"We will play together forever, cute Hikaru!" Nova smiled grotesquely as she allowed her darkness to flow into Hikaru.
Then a brilliant beam of energy arced from Hikaru's heart, racing through the air to strike Nova hard, sending her skidding backwards.
"What!…." Nova growled, rubbing her eyes clear of the spots and looking up.
"You shall not touch her!"
Hikaru's eyes were still closed, unconsciousness holding her frame in it's grip. But pulsing from her heart was a brilliant beam of energy, glowing and wondrous, that flowed into a gleaming figure of a person hovering slightly above Hikaru's body.
"You shall not touch her!" The voice repeated, high and melodic.
"Who…who are you?!?" Nova cried, shielding her face from the fearsome glow.
The figure did not respond, but the brilliance of the light pulsed even greater for a moment, causing Nova to shrink away, afraid.
"Who are you?" Nova shouted again, fear and anger in her voice.
"I am the Pillar of Cephiro. You shall not touch her!" The light was to brilliant to be seen through, and the voice's face could not be seen.
"The Pillar?" Nova shouted, her confidence returning, "the Pillar is dead! I killed her myself!"
"Wrong!" the voice came clear over Nova's laughter. "As long as there is hope within the heart of the people of Cephiro, the Pillar cannot die!"
"Really?" Nova mocked, laughing, "You're nothing but another trick! Another lie! Show me your face!"
The brilliance faded slightly, the light dimming enough that Nova could finally make out the person's figure.
She had long, shining hair, golden as sunrise, flowing all the way to her ankles, unbound. Her face was long, beautiful, strong, reminiscent of the silent Fire Knight that lay beneath her. Her dress was ivory white and wondrous, the many layers flowing around the person as though a faint breeze had disturbed them. Her eyes were a brilliant, shining blue, piercing and strong. Though the voice was girlish, the face was that of a woman.
"It can't be…" Nova whispered, disbelieving.
Far away, in a crystal palace made of strong will, a small, white-haired mage fell to his knees, his eyes brimming with tears and his face etched with unbelievable pain.
"Princess Emeraude…"
On the battlefield of Debonair and the other Magic Knights, Umi and Fuu halted their near-useless assault, turning their battered and weary bodies to the light that was burning in the west, bright as the sun.
"Princess Emeraude…"
"No!" Nova snarled, and let loose a barrage of lightning at the silent, glowing figure. They struck painfully, but the Princess did not move.
"You may defeat me, Nova, but I will not let you touch her!"
Nova just gnashed her teeth and sent yet more blasts at the motionless figure. Again, they struck, and Emeraude winced painfully, but she did not move from her place before Hikaru.
Again and again the lightning flashed, again and again the gleaming figure took it. Eventually Nova halted for a moment, panting hard and glaring at the battered, gleaming figure.
"Why?" she questioned, snarling, "Why is she so important to you?"
Emeraude looked down at the bleeding form beneath her, a gentle, sad smile lighting her face.
"Because she is hope."
Nova screamed and drew out her energy-swords, charging the Princess. Emeraude drew a blade from the air, blocking what she could. Her movements were strained, unpracticed, but Nova's fury made her careless, and when the onslaught was over, Emeraude still stood.
"You cannot kill me, Nova!" she said, defiant, "I am the Pillar of Cephiro!"
"I killed you once!" Nova screamed, "I can do it again!"
"Can you? Can you really?" Emeraude questioned.
Nova just renewed her attack, striking again and again in anger and panic. But this time, the fear made her strong, and blow after blow struck through the Princess' guard, causing her to cry out in pain. Nova smiled, feeling victory near at hand.
"You can't win, Princess," Nova mocked, laughing, "Even if I lose, Cephiro will be destroyed. All the people are afraid, and they will never have another Pillar to put their faith in!"
"No!" Emeraude shouted, bringing her sword to bear, "There already is another Pillar, and no matter how you seek to destroy her, she will survive!"
"Oh, really?" Nova laughed, "I already killed Eagle. There will never be another Pillar!"
"Wrong!" Emeraude shouted, advancing on the frightened Shadow. "When I was killed, this part of my spirit was allowed to live on inside the body of the next Pillar, to guide her and help her."
"No-" Nova began, but Emeraude raised her voice, speaking over Nova's protest.
"But that person couldn't use my power until she had been through the ultimate test, and defeated the last part of herself that fought her destiny."
"No…" Nova repeated, disbelieving.
"And that part," Emeraude continued, her voice almost a shout, "was broken away from the Pillar, and placed in another body, so that when the time was right, the Pillar could face the test, and defeat it!"
"But she didn't defeat me! She lost!"
"WRONG!" Emeraude shouted. "She defeated you because no matter how much you fought her believing heart with your lies, she had one truth to hold to, even when all seemed lost."
"No! I forced all her friends out of her heart! Who could she have believed in?" Nova was whimpering now, disbelieving.
"ONE WHO WOULD LAY DOWN HIS LIFE!" Emeraude shouted, "He is true! He is love! And Hikaru believed in him, even though her own mind told her not to!"
And she pointed across the field, where a shadowed form was nearing them, limping. And slowly, into the brilliance of Emeraude's spirit, Eagle's battered and broken body walked towards them, his eyes burning with his love for Hikaru.
"Nova…" He whispered, his voice breaking with pain and emotion, "I claim Hikaru. I claim her because I love her, and you cannot break that. Not with a thousand deaths. Not with a thousand swords. And not," he continued, his voice and step strong now.
"And not…"
He was almost to them, his eyes burning with a fire lit so deeply within that Nova had not seen it until now, until it was to late. He stood now in front of a wide-eyed, shaking Nova. He leaned down, grabbed her chin, and forced her to look at him.
"and not with your lies, you cursed demon!"
And he leaned down, and captured her lips with his.
She struggled fiercely, but some unmoving strength kept her bound in place. Her body went limp, her form beginning to shake.
Eagle stepped back, victory in his eyes. Nova looked at him with hate in her eyes, but her form was beginning to melt, the edges becoming unclear in the brilliance of Emeraude's never-ending light. Around her, the stones began to rattle, and the light of the Princess began to flow back into Hikaru's spirit. Nova looked around, fear and panic in her face.
"What did you do to me?" she whispered, scared like a little child. "What did you do!"
Eagle just smiled and took another step away.
"WHAT DID YOU DO!" she screamed.
"Hikaru's heart never lost it's faith in him!" Emeraude yelled, "Even when your lies took everything else away from her, you couldn't lie about him! And because even the smallest part of her heart still cared, your heart cared to!"
"NO!" Nova cried, struggling against the invisible bonds.
"AND BECAUSE HIKARU'S HEART STILL LOVED HIM," Emeraude continued, shouting now, "Your heart loved him too! Eagle gave his own love back so that he could open up that small piece of your heart! And it will destroy you, because all you are is lies, and that love…"
"THAT LOVE…" Emeraude shouted as Nova thrashed blindly against her bonds.
"THAT LOVE IS TRUTH!"
The stones jumped and danced about her, and the ground began to shake fiercely. All of Emeraude's light was within Hikaru's soul, her shadowy body disappearing in the new light as Hikaru began to glow like a foxfire, her brilliance rivaling that of the Princess'.
Nova's fear caused her to try to draw her swords, to try to move, but the incessant shaking and some immovable force kept her still.
"No…" she cried, "No!"
And then a great burst of light exploded from Hikaru, arcing between the two girls, pulsating beads beginning to flow from one figure to another. Eagle stepped further away, shielding his face with his hands, the emotion of the moment serving to numb his dying body to the pain.
Nova let out a haunting scream across the heavens, and from many miles away where Umi and Fuu were being flung against the stone, Fuu turned her bleeding face towards Umi.
"Umi…she did it…"
Umi, equaling battered, smiled tiredly and nodded. "I knew she could."
And they smiled faintly, and blessed oblivion flowed over them, drowning them in a fatal darkness as Debonair herself stared to the west, into the rising sun.
A final, great burst of light, and then it was over, and where Nova had stood was the Magic Knight of Fire, glowing brilliantly in the surge of power she had received.
She turned her head to the heavens, lifting her arms as though to embrace the sky.
"RAYEARTH!"
Many hundred miles away, in the crystal palace, Clef felt the pulse of energy from the throne room, and in his mind's eye saw the Proof of the Pillar flash out of existence. He turned back to the seeing globe, eyes wide.
"The Pillar of Cephiro…"
And a bolt of golden-white energy struck through the dawn to fly into her arms, a warrior's blade beyond any others. It, too, was gleaming in a golden energy, its power evident even before it was fully formed.
Hikaru lowered her hands, the blade ready within them. She braced herself, then turned east where Debonair's darkness was billowing. Slowly, from the black clouds, Debonair's fearsome form emerged, a suffocating blackness against Hikaru's renewing white.
"Hah! You want to fight me?!?" Debonair laughed as she saw the sword in Hikaru's hands. "Fine. DIE!"
Black lightning crackled out of her hands, but Hikaru raised her gleaming blade, and the blackness faded against the light.
"Debonair!" Hikaru cried, staring up at the figure before her, eyes defiant. "You are only fear! You cannot kill, you cannot harm, all you can do is scare me! Do you think that will win you a country?"
Debonair, the first hint of fear showing in her eyes, snarled and let out a barrage of black energy.
In the palace, another globe suddenly appeared in the middle of the garden, showing all the people of Cephiro the final battle for their worlds. As the words of Hikaru came across, suddenly a group of three children ran to the front.
"Everybody! Hikaru-onechan is right! If we stop being afraid, and start to believe, we can defeat Debonair on our own!"
"That's right," Ferio agreed, walking into the room. "The Pillar is only as powerful as our hearts. If you just believe that Hikaru can win, then she will."
"But Debonair's so strong!" someone cried out.
"But we can be stronger!" Ascot said, following Lafarga and Caldina into the room. "We can beat this thing!"
"That's right! Ya'll just need ta believe in yourselves and in Hikaru!" Caldina interjected.
Around the room, murmurs ran, each person giving consideration what had been said.
"I believe!" said one of the children.
"I do too!" another cried.
"Me too!" someone else agreed.
"And me!"
"And me!"
Around the huge chamber, more and more of the shivering Cephirans found their heart, and their belief, and stood from their fear to defy Debonair one last time.
And on the battleground, Hikaru let out an enormous shout, and swung the glowing blade, letting loose a storm of power. And Debonair screamed and ran before it, trying to escape it's fearsome strength.
"Curse you, Cephiro! Curse you, Emeraude!"
"CURSE YOU, MAGIC KNIGHT!"
And then she was gone.
But Hikaru was not finished. Raising the sword above her head, she cried out in a voice that thundered across the plains.
"I now abolish the Pillar System, and forever give the land of Cephiro into the hands and hearts of those who love this land!"
A beam of light sprang from her sword into the heavens, parting the dark clouds that had so long covered the sky. And far above, she saw the very first hints of dawn, the first dawn she had seen since she came to Cephiro.
Exhausted, Hikaru lowered the glowing sword to the ground, tired but victorious. She turned to smile at Eagle.
He gave her a thumbs-up, but then his strength failed him, and he collapsed onto the ground.
"Eagle!" Hikaru cried, rushing over to him. She knelt beside him, taking in for the first time the gaping hole in his stomach. "Oh, no…" she said, her eyes filling with tears.
"Eagle…don't move, you'll be alright, just stay still…"
Eagle coughed, blood coming from his mouth. But then he smiled. "No, I…will not…be alright…"
The tears that had been forming were coming hard and fast now, Hikaru unable to accept this pain.
Eagle smiled faintly at her as she cradled his head on her lap.
"I'm…sorry…Hikaru…" he gasped out, pain making his voice come out rough. "I didn't…want to…make you…cry." He reached up slowly, brushing her face with his hand. Hikaru held his hand against her cheek, trying to stem the tears.
"Eagle, don't talk, you'll be alright, you'll see…"
Eagle let out a hoarse bark of laughter, smiling against his pain. "Hikaru…it's alright, I want to die…"
"No!" Hikaru cried, "I won't let you!"
But Eagle simply smiled at her, shaking his head.
"There's nothing…you can do."
Hikaru bit her lip, tasting the salt of her tears on her tongue. "Oh, there must be something I can…Please, let me do something!"
Eagle regarded her softly for a moment. After a moment, he spoke.
"Hikaru," he said gently. She looked at him, tears running down her face to her chin. He smiled. She had never looked so beautiful.
"Hikaru," he repeated softly, "there is something you can do for me."
"What is it, Eagle? Please…" she trailed off, her voice shaking.
Eagle smiled. "I don't want you to regret saying that."
"Anything, Eagle." she said, trying to smile through her pain.
"Then listen. Hikaru…" He paused for a moment, staring into her eyes.
"Hikaru, I love you."
Hikaru gasped, tried to speak, but Eagle held up a hand, and she went silent.
"I know you had some idea. I also know that perhaps, in time, you would have loved me too. But I loved you from the moment I saw you standing, so beautiful and so defiant, in my room. You looked like a queen." Eagle smiled at the remembrance. He continued. "I was sick, even then, and knew my time would be limited on Cephiro. I suppose Lantis knew about my illness. I think he even guessed why I decided to go with you."
Suddenly he broke off, coughing into his hand, blood spattering his gloves. Hikaru tried to move, tried to stop him, but he shook his head and waited till he could speak.
"I…came because I didn't…want to die…in bed, far away…from my home." He said, gasping for breath. His grip on her hand was weakening, and Hikaru's heart clenched in sudden apprehension.
Eagle was smiling up at her.
"But I couldn't think…of a better way to die…than fighting…for the one I love." He finished, breathing hard and smiling. Hikaru looked down at him, a terrible, momentary happiness in her heart. She opened her mouth to say something, but once again Eagle stopped her.
"No, don't…speak. I know what…you would say. Now…I want you to…do something for me."
Hikaru nodded, tears running freely down her face.
"I want you to…tell Lantis…how you feel."
Hikaru gasped. "How I feel? But how did you-"
Once again, Eagle stopped her. "I just… know. Tell him."
Hikaru looked down, sad. "But he hates me. I killed his brother."
"Hikaru!" He whispered harshly, "If you never find out…and you leave, …you will never forgive…yourself." His words were coming harder now, his life fast failing. Hikaru saw the dimness in his eyes, and her protests died on her tongue, and she nodded.
"Good." Eagle said, satisfied. They were silent a moment, Hikaru looking into his placid face.
"Eagle…" she said, scarcely able to get the words past the lump in her throat.
He lay there a moment, staring at her, and then suddenly smiled wistfully.
"Before…when I was in my cell…I always thought…that if I could die…defending you…I would be satisfied…" his smile deepened, saddened. "But now…I can't seem to…let go…when you look so sad. You need…to smile…more often."
He trailed off, coughing again. This time, it took longer for the fit to subside, and it caused the wound on his stomach to pour out more dark red blood.
"Eagle…" she said again, and he looked up at her, grinning even as he panted for breath.
Hikaru's face became even more pained, though she tried her hardest to bring up a smile.
"Oh, Eagle…" she cried out, her head dropping down, her tears flowing unabated. "I can't! I can't stop crying! Please, Eagle…please…" she sobbed quietly, the hurt tearing at her heart to painful to keep inside. "Stay with me…"
"Hikaru…" Eagle said quietly, his hand reaching up with great effort to touch her cheek. "I want to die…happy…in the arms…of my love." Hikaru looked up, eyes spilling over but something like peace beginning to appear in her face.
Suddenly Eagle's smile faded, and his eyes filled with a fierce longing. Hikaru stared at him.
"Please…I want to be selfish…Just once in…my life…let me be selfish…" He spoke through gritted teeth.
Hikaru nodded slowly.
"Please…Just for a little, even if…it can't be forever…can I have…your heart?" His eyes deepened, his whole soul in this moment. Hikaru stared into those beautiful, beautiful eyes, and a sudden fierce happiness came into his face, and she smiled at him with the glow that he had come to dream about, to love.
He smiled at her, and she leaned down, her eyes soft. She paused just above his lips, and spoke the words that he had given his life to hear.
"I love you, Eagle Vision…"
And in the dawning light of the new day of Cephiro, Hikaru softly pressed her lips to his, giving her heart to him for one moment of forever, allowing him this last, beautiful happiness. When she pulled back, he smiled at her, content.
"Now I…can die…happy." He chuckled faintly as he spoke.
His hand came up, soft and gentle, to caress her cheek, his eyes loving, soft, fading.
"So… beautiful…" he whispered, and was still.
And as the light of the first day of the new Cephiro chased out the darkness, Eagle's soul raced into the heavens, a parting promise echoing in the ears of a girl whose sorrow was heavier than stone.
I will always be with you…
And she looked up into the sky, and saw a small bird wheeling above her, the first life she had seen outside of the palace.
The first life of a new Cephiro.
"Goodbye…Eagle…"