Burning Flames Chapter 11: (Final Chapter)
Friends: The Love that Lives
Dedication: Anyone who helped inspire this! Don't really like it but I like the new story I thought of! Much better just it terms of writing skills I think.
Disclaimer: You know the drill!
ISA: I'm glad you're sad… that sounds weird! I could never write Eagle-kun as evil! He is so awesome! The new story I will be writing is going to be a gigantic Clemi!
Kaze Fuuka: Hope you like this final, really long, chapter! Hope I was quick enough! Woo more faces! giggles XD
Notes: Last chapter! Do not want to ruin anything so just read! Oh yes the pillar test is original in my story! I did it for a reason! I'm not crazy! . . And WOOT! SUPER LONG CHAPTER!!
Word Count: 4756
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Never ending, ever growing blackness, which seemed to spread out in front of her? Every single ounce of energy and life had been sucked out of ever single fiber of her being. She wasn't just weary, she was drained.
Emotionally drained, physically drained, magically drained, spiritually drained, and almost anything else you can think of she was drained of.
She could barely think so she was far from comprehending where she was or why she was her.
Why was she here? How did she get here? What was she supposed to do? When was something interesting going to happen or was anything going to happen? And where the hell was she!
She could still feel the presence of the people that lived in the castle so she couldn't be outside the castle grounds.
Of so many people lived in the castle that Hikaru would never be able to remember or even meet everyone but she had come to know and remember quite a lot of auras and she often called them by their aura colors.
Mister dark blue or the lady with a light pink aura. One that randomly stuck out in her wide collection was the white aura.
Hikaru had searched out this person with the white aura as she felt something special in this person. She ended up being a four year old girl who had been found in the forest just outside the palace grounds.
She was now being raised by the kitchen staff but Hikaru would often visit her. Her name was Aijou which was a rather odd name for a little girl. When the kitchen staff had found her that was the only words she spoke.
Soon little Aijou had almost become a sister to Hikaru, cute little Ai and her would wander the gardens just laughing and talking. Hikaru felt drawn to her for her aura but she also loved this little girl like a sibling.
Her aura, which was often white but would sometimes flick to a light red or pink, was so innocent and unspoiled. It was just filled with unsealed power it reminded her of something but she never could place a finger on it.
Actually Aijou reminded Hikaru a bit of herself when she was younger. So naïve and full of energy, thinking nothing bad of the world. That was why she hadn't talked to her that much.
The world wasn't always good and Hikaru didn't want Aijou to know that, not at this moment at least. Let her be a child a little longer. Hikaru smiled in the blackness and she couldn't help but giggle.
Even light can be found in the darkness, even the smallest thing like a smile from a small child can change someone's whole world. You never know how someone affects you until you're away from them.
"Aka-chan, little Aka-chan you are so sweet!" She laughed and she opened her eyes as she felt her body being felt with new energy.
Just as her body felt like it was back to normal she noticed there was a strange emptiness inside of her. It felt as she had lost half of her body, she was missing a part of herself and she knew it!
"Chikushou!" She cried as she lost control of her temper for a moment and suddenly around her sprung red flames. She gasped in surprise and she expected to get burnt but no such thing happened.
"In here auras have their own tangible form and are visible not only a thing you can sense out with your mind. " A sweet voice whispered but no one appeared in the dark.
Hikaru reached her hand out in the flame, it was true she could actually feel the flames and move them to her will but she didn't get burnt.
Hikaru guessed they weren't really flames at all but it made sense that the aura of the Magic Knight of Fire would appear as flames. "If Fuu-chan was here it would be wind, and Umi-chan would get water." Hikaru giggled as she thought of her dear friends.
"But they will never come here Magic Knight; they are the true lucky ones. Everyone called me lucky at first but they were very wrong and they see that now." The voice sighed and this time Hikaru could see a form appearing out the darkness, actually two.
The second forms stayed in the background while the other stepped forward, surrounded by little golden lights that danced around her form.
The woman who stepped forward was short, slim, and as beautiful as everyone said she was. Her face would be so much prettier if she smiled though but today she face was sad and dark. She golden waves of hair were tucked backwards a bit to show off her porcelain like face.
"Princess Emeraude why are you here aren't you… dead?" Hikaru asked pausing before the world dead to try to think of a better word but none came to mind.
"I am Hikaru." She said and her face broke into a genuine smile, she was happy to be dead. "I am free this way Hikaru but I'm here on grave matters." She said and her face instantly dropped.
"It is tradition for the former pillar to come to the new pillars, well a possible new pillar, test. I wish you could turn back now but there is no way to go back from here." Emeraude said with an even larger sigh.
"What do you mean I can't turn back?" Hikaru cried. "Clef never told me anything, Lantis never told me as well… no one told me anything!" She screamed as her eyes began to water.
"They can't, they are sworn by blood not to tell. It was created to trick others because the first pillar knew if they knew what being the pillar was like no one would want to become the pillar." Emeraude laughed with a cruel smile of someone who had been betrayed.
"It's life or death from here Hikaru. You can pass and become the pillar or not pass and… die. Sometimes I think death would be better but then again maybe not..." Emeraude mumbled to herself.
"Hikaru here I can see your heart, I know you don't want to go through with this but there is nothing we can do. I will give you some advice from here on. As pillar you can do anything Hikaru and I wish I had thought of the secret they told me but I had already died." Emeraude bowed slightly then retreated.
"Wait Emeraude where are you going!" Hikaru cried but she felt Emeraude keep her away. "I am forbidden from interrupting in the test."
"What is the test?" She cried as she struggled but with part of her soul going she couldn't break her force field. "No one outside may now what it is…" Emeraude whispered.
Suddenly the second figure, the one Hikaru had forgotten about stepped forward covered in a light pink aura identical to Hikaru's own flames.
Her long pink hair whipped around her very skinny body, her eyes were cold and unfeeling. "Wait you are Nova from the test thing I had to take to get escudo!" Hikaru cried as she remembered her.
"Yes Hikaru, your parents tried to seal me away forever. They did not want you suffering the same fate as all the other pillars. They failed though, their seal was only temporary." Nova laughed.
"Is this something to do with my test?" Hikaru asked, her voice wavering with uncertainty.
"Of course it does silly Hikaru! Most people learn to deal with their inner auras, if they are powerful enough like yours, at a young age but you didn't!" Nova laughed. "You must learn to control me to become a pillar."
"With me gone though you have lost half of yourself leaving you weaker then normal!" Nova laughed again and her two pink swords appeared in her hands.
One slice with those things and she would be dead. Hikaru gulped and silently screamed for her sword.
"Oh I can call Rayearth!" Hikaru cried as she remembered.
"Rayearth"
…Nothing happened and Hikaru felt her worry grow. She decided to try again.
"Rayearth"
Once again nothing happened.
"I can not be summoned here young Magic Knight but believe in thine own heart and believe in your ability to return to thine friends for thine friends are my young masters life."
"Believe in my self and my ability to return to my friends. The only way to return to my friends is if I become the pillar..." Hikaru whispered.
"You can never win for your heart will never be in it… it's because of all the person at the palace isn't it? Umi, Fuu, little Aka-chan, Clef, Eagle, and of course Lantis." Nova laughed but still she didn't move to attack.
"As a pillar you can do anything…you can do anything…anything? Anything of course!" Hikaru cried as it finally dawned on you.
"I can put my whole heart into it because my whole heart belongs to my friends and everyone at the palace and there is one way I can return to them and be happy!" Hikaru cried as she collected the aura flames around her and molded them into two bright red swords.
"I'm ready Nova!"
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"Are you sure we have to wait outside the palace? Can't we be with Hikaru?" Umi pleaded as she tried to sway Clef with the saddest expression she could muster.
"There is nothing I can do Umi, it is tradition because anything can happen with the castle. The castle is controlled by the pillar Umi and right now it accepts Hikaru even though she isn't officially the pillar and I've lost control of everything in there." Clef sighed.
"I just want this whole thing to be over with." Clef sighed as she ran a hand through her purple hair. "How can you say such a thing?" Umi cried her face livid. "That is our Hikaru in there!"
"I'm sorry Umi I'm just really worn out." Clef sighed, he was to weary to even fight, argue, or whatever with Umi.
Umi blinked for a second then closed her eyes. She rubbed the bride of her nose with two fingers. "I'm sorry Clef I guess I'm just taking my anger out on you is all." She sighed.
"Aren't we all Umi?" Clef sighed as he sat down and Umi slowly followed. "I wonder how she is doing, don't you Umi?" Clef asked but there was no answer.
He felt a slight thump against his shoulder and looked to see Umi fast asleep on his shoulder. His cheeks flushed pink and he looked straight ahead. "Crazy woman getting so worried about Hikaru." He muttered.
"Fuu are you sure you are okay?" Ferio asked as he handed a hot cup of tea over to Fuu. "I will be okay." Fuu asked as she sipped the tea without evening knowing it was there.
"Where did you get this Ferio?" She asked looking down at the tea like she had just realized it was there. "Some people were making some and I asked for a cup. I don't think people would say no to their prince." Ferio said with a cocky smile.
'Ferio wipe that idiotic grin off your face." Fuu said with a roll of her eyes.
"Excuse me but you are friends of Hik-chan right?" A small girl asked them. She was very cute!
Her light pink hair was tied up in two small pigtails that barely reached her shoulders and her face was small and delicate. She wore a small whiter dress and looked no older then four.
"Who is Hik-chan and who are you?" Fu asked politely. "Oh I'm sorry I'm Aijou and I'm talking about Hikaru." The small girl smiled.
"Oh you must be Aka-chan that Hikaru is always talking about!" Fuu smiled, she was cuter then Hikaru described. "Of course I know Hik-chan then."
"Where is she Magic Knight, I couldn't find her?" Aijou asked and she looked very worried for Hik-chan.
"You can call me Fuu Aijou." Fuu smiled. "Hik-chan is in the palace." Fuu said calmly. "But we all had to get out of the palace so why is she in there Fuu-chan?" Aijou asked.
"She is taking a little test right now, don't worry she is supposed to be in there." Fuu said with a smile. "Like the math tests I have to take?" Aijou asked.
"Just like the math tests Ai-chan! Now go run along I'm sure your mother (this meaning one of the kitchen staff) is worried about you." Fuu smiled.
"Good bye it was nice to meet you Fuu-chan!" Aijou cried as she ran off. "She is so cute isn't she?" Fuu smiled.
"Hey Fuu don't you think I should have a nickname for you?" Ferio asked. "Like Kaze-chan for like wind or maybe that is no informal. How about my love?" Ferio thought as he listed of names.
"Ferio I like Fuu, those are horrible names!" Fuu laughed as she drank some of her tea with a smile. "Why do you even want to have a nickname for me?" She asked.
"I don't Fuu." He said saying her name with quite a lot of emphasize. "Then why did you say that?" Fuu laughed as she set her tea down.
"To make you feel better and it worked." Ferio grinned like a mad man. Fuu smiled and leaned into him. "You're sweet Ferio." She smiled.
"Thanks Fuu." Ferio grinned as she relaxed back and gave Fuu's head a light kiss.
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He had made sure no one saw he had left and had only gathered his sword and his horse that was now following him. The horse actually had had to trot to keep up with the pace Lantis was setting.
"Lantis." An all too familiar voice called. "Eagle what are you doing here?" Lantis said with a sigh.
"What does it look like Lantis? Lantis you are not leaving." Eagle announced. "How am I not leaving?" Lantis asked with a growl.
"Because I know you are smarter then that. You know Hikaru is smart and I'm sure she can figure out a way to become pillar and be happy and free. I can feel it in my gut and I have very good gut instincts. They saved your life once!" Eagle cried.
"I know you won't shut up about that." Lantis groaned. "You know what Lantis?" Eagle said as he ran a hand down the horses back and it swung its head around to bunt Eagle playfully.
"What should I know Eagle?" Lantis sighed knowing he wasn't going to get anywhere fast. "I don't think knows you love Hikaru." Eagle said with a firm nod. "Who said I liked Hikaru?" Lantis asked.
"You can drop the act Lantis." Eagle said as he glared at Eagle. "…Fine so what?" Lantis asked turning so he didn't have to face Eagle.
"I think the only people who can tell that are people who now every little thing about you which would be me and Clef. I swear that Zagato, whatever he is doing at the moment, is probably yelling at you." Eagle said.
"Why would he be yelling at me?" Lantis asked in surprise. "Cause your too stubborn to know you still got a chance." Eagle said and began to walk away. "Do whatever you want but remember that." She yelled over his shoulder.
Eagle walked a little ways before he heard the light sound of feet and hooves hitting the ground. "I knew you would come." Eagle grinned. "Shut up." Was all Lantis growled.
"Oh and promise me when Hikaru becomes the pillar and somehow does the happy thing I was talking about that you be more obvious with your feelings." Eagle rambled.
"You are so odd Eagle." Lantis sighed with a roll of his eyes. "I said promise me!" Eagle called again. "Fine I promise!" Lantis cried. "Good now we must be going." Eagle grinned for he had just won another battle.
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"You can never defeat me even if you believe with all your heart you can!" Nova cried. "I'm stronger then you and I know it!" Nova laughed but she could feel fear growing in the pit of her stomach.
Hikaru's eyes were so determined and her aura flames grew stronger and stronger around her body. She could feel a strong heat radiating from the flames even though they weren't real flames at all.
"I shall win and you know it because…"
"Honoo no Ya."
"Your heart is strong enough." That was all it took, the arrow of fire sprouting from Hikaru's aura swords was all it took.
It had pierced her right through the heart, or where her heart had been and was still stuck in her chest.
How had Hikaru known she had no heart because she had shared Hikaru and that was the one thing she couldn't have on her own.
The only way to recover a part of her your body that had split away from to connect you heart with where its heart should be and Nova could feel Hikaru's heart in the arrow in her chest.
She wasn't defeated yet she could still overpower Hikaru! The heart tie could go the other way too and poor Hikaru probably didn't know that! Nova smiled wickedly, she could take over Hikaru's body and become the pillar herself!
She got ready to send her soul surging through their connection but as she did she felt Hikaru's aura blocking hers. Her aura had suddenly become so strong.
"No you just can't be this strong from just believing in yourself! No!" Nova cried as her body was slowly pulled towards Hikaru.
Hikaru just smiled almost sweetly at Nova but Nova still fought the bond. Soon Nova felt her body weakening and the power she that had been raging inside began to quiet down.
"I'm sorry Nova you couldn't control your power and it was because I never learned to control it as well. I'm sorry but I will control it now I promise. Do you forgive me Nova?" Hikaru asked as Nova began to become one with Hikaru's body.
"Of course I do Hikaru; I'm finally free like I wanted to be. Thank you Hikaru." Nova whispered before she vanished.
"You passed I knew you would Hikaru." Emeraude said with a smile that held a sort of sweetness and sadness in it at the same time.
"Emeraude I know what to do know don't be sad." Hikaru said as she felt herself being pulled from the testing grounds and back to reality.
"Thank you Hikaru I can finally be a peace and so can all the former pillars." Emeraude said with a smile of relief and her body vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Hikaru felt her body being pulled upwards, in her dream world and the real world as well. Her flame aura danced around her and it spread a warm feeling all through her body.
Hikaru laughed as it twisted around her and she opened her eyes. She was no totally out of the testing area but she was in the air above Cephiro and her flames still danced around her.
She could help but burst into laughter now and she oddly felt very happy right now. "Of course my aura knows how to make me feel better." She said with a sigh.
"Hikaru!" She heard multiple cries from below here. She looked down to find everyone gathered in the grounds. "Princess Hikaru, Hikaru the pillar, Pillar Hikaru." The names range through the crowd and they all dropped to the ground in a bow.
"Call me Hikaru and don't bow like that I won't be pillar for long!" Hikaru called down to them. Everyone sat up with very confused faces.
"You are not going to kill yourself Hikaru?" Fuu asked slowly and loudly. Hikaru was way to happy right now to be killing herself.
"You'll see." Hikaru said with a wink. "We'll this will be my first time praying so how do I go about this." She rambled to herself.
She got down on her knees, her flames cradling her like a baby who had just fell down. "My first and only wish is for the pillar system to be destroyed and al the rules with it. No one should be denied love!" Hikaru paused here for a breath.
"Cephiro will use the power of love and friendship to power itself. The love between friends and lovers shall hold up the land for what is stronger then belief in your friends." Hikaru smiled as she thought of all her friends.
For a second nothing happened then it all happened at once. Hikaru found herself on the ground, her flame aura gone and Cephiro was whole again and even more beautiful then she remembered it.
"Hikaru you did it!" Umi cried as she ran over to Hikaru and pulled her into a fierce hug. "The pillar system is really gone… Clef whispered in shock.
"Don't worry Clef we will always need a guru around here but you will be a guru who can love." Hikaru announced happily.
"Why would I need such a thing as that?" Clef said turning his blushing face away. Umi let Hikaru go to glare at Clef. "Clef love is supposed to be beautiful!" She cried before stomping away from him.
'Wait Umi I didn't mean anything by it!" Clef cried before running after her. "Crazy woman." He added under his breath.
"It seems almost everything is back to normal. It happened so fast I'm a little in shock myself. I guess we need to get everyone back inside. You are there Prince Ferio they will listen to you." Fuu said as she smiled lightly and gave Hikaru a light hug.
"Fine but I don want to." Ferio grunted. "Get a move along, nothing to see here let us all go inside and get some well deserved rest!" Ferio cried as he began pushing the crowd gathering around Hikaru towards the door.
Aijou broke free of the crowd and ran to Hikaru. "Hik-chan mommy said you were the pillar but you got rid of it!" Aijou cried as she jumped into Hikaru's arms.
"Ai-chan, my little Aka-chan don't worry about it! Everything is just going to great from now one!" Hikaru grinned as she hugged Aijou.
She set Aijou down and gave her a little pat on the head. "You better go to your mom Ai-chan!" She smiled as Aijou ran over. "I love you Hik-chan!" She called.
"I love you too Ai-chan."
"Your jealous cause you want Hikaru to say that to you aren't ya?" Eagle asked as grinned at Lantis as they waited for the crowd to leave.
Lantis just gave Eagle a glare meaning he was not amused. "Fine but you must be jealous cause you Hikaru to run and jump into your arms." Eagle grinned even bigger if that was even possible.
"If you don't shut up I swear I will punch you so hard that you will not wake up for a long time." Lantis growled and his eyes were closed in annoyance or anger but you couldn't tell which.
"You wouldn't do that to your best friend would you? Also remember we are signing a peace treaty so punching me in the face would not be a good idea." Eagle smirked and began to walk off.
"Wait where are you going?" Lantis called. "Remember your promise well it's time to live up to it!" Eagle called as he walked casually away.
"Shit"
Hikaru smiled in relief as the last of the people left. "Finally I think I've had enough of Hikaru I can't believe you got rid of the system for my lifetime!" She shouted.
"I think you will have to deal with it for a while." Lantis chuckled. Hikaru turned around in surprise. "Lantis I was wondering where you were." She gulped.
"Well most people, myself including, can't imagine the pillar system being destroyed but I must thank you. You've done something I've always wished I could do myself." Lantis explained.
"Thank you Lantis... I can't imagine life without being able to love… my friends." She said with a flustered smile.
"Well now no more tragedies like my brothers can happen." Lantis sighed but this time in relief and joy. "How can you be so sure they would happen again?" Hikaru asked.
"Because fate has the annoying habit of repeating itself with the oddest people." Lantis explained as she sat down in the grass to look at the flowers blooming next to him.
"The oddest people… your odd Lantis." Hikaru sighed as she sat down to gaze at the flower too.
"Not really… my brother was odd I guess and I'm a lot like him so maybe I could be considered weird in a way." He rambled.
"You both were quiet, and stubborn." Hikaru laughed. "I don't mean like that I mean in events." Lantis corrected her.
"Events… what events?" Hikaru asked confused. "Why does she have to be so naïve…? I can't be subtle about anything can I?" Lantis whispered to himself.
"What did you say Lantis?" Hikaru asked. "Oh it was nothing." Lantis said as she pulled him out of his own thoughts.
"Hikaru can I tell you something?" Lantis asked with a small frown. "Of course you can tell me anything that is what I'm here for!" Hikaru laughed with a giant grin. Lantis couldn't help but I give a small smile.
"I love you." He said it simply, he never was a very out there person but it was better just to get it down with faster. There was a long silence till Hikaru opened her mouth.
"Lantis you don't mean that." She gulped and her eyes were wide in surprise or shock, probably both. "Yea I do." He said before looking at the flower again. "Damn Eagle, I was going to try to do it at the right time and he forces me to do right in the open like this." He added under his breath.
Hikaru bent down and stared at the flower for a long time. "I love you too." She added. "Really?" Lantis asked. "Yep I do." Hikaru added with a nod.
It wasn't very romantic at all, both were in so much shock or too nervous to do anything properly but they had both said it.
Hikaru stood up to leave but ended up tripping and Lantis quickly got up to try to catch her but it didn't work out as planned.
How it worked out was Hikaru's lips and Lantis coming into contact with each others.
Hikaru pulled quickly away with a large blush on her face.
Lantis was quite lucky that Eagle had forced that promise upon him. So their first kiss was an accident but it wasn't going to be their last.
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Finally done! I hope you like it! Very open ended could right a sequel but I probably won't because I got this great idea for anew one! I actually think it will be much better then this one… this one kinda sucked if you ask me but this was a super long chappie!
Hope you liked my story!
Notes:
Aijou- A made up character I like her a lot, might use her again later. Her name means love. Her mother must have said it to her before she left so that is why she was repeating it.
Aka-chan-Means baby, a nickname between Hikaru and Aijou.
Don't want to spoil that chappie with an Omake ending!