Nova's face flashed in perverted joy as she drew her blade out, moving with unnatural lethargy. For Hikaru, they were frozen in time, the agony and pain etched on her for an eternal moment as Eagle fell slowly to his knees, hands holding his belly where dark blood flowed from the gaping wound. His face was still, frozen in agony, yet the light of his eyes shone with immeasurable ecstasy. Sound and motion stopped, and it seemed as though Hikaru was borne away on a tide of unreality. As Eagle fell, she thought she could hear the silence as he whispered his last words to her.
"Hi…ka…ru…" he mouthed, on his knees now. All she could hear was the harsh sound of his labored breathing, the rough scratching of his clothes against the stone as he collapsed.
And then time returned to normal, and Nova was laughing horribly, her high, grating voice cutting over everything else. She pulled back a black-booted foot and let fly, kicking Eagle's limp body across the debris.
"Everyone tries to stop me! Everyone tries to stop me from playing with Hikaru!"
She loosed another barrage of energy at Eagle's slack form, eyes narrowed in malicious glee. But then Hikaru was there, standing in front of Eagle as she took the assault for him. When Nova lowered her arm, Hikaru looked up, her face strong even as the tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Nova!" she shouted, "You will not touch him!"
Nova laughed again.
"And who is going to stop me, Hikaru? You?"
Hikaru did not answer, but stood, silent and still, as Nova giggled yet again, and lowered her arm for another volley of her energy blots.
Hikaru brought her sword to bear, blocking the energies. But even as the last bolt disintegrated, Nova was falling from her cliff-top, her swords above her head as she tried to slice Hikaru from head to toe. Hikaru raised her fire-blade above her head, catching Nova's swords on her own.
So they stood there, locked in mortal combat, neither able to defeat the other. Straining against her Shadow, Hikaru could see out of the corner of her eye where Eagle lay, still.
Hikaru!
And suddenly Hikaru's eyes widened in shock. In her mind, a vision came of a lady dressed all in white, kneeling in front of a small crystal, the ribbons of her dress flowing around it.
Presea? she thought.
Yes, came the voice, and in the vision the lady's brows drew together. Hikaru, I will fight with you!
"Presea…" she said, gritting her teeth. And suddenly she was filled with new strength, pulsing from a heart not her own. In this new power Hikaru threw Nova off, and struck down with blazing energy. Nova dodged, fear and hate blanching her face.
"How…!" she started, but Hikaru was already swooping in again, her eyes blazing with new-found stamina.
Nova sent attack after attack towards the advancing girl, but a glow of red fire sprang up around Hikaru, and suddenly she looked into Nova's eyes, the new power burning in her.
"PHEONIX FIRE!" She yelled, and from the dark sky a monstrous bird of flame and death swooped towards Nova, intent on its target.
But Nova screamed, and sent up a shield of great power, and though she was struck, the blow did not kill her. But now Hikaru had the advantage.
Again Nova was backing off, but now she was losing, each blow weakening her a little further. Finally, Hikaru threw her against the cliff wall, and leaped forward, so that she and Nova were almost face to face, their blades pushed against each other in a powerful battle of wills.
Nova stared into Hikaru's determined visage, her own pale and blanched in fear. But suddenly she saw into Hikaru's mind, and knew the vision, and a smile stole over her face.
"Hikaru…" she said softly, in almost a singsong, "You know you're being lied to…"
Hikaru's eyes didn't change. "Keep your lies, Nova. I trust my friends. I know they wouldn't lie to me."
Nova eyes glinted dangerously. "Oh, really? What about this?"
And her free hand reached up, and before Hikaru could stop it, touched her forehead.
Suddenly Hikaru felt herself away, and was in a dark, dank place, so black she could not see her hand in front of her face. She looked around herself wildly, trying to find Nova, trying to escape.
"Nova! What is this?"
Nova's high giggle played over the expanse.
Look, Hikaru! Tell me, do your friends love you?
"Of course!" Hikaru shouted, defensive, a little frightened, but sure none the less.
Don't listen to what she says! Presea's mind-voice warned. Hikaru nodded firmly, and gripped her sword in both hands.
Really? It was Nova's voice again. Then why do they leave you alone?
Suddenly Hikaru was seeing the past, watching from the gardens as her friends dashed off to fight without her. When Umi and Fuu looked behind, she saw relief in their faces, and that moment froze in her eye.
"Yes? They were glad I was alright!"
Ah…yes. Nova's voice said. But relief for what? Do you know what they were thinking?
And suddenly Hikaru heard words from the two figures of the other Magic Knights, though their mouths and bodies remained still.
"Oh, good." Umi's voice said, "She's not going to be able to follow. She's always so careless, and so clumsy!"
"No…" Hikaru whispered.
"I am relieved," Fuu said, "That Hikaru does not come with us. She has a good heart, but she is not as strong as myself and Umi-san. She would tend to hold us back."
"Yes," Umi's voice agreed, "we have our new spells, but she had not learned anything in our whole time here! Maybe she shouldn't have come."
"Maybe you are correct, Umi-san," Fuu replied.
"No…" Hikaru moaned, disbelieving, "my friends love me! They would never think that!"
Really? How do you know?
"Hikaru, you took Fuu away from me and killed my sister. I wish you had never come." Though his smile was there, the words Ferio had said as their greeting were terrible, burning her heart.
"Hikaru, you killed all my friends! I want you to go away forever!" Ascot's trembling child's voice was filled with unshed tears as he stood, silent, behind Caldina.
"Hikaru, you killed the Pillar, and now all Cephiro is crumbling. Get away from us!" Clef was sitting on his throne, talking and smiling at the three girls when they first returned, his usually mild voice filled with disgust.
"No…"
And then Lantis was standing there, talking to her for the first time, and behind his eyes his mind-voice rang out clear.
"Hikaru, you killed my country. You murdered my brother. Leave us alone!"
"Yes," Hikaru whispered, breaking, "I remember."
No! Presea's voice came sharp and urgent through the fog that was settling over her mind. No, Hikaru! Think! That's not how it was! Your friends love you! They all have always loved you!
Oh, really? Nova's voice questioned. If they loved you, why did they lie?
"But they didn't lie…" Hikaru whispered, seeking something of her past world, the world that Nova was shattering piece by piece.
They didn't? Then what about Caldina, who is secretly from Chizeta, who is invading Cephiro?
Hikaru's eyes widened in shock. "From…Chizeta?"
And she saw Caldina, smiling and laughing as she stood with the others. Then Caldina talking to Lafarga, words pouring from her mouth, condemning herself.
Nova's voice laughed harshly. You see, cute Hikaru? Your "friends" are liars. They hate you!
"No…" she whispered weakly, her eyes clouded in doubt.
NO! Presea's voice cut through her brain, sharp. Hikaru, remember. Caldina may be from a different country, but she loves you like the rest of us. Umi and Fuu and Clef and Lafarga…we all love you! We would never lie to you-
SHUT UP! Nova's voice screeched through the blackness.
You have to believe me, Hikaru! Presea's voice begged. Don't listen to what this girl is telling you!
SHUT UP! Nova screamed.
"Yes…" Hikaru whispered. "Caldina is my dear friend…she would never betray me…"
A light began to bloom in the blackness around her, growing with every word.
"Umi and Fuu…They came with me to fight for their hearts…they are my dearest friends…I trust them!" Each word brought new, stronger conviction from Hikaru's burning heart. The light became closer, brighter, more brilliant.
Yes! Presea encouraged.
NO! Nova's scream was filled with fear, pierced through with hate. You can't do this!
"I know my friends…" Hikaru said, all but shouting, "and they would never lie to me!"
Hikaru…Nova voice was weak, shaking in suppressed rage, She materialized far above Hikaru in the last spot of blackness within the blazing light. She looked through the light, her eyes burning in hatred, and saw Presea kneeling in her room, her heart exposed to Hikaru.
"You!"She snarled."It's all
your fault! You took Hikaru away!"
She swung an arm as though striking an invisible opponent, and in her room Presea jerked and cried out in pain.
"Presea!" Hikaru yelled, and then the brightness disappeared, and she fell to her knees in front of Nova, still trapped, but strong again. She looked up, and now she could see Nova floating above her, irrepressible rage in her gaze.
"Everyone wants to take Hikaru away from me!" She growled, balling her fists.
But instead of attacking, she tilted her head to the side, as though she was thinking, and the terrible impression of a smile appeared back on her face. Hikaru leapt to her feet, taking advantage of Nova's distraction to ready her sword. But then Nova looked down at her, a sickly smile on her face, her features morphing into a revolting semblance of happiness.
"Hikaru…your friends are always lying to you."
"No, Nova! You are the liar!" she shouted, confident and sure again, though Presea was not with her.
She inclined her head further. "Really? Then what about Presea?"
Hikaru looked shocked, confused. "Presea?"
Nova floated down slowly, shaking her head in mock sadness. "Poor, sweet Hikaru…Even your closest friends hate you."
"What are you talking about, Nova!" Hikaru cried, confusion bordering on panic in her voice.
Nova's smile widened. "Ask her. Ask Presea."
Hikaru stared at Nova for a moment, then a shadowy form of Presea materialized before her, looking battered.
Hikaru…
"Presea!" she gasped, "are you alright?"
I'm fine. Hikaru, don't listen to what Nova is saying. No one has ever lied to you.
"No one?" Nova laughed, landing finally and taking a step forward. "Ask her, Hikaru, ask Presea for the truth."
Hikaru glared at Nova. "What are you trying to do, Nova?"
Nova just laughed terribly. "Oh, cute Hikaru! You are so trusting! You think even Emeraude could bring back the dead? Presea's dead, and this is just an imposter!" Nova shouted, pointing vindictively at the shade of the Master Smith.
Hikaru froze, her eyes slowly shifting from Nova to the shadowy form of Presea before her.
"Presea…" she breathed, not believing.
Presea's face turned sad, weary.
Hikaru…
"Presea, please," Hikaru begged, all but falling on her knees before the ghost, "please tell me she's lying. It's not true, is it? Please tell me it's not true."
But Presea just stepped forward, raising an arm to place on Hikaru's shoulder.
Hikaru, please understand…
But Hikaru stepped back a little, her eyes widening in something akin to madness. "It's not you? You're not Presea? But Clef told me that…Clef told me that the Pillar had brought you back…"
Presea tried to place a hand on Hikaru's arm.
Hikaru, please, let me explain-
But Hikaru jerked away. "You lied to me! They all lied to me! Presea's dead, and they lied! You lied!" Her voice was filled with bewilderment, realization, and hurt. Presea winced at the tone, but took another step forward, placating.
Hikaru, no, I'm not Presea, but I am her sister and-
"NO!" Hikaru screamed, sobbing as she backed away, her eyes clenched shut in pain. "You lied! You lied! YOU LIED!"
"That's right, Hikaru…they lied to you because they hate you!" Nova said over the sound of Hikaru's hurt, "They all hate you!"
"NO!" Hikaru screamed, and she began to swing her sword blindly, her eyes open but only able to see the red of pain and rage. "NO!"
"They hate you, Hikaru! They've lied to you the whole time!"
She could see, suddenly, back to the day when they were about to leave for the second time for Cephiro. Umi reached out to hug her.
"Hikaru," she said, "Don't cry. You are so weak already, if you cry you will make me sick."
"Hikaru-san…we are sorry. Sorry that we had to go with you to that terrible place, away from our homes and families. We were hurt so badly there, all because of you!"
"I'm sorry!" Hikaru sobbed, "I'm sorry!"
"I wish we had never gone to Cephiro. I wish we'd never met you!" Umi's voice was harsh, vindictive.
"I agree. We were happy, and then you came along and forced us into a battle that had nothing to do with us! How could you? I hate you, Hikaru."
"I hate you, Hikaru." Umi echoed.
Hate you, Hikaru…
Hate you, Hikaru…
Hate you…
Hikaru…
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Her voice weakened, cracked, her last barrier beginning to fall. Tears streaming down her face, she stared at the brightness of her sword. "I'm so sorry…"
And then she heard it: the faint, unmistakable sound of metal fracturing.
"What?" she looked at closer at her sword. Where once was a perfectly forged blade, now there was a hairline crack running through the top of it.
"How-" she started, but then the crack began to expand, moving farther down the blade and widening as she watched. Panic in her eyes and voice, she looked at Nova and asked,
"What is this? What's happening?"
But it was Presea's sister who answered, her voice coming clearly through the black for the first time. "Hikaru," she said softly, her voice breaking, "That sword is forged from a metal that was shaped by your heart. Your trusting heart that cared for your friends. And now that heart is breaking."
Hikaru didn't respond, still fixated on the thin lines running through her blade. But then she lowered it, turning her head away. "It would have broken anyway," she said harshly, "because that trust was false."
"No!" The sister's voice was strong, though tears streamed down her face. "No! That trust was true! They would never betray you! Nova is lying!"
"And why should I believe you?" Hikaru snapped, finally looking at Presea's twin. "You already lied to me. You've been living a lie. What do you know about the truth?"
Another pinging sound, another hairline crack running through her sword. They all looked at the blade, but once again Hikaru simply turned her head, putting her back to the imposter Presea. Nova, above them, smiled.
"I don't have any friends." She said, her voice cold though her eyes betrayed her pain.
"That's not true!" Presea cried, standing and limping towards her. "Listen to me, Hikaru! My name is Sierra, and I am Presea's sister! No, I'm not Presea, but I love you as much as she did, Hikaru!" She trailed off, her heart in her throat, choking her.
But Nova simply floated down beside Hikaru, placing a cold, gloved hand on the Magic Knight's shoulder.
"Be quiet, you hag! Can't you see that she doesn't want to listen to liars anymore? Go away, leave her alone!" Though her voice was filled with sisterly anger, behind Hikaru's back she was grinning madly at Sierra.
"Hikaru…" Sierra whispered, begging. "Please…"
But Hikaru didn't move, didn't even look back at her. Sierra let out a choking sob, collapsing onto the black floor beneath her even as three more cracks appeared on the nearly-broken surface of the blade.
Hikaru allowed Nova to wrap silky black tendrils of magic around her, letting herself be drawn into Nova's embrace, her eyes dead.
"Go away." Her voice was flat, lifeless.
Sierra looked up then, and in a final attempt, shouted, "Remember the promise!"
For a moment, there was silence, and Nova glared at Sierra, a hint of fear showing in her eyes. But then Hikaru let the blackness slide off of her, and turned to face Sierra where she knelt, a growing hope in her eyes.
But Hikaru's eyes were as dead as her voice when she spoke.
"Go away."
And there was a multitude of tiny cracking sounds, and then Hikaru's blade shattered, falling into a million pieces that shimmered in fading life before they died.
Sierra let out a strangled sob, finally seeing that it was over, and she had lost.
Hikaru turned away as Sierra collapsed onto the floor, broken. Nova pulled Hikaru closer, and they faded out of the mind-plain.
Slowly, Hikaru's blank eyes opened into reality, but this time there was no fire within them, no hidden strength empowering them. Instead, she simply stared at the gloating Nova as the pink-haired girl came closer, her eyes gleaming with the prospect of becoming fully human.
"Cute Hikaru, I will make you mine forever, Hikaru, Hikaru!"
The same grotesque smile lit her face as she neared the lax form of the Fire Knight's beaten body. A faint wince twisted her eyes for a moment, but Hikaru simply lay comatose, waiting for Nova to touch her heart and banish her into the darkness forever.
"I have no reason to stay…" she whispered to herself.
"That's right, cute Hikaru!" Nova chortled.
"No true friends…"
"No, no! They all lied to you! Everyone lied but me…" Nova agreed, her smile becoming cherubic.
She moved in on the girl, almost there, savoring the taste of reality, her twisted mind seeing only happiness.
As her hand neared, touched Hikaru's heart, began to pull out the spirit within, Hikaru spoke one last time, the last light in her soul extinguished.
"No love…"
And then Nova was there, and her eyes shut out life for the last time.