Thank you a, ta, a.r, aurameres for reviewing!
A.r, good idea, I might use it.
A, they just are. The fairies are the embodiment of the four elements, so they are just created out of thin air.
Aurameres, I've heard alot about that movie, but I've never gotten around to watching it. Maybe after I finish all of my current stories, I'll try one for that.
Hanadaru yawned as she sat on Mizume's bed with Nene and Koko in her lap and the other four gaurdians around her in their animal forms.
"So what are we going to do?" Tainetsu said quietly, so as not to wake her sleeping birds. She looked up from her spot on the floor to Chisuta at the door and Mizume at her desk.
"Before anything we need to find Kuchira," Chisuta advised, her tone solemn as she mentioned the final princess with missing where-abouts. "If we have her, we might have enough power to get Yoru back."
Tainetsu nodded at the light fairy's assessment. She then turned to Mizume with a raised eyebrow. "You've been quiet Mizume, what's on your mind?"
"I'm worried," she water fairy admitted softly. "I'm worried about our homes. Were they completely destroyed or have they been somewhat rebuilt since we ran away? If they have been rebuilt, do we stay there with them and not come back and fight against whoever is causing this? If we do fight, will we have enough power to face them? If not-?"
"Woah, slow down Mizume," Tainetsu chuckled darkly. "What are you trying to say?"
"There are so many choices to be made by us and each of those decisions lead to another split path, and so on and so on," Mizume tried to explain.
"I think we need the advice of our higesutos first," Chisuta commented. "They have always put us on the right paths before."
Tainetsu nodded and then glanced towards the door. "Maybe we can bring the mermaids for some help?"
"They don't seem too suprised that this is happening to us," Chisuta commented after some thought. "Maybe this happened to their homes?"
"I think that we should bring them with us," Hanadaru said sleepily from the bed. The three older fairies looked towards the grass fairy and smiled. Hanadaru was stretched out on the bed with the six guardians protectively around her.
"We should go to bed," Tainetsu suggested as she stood. "We can talk to them about it in the morning."
"Agreed," Chisuta said as she stepped away from the door. "We'll talk about finding Kuchira first."
"Of course," Mizume nodded and waved to the others as they left for the night. Mizume looked out her window at the rising moon and sighed. 'Where are you Kuchira?'
Elsewhere, a little silver fairy flitted through the night, trying to escape from the approaching darkness that was threatening to swallow her whole.
"Yoru-oneechan, why are doing this?" she cried desperately as the darkness caught up to her and grabbed her through her bubble of wind.
"You air fairies are weak," a deep female voice chuckled as the shadows melted away from a fairy clad in a pure black dress. "Once we catch up to you, you have no more defenses. A weak excuse for a fairy. I might actually miss you after this, Kuchira, but who knows what I'll feel once I take your ring?"
"Y-You shouldn't, Yoru-oneechan!" Kuchira cried as Yoru drifted nearer to her. "You know Essence Chuwa-sama won't smile on you if you do this!"
"Where is Essence-sama now? Now when her devoted Air Princess needs her so much?" Yoru chuckled darkly as the shadows around her swallowed Kuchira up with a small scream.
"Kuchira!" four fairies cried out as they bolted up in bed. There was a pounding of feet as Luchia, Rina, Hanon, and Nikora ran to see why they yelled out.
"What's wrong?" Luchia asked Mizume, who had opened the door right as she stepped up to it. Mizume was sweating horribly, her blue hair matted to her face, and a look of mixed pain and worry clear on her face.
"K-Kuchira was just attacked," Mizume said, her voice dry from crying out. Mizume looked over Luchia's shoulder to see Hanadaru crying into Hanon's shoulder while Tainetsu looked stricken with greif and Chisuta looked almost deadly pale. "You guys saw it too, didn't you?"
Chisuta could barely nod at her sister. Tainetsu stood from leaning against the wall. "I think it's time we clear up somethings between our races."
Nikora gave her a confused look. Tainetsu sighed, her face turning authoritary. "We need to determine everthing that we know is happening to our world. If it is possible, we want your insights too, seeing how this affects you too."
Rina nodded, thinking it over slightly. "I'll go wake up Seira. Luchia, go call Kaito and Rihito-san over so everyone can be here to discuss things."
Luchia nodded and ran off. Rina turned to go back down the hall and wake up the youngest member of their group. Nikora led everyone else down stairs and to the dining room to wait. Hanadaru sat down in between Chisuta and Tainetsu and had both of the older girls wrap their arms around her in comfort. Mizume watched her sisters in a daze as she stood in front of them. They all heard the door open, but none of the fairies looked up to see who it was. A strong hand was placed on Mizume's shoulder, causing her to look up to see Rihito staring at her with worry filled eyes.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly. She nodded curtly, trying not to blush from his obvious worry for her. How had he gotten there so fast if Luchia had just called? Mizume shook her head to clear away the thought. It didn't matter as long as he got here fast. Mizume moved to sit besides Chisuta, Rihito moving along with her to sit on her other side. Soon, Rina was half carrying Seira into the room and to a seat around the large table. The other mermaids filed into the room and sat down around the table with Kaito showing up and sitting next to Luchia and Rihito only minutes later.
"First off," Tainestu said, sitting up from whispering comfort into Hanadaru's ear. "We would like to know if you'll come with us back to our homes."
"Back to your homes?" Kaito questioned, a small look of confusion crossing his face.
"To our Realms," Mizume clarified, her voice hollow. She cleared her throat softly before she continued. "We came to an agreement that we need to return home and consult our elders, those who know our myths better than us, so we may learn about our enemy better."
"And you want us to come?" Rina asked, sceptic at the idea.
"Yes," Chisuta said calmly. "If you do not learn of this threat like we do and help us stop it, then the destruction can easily move to your homes as well."
The mermaids shared a worried look with each other and nodded.
"The four of us will come with you," Rina said calmly, speaking for the more emotional mermaids. "We'll lend you our voices."
"And you two?" Mizume asked Kaito and Rihito.
"I go where Luchia is," Kaito answered. Rihito seemed reluctant to answer.
"Rihito-san, Mikaru can stay with us while you are away," Nikora said with a soft smile. Rihito nodded and then smiled softly at the fairies.
"I will come with you then," he said. He thought for a moment before he turned back to them. "If you four are the only ones that know where your realms are, then how do we get in?"
"Well," Mizume trailed off, looking towards her two elder sisters. Tainetsu and Chisuta nodded their consent. "We have magic within our rings that will grant you the ability to turn to our size and travel with us. It was an old magic that was used before we were all sealed away from the human world."
Everyone nodded, their own questions about the topic answered. Tainsetsu thought for a moment before she whistled low. There was a swoosh in the air as Toto and Riri appeared on the back of her chair. Nene, Koko, Kitkit, and Susu rushed in to their masters seconds later, all in their human forms.
"We are sorry for laxing on our guard and not being with you, Light Drop Princess-sama," Kitkit and Susu apologized as they dropped to their knees in behind Chisuta.
"It is fine," Chisuta giggled softly. "We were only discussing returning home."
"Home?" Koko and Nene said eagerly, bouncing up and down excitedly.
"Stop jumping," Mizume growled, irritated at the two balls of energy. The two cats froze, their ears and tails pooping out as they tried to look cute and get out of trouble. "If you do not behave, I swear I will leave you here with Nikora and have Hippo train you to be good little gaurdians."
"But we want to go!" Koko argued, stamping her little foot. Nene nodded his agreement, his white hair flying as he did so. Mizume looked to Tainetsu and Chisuta for help in controlling the two. Tainetsu snapped her fingers, sending the two birds out of the room, both knowing what their master wished for them to do.
"Go pack our things," Chisuta commanded her own guardians, sending them on their way. Kitkit and Susu bowed before grabbing each of the cats and carrying them out of the room.
"Where are we going to go first?" Hanadaru asked quietly. The three older fairies shared a look with each other.
"The Water Realm is closest," Mizume said, her voice dropping pitch. "We would only travel for an hour if we fly from here."
Tainsetsu nodded, thinking it over. "From there we can travel south and then across and back up."
Hanadaru stood suddenly and left to her room. The three fairies looked at her with looks of worry, but did not go after her.
"Um," Luchia said softly, her hand raising slightly. Everyone turned to her expectantly. "Where are we going exactly?"
"The Water Realm is actually at the edge of this town," Mizume answered softly. "Then we will be going to the Grass Realm, which is on what humans call Mount Fuji. Then to the Light Realm in the human city of Kyoto."
The mermaids and two Palathessians nodded, so she continued. "Then to the Fire Realm, which is in Chuna?"
"China, Mizume," Tainetsu corrected with a laugh. Mizume blushed slightly.
"I don't really know human maps well," Mizume admitted.
"Then let me finish," Chisuta said in a scholarly tone. "I actually paid attention to my human studies."
"I didn't think I would actually use it!" Mizume countered the older fairy's tease.
"After the Fire Realm, we will go and see the Air Realm in Akita," Chisuta continued as if Mizume hadn't said anything.
"We will?" Tainetsu asked, confusion on her face for the slightest of moments. "Ah, right, we have to let them know about Kuchira."
Chisuta nodded before continuing again. "And finally to the Dark Realm in hopes that maybe we can purify it."
Mizume pursed her lips at the plan, but consented to let it happen.
"We want to leave immediately, so please rest up some and then pack your things," Tainetsu said as she stood, motioning her sisters to follow her. The three fairies left the table and went to Tainetsu's room to find the few things she owned packed away in a bag and her two guardians asleep on the bed.
"Get some rest you two," Tainetsu ordered of her sisters as she scooped up the two birds and placed them farther down the bed. "We will be using a lot of magic when we leave."
With that, they parted to go pack for their journey home.
Everyone gathered together back in the dining room, each of the traveleres had on a small backpack.
"Kitkit, Susu," Chisuta said quietly as she kneeled by the two foxes. "Remember that you are not allowed to come with me to the other Realms, so please go ahead of us to our home."
"You guys go home too," Tainetsu said to the two birds on her shoulders. The four animals took off out of the open glass doors. Once the four left and they had said their good-byes, the four fairies raised their hands so their rings were visible. The four rings began to glow softly as a reaction to each other.
"By the power of Essence Chuwa," the four said together.
"Allow fire to rise," Tainetsu said, her ring glowing brighter.
"Allow water to flow," Mizume said, her ring glowing as well.
"Allow grass to grow," Hanadaru said, though she seemed slightly reluctant.
"Allow light to shine," Chisuta finished, her own ring glowing. The four glows grew until they molded together around the group. The dome of color began to shrink from Nikora and Hippo's view. Once it cleared, the two gasped. Standing in the middle of the dining room was all of their friends, only ranging one to two feet tall. The four fairies had turned into their normal forms, their wings moving slowly.
"It's so good to be back to normal," Hanadaru said, her voice higher as she kicked off the ground so she could fly. The other fairies laughed softly as they also kicked off the ground.
"You guys can fly too," Mizume told the other tiny people. Seira squeeled as she kicked of and tackled Hanadaru in mid-air. The others were more hesitant as they joined the five in the air.
"W-Will we be seen?" Luchia asked as Kaito helped her get to everyone else's height.
"The magic we gave to you makes you almost the same as a fairy, so only another mystical being can see you," Tainsetsu explained.
"Which is why Nikora can see us," Mizume said with a wave towards the purple-haired woman. "Let's go!"
The four fairies flew out of the open door with the others quickly following.
"Wah! The city is so pretty!" Seira, Luchia, and Hanon said eagerly as they flew closer to the city. The fairies laughed as they flew through the tall buildings of the city until they reached the park.
"Follow me!" Mizume called to them as she took the lead through the small forest on one side of the park. The forest seemed to go on forever until Mizume raised her ringed hand and a heat wave seemed to appear in front of them. The wave disappeared as they flew through it, revealing a crystal clear lake with white stone buldings surrounding it. Several trees surrounding the lake seemed to be dieing out as some of the buildings seemed to be crumbling. Koko and Nene rushed forward, both in their cat forms, and jumped into the lake.
"We can swim!" they called happily. Mizume smiled softly as she flew above the two and towards the largest of the buildings. It seemed to be untouched as it sat higher than any of the other buildings in the city. The mermaids, Kaito, and Rihito looked down as they flew behind the fairies and saw other blue fairies staring up at them.
"It's Princess Mizume!" someone called and a loud cheer came from those below them. Mizume stopped and waved to everyone. "Princess came back to help rebuild!"
Mizume froze at those words, a tear coming to her eye. Tainetsu grabbed her hand and continued to the large building. The closer they got, everyone could see that it was some kind of shrine. They landed at the entrance and walked inside. Kneeling by a white marble statue of a woman with large wings, a crown, long hair, and a flowing gown was an elderly man with faded wings.
"Ichimizu," Mizume greeted softly as she kneeled next to the man. "I wish for your guidance, my higesuto."
"May Essence Chuwa-sama please you, my princess," Ichimizu said softly as he stood. Mizume stood as well. The man smiled down at her before the two hugged. "I missed you Mizume-sama."
"And I, you," Mizume laughed as they turned to the others.
"My, it is an honor to see you again, Light Drop Princess, Fire Drop Princess, and Grass Drop Princess," Ichimizu said with a stiff bow. He looked behind the three princess and froze. "Mizume-sama, how could you bring humans to our lands? You know the legends just as well as any of us elders."
"Ichimizu, they aren't human," Tainetsu said, stepping forward to defend their friends.
"They are actual people of the sea," Chisuta informed him, also stepping forward to defend their friends.
"They have every right to be here," Hanadaru pouted, defending them in her own way.
"Ichimizu," Mizume said softly, drawing the old fairy's attention. "This is Pink Pearl Mermaid Princess Luchia, Green Pearl Mermaid Princess Rina, Aqua Pearl Mermaid Princess Hanon, Orange Pearl Mermaid Princess Seira, Palathessian Prince Kaito, and Palathessian Prince Rihito."
Ichimizu took a step back in shock before he fell to his knees in a bow.
"Please forgive my earlier rudeness," he whispered. The four fairies began to giggle at his words.
"There is nothing to forgive, is there?" Tainetsu said, turning to her friends. Everyone shook their head in answer.
"Now," Ichimizu said, standing once again. "What do we need to discuss?"
Mizume thought for a moment before she thought of something. "I think it's time that I visit The Pool."
"The P-Pool?" Ichimizu stuttered, taken aback once again. "Surely things are not that horrible in the Realms?"
The four fairies could only nod.
"V-Very well," Ichimizu stuttered, walking towards large doors behind the statue. He stopped in front of the marble doors. When Mizume stepped forward, Ichimizu stepped in between her and the others.
"What?" Tainetsu nearly growled at the old fairy, taking a step forward with her fist raised.
"I'm sorry, Fire Drop Princess-sama, but only the Aqua Drop Princess may enter The Pool," Ichimizu quickly explained. "It is the only law Essence Chuwa-sama gave the original princesses."
Tainetsu sighed and stepped back, not wishing to disobey a law from their goddess. Mizume opened the doors slightly and slipped into the forbidden area.
Cliffy! I sort of know where this is going, it's just the details that I need to hammer out. As usual, please review!
