaru's palm and hit Presea in face. There was no explosion. Only a black-violet flash. Presea sighed and fell dead on the floor.
Hikaru was staring a moment on dead body of her friend. When she heard a voice behind her she turned around and saw a little girl. That was the same child she saw in her previous dream.
The red haired girl was staring with fear on Hikaru coming closer to her. But she didn't run. She only dropped her sword (identical to Hikaru's one, only shorter) and covered her mouth with hands.
Hikaru came up to scared child and looked down on the her with a smile. She stroked her hair with a hand. Shocked child looked up on Hikaru's face. Hikaru only picked up girl's sword and put it in her hand.
-"Here. Now get back to your room Kajiru"
The girl done as she was told. She ran from Presea's room with cry. Hikaru turned around to look again at dead Presea lying on the floor and she heard a terrible scream. Her own scream.
***
It was already morning when Hikaru woke up from a nightmare with a scream. She desperately tried to catch a breath. Her heart was beating like a hammer in her chest. She was whole wet from sweat.
-"Don't be afraid… That was just a dream. I'm here with you" –someone said and helped her to sit
She felt excitement. That voice was so familiar. She looked in direction of its source.
-"Lantis…" –she sighed and immediately fell in his arms. He embraced her and gently squeezed to his chest.
-"It's okay. I'm here" –he respond
After so much sorrow and pain of yearning, her wish has been finally fulfilled. Happiness filled her so much that she forgot about horrors of her nightmare. She totally gave herself into this wonderful moment. All that pain earned through three years has been finally rewarded.
After a while, which was like eternity for her, she came off him and looked in his face with fear.
-"You shouldn't be coming here. I'm dangerous and…" –she cut her phrase when he placed his finger on her lips and kissed her in forehead.
-"Clef told me everything about it. I know more than you do" –he replied with smile
-"So he found out what it is? He told you?"
-"Yes but don't ask me. He is going to explain it at the breakfast. Even Geo came up" –he said
-"Wh... What? They are already there?"
He nodded
-"And you're not telling me anything! Come on" -she said jumping out of her bed
***
When doors of meeting chamber opened wide before Hikaru and Lantis, everybody at the table looked at them.
-"Pu Puu!!" –some fluffy ball with rabbit ears and large purple gem on forehead jumped on Hikaru's arms
-"Mokona!"
-"Hi Hikaru!" –shouted Ascot sitting at the table
-"Hi there!" –shouted a young boy in a mechanic's suit
-"Zazu?!" –Hikaru got surprised
-"What took you so long? How long people sleep in your world? Sit down!" –said annoyed Caldina pointing at two empty chairs
Hikaru took place between Umi and Fuu and in front of Lantis. They both started eating.
Cephiro cooking was a lot different than Earth's. There were not too much meat and most of foods had pudding consistency. Although meals were mostly varying with color, each one's flavor was different. Many were sweet, sour or spicy but their taste was generally great.
Mokona sat on table in front of Umi who was eating some kind of soup. She was making funny faces and made Umi giggle every time she tried to take a spoon of soup into her mouth.
-"Do that again and I'll hit you" –said Umi annoyed
-"Puu Puu!" –replied Mokona, jumped off the table and disappeared under it
Umi looked around mistrustfully and took a spoon of soup. She choked when all of a sudden Mokona jumped behind her with a squeak and then sat back on the table. After receiving several hits in her back from Fuu to stop choking, Umi picked a spoon and thrown it at Mokona in anger. Mokona made a dodge and spoon, after bouncing from a table, hit Caldina right in her face.
-"Oh… Sorry Caldina. I aimed at that fur-ball" –she sweat-dropped under Caldina's irritated look
After a while noise in chamber became louder. Ferio was bantering with Fuu. Lantis and Geo were eating in silence. Caldina, after wigging Umi and Mokona, returned to her conversation with Lafarga. Ascot was talking with Zazu. Clef was arguing hardly with Primera about something.
-"Geo can I ask you something?" –said Hikaru among general noise.
-"Yeah. What is it?"
-"You said that Autosam needed a new leader after Eagle's death… But what about his father?"
Geo looked down on his plate.
-"He's dead. He died just in time when we were coming back to Autosam. Death from disease"
-"That's terrible…"
-"Well… He had an easy death. He died asleep. At least he didn't have a chance to see our land dying"
She wanted to say something but in that moment Ferio stood up from his chair and motioned everybody to be quiet.
-"If everybody finished, I think it is time to speak about recent events. Clef, did you dig up something from your notes?" –he said
-"Well, as I promised I made some research and… results are not looking good" –he replied
-"Do you know who is taking control over Hikaru?" –asked Ferio
Guru looked down and sighed
-"Yes"
-"Then who?" –pushed him Presea
-"Nobody. She is doing it"
Silence. Everybody stared at Guru for a while and then, slowly, all faces turned on shocked Hikaru who opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth with a hand.
-"But… but… It's not me! I would never do something like this! Please! Believe me!"
-"Are you insane!? She is right! She wouldn't attack or even offend her friends!" –growled Lafarga
-"Yes. But only in normal state"
-"What do you mean 'in normal state'?" –said Presea
-"Did you know that if your magic is enough powerful, it will stay even after your death? Tell me… Who was the most powerful person that you killed?" –he asked turning into Hikaru, Umi and Fuu
They all three thought for a moment. Then Umi opened her eyes wide in fear.
-"Debonair…" –she said silently
-"Yes. She is dead but her energy has remained in this world. Normally it should disperse and fade in Cephiro's life cycle. Unfortunately it did not. Something has happened. I have no clue how did it happened but…" –he looked down
-"What? What happened?" –pushed Caldina
-"Energies of Hikaru and Debonair have joined together. And that is the cause of this trouble. When this new energy pierced through the border into another world and joined Hikaru, it caused severe changes in her. Her soul has literally split into two parts. The bright side – Our kind, brave magic knight of fire. The dark side – Ruthless, arrogant warrior of shadow. Opposite of magic knight"
After he finished talking, silence arose in the whole chamber, disturbed only by sound of Primera's little wings. It took a while before Hikaru finally broke the silence.
-"Is it possible to turn it back?"
-"No. It's too late. Changes are too big. If we would try to tear the black magic from you, you would die. Now it is part of your own vital energy"
Hikaru looked down sadly
-"Is there any way I can learn to control myself?"
-"There is one way. But it is not a pleasant one. You must learn to wield black magic"
-"Oh I think she is already pretty good at this" –said annoyed Caldina and pointed at large hole in a wall – a reminder of yesterday evening. They didn't repair it yet.
-"For her dark side – yes. But I mean that her BRIGHT side has to learn how to cast those deadly spells properly"
-"And what for? To kill us quicker?" –said irritated Lafarga
-"If the bright side is able to control dark side's powers – she can partially control it. However partially is the key word. No matter how skilled, she will never be able to fully control herself. This means she will be conscious and fully aware of what is she doing but her personality will be changed" –he explained
-"So she will have some kind of err… ego duality?" –asked Fuu
-"Well… we could say so" –he answered
-"But how am I supposed to learn black magic?" –asked Hikaru
-"I will teach you. I have no dark powers but I have a lot of theoretical knowledge about such forces. And that's more than enough for your training. We need to start immediately. We are living only because your yesterday spell went wrong" –Guru said
-"What? It went wrong?" –Caldina lifted her brows
-"Yes. In whole my life I've seen spell like this only a few times. But with my skills I could easily feel its purpose and nature yesterday. This spell should not explode and throw us about the room but rather…"
-"…kill immediately?" –Hikaru finished for him
Everybody looked at her
-"Yes. Everybody in the room would just fall dead on the floor. How do you know?" –Clef lifted his brows in question
-"Uh… well… I just guessed"
He looked at her suspiciously for a few moments, but finally turned his eyes away when Geo stood up from his chair and said
-"So if that would be everything…"
-"Are you ok Fuu?" –asked Umi. Fuu was holding her hand on her head. Her face was pale.
-"I… I am… Oh…" –she sighed, caught for her heart and fell from her chair on the floor
-"Fuu!" –Ferio jumped from his chair and kneeled next to Fuu
-"Fuu-chan! What's wrong with you?!" –Hikaru looked at her terrified
Fuu didn't respond. She just closed her eyes.
-"DO SOMETHING!!!" –Ferio yelled on Clef with panic in his voice
***
Fuu was lying on bed in medical flank section of Cephiro castle. She was silently groaning with her every breath. Ferio was sitting at the edge of her bed, stroking her hair. All the rest were waiting on side.
-"What's happening to her?" –asked Umi with fear
-"It appears that she got most fierce form of sickness" –said Lafarga
-"Is she going to die?" –asked Hikaru
-"Her heart is swelling. After some time it will be ripped apart from pressure" –replied Guru
-"Oh my god…" –whispered Umi
-"You said I can destroy that plague! How?" –said almost crying
-"By restoring balance and Cephiro itself. You must make a wish over your emblem. Hey! What are you…" –Clef shouted behind her as she started to run.
She ran up to a window and opened it wide. Everybody, including medics and other patients were observing her. She looked at view behind the window of floating castle and linked her hands. Her medallion began to glow with white light as she closed her eyes and whispered something.
Floor of the castle began to vibrate. With every second it was vibrating stronger and stronger. Also Hikaru's medallion was glowing brighter.
Suddenly medallion sent out blinding explosion of white light. People that were gathered in the room covered their faces with hands but wave of light simply passed through them without doing any harm.
***
Two soldiers were waiting under huge defense tower of a base. A smell of burned trees was floating in the air from dead forest surrounding the base.
-"Ahh… finally" –said one of them when he saw a hovercraft-truck closing in on a gate from the road that was once a forest trail. Now it was a road between two lines of black, charred trees.
When the truck stopped at the gate, soldiers came up to a driver.
-"What do you got?"
-"5 crates"
Soldier frowned at him
-"Only 5? For 10 hours you acquired only 5 crates?!"
-"Maybe you wanna try huh? I'm sure you are better at operating collector" –replied irritated driver
-"Alright alright…It's better than nothing… Oh shit what the hell is that?!!!" –he shouted and pointed on something behind truck.
Everybody looked in direction of the soldier was pointing and were paralyzed by fear. A huge wave of blinding white light was dashing on them from the distance. So high that it looked like it was reaching the sky.
-"LEGGIT!!!" –yelled second soldier and started to run
Alarms shrieked all over the outpost. People were desperately searching for a shelter in total chaos around the whole base. After a moment, wave of light rolled by the outpost hiding it in a blinding flash.
It took a moment before light faded and exposed untouched base with confused people looking at each other. But they were even more surprised when they saw what happened.
Trees of forest around the base were revived. Everybody stared in awe at trees sprouting with leaves and high grass shooting up from the ground. Flowers appeared everywhere, even on buildings and vehicles.
-"What… is… this…" –whispered one of the soldiers
***
Fuu woke up in a bed. Not her own bed. She tried to look around but she didn't have her glasses and her vision was far too blurry to trust. She could only see profiles of three persons at her bed. She could hear their voices but could not understand words. Her head was too dizzy. She tried to sit but immediately hissed from pain and caught for heart. It hurt.
-"Fuu! You're awake!" –said glad Ferio and hugged her
-"How do you feel?" –asked Umi and sit on edge of her bed
-"Uh… It still… hurts…" –she replied with weak voice
-"Here" –he put her glasses on her nose –"You want some water? Or maybe eat something? Don't be shy, just say"
-"Ferio quit it, she's tired" –said Umi
-"What happened? I remember the breakfast and… I've passed out"
Ferio, Hikaru and Umi looked at each other
-"Nothing. It's nothing bad. You just got a little sick" –Umi said and smiled
-"Would you like me to stay with you?" –Ferio asked
-"If that wouldn't be a problem for you" –she answered with smile
-"Oh don't worry. Hikaru, Umi could you go and tell everybody that Fuu's okay?"
It was clear that this was only a pretext to leave him alone with Fuu. Hikaru and Umi looked at each other, shrugged and left the room.
***
-"We need to ask somebody for new clothes. Our own are dirty" –said Umi
-"And a little bath would be nice" –added Hikaru
-"Oh yeah…" –Umi replied thoughtfully
-"So, can you remember what is where in here?"
-"Err… no, it looks like we need a guide"
-"Oh, well. Let's talk with Presea. She will surely know… oh, excuse me?" –Hikaru said when she saw a guard passing by with a sparking halberd in hand
-"Yes?"
-"Could you tell us where is Mrs. Presea's room?"
-"Master smith Presea? Simple, go straight…" –and he began to explain 'simple' way to Presea's room, which for girls looked like a true maze.
-"Oh well, thanks anyway" –Hikaru said when he finished. The guard then went away.
***
-"Thank you" –said Fuu and drank strange potion she received from doctor, who immediately have gone to treat other patients, leaving Fuu and Ferio alone. After she emptied the glass she said –"What was that?"
-"A renovation potion. It heals and restores your strength. Commonly used these days. You will feel like new after few minutes" –he explained with smile, still sitting at the edge of her bed
-"Well…" –she put empty glass on the nightstand –"…can I ask you something?"
-"Of course. Shoot"
-"Since when you've become a prince?"
-"Immediately after your departure from Cephiro. After my sister's death, I've become the last living descendant of royal dynasty. So it was logical outcome"
-"It must be very responsible function" –she said
He looked at the window thoughtfully
-"Well, at first I was afraid of this avalanche of duties that was about to fall on my head. But it wasn't that bad. With help of the others I managed to get through the worst. Besides, it's a little fun. Everybody are obeying my orders" –he grinned
-"I wonder how it feels like" –she said in reverie
-"You won't have to wonder for too long" –he said
She lifted her brows
-"What do you mean?"
-"Oh Fuu think about it, You are the princess!" –he said
-"M… me?!"
He nodded
-"Of course. Who do you think you are, if I love you, my emerald?" –he grinned and kissed her in cheek
-"Oh, right. But we must have a marriage first right?"
He looked at her in question
-"Marriage?"
-"Err… You didn't ever hear of marriage in Cephiro right?"
-"Marriage? Err… Nope. What is that?"
Fuu couldn't help but giggle.
-"Never mind. I'll tell you another time" –she said
-"Well… Fuu I need to ask you… remember that communication stone I gave you? Do you still have it?"
-"Oh yes I have it. Why?"
-"Keep it all the time. Okay? Do not leave it anywhere. Always wear it in your pocket"
-"I will" –she said with smile
***
-"They are still in danger…" –said Guru -"They haven't been changed yet but it's only a matter of time"
-"But in Fuu's and Umi's case we are able to stop it" –answered Lantis
-"No. In Hikaru's case it would be possible to do anything if we could act a few hours before, but with Umi and Fuu the situation is just hopeless. They WILL be changed Lantis. We cannot do anything" –Clef said looking at the window.
The view behind the window was beautiful after Hikaru's spell. It was almost like Cephiro before that all trouble before 3 years. Well... almost. The only thing that spoiled the view was armada of Autosam battleships on the sky.
-"So we can't do anything to save them from this?! You can't be serious!" –growled Lantis
-"Unfortunately they have been already affected in a little way by Hikaru's own magical aura. We could say they've been 'infected' with it in a certain way. It have already begun. All we can do is to make them pass through it as less fiercely as possible."
-"What if they'll all start to shift?"
Clef sighed
-"We can only hope that they will be ready until that time"
-"Good thing that in three, they will be harder to kill than only Hikaru"
Clef turned around to him quickly
-"Lantis! I don't want to do this but I'll MUST if the situation gets critical! Do you think that I feel good because of knowledge that one day I might have to give order to kill them? You know that this can be necessary. As I said…"
-"…we cannot sacrifice Cephiro" –Lantis finished for him –"You know what? I would like to die instead of killing them or watching them get murdered by one of their friends"
Clef sighed
-"We must do anything to not let that come to this point" –said Clef
NOTES: Here ya go. Next chapter should be ready in about a week. But again please READ AND REVIEW. No reviews will make me quit writing. Why to write if I don't have a proof that anybody reads me? And not all mysteries have been revealed. I know my style might be little annoying but I'm doing my best to improve it.
So if you like the story, REVIEW! It don't have to be an epic description of that fanfic. Just write a few words whether it was good or not!!!