*This song fit perfectly, everything except one verse which I removed. It fits Tori, and me, but not this particular story so I took it out. The missing line in case you were curious comes after "ride on ride on do you know where she's gone?" and "it's the Faeries' revenge they say" the line is "gumdrops and Saturdays did Eric call by the way?" everything else fit so great so I just had to use this song. This chapter was looking a little better than the last so yey!*

Chapter Two Black Swan

As they approached the ocean she picked up speed, urging the horse first into a canter and then a gallop. With the beauty of the crashing ocean behind her and the power of the horse beneath her, and the feel of the moon on her face she ran forward. She knew she should be at the palace, asleep, in bed, dreaming, but she could do no such thing. They raced along the shoreline and she wasn't sure right then if she wasn't part of the horse. Then the tears came again, because they inevitably did.

Slowly at first and then more rapidly, and when she sobbed the horse slowed, breathing heavily and needing its time as she needed hers. She sank from the back and sat on the beach, her head in her hands and let her tears come. She wouldn't let herself believe that this was happening, in the morning she could smile at them, at him, and they'd never know. If no one knew it was happening it wasn't.

Ride on

Ride on

Friends of the Black Swan

            He wandered the palace, sleepless again, and found himself wandering to her room. When he got there he peered in, the door was open, and found she was gone. Her bed was unmade. Her veranda was tightly shut, and her pajamas were strewn about on the floor. Where did she go?

            He was worried then, where could she go? She shouldn't be alone out there by herself at night. There was no telling what kind of danger, trouble, she could be in.

            A Magic Knight, he reminded himself, more as an excuse to not go out there and make a fool of himself than of a genuine reminder.

            He turned but caught a glint from the corner of his eye. He spun around once more and found her ovum gem lying carelessly on a table.

            He knew it was probably a sign, and decided not to test fate. He walked outside and quickly summoned a friend, a huge creature, black as the night, so he wouldn't be seen, and with wings. A Black Swan. He mounted and looked everywhere for her. The first place he checked was the stables. He noted that some of the tack was gone and a horse was missing. She was somewhere on one of the horses.

            "Okay," he sighed, "Where to go…"

            He got on the bird once more and flew toward the forest.

Ride on

Ride on

Do you know where she's gone?

            But as he flew over the forest he knew that it was hopeless, she would be the water of course. He turned the bird toward the ocean and flew along the shoreline. When he saw her by the seaside his breath caught in his throat. He looked at her elegant form, that luscious blue hair that fell down her shoulders, her dazzling blue eyes that shimmered…was she crying?

He knew

            She tried to stifle her sobs, because they weren't real afterall, but couldn't force herself to do it. She wished that he could be there, to see what he was doing to her, but then she was glad he wasn't. She didn't want anyone to see her weak, especially not him. She slammed her fists into the soft sand and screamed. She was sick of feeling hurt because of him. Why couldn't she just let it go? Why did she have to feel this way? Why did she have to be her? Why couldn't she be someone who was loved, Hikaru or Fuu?

            She looked back to the horse desperately, as if trying to find a piece of herself and shook her head, throwing her long blue hair behind her and mounted. Crying wasn't going to do her any good.

He knew

And he knew where the pillow goes

            She kicked the horse into a gallop once more, and took off into the forest. She rode through the forest until she was well into it, then eased up, and the horse almost sighed in relief.

            They walked through the forest in silence, looking at the trees and the odd ways they could grow. She looked at the ground that looked almost black though she knew somewhere that it was in all reality green. She wondered why the night made things look like what they weren't. And then she thought, what if it's not the night, what if it's actually the light?

            She shook away the strange thought and shuddered in the cold air. She wished she had brought a sweater.

Ride on

Ride on

Friends of the Black Swan

            He was admiring her from afar when she suddenly stood and mounted, taking off. To his dismay the horse she was riding was jet black, and he had trouble tracking her through the forest into the night. Several times he got lost and had to follow the noise of the horse, and then she slowed, and he was lost in the darkness.

Ride on

Ride on

            He looked around him in complete dismay. Where was she? The bird flew noiselessly through the forest, searching with its keen eyes, still no sign of her. Then he heard something he never wanted to hear, a scream, high and terrified, "Umi!" the bird took off toward that sound and when he found her he looked down with terrified eyes. She was standing in front of a huge monster.

Do you know where she's gone?

            He jumped from the creature and stood in front of her as the bird attacked, throwing its talons out and screaming shrilly. He unsummoned the bird, knowing that even with its deformation, its sharp claws, it could never do the damage he wanted. He instead summoned a large Griffin like creature with talons and sharp claws and sheer strength. The creature threw itself at the monster which swatted at the bird that darted around it as if it was a fly.

            Ascot saw the vulnerability of the animal because if it was hit it wouldn't be able to fly. He raised his hands, and a burst of magic had the monster on the ground. The Griffin bit deep into the monster's flesh and it vanished.

            "Ascot," Umi whispered, awe in her eyes as he turned and looked at her, "Arigato."

            "I came from the palace and was wandering around, I couldn't sleep. I found that you were gone and I saw your ovum gem on your bed. I sensed danger and found this; you could have gotten seriously hurt," he scolded gently, and she nodded.           

"Gomen."

"Don't apologize," he said quietly, "Sometimes I need to be alone too."

"I…" how was she supposed to explain, "Couldn't sleep and…"

"No need to explain," he smiled, "Can I escort you back to the palace?"

She smiled and nodded.

Buttercups and fishing flies The biggest thickest ever sky

            They walked back into the palace just as the sun was rising and found that a few people were already up. They walked inside talking and laughing, joking, being close, being friends and both loving every moment of it.

            Clef's eyes widened in surprise when he saw the way they looked at each other, and Caldina snickered wickedly.

            Fuu smiled at Umi who gave them all weird glances and wanted to demand 'What?!' but for the awkward situation she knew it would create.

            "Where have you been Umi-san?" Fuu asked instead, causing the situation to be awkward anyway.

"Riding," she responded.

"Without me?!" Fuu burst out, and they looked startled.

"I didn't want to wake you up at four o'clock in the morning," Umi responded, and Fuu grinned.

"Uh huh…yeah…"

I know they know something

Ascot watched Clef as his eyes ran from Umi then back to him again. What did his teacher know that he didn't? What was he searching for? When he met the eyes of the Master Mage, he looked away quickly, and left Ascot feeling extremely ignorant and naïve. What were they seeing? His heart jumped into his throat.

I know

For lunch they decided to have a picnic, so they made food and packed saddlebags and baskets and went into the forest to enjoy a peaceful afternoon.

After lunch Umi, Fuu and Hikaru fought; Umi came out victorious as they all knew she would.

He watched with lovesick eyes, and everyone saw but her.

"Poor dear," Caldina said quietly, and he looked at her.

"W-What?"

She shook her head and wouldn't answer.

"Ascot I'll race you to those trees," Umi challenged.

He wasn't going to make the same mistake twice, "Okay."

They mounted, and Hikaru yelled go.

Umi took off at a gallop, but half way through she veered and went the other way.

"Umi!" Fuu and Hikaru were just about to go after her, but Clef shook his head.

"Let her go," he watched as Ascot's eyes narrowed, and he went off after her.

"Oh…" Fuu snickered, and they went back to lunch, all still a bit nervous, but knowing that she was in capable hands. The two needed some time alone.

Ride on

Ride on

Friends of the Black Swan

            He watched as she turned the horse. Where was she going? But somewhere deep inside he knew where she was headed, and that he was intended to follow. He knew that this day would be the last day of their friendship.

Ride on

Ride on

You know where she's gone

            She didn't know what possessed her to turn that way, to run toward the safety of the ocean but she did. She headed there, not caring who followed or who didn't, just longing to be free.

            Who had caused her this anguish and why? She was selfish and spoiled yes, but she was a good person. She never got in much trouble and didn't cause anyone overly much grief so why? Why were the gods playing with her like this? Toying with her emotions to the point she thought she could go no further?

Little green men do O.K.

It's the Faeries' revenge they say

            She stood in front of the ocean and looked into the sea. She knew how romantic this could be which only made it more heart wrenching.

            It seemed even the wind whispered his name, "Ascot…"

Ride on

            He burst through the tree line to the shore and saw the gorgeous girl he had been hunting for. Then he heard her whisper something, something that the ocean win brought to him; his name.

Ride on

~Lyrics by Tori Amos

*See I love this song for this story because the line "little green men do O.K." reminds me of Ascot in the first season, and it's like Umi would be fine with him in whatever way he came. And the other line "it's the Faeries' revenge they say" reminds me of how Umi's so pretty that the Faeries' were spited and had to take it out on her hence the punishment. So I hope you enjoyed, was this a cliffhanger? Wow, interesting. Until next chapter! ^.^*